The End of "Studio 60"

Thursday night marks the end of one of the biggest disappointments in TV history…

For months, we were told what a great show it was going to be. It had a great writer, a fantastic director/producer and the networks got into a bidding war just to get their hands on it. And then “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” premiered and it all went downhill from there.

The first episode was okay, though not as great as what we would expect from Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme, but it was still pretty good with fast-paced dialogue and crackling characters—the things the duo was known for with “The West Wing” and “Sports Night.” But then the second episode came along, which culminated in the “hilarious” opening sketch of the fictional “SNL”-like show-within-a-show, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” And the sketch was just not funny. At all.

Then the next episode aired with more unfunny sketches like “The Nicholas Cage Show.” And it’s hard to do a show that goes behind the scenes of a sketch comedy when the sketch comedy is not funny.

And of course, there was Sorkin’s political views getting banged over our heads on a weekly basis…

When the show started to falter, Sorkin quickly tried to change the show to a romantic comedy. But pretty soon the Matt-Harriet scenes started to look like Sorkin was just reusing his Casey-Dana scenes from “Sports Night.” And the Jordan-Danny thing? I really don’t even have a clue about that one.

Last week, I actually sat down and watched the show and Sorkin was back to his old tricks. We finally learned why Matt and Danny were fired five years ago and—no big shock—it involved politics as Matt refused to apologize for a skit that featured Bush political operative Karl Rove interviewing movie studios about making more patriotic films after 9/11. The show even took a shot at Bush’s speech at Ground Zero. I guess Sorkin had been waiting a long time to get that one off his chest…

Tomorrow night, NBC will air the final episode. It’s entitled “What Kind of Day Has It Been,” which was also the title of the season one finales of “Sports Night” and “The West Wing.” Reports are that Sorkin did try to give the show some kind of closure. I’m hoping that’s true, so we can at least see Matt and Harriet get together. We never got that with Casey and Dana…

The series finale of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” airs Thursday, June 28th at 10 p.m. on NBC…

Does ABC Enjoy Irritating Me?

I'm starting to think that ABC Entertainment President Steve McPherson's only job is to irritate me...

ABC has just announced that "According to Jim" will be back next season. Not only will it be back, it will be back for EIGHTEEN episodes!

What was the reason? Nobody gave one, but my best guess is that someone is nervous about the comedies on the schedule (Gee, you think? One of them is "Cavemen" for goodness sakes!). And there's probably some kind of lucrative syndication deal floating around...

Now, if you're a fan of "According to Jim," I'm happy for you. But to bring it back over "The Knights of Prosperity" or even "In Case of Emergency" is just ridiculous...

Isaiah Washington: Not Shutting Up Anytime Soon

Forget Paris Hilton. Larry King’s most controversial interview this week will be Monday when he talks with Isaiah Washington in his first TV interview since he was fired from “Grey’s Anatomy.”

But just because this is his first TV interview doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been talking. On the contrary, the guy just can’t keep his mouth shut…

First, after being fired, he issued the statement, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” inspired by the film “Network.” Then his spokesperson backed up that statement in an interview with “TV Guide,” questioning why ABC fired him after he had done everything they asked (counseling, meeting with gay and lesbian groups, a PSA). Then, there was an interview with “Entertainment Weekly” where Washington said he was “saddened by the outcome” and “Isaiah will go on and do what I love to do.”

“I just hope people can understand in the industry and otherwise that it’s a horrible misunderstanding what transpired with our show and it was blown out of proportion,” he told “EW.”

But then, he dropped a bomb in an interview with the “Houston Chronicle.” Saying “they fired the wrong guy,” Washington alleged that T.R. Knight stirred up the notion that the homophobic slur was targeted at him, creating “a negative work environment,” using the incident to get a salary increase and a bigger role on the show. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Knight said that the slur was against him and that everyone on the set heard it. Washington told the “Chronicle” that was a lie. “I used the word during a disagreement with Patrick. I apologized for that. We shook hands and went back to work.”

Washington also told the paper that he actually asked to be released from his contract after the first incident last fall and then again in January when he repeated the slur at the Golden Globes (He said his use of the word then was taken out of context).

But the biggest bombshell came this week when Washington told BET host Keith Boykin, “I know Patrick Dempsey has supported me by stating that if there is anyone that needs to be fired, it is T.R. Knight, because he has created such a negative environment on the set.” Washington said that Knight had been “very tactical” in trying to get him off the show. Knight, according to Washington, felt that his character, George, was being treated very “caricature-ish and dopey” and that he used the incident to get his role beefed up. Washington said that’s why George has become an “uber he-man that’s sleeping with everyone.”

Washington went on to say that Shonda Rhimes and others at “Grey’s” “are not happy” with Knight and “think that something has gone awfully awry with his stability. I can freely say this now, because I am no longer a Disney employee and I am no longer gagged.”
Any way we could get that last part changed?

It’s interesting that Washington told the “Chronicle” that he made three errors in judgement: “believing the cast of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ were like family; believing I had the freedom to express myself with family and that we could resolve our issues; and trusting ABC was going to take care of me.”

So he doesn’t believe that using that horrible word in the first place was an error in judgment? If he really believed the cast was his family, he shouldn’t have wanted to use that word. And I guess he doesn’t think using that horrible word again in front of the international media was an error in judgment? He can say it was taken out of context all he wants, but there was no reason to use the word again and bring up all of the ugliness on the show’s big night.

Yes, it might’ve made more sense to fire Washington right after the incident (and would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble now), but “Grey’s” is a serial drama, and it would’ve been difficult to just get rid of Burke in mid-season. And Shonda Rhimes doesn’t believe in recasts.

Now comes word that NBC is in negotiations with Washington for his own show or to join an existing one. “Law & Order” and “Las Vegas” are two of the early guesses.

I say good luck to anyone who gets stuck with this guy…

“Larry King Live” with Isaiah Washington is scheduled to air Monday, July 2nd at 9 p.m. on CNN…

"Traveler" Picks Up the Pace

I haven’t said anything about “Traveler” in a while, so let me fix that right now…

The show had started meandering a little bit, but last week’s episode, “The Tells,” was fast-paced and action-packed and the best episode since the outstanding pilot.

