Wanted: The Next Great Man-on-the-Run Series
January, 26, 2012 2:22 pm | On #TelevisionFrom the sixties through the nineties, TV series built around the viscerally appealing concept of the person on the run from authority while in pursuit of a just cause (all the while helping others along the way) has been a staple of television.
Yet for some reason, since about 2000 the genre has largely disappeared as mysteriously as the one-armed man following the murder of Helen Kimble.
David Janssen, in fact, set the standard for the program category with his portrayal of Dr. Richard Kimble, “an innocent victim of blind justice” who in 1963 began a four-ordeal in search of his wife’s real killer, the mysterious one-armed man. The show, of course, was ABC’s “The Fugitive” and it’s success led to several imitators over though the sixties, seventies and nineties.
Some of the more notable...
Read MoreThe Ultimate TV Network Schedule
November, 28, 2010 3:18 pm | On #Television
Here’s something that might be fun to argue about over the holidays.
We’re coming up on the close of 2010 and an era that has run roughly 60 years. That is, the cultural domination of the broadcast networks via their prime-time schedules.
But with literally thousands of channels available to consumers via cable, satellite and the Internet, the idea of a few broadcasters deciding what Americans would watch and when they would watch it is starting to look almost quaint.
Still, the networks have provided lots of programming over the last 60 years that will live on in the cultural memory for decades more. So, with 60 years worth of programming to choose from, I decided to create one ultimate schedule that would represent the best of an era (clearly I have...
Read MoreUpfront Talk: Broadcasters Should Not Compete With Cable Siblings
May, 17, 2010 11:56 am | On #John W. Kennedy, TelevisionSome months ago I wrote about “10 Out-of-the-Box Ideas to Save Network Television.”
Topping that list was this proposal:
“While the broadcast networks face increasing competition from cable, much of that competition comes from themselves. NBC Universal, for example, owns USA, Syfy, Bravo, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo and the Weather Channel. Wouldn’t it be better if these networks were consolidated and arranged so that they worked with each other? Why, for example, are the hits 'Royal Pains' (left) and 'Burn Notice' running on USA and not NBC?
“My suggestion would be to make NBC (broadcast) the base network running new shows 24...
Read MoreA Good Time to Let 'Two and a Half Men' Go
February, 25, 2010 12:32 pm | On #Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half MenFirst of all, I’m not out to kick Charlie Sheen when he’s down. I sincerely wish him godspeed in getting past his personal problems and turning his life around -- which right now might be viewed as a lesson in how money can’t buy happiness.
Stop Beating on Jay!
January, 29, 2010 10:57 am | On #Conan O'Brien, jay leno, NBC, Television, Tonight ShowSo, I saw Jay Leno on Oprah’s show. I’ve also been reading some of the blogosphere commentary afterward. And, frankly, I think it’s time to say a few words in Leno’s defense -- because, in my view, this guy is guilty of nothing more than being perceived as less cool than Conan O’Brien (and David Letterman) for that matter.
An Out-of-the-Box Solution to NBC's Leno Dilemma
January, 08, 2010 11:55 am | On #Conan O'Brien, jay leno, John W. Kennedy, NBCSo, here’s the situation.
NBC is facing an affiliate revolt against “The Jay Leno Show” at 10 p.m. because the show’s low ratings are seriously hurting their 11 p.m. newscasts.
Leno has, thus far, refused the 8 p.m. slot previously offered by NBC, but he likely would accept a reinstatement as host of “The Tonight Show” at 11:35 p.m. The problem is current host Conan O’Brien (with ratings troubles of his own) will not go quietly back into the late night.
Though each host is having a difficult time in his current slot, both are proven ratings winners in other circumstances – and other networks (notably ABC and Fox) would jump at the chance to scoop up either one and cause additional headaches for the Peacock....
Read MoreRev. Schuller's New Plan: a Major Traditional-Values Network
November, 23, 2009 2:38 pm | On #American Life Network, Chris Wyatt, Comstar Media, Everyday Life, Robert SchulerUntil now, the American Life Network has been known primarily as a lower-rated version of TVLand, airing off-net staples such as "L.A. Law" and "Remington Steele."
10 Out-of-the-Box Ideas to Save the Networks
August, 19, 2009 1:47 pm | On #Burn Notice, Friends, NBC, Royal Pains, USA
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- CNN Suspends Roland Martin Over Super Bowl Tweets (Video)
- Meryl Streep Oscar Email Angers Voters, But It's Legal (Updated)
- 6 New Schwarzenegger Films We'd Like to See (Slideshow)
- Jay Leno Sued Over 'Tonight Show' Mitt Romney Crack
- Gary Busey Bankruptcy Shocker: Actor Files for Chapter 7 Protection
- Lindsay Lohan's Full Nude Playboy Spread Leaks Online -- Playboy 'Freaking' (Warning: NSFW)
- Gary Busey Joins 'Two and a Half Men' as It Takes Another Dig at Charlie Sheen (Video)
- Relativity Hit With $44M Breach of Contract Suit By Aramid
- 'The X Factor' Sued by Contestant, 86, for Making Him Too Tired to Perform
- 'The Bourne Legacy' Trailer: Jeremy Renner Takes the Reins from Damon (Video)
- CNN Suspends Roland Martin Over Super Bowl Tweets (Video)
- 'Glee' Ratings Plunge: Why Audiences Are Tuning Out
- 'Columbo' Star Peter Falk Dies at 83
- Clint Eastwood Makes Chrysler the Super Bowl Ad Champ for 2nd Year (Video)
- Daniel Radcliffe Defends Lana Del Rey Over 'SNL' Debacle
- Jay Leno Sued Over 'Tonight Show' Mitt Romney Crack
- Lindsay Lohan's Full Nude Playboy Spread Leaks Online -- Playboy 'Freaking' (Warning: NSFW)
- Obit: Marilyn Chambers, Porn Star, Found Dead at 56
- Ellen Supporters Counter Conservative Moms' JC Penney Campaign
- Brokaw Involved in Fatal Car Crash
- Clint Eastwood on Super Bowl Ad: I'm Not Obama's Puppet
- EXCLUSIVE: Brittany Murphy 'Barely There' on Recent Movie
- TheWrap Investigates: 11 Players Have Committed Suicide
- Perez Hilton Tweets Another Full Frontal Miley Cyrus Photo
- Arianna's $250K Bus to Jon Stewart Rally a 'Shock' at HuffPo HQ
- LaToya Scene Now Out of 'Bruno'
- Perez Hilton's Upcoming Book Outselling Carrie Prejean's
- Lindsay Lohan's Full Nude Playboy Spread Leaks Online -- Playboy 'Freaking' (Warning: NSFW)
- Biden's Leno Stop Clogs LAX; Passengers Furious
- Police: 'Ugly Betty' Actor Kills Mom With Samurai Sword
- 'Twilight Saga' -- the Making of a Bargain Blockbuster

