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Date Posted: 13:15:55 01/07/02 Mon
Author: Islandgirl
Subject: Newspaper column dealing with XF and other shows (vague season nine spoilers)

I thought this was interesting. Comments from me at the end.

BC-TV-MIDSEASON-HNS|
NETWORKS SCRAMBLE TO FIX LACKLUSTER SEASON|
EDITORS: ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL STANDARD TIME|
By MIKE McDANIEL|
|c. 2002 Houston Chronicle|
(UNDATED) — The fall TV season had its critical successes, including ‘‘24’’ and ‘‘The Bernie Mac Show’’ (Fox), ‘‘Scrubs’’ (NBC), ‘‘Smallville’’ and ‘‘Reba’’ (the WB), and ‘‘Alias’’ (ABC). But not one has emerged as an unqualified hit with viewers.
Broadcast networks introduced 35 series between late August and November. Only one, NBC’s already canceled sitcom ‘‘Inside Schwartz,’’ cracked Nielsen’s list of top 20 shows — thanks to being scheduled after ‘‘Friends,’’ the No. 1 show this year.
The next highest-rated new show is CBS’ ‘The Guardian’ (No. 23). Others in the top 50: NBC’s ‘‘Crossing Jordan’ (No. 25), NBC’s ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’’ (No. 29), NBC’s ‘Scrubs‘‘ (No. 37), CBS’ ’’The Education of Max Bickford’ and ABC’s ‘‘Philly’’ (tie, No. 42) and CBS’ ‘‘The Agency’’ (No. 47).
The networks aren’t panicking, however. They intend to offer viewers more opportunities to see freshman series before bringing out the hatchet. Only seven other of the 35 new series have been canceled: NBC’s ‘‘Emeril,’’ ABC’s ‘Bob Patterson’ and ‘Thieves,’ CBS’ ‘Wolf Lake,’ ‘Danny’ and ‘‘Citizen Baines,’’ and the WB’s ‘‘Elimidate Deluxe.’’
Here’s a midseason look at the networks:
ABC — Only one new show, ‘‘Alias,’’ has stirred critical buzz. ‘‘Millionaire’’ drew smaller, older audiences. The move of ‘‘20/20’’ to 9 p.m. Wednesdays didn’t work.
Repairs: 20/20 moves back to 9 p.m. Fridays beginning Jan. 18. ‘‘Once and Again’’ already has moved to 8 p.m. Fridays. ‘‘Downtown’’ moves to 9 p.m. Wednesdays on Jan. 16. ‘‘The Job’’ returns, 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan. 16. A new edition of ‘‘The Mole’’ could occupy the 7 p.m. Monday hour. March premieres include ‘‘The Court,’’ a Supreme Court drama starring Sally Field, and ‘‘The Web,’’ a sitcom poking fun at network TV.
CBS — The network enjoyed strong showings from its Monday comedies and ‘‘CSI,’’ ‘‘JAG’’ and ‘‘Survivor.’’ The success of ‘‘The Guardian’’ was a pleasant surprise. Disappointments include ‘‘Citizen Baines’’ (canceled) and ‘‘The Education of Max Bickford’’ (limping).
Repairs: ‘‘That’s Life’’ moves to 8 p.m. Saturdays. ‘‘First Monday,’’ a Supreme Court drama starring Joe Mantegna and James Garner, debuts Jan. 15, then takes ‘‘That’s Life’s’’ current time slot, 8 p.m. Fridays, on Jan. 18. March premieres include a reality show, ‘‘American Fighter Pilot,’’ and a sitcom, ‘‘Baby Bob.’’ ‘‘Survivor IV’’ should pop up in March, too.
Fox — The numbers don’t show it, but Fox is having a breakout year creatively. ‘‘The Bernie Mac Show,’’ ‘‘24,’’ ‘‘Undeclared’’ and ‘‘The Tick’’ all deserve bigger audiences. Disappointments include ‘‘Dark Angel’’ and the new ‘‘Pasadena.’’ ‘‘Ally McBeal’’ and ‘‘The X-Files’’ are fading.
Repairs: ‘‘That ’80s Show’’ bows Jan. 23. ‘‘Ally’’ takes a vacation in March for a trial run of ‘‘Emma Brody,’’ about a young woman working for the American embassy in London. Sitcoms in the wings include ‘‘Greg the Bunny’’ and ‘‘Andy Richter Controls the Universe.’’
NBC — ‘‘Emeril’’ and ‘‘Inside Schwartz’’ were busts, but ‘‘Scrubs,’’ ‘‘Crossing Jordan’’ and ‘‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’’ caught some buzz. Disappointments include ‘‘UC: Undercover,’’ ‘‘Three Sisters,’’ ‘‘Third Watch’’ and ‘‘Ed.’’
Repairs: ‘‘Leap of Faith,’’ about a group of 30-ish friends, and the comedy ‘‘Watching Ellie,’’ starring Julia Louis-Dreyfuss.
UPN — UPN found stature with ‘‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’’ and ‘‘Enterprise.’’ ‘‘WWF Smackdown’’ lost some of its mass appeal, and ‘‘Roswell’’ may be running on fumes. But Monday’s comedy lineup has performed well, especially with minorities.
Repairs: Two new comedies attempting to reach a more diverse audiences, ‘‘As If’’ and ‘‘Random Years.’’
WB — Despite losing ‘‘Buffy,’’ the network found success with new shows ‘‘Smallville’’ and ‘‘Reba,’’ and revamped established shows (‘‘Angel’’ and ‘‘Gilmore Girls’’ got new nights and ‘‘Charmed’’ took on a new star). Worries: ‘‘Felicity’’ had a lackluster season, Sundays are still pretty much a bust and the 7 p.m. Thursday hour, with ‘‘Popstars 2’’ then ‘‘Elimidate,’’ was a train wreck.
Repairs: Kevin Williamson’s mystery drama ‘‘Glory Days’’ bows Jan. 16. ‘‘The Jamie Kennedy Experiment,’’ a hidden-camera show with a twist, debuts Jan. 13. In March: ‘A Young Person’s Guide to Being a Rock Star,‘‘ starring Oliver Hudson, Kate’s brother.
X X X END OF STORY
Well, I agree that "The X-Files" is fading. There can be disagreement on whether or not it's fading in a *creative* sense, but the fact that it's definitely fading in a ratings sense is just that: a fact. XF has yet to have even one ep from this season place in the top 50 shows in the Nielsen Ratings. (In contrast, new eps from seasons 4-7 were *always* among the top 30 shows in the weeks they aired, and often among the top 20; season eight eps rarely cracked the top 30, but were usually at least in the top 50.) Its sinking ratings can't even be blamed on powerhouse competition; "Alias", which airs at the same time as XF and seems to be going after the same audience, isn't doing particularly well in the ratings, either. I *REALLY* wish they'd just let it die as a TV show and do more XF movies with Mulder and Scully, rather than continue this "X-Files, the Next Generation" concept they currently have going.
I know a lot of you are fans of "24" and "The Tick", so it's nice to see them mentioned. And I'm glad I'm not the only one who's been disappointed in the current season of "Dark Angel".
Several of the shows I started watching at the beginning of the TV season (i.e. "Wolf Lake" and "Thieves") are among the cancelled ones. About the only highlight of the TV season so far, from my point-of-view, is that "JAG" is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

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