Maybe it was the absence of Will Traveler that slowed the show down since last week we got to see him go all Jack Bauer on the people behind the Drexler conspiracy. The episode was directed by a “24” director and it showed with the frenetic pace and outstanding action sequences that got me into the show in the first place.

And Viola Davis continues to impress as Agent Marlow becomes more and more confident that Jay and Tyler are not the bad guys.

But I have to admit, I’m not completely sure what’s going on, and the blame for that falls squarely on the shoulders of my friends at ABC…

The show was originally supposed to run for 13 episodes, but as they were about to shoot episode eight, ABC cut the order to eight, causing rewrites and reshoots of the episodes to make the story fit in only eight shows. It’s caused the pace of the conspiracy story to be completely off as some episodes seemed almost pointless since they were meant to stretch the story (episode two) and some reveal all kinds of little things almost too quickly (last week’s episode five).

Here’s what I can tell you…

Will framed Jay and Tyler for the bombing at the Drexler building on the orders of a mysterious organization that apparently has some ties to Homeland Security. Jay and Tyler were supposed to die in the bombing, but Will pulled a fire alarm so they’d get out and he stole the painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Will planned to get his girlfriend and take off, but he was kidnapped by the people who hired him and tortured to reveal the location of the painting. When his girlfriend was threatened, Will gave up the location of the painting; but his girlfriend was actually already dead. Will killed his torturer and escaped, and when the people went to the location of the painting, they were killed by a bomb.

The people behind the conspiracy were also able to steal pictures of Will from Jay’s girlfriend and allow the escape of a prisoner (the guy who stole the pictures) from FBI holding.

Meanwhile, Jay and Tyler were given a key by Will’s girlfriend that opened a library research locker. Inside were all of Will’s passports (with aliases), cash, a gun, and checks from a company in New York. The guys decided to go to New York and find out what they could about the company that was paying Will.

Along the way, Jay and Tyler have been helped by the mysterious porter from the hotel. It’s unclear at this point whether Tyler’s dad Carlton is friend or foe, but I’m guessing not.

The show is gaining a loyal following on the Internet, but I don’t think it’s enough to bring the show back next season. I do hope, however, that it’s enough for ABC to show all three of the remaining episodes.

I have to wonder if “Traveler” had premiered during the season if it would have had a better shot—maybe before all of the other new serial dramas failed. Because of all of the “24” clones this season—and there were a ton of them—“Traveler” is the best.

“Traveler” airs tonight (Wednesday) at 10 p.m. on ABC…

The "Price" Is Not Right for Rosie...

So after campaigning for the job for months on “The View,” in the trade magazines and on her blog, Rosie O’Donnell says “The Price Is Right” is not for her.

In her video blog, Rosie said she had a “nice lunch” with the “Price” producers, but she just doesn’t want to relocate her family to California.

In response to a fan’s e-mail about why it was a problem to move her family, Rosie said, “Here’s the thing. I don’t really need a job. I’m in a weird position. I don’t need the money. I know you’re not allowed to talk about money in America, but I’m just saying I don’t. So to get my entire family uprooted from their lives and move them across the country so that I can have a fantasy childhood indulgence job just doesn’t seem fair.”

I think it sounds like there is something else at play here. I just don’t know what…

BIG TV DVD News...

Look what I found waiting for me in my e-mail inbox this morning...

Isn't it beautiful?

The second season of "Family Ties" will hit DVD October 9th, according to the TV on DVD website.

I was starting to get a little worried...

The show really starts to come into its own this season with the episodes "Birthday Boy," in which Alex and some friends convince some girls that they're invading Canada, "Speed Trap," in which Alex gets addicted to diet pills, and "This Year's Model," which features Elyse doing a "Proper Penguin" commercial. You can also see "Say Uncle" with guest star Tom Hanks playing an alcoholic, which will leave you stunned that he later went on to win two Oscars...

I really hope this one sells well, because the third season features several classic episodes, including my favorite of all-time...

Larry King's Big Week

This is a BIG week for “Larry King Live”…

Wednesday, Larry has the first post-prison interview with Paris Hilton.

But Tuesday, true legends will unite as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison appear on the show together to promote the Beatles Revolution Lounge in Las Vegas.

“Larry King Live” airs weekdays at 9 p.m. on CNN…

Fall TV News: "Law" Changes and Mario's New Gig...

Here’s some Fall TV news…

The Christina Applegate sitcom, “Sam I Am,” has changed its title to “Samantha Be Good” to avoid a lawsuit from the estate of Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. The show is about a woman with amnesia who discovers she was not a very nice person…

The CW has ordered 13 episodes of “Eight Days a Week,” produced by Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”). The show stars Christina Milian and Mario Lopez as New Yorkers who sacrifice their personal lives for their bosses…

The revolving cast door at “Law & Order” is spinning again. Milena Govich is out and Jeremy Sisto is in as Green’s (Jesse L. Martin) partner. If you saw Sisto in his guest appearance on “Numb3rs,” you know he’ll be fine. Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy has been promoted to D.A. in the wake of Fred Thompson’s departure to possibly run for President. Waterston’s replacement has not yet been named…

UPDATE: "TV Guide" is now reporting that "Samantha Be Good," formerly known as "Sam I Am," will now be known as "Samantha Who?" I believe the word you're looking for is anyway...

"Boston Legal" Cleans House

The offices of Crane, Poole and Schmidt are going to look a lot different next season…

Julie Bowen (Denise), Mark Valley (Brad), Rene Auberjonois (Paul) and Constance Zimmer (Claire) have all been let go. To fill the void, John Larroquette will join the cast as an attorney from the firm’s New York offices. Tara Summers will also join as a young associate and Christian Clemenson, who pretty much dominated last season as Jerry Espenson, will become a series regular.

As you guys know, I pretty much gave up on “BL” after Craig Bierko joined the cast (He eventually left.) and this development doesn’t make me feel much better. It’s a shame that they could never find anything worthwhile for Mark Valley to do.

And John Larroquette is a talented actor, but I just can’t see him meshing with the dynamic duo of Spader and Shatner…

Is Tony Dead?

