Tuning out

With the ongoing writer’s strike, I have started looking a little more critically at the television lineup. For example, I thought a reborn American Gladiators franchise on NBC sounded like a great idea. It didn’t take much to kill off that optimism and change the channel. The gladiators have the personalities of a dull pencil, the contenders are mostly scripted and the hosts (including Hulk Hogan) have managed to ruin any positive memories I had of the original series. I don’t even want a tennis ball gatling ball anymore.

I saw a preview for ABC’s Eli Stone and thought “axed in five weeks”. When a pilot episode relies on George Michael to sing “Faith”, you know it is just begging to be put out of its misery. Even the whimsical premise makes you wonder if it could be a Lost spin-off. CBS is importing its new show Flashpoint from Canada to avoid dealing with the writers.

With the nightly news talking about economic woes and nothing worth watching on television, one has to wonder where America is finding a good pick-me-up. I am sure one of the dozen prescription drug ads that run every five minutes can cure what ails you.


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