So, while I’m catching up, let me do one final post about “The Sopranos” finale…

Is Tony dead? Yes, I believe that he is…

The website Tonyisdead.com presents the best evidence…

The jukebox contains a number of selections that Tony passes up, all of which could be chapters in his life.

Tony is very suspicious of everyone who walks in the door.

AJ provides the last quote, “remember the good times.”

A guy in a Members Only jacket appears at the counter and watches Tony. He then goes into the restroom, which pays homage to “The Godfather,” in which Michael Corleone goes to the restroom to retrieve a gun and then uses it in a hit.

Tony is distracted from watching the shooter by Meadow’s entrance.

We never saw it coming, just like Tony tells Bobby in a scene played twice during the season.

We have always seen the show through Tony’s eyes, including during the final scene.

The music (Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’) ends on the word “stop.”

Tonyisdead.com is so sure, they’re selling t-shirts to support their theory…

David Chase is still not talking, but HBO said that people are getting closer to the truth behind the ending. However, they debunked the theories that some of the actors in the diner had appeared in previous episodes.

I have to tell you that the more I think about it, the more I think the ending was actually quite brilliant. For those of you who don’t agree, look at it this way. It could’ve been worse since there are reports that Chase initially planned three minutes of black to end the episode…

One thing about the ending is certain—the resurgence of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” The song hit #21 on this week’s Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart after selling 41,000 downloads. It’s the oldest track in the chart’s history to have a 40,000+ week.

But the song almost didn’t make it on the show.

Former Journey lead singer Steve Perry, who co-wrote the song, had to give his permission for its use. But in order for him to give his okay, he wanted to know the ending. “I didn’t want the song to be part of a bloodbath,” he told “People.” So they told Perry and made him promise not to tell anyone else. The use was approved just three days before the episode aired…

The final fate of "Veronica Mars"...

I’m running a little behind these days, so in these next several posts, I’ll be playing catch-up…

The first thing I need to catch up on is the final fate of “Veronica Mars.” Unfortunately, it is officially dead.

Fans were in the process of staging a “Jericho”-type campaign by sending the CW Mars bars, when the decision came down. You may recall that CW Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff gave some hope during the upfronts, but show creator Rob Thomas told “TV Guide” that should have never happened. “I’m not sure the CW should’ve given the glimmer of hope. I think Dawn Ostroff genuinely would have liked to have continued on with a version of the show, but there was too much resistance around her. At the end of the day, it would’ve been kinder had the band aid simply been ripped off rather than peeled away in this agonizingly slow manner.”

Fans can find some hope in the fact that Thomas has expressed interest in bringing “Veronica Mars” to the big screen. And the third season hits DVD October 23rd…

Pick of the Week: The New "Being Bobby Brown"?

I’m already addicted to one celebrity reality show, why not one more?

My Pick of the Week is “Hey Paula” the new Bravo reality show that goes behind-the-scenes of Paula Abdul’s life.

Obviously we—and Bravo—are hoping for a new “Being Bobby Brown” and “Paula” definitely has that possibility if we see the loopy Paula we all know and love…

“Hey Paula” premieres Thursday, June 28th at 10 p.m…

It's a "Hannah Montana" Week...

Those of you who read my blogs are probably starting to think I’m a broken record. “Idol Chit-Chat” is all about Kelly Clarkson these days and now, “Stay Tuned” is going all “Hannah Montana”…

But what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t pass along the link to Miley/Hannah’s Bryant Park performance from “Good Morning America” that you can only see online?

The song is called “Make Some Noise” and you can see the performance at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3306006. It’s from the “Hannah Montana 2” CD and it’s got a great message…

You can also check out her performance of “We Got the Party” at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3305917 and “Life’s What You Make It” at http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3305940...

You’ll notice something in these performances that you don’t usually see from today’s teen stars. Miley’s actually singing…

I told you that “Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus” comes out this Tuesday, but I forgot to tell you that the newest “Hannah Montana” DVD also hits stores on that date.

It’s called “Hannah Montana: Pop Star Profile” and features four episodes centering around the character of TV star Jake Ryan (Cody Linley): “The New Kid In School,” in which Miley considers giving up her identity to get the special treatment that Jake does; “More Than a Zombie to Me,” where Hannah gets a role on Jake’s TV show; “Good Golly, Miss Dolly,” featuring a guest appearance by Dolly Parton as Aunt Dolly, who helps Miley retrieve a video of her confessing her crush on Jake; and “People Who Use People,” in which Miley and Jake date other people to make each other jealous.

The DVD also has a feature called “The Real Miley Cyrus,” which takes us behind the scenes with Miley and her family.

As I told you earlier, Cody Linley will make his return to “Hannah Montana” in a special two-part episode this Sunday at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.

With the CD, the DVD, the “People” cover AND the Disney Channel special, it’s definitely a “Hannah Montana” week. So why not make it complete with a visit to the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center in Ashland to see the Miley Cyrus/“Hannah Montana” exhibit? For museum hours and admission prices, visit www.highlandsmuseum.com...

Billy Ray and Miley talk to "People"

Here's a look at the cover of the new issue of "People" magazine, in which Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley talk about the right way to grow up in Hollywood.

The magazine hits stands today, although some stores don't get theirs until Monday.

I'll have more on the interview as soon as I get my copy...

______ come on down! You're the next host of "The Price Is Right"!

Maybe instead of “The Price Is Right,” CBS should do a game show where celebrities compete to replace Bob Barker…

On second thought, let’s not give them any ideas…

The frenzy over who will replace Barker reached a fever pitch this week. Here’s a little recap…

First came the news that Bob Barker seemingly endorsed Rosie O’Donnell as his replacement backstage at the Daytime Emmys Friday night. Rosie had done some campaigning for the job, but there were reports that Barker didn’t want her. Barker told reporters Friday that she could do it because she knew the show, but he didn’t know if the producers wanted a woman since they had only auditioned men…

Rosie, of course, took this news and ran with it, campaigning for the job on her blog, and saying that she would meet with producers this week. Her rep, meanwhile, said that Rosie was meeting with several different people about several different projects. One of those may have been new NBC Entertainment President Ben Silverman who is known to want Rosie pretty badly for a talk show and/or a game show…

Meanwhile, “Price” producers auditioned Ian Ziering for the job (according to “Variety”). He joins fellow “Dancing With the Stars” alumni Mario Lopez and George Hamilton, “Early Show” weatherman Dave Price, “Entertainment Tonight” host Mark Steines and John O’Hurley as the known candidates for the job…

Then yesterday, Barker told the AP that his comments Friday night were not meant to be an endorsement of Rosie since there were several other good candidates…

And also yesterday, a new name surfaced as being in the mix—Drew Carey. “Variety” reports that Carey met with CBS and Fremantle (the show’s producers) to discuss the job. Carey is the host of “Power of 10,” which will debut on CBS in August…

Fremantle (which also produces “American Idol”) and CBS will need to make a decision soon since new episodes are scheduled to debut in the fall…

Although Rosie would bring a lot of initial publicity, I can’t see CBS handing over one of its most important daytime properties to such a polarizing figure. And I like Drew Carey, but having seen the previews of “Power of 10,” I just don’t see it. And Ian Ziering? Wasn’t it lack of personality that doomed him on “Dancing With the Stars”? I’m still behind John O’Hurley, but I’m getting the feeling I might be alone on that one…

So what do you think? Who should be the new host of “The Price Is Right”? You can share your thoughts by posting a comment or you can e-mail me directly at hdstaytuned@hotmail.com...

Meet Miley Cyrus...

Tomorrow (Friday) morning on “Good Morning America,” you can catch Hannah Montana, aka Miley Cyrus, in concert.

The appearance is to promote the new two-CD set, “Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus,” which hits stores June 26th. One disc, “Hannah Montana 2,” has 10 new songs from the second season of “Hannah.” The second disc, “Meet Miley Cyrus,” features 10 of Miley’s own songs, including eight that she co-wrote.

Miley told Disney Online that the “Hannah” music is “poppier” and the Miley music is “more from me as a real person…We made sure, since it is a double disc, to make the sounds really contrast with each other.”

Starting October 19th, Miley will be on tour performing songs from both albums. The first “Hannah Montana” soundtrack has sold over 3 million copies.

“Good Morning America” airs Friday 7 a.m.-9 a.m. on ABC...

Also, Disney Channel will present a special two-part episode of “Hannah Montana” Sunday, June 24th at 8 p.m. featuring the return of Miley’s crush, Jake…

Crying With Kathy...

The last show I would’ve ever imagined myself crying at was “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List”…

But there I was, crying right along with Kathy as she relived the day that she lost her father. It was hard not too…

It felt a little voyeuristic watching her go through this, but Kathy handled it beautifully, staying as strong as she could until “the moment she’d been dreading her entire life” finally came. The last phone conversation with her father was especially heartbreaking, because she (and we) could tell that he was saying goodbye.

Then, at the end of the episode, we watched Kathy take the stage for the first time after her father’s death. Both Kathy and her staff were concerned that she would break down on stage, but she made it through. You could see the tears in her eyes the whole time she talked about her dad, John, but the support of the audience helped her out until she could launch into her attacks on Britney.

And even though it’s several months late, let me add my condolences to Kathy and her family. Her dad was a funny guy…

If you missed it, you can catch an encore several times throughout the weekend (It’s Bravo after all.) and Tuesday, June 26th at 9 p.m. before the week’s new episode at 10.

Pick of the Week: My Summer Guilty Pleasure

Before I get to my Pick of the Week, let me tell you about some of this week’s big TV events…

Anyone who’s watched TNT or TBS in the last three months knows that Monday marks the return of “The Closer.” Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and the gang start out the season facing budget cuts. The commercial-free premiere of “The Closer” airs Monday, June 18th at 9 p.m. on TNT…

“The Closer” is followed by the premiere of “Heartland,” a drama about organ donation starring Treat Williams (“Everwood”), Rockmond Dunbar (“Prison Break”) and Kari Matchett (“Invasion,” “24”). “Heartland” premieres Monday, June 18th at 10 p.m. on TNT…

For the first time on American TV, we hear from Princes William and Harry about their mother, Princess Diana, and dealing with fame in an interview with Matt Lauer. “Dateline NBC” airs Monday, June 18th at 10 p.m. on NBC…

Since a new edition would be boring without Whitney, we can only enjoy the reruns. A marathon of “Being Bobby Brown” airs Saturday, June 23rd beginning at 10 a.m. on Bravo…

And now, my Pick of the Week, my summer guilty pleasure, “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List.”

I always thought Kathy Griffin was annoying and a waste of TV time. But then I watched the episodes of her show where she risked her life to entertain the troops in Iraq and I finally saw that the woman who loves to ridicule the rich and famous has a human side.

That doesn’t mean she’s not incredibly crude—because she is. It’s just that knowing she has a sensitive side helps me find her a little funnier…

This week, Kathy entertains guests on Rosie O’Donnell’s gay cruise and it doesn’t go as well as she’d hoped (which is always funny). But the reason I’m calling attention to it is that I know we will see MUCH more of Kathy’s human side as we see her deal with her father’s health problems and his eventual passing. And since her father has become such a star of her show, we will be mourning right along with her…

“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

I can never watch "Saved By the Bell" the same way again...

I’ve never watched “Celebrity Fit Club,” but I’ve caught some of it over the last few weeks and I decided to watch the finale. And watching those 90 minutes has led me to one conclusion…

I can never watch “Saved By the Bell” the same way again…

If you’ve never watched “CFC,” it’s a reality show in which celebs compete in weight loss challenges, while learning to improve their lifestyles. They’re guided by a fitness expert, a psychotherapist and a Marine drill sergeant.

This season’s cast was Maureen McCormick (“The Brady Bunch”), Tiffany, Ross “The Intern” Matthews (“The Tonight Show”), Rappers Warren G. and Da Brat, Cledus T. Judd, Kimberley Locke and Dustin Diamond (Screech, “Saved By the Bell”).

At its heart, “CFC” can be pretty touching as we watch the celebrities deal with all of their inner demons to get fit. Maureen McCormick was this year’s individual winner as she dropped over 30 pounds and dealt with the grief that had driven her to gain the weight to begin with. Ross lost 41 pounds and gained the confidence that had eluded him most of his life as he proved to be a capable team leader. And Cledus T. Judd tackled an eating disorder and his fear of flying, making a complete transformation (His fans probably won’t even recognize him anymore.).

But it was obvious that Dustin Diamond’s entire reason for doing the show was to create publicity for himself, an unfortunate side effect of the reality TV craze. He decided to be the show’s villain, bucking the advice of the panel and insulting all of his castmates. After making a lewd comment about Kimberley at a porno convention to promote his “leaked” sex tape and his new line of sex toys (Sadly, you read all of that right.), the entire cast—except for the kind-hearted Ross—walked out (They all returned when Dustin himself walked out). But Dustin, of course, returned to cause more drama.

Most reality show villains create entertaining drama (Santino of “Project Runway,” Rob from “Survivor”). But Dustin only created disgust as he tried to wring out any drop of publicity he could, deluding himself into thinking that he is still a celebrity worth caring about.

I would’ve paid good money to see Ross go Jack Bauer on Dustin…

When August 7th rolls around, I will still buy the “Saved By the Bell: “Wedding In Vegas”/“Hawaiian Style” DVD because I have been waiting on it for years. But it will be a little harder to enjoy…

The Price Was Right One Final Time...

If you missed Bob Barker’s final “The Price Is Right,” you missed something pretty special…

But not because of anything Bob himself did. No, for him, the show was business as usual. He moved from game to game just as he always did. Not even a spontaneous confetti shower knocked him off stride.

What made this show special were the contestants. So enthusiastic for their love of this 83-year-old man who has become like family for all of us…

The show kicked off with Denise, who was born nine days after Barker took over the show. She never stopped jumping especially after she won a $45,000 Corvette in the show’s first game…

Then there was Phillip who had waited in line five days and ended up in the showcase showdown…

There was Melva, who never stopped shaking, fell while spinning the wheel, and after one failed attempt, finally got to fulfill her 17-year-old dream of kissing Bob Barker…

And there was Dean, the Canadian who played along so gamely with Barker’s patented stalling and who saved Melva from knocking herself out on the wheel…

In the end, it was the excitable Denise who walked away the big winner with a $90,000+ showcase and a whopping $140,235 in prizes…

And then Barker looked into the camera and thanked us for welcoming him into our homes for 50 years and then reminded us—as always—to help control the pet population.

It was a perfect ending to an extraordinary run.

I have to believe that Barker himself was stunned at the devotion he inspired in so many. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t controversial. He was just Bob Barker. And that’s why we love him.

Enjoy retirement, Bob. We will miss you…

The reasons for my glee...

Those of you who are longtime readers of this blog or the one that preceded it know that NASCAR is one of my favorite topics.

And longtime readers also know that I am a Jeff Gordon fan. So you might have been surprised by my “giddy” reaction to Dale Earnhardt Jr. joining Hendrick Motorsports. After all, the most popular driver in the sport coming to his team will certainly hurt Jeff’s claim to being the top dog at Hendrick.

But I love an ironic twist. And it’s hard to think of a better one than Jr. becoming the teammate of the driver his fans hate most. A driver they hate so much that they risk his safety—and the safety of their beloved Jr.—by throwing cans at him (Budweiser cans, of course).

A hate which, by the way, I think we all know is why NASCAR needlessly delayed calling Sunday’s race, but I digress…

As Jr. explained himself yesterday, fans have long believed that there was bad blood between Jeff and Jr.’s dad, but there never was. The two were even business partners for a time, co-owning Chase Authentics. And Jr. said that he and Jeff are friends and mentioned that there were things behind the scenes that people didn’t know about.

But Jr. knows how to keep his fans happy, so he told ESPN that he thought his fans and Jeff’s fans could still draw a line in the sand between them.

I smell a commercial…

But irony is not the only reason I’m so happy about the announcement. I’m also happy for Jr. Let’s face it. The past six years haven’t been easy for him as he’s had to grow up fairly quickly. Yesterday’s press conference was a perfect example of how much he has. He has truly learned to handle the media, sponsors, and all of the other things that go with his job. And it was great to see him smile…

And there are two other reasons. Number one, I enjoy being right. I knew that there was more to Jr. getting in Kyle Busch’s car than met the eye, plus there was a lot of love getting thrown around between Jeff and Jr. in the last few weeks…

The final reason? I can’t stand Kyle Busch and I am thrilled to have him out of the Hendrick organization. Plus, I have a strong feeling there will be more irony around the corner because I’d say there’s an excellent chance Busch will end up at DEI…

And for the record, I just want to say that I have been a Jeff Gordon fan since he came into the sport. It is mere coincidence that his number is 24…

Now, since my primary job with this blog is to talk about TV, let me say a few things about all of the coverage of the event…

First of all, kudos to Darrell Waltrip for getting it right. He had said Hendrick all the way. And kudos to Jeff Hammond—who had said Gibbs was a done deal two weeks ago—for acknowledging DW was right on SPEED yesterday…

It’s still really weird for me to see Brad Daugherty covering NASCAR on ESPN since I was such a big fan of his when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But it’s obvious that he’s really done his homework and although he needs a volume control sometimes, he usually makes strong comments. However, yesterday, I would have liked him to keep his comments a little shorter so we could have heard more from Rusty Wallace…

And a HUGE jeer to ESPN—who otherwise put together a solid special edition of “NASCAR Now”—for cutting off Jr.’s interview at the most interesting part. Just when Jr. was answering the question of how close he came to a deal with Richard Childress, the tape stopped. “I never wanted to drive the 3,” Jr. said, as they cut back to the studio. It was like watching the finale of “The Sopranos.” Technical glitch or not, we deserved to know the rest of that statement…

Maybe we’ll get the answer Sunday when SPEED Channel airs an interview with Jr. and his sister and manager, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge. The interview will air during “NASCAR RaceDay” which airs at 11 a.m. There will no doubt be more coverage on TNT beginning at 12:30 p.m. with “NASCAR Live!” The pre-race show, “Countdown to Green” begins at 1:30 p.m. with the Citizens Bank 400 beginning at 2 p.m. on TNT…

I’m just sorry that FOX isn’t still airing races because then maybe DW could finally spill what he knew all along…

Giddy Doesn't Describe It...

Giddy doesn't even come close to what I am feeling right now...

It's official. Beginning in 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon will be teammates! I can't wait to see the Jr. Nation reaction to this one...

Forget whether Lebron was fouled or not (I think he was.). This is the biggest story in sports.

To catch up, you can tune in to "NASCAR Now" at 6 p.m. and Midnight on ESPN2 or "The SPEED Report" at 7 p.m. on SPEED Channel...

You can also get the latest by reading the At the Track blog. Just click on the link at the right.

I'll have MUCH more to say about this after I sequester myself in my living room and watch all of the coverage...

"The Sopranos": The Debate Rages On...

Not since the “Seinfeld” gang went to jail has there been so much debate about a series finale…

Having now seen the final scene on YouTube, I can totally understand why so many “The Sopranos” fans are up in arms. The tension and anticipation is so thick you can cut it with a knife. And then it goes black. But the scene doesn’t just fade to black. It cuts to black so abruptly you think your cable’s gone out (as many people across the country did).

Some people feel that this was creator David Chase’s way of flipping off America by refusing to follow conventional TV rules. Others say that leaving the ending open to interpretation was pure Chase genius.

Chase told the Newark, N.J. “Star-Ledger”: “I have no interest in explaining, defending, reinterpreting, or adding to what is there…No one was trying to be audacious, honest to God. We did what we thought we had to do. No one was trying to blow people's minds or thinking, 'Wow, this'll [tick] them off.' People get the impression that you're trying to [mess] with them, and it's not true. You're trying to entertain them. Anybody who wants to watch it, it's all there.”

Chase actually fled to France with his wife to avoid “all the Monday morning quarterbacking” and allow viewers to put their own spin on it.

And boy, have they…

HBO’s website crashed for 30 minutes Sunday night with 10 times the usual volume as fans flooded the message boards with their frustrations and theories…

The most predominant theory is that Tony was indeed killed and that the black screen hearkened back to a conversation Tony had with Bobby in which they discussed getting shot. Bobby said that when you die, “everything goes black.” Some fans say they recognized some of the men in the diner as people who had taken shots at Tony previously. And most people believe that the man going to the men’s room was an homage to “The Godfather” when Michael Corleone retrieved a gun from the bathroom.

Others think the ending was left ambiguous so that Chase could do a “Sopranos” movie. Chase told the “Star-Ledger”: “If something appeared that really made a good ‘Sopranos’ movie and you could invest in it and everybody else wanted to do it, I would do it. But I think we've kind of said it and done it.”

There were no alternate endings shot, but a final page of the original script that had Meadow taking her seat before it went black was scrapped.

If one of my favorite shows ended so abruptly, I would be furious, so I totally feel everyone’s pain; but I’m not completely against an ambiguous ending. I think that if the black had been more of a fade than a sudden jolt followed by 10 seconds of nothing that fans would have dealt with it better…

What do you think? You can see the final scene for yourself until HBO gets wise and takes it down at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QqmAsTPGiA&NR=1...

Disney gets the "HSM 2" party started...

Since I made such a big deal about it, I figured I would be remiss to not make some kind of comment about "What Time Is It?" the first single from "High School Musical 2."

I have to say that it started out a little blah, but when the chorus finally kicked in, my feet were tapping. And it's nice to hear Corbin Bleu getting some more voice time in this one.

Die-hard "High School Musical" fans will hear something different coming out of Zac Efron's mouth--his own voice. Efron told "Access Hollywood" that you will hear his singing voice in the movie and on the soundtrack. Producers dubbed in Drew Seeley's voice in many places in the first movie and on the "HSM" soundtrack ("Breaking Free" is the most obvious.). I actually watched the video again so I could listen for a difference, but I only detected a slight one. If that is Efron's voice, you have to wonder why they chose to dub it out of the first one...

But Efron's voice really isn't the reason to listen here. That would be Lucas Grabeel (Ryan), who along with Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay), steals every scene he's in (They stole the show during the concert tour as well.). I can't wait to see what those two bring to the party this time...

While I'm plugging "HSM," let me tell you about the perfect gift for the "HSM"-obsessed. You can now buy dolls of Gabriella and Sharpay, or a set with Troy and Gabriella. The dolls play a snippet of a song from the movie. The Troy and Gabriella set plays "Breakin' Free"...

Also, don't forget that auditions are coming up for the First Stage production of "High School Musical." You can read all about them on the Tri-State Theater blog. Just click on the link at the right...

"High School Musical 2" premieres August 17th on Disney Channel...

Pick of the Week: The End of An Era

Admit it. At one time or another, you too were addicted to “The Price Is Right”…

And why not? The premise is so simple. You don’t have to know trivia or be able to solve puzzles, you just guess how much something costs.

But now “Price” has reached the end of an era as Bob Barker has taped his final show. CBS will air that show twice on Friday.

Reruns will fill the timeslot until new episodes take over in the fall. CBS has yet to announce a replacement, but the new issue of “Entertainment Weekly” lists John O’Hurley as having the best odds.

Again, I voice my opinion that if we have to continue the show (which I don’t think we should), O’Hurley is the best choice. Asking a younger star—like Mario Lopez—to fill Barker’s shoes would be a huge mistake. And George Hamilton has no hosting experience. O’Hurley’s current gig on “Family Feud” is too structured. “Price” would give him a little more freedom to interact with contestants, as he did on “To Tell the Truth.” But as of this writing, CBS hasn’t called me to chat about it yet. Maybe that will change soon…

In the meantime, this week’s Pick of the Week is the final Bob Barker-hosted “The Price Is Right.” It airs Friday, June 15th at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on CBS…

"The Sopranos" Goes Dark...

Warning: The remainder of this post contains details about last night’s series finale of “The Sopranos.”

So “The Sopranos” went out with neither a bang nor a whimper. It just went out period.

In a scene meant to build up the tension, Tony and his family waited in a diner, while Meadow tried to find a parking place, with possible hitmen lurking everywhere. And then, it suddenly went black.

As I’ve said before, I’ve never seen a single episode of “The Sopranos” so I don’t know if this was a disappointment or not. But I’m glad they didn’t kill Tony because I don’t want other dramas getting the idea that killing their main character is okay…

Burke Scrubs Out of "Grey's Anatomy"

I usually don’t report on casting news that will give away storylines, but since the whole world will be talking about this one for a while, I figured I should to…

Isaiah Washington is gone from “Grey’s Anatomy.”

After months of speculation, Executive Producer/Creator Shonda Rhimes told Washington yesterday that he would not be invited back to the show. In a statement from his publicist, Washington said, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” The quote is a reference to the 1976 movie “Network,” but it’s still a classic example of what got Washington fired to begin with…his big mouth.

You may recall that Washington started a HUGE brew-ha-ha when he used a homophobic slur toward T.R. Knight (George) that caused Knight to go public with his sexuality. Then, he made it worse when he uttered it again at the Golden Globe Awards, causing Katherine Heigl (Izzy) to bash him in the media. Washington later went to rehab and recorded a PSA denouncing hate speech, but the damage was already done.

Knight, by the way, will return next season...

"What Time Is It?": Time To Begin the "High School Musical 2" Hype

Let the “High School Musical 2” hype begin…

This Saturday (June 9th) at 7:55 p.m., Disney Channel will premiere the first song from “HSM 2,” “What Time Is It?” the opening song of the movie that reintroduces us to the characters on the last day of school.

A CD single of “What Time Is It?” will be released July 17th with the entire soundtrack hitting stores August 14th.

So what exactly is the story for the sequel? With school out, Ryan and Sharpay retreat to their parents’ country club resort—but they’re not alone. The rest of the gang has gotten jobs there and soon everyone’s attention turns to the resort’s end of the year talent show. But Sharpay’s attention has turned to Troy as she decides to break up Troy and Gabriella.

I guess that whole “We’re All in This Together” thing is over…

“High School Musical 2” debuts August 17th on Disney Channel…

"The Starter Wife": What's all the fuss about?

If the constant promos on almost every channel proclaiming it “a major television event” didn’t tip you off that “The Starter Wife” was a big deal, maybe the fact that USA re-aired it FOUR times in a row on Saturday gave you a clue.

I just wish someone would give me a clue as to what all the fuss was about…

“The Starter Wife” is the story of Molly Kagen (Debra Messing), who as the show opens is leading a charmed life as the wife of Hollywood studio executive Kenny Kagen. But when Kenny asks for a divorce, Molly instantly becomes a social pariah. Forced to confront her status as a “starter wife,” Molly tries to pick up the pieces and move on.

Helping her along are her friends Rodney, her gay interior decorator, and Joan, her alcoholic friend who is married to an older man. Molly is shunned by her friend, Cricket, because Cricket’s director husband is trying to sell a picture to Kenny’s studio (Cricket doesn’t want to, but she’s playing the good wife.).

Also in the mix are Lou, the head of the studio and Kenny’s boss who helps Molly navigate some of the social waters (and who clearly has his eye on her); Sam, the mysterious hunk who saves Molly’s life; and Lavender, the Malibu colony security guard Molly befriends.

The show tries very hard to get inside Hollywood and expose all of its backstabbing and petty ways, but it all comes off as so “been there and done that” that it’s hard to get engrossed. Personally, I think the show could stand to get a little more outrageous…

Not that it hasn’t tried. Cricket’s husband, Jorge, slept with their nanny, who then blackmailed Jorge for $50,000. Joan told everyone she was going to France, when she was really going to rehab at the urging of her husband (who did go to France). After her therapist told her they needed to get to the emotions that caused her to drink, Joan began making up wild stories about her sister (which the previews tell us that Molly will pose as in this week’s episode). But somehow it just isn’t enough…

Nor is the background on these characters. I had to read on the website what Kenny actually did for a living. And the show has the weakest use of voiceover I think I’ve ever seen. While riding in her car, we hear Molly say, “I was glad that I could spend the day with Joan before she left.” How about you tell us who Joan is and why we should care about her!

And sadly, after watching for two hours, I still can’t tell you what in the world a starter wife even is…

Plus, I know that we’re supposed to feel sorry for Molly, but after watching her throw her kid off on the nanny at every turn and her conceited interactions with both Sam and Lou, I find it really hard to do. I’m sure as the show progresses that Molly will learn the error of her ways, but right now, she’s getting a little annoying.

The one thing the show does have going for it is its amazing cast. Debra Messing is doing Emmy caliber work as Molly and Judy Davis (Joan) is always sensational—even when her character has no purpose. Tony Winner Anika Noni Rose (“Dreamgirls”) is just as appealing as ever as Lavender and Joe Mantegna is adorable as the infatuated Lou. I just wish they all had something more exciting to do.

“The Starter Wife” is actually a six-hour mini-series, but after the $20 million USA spent promoting the premiere (which garnered record ratings for the network), I have no doubt it will turn into a regular series. Maybe then they could crank it up a notch…

Or at least explain to me what a starter wife is…

“The Starter Wife” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on USA…

"House of Payne" is Truly Painful...

Sometimes you watch a show just to see if it really is as bad as the critics say…

In the case of “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” it’s not as bad as the critics say. It’s worse.

“House of Payne” is the brainchild of Tyler Perry who became a star after his movies “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Madea’s Family Reunion” grossed over $100 million. Convinced that network politics wouldn’t work for him, Perry used $5 million of his own money to produce 10 episodes of a TV show. Last summer, those episodes ran on 10 large-market TV stations, generating impressive ratings. TBS then picked up the show and ordered 100 episodes, which they will have exclusively until September 2008 when they go into syndication. The pricetag was reportedly $200 million.

TBS should ask for a refund…

“Payne” is the story of a multigenerational family led by Curtis, a fire chief. Curtis and his wife, Ella, help out their nephew. C.J. and his wife Janine by watching their kids. From what I’ve read about the show, C.J.’s family ends up moving in with Curtis after a drug-using Janine accidentally burns their house down. But I didn’t see that because I could only last 20 minutes…

There were some funny moments, but they were squashed by bad comic timing as the actors did their lines like they were late for another audition. And that laugh track! Not only were the laughs ridiculous sounding, but they fired at all the wrong times. I hate laugh tracks anyway but this is the worst one I have ever heard.

Which leads to a very important question. What was TBS thinking? Did TBS not watch this show before they bought it? As “Variety” put it in their review, “how [Perry] got the cabler to pony up for 100 episodes of such an uncharacteristically unfunny sitcom as ‘House of Payne’ is worthy of a sitcom on its own.” Perry has admitted in interviews that he wrote the first 10 episodes hurriedly, but producing two or three episodes per week is not going to improve that any.

If I may paraphrase a line from another review, “House of Payne” is truly painful to watch…

“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on TBS…

Congratulations "Jericho" Fans!

The headline at JerichoLives.com says it all…

JERICHO LIVES!!!!!!

That’s right. It’s official. “Jericho” has been saved…

Here’s the letter that CBS Entertainment President posted on the “Jericho” message board:

To the Fans of Jericho:

Wow!

Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.

As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of Jericho for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more Jericho, we will need more viewers.
A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.

We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.

At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that Jericho will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting Jericho on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of Jericho in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment

P.S. Please stop sending us nuts.

Let me now officially pass my congratulations on to the “Jericho” fans. Kudos also belong to CBS for fixing their mistake. If only ABC was as open-minded...

When the show returns, I will be watching and I hope many others will be as well. This story deserves to have an even happier ending…

"Jericho" Fans Go Nuts on CBS--And It May Have Worked...

I was waiting until there was something more concrete before I wrote about this, but it’s too big of a story to ignore…

After Michael Ausiello from “TV Guide” broke the story yesterday, the “Hollywood Reporter” is now reporting that CBS is in talks to bring back “Jericho” with a seven-episode midseason order.

According to the “Reporter,” talks are under way with the cast (although possible budget reductions may lead to some of them not returning next season). Efforts are also under way to assemble a writing staff. Executive Producer Carol Barbee told the “Los Angeles Times” today that they are also trying to work out some logistical issues since the new drama “Swingtown” is scheduled to take over the show’s stages.

So how did this happen? The “Jericho” fans went nuts on CBS—literally.

In the season finale, Jake (Skeet Ulrich) hears the story of General MacAuliffe, who when asked to surrender to the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, replied, “Nuts.” So when New Bern’s commander asks Jake and the people of Jericho to surrender at the end of the episode, he replies, “Nuts.”

Inspired by that, “Jericho” fans deluged the CBS New York offices with nuts. CNN reports that 50,000 pounds of peanuts have been delivered (CBS is donating them to charities, by the way.).

There were also Internet message boards, letter writing/e-mail campaigns and an amazing website, http://www.jericholives.com/. If the town of Jericho has half as good a battle plan as these guys, New Bern doesn’t stand a chance…

CBS has made no official announcement about the show, so the fans are not giving up their fight yet. As Tuesday’s Campaign Command Address at JerichoLives.com says, “We must not lose our heads at the first real signs of victory. Our victory, while it may seem to be close, is not assured…While we must steady ourselves to be gracious toward CBS, we must not falter in our resolve.”

As I’ve said before, cancelling “Jericho” was a mistake, and it’s nice that CBS might be seeing the error of their ways—especially since it was their scheduling that killed the show to begin with.

But more than that, I would really like to believe that we live in a world where a group of die-hard television fans can truly make a difference.

I’ll have more on this story as it develops…

"Army Wives": Have we seen this before?

I’m not really into earnest, feel-good dramas, so “Army Wives” is not a show I would normally check out.

But since Lifetime hyped it SO much, I figured I should give it a look.

And as far as earnest, feel-good dramas go, it wasn’t too bad. But I found it ironic that in a show called “Army Wives,” the best character is a guy…

The tagline of the show pretty much sums it up: “The army has its code. The wives have their own.” Think of it as “The Unit” without the Unit part.

Claudia Joy Holden (Kim Delaney) is the mother hen of the group putting on tea parties and trying to keep order among the wives. Her husband is passed over for a promotion to brigadier general because another wife started rumors that he’s a racist—which Claudia is more than happy to confront her about. But since that wife is married to the man who did get the promotion, you know there will be trouble ahead…

Denise Sherwood (Catherine Bell) is the mother with the troubled teenager, who hits her. Her husband, a colonel, is a hard-driving dad who pushed his son into West Point and has now left her alone with her son after he’s deployed for three months…

Pamela Moran (Brigid Branagh) is the wife trying to keep her cash-strapped family together. She is serving as a surrogate mother to make money, but she can’t tell anyone at the post because it will ruin her husband who is trying to become a member of the Delta Force…

Roxy LeBlanc (Sally Pressman) is the newlywed trying to figure out what she’s gotten herself into (Her husband proposed after only knowing her four days.). Roxy immediately has trouble fitting in and commits a major no-no when she takes a job at a bar where wives go to pick up guys while their husbands are away…

Roland Burton is the Army husband. His wife, Joan, a lieutenant colonel, has just returned from Afghanistan and is having a difficult time readjusting to normal life…

The show is based on the book “Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage” so I’m sure there’s a lot of truth to it. But for the most part, the characters come off a little clichéd—especially Roxy. She’s meant to add shock value to the show, but it feels like we’ve seen it all before.

The real gem of the show is Roland, who got all of the episode’s best lines. When he overhears the drama between Claudia, Denise and Roxy in the ladies’ room (He and Joan are getting reacquainted.), he says, “The men’s room is really boring.” And his scenes with Pamela in labor were laugh-out-loud funny. But since he has one of the more dramatic storylines of the show (dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome), I have a feeling he’s about to lose his spark…

Of course, as the episode ends, these women (and man) who start off with nothing in common bond together as they help Pamela through labor. But when Roxy says, “We all have our secrets, it’s Claudia who utters the phrase that will no doubt power the rest of the series: “Yes we do.”

As I’ve often said, a drama pilot is a tricky thing. It’s hard to sustain viewer interest and introduce all of the characters at the same time. Plus, “Wives” had the added challenge of having to introduce the military world to us civilians. So, I’ve got to believe that “Wives” will get stronger as it goes along—especially since it’s from Mark Gordon, an executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

If you like earnest, feel-good dramas with a familiar vibe then “Army Wives” is for you. Otherwise, about face and move it on out…

“Army Wives” airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on Lifetime. You can watch the premiere online at www.lifetimetv.com/shows/armywives...