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More ABC Comings and Goings
My only question about ABC moving Men in Trees to Thursdays after Grey's Anatomy, starting Nov. 30: Why wait so long?
The practical answer: ABC needs a little time to promote the move, and with Thanksgiving in the mix, it's probably more prudent to wait until after sweeps and the holiday to execute this change, which has been suggested for weeks by many an analyst (not to mention all those backseat amateur programmers who write into my "Ask Matt" mailbox). The upside: the likable romantic comedy of Men in Trees (which I'm now going to have to play catch-up with before it moves) is almost surely more compatible with the sexy shenanigans of Grey's than the pretentious contrivances of Six Degrees — which ABC promises to bring back. (But where? And why?) The downside: Trees' modest ratings performance on Fridays, which has kept it alive, could look disastrous on Thursdays if it doesn't grow considerably with this mammoth new lead-in. Being paired with a megahit is often a very mixed blessing. But still, this combo makes sense.
Now looking back on ABC's mutating Wednesday lineup: Can I just say that I'm glad Lost is over? Not the show itself, which I'll miss during its hiatus, but I'm happy to put this current six-episode "mini-season" behind me. I can't help but think it was a miscalculation to keep Kate, Sawyer and Jack prisoners for so long and subjecting us to endless scenes (up through the cliffhanger) of Sawyer being pummeled, tortured, abused, held at gunpoint. High melodrama at its lowest and most unpleasant. I was thrilled to see Jack taking control of the situation in the OR, with Ben's life in the balance, as he shouted on the walkie-talkie: "Kate, damn it, run!" (This to a woman in whose marriage flashback — to Firefly's Nathan Fillion, no less! — she was heard telling the U.S. Marshal, "I don't want to run anymore.") Using these episodes to introduce us to the world of the Others through the eyes of their captives wasn't a bad idea — and that jaw-dropping season-opener shot revealing the Others' village as the Oceanic plane crashes was one for the ages — but I didn't much relish the unsatisfying prospect of watching three of my favorite characters stuck in cages or in a subterranean prison for weeks on end. (Reminded me a bit of when Dynasty kept Krystle Carrington in an attic for what seemed like months, one of those signposts of the beginning of the end for that long-ago soap.)
When Lost returns, we need a reversal of fortune, and soon, to reunite these invaluable characters to the tribe they've been separated from for too long. I want to re-experience that sense of tribal community, not feel like I'm watching two or three separate shows (a feeling of dislocation that is probably exacerbated by Lost's trademark flashback device, of which I'm still a big fan).
The one undeniable positive from Lost's season so far is the introduction of Elizabeth Mitchell as Juliet. So enigmatic a femme fatale, with questionable motives in her secret allegiance with Jack against Ben (or is it just another trick). She's a keeper. So, if he survives Jack's surgery, is Ben. Through them, I hope to learn what I need to know (for now) about the Others. But not at the expense of being kept so long from the other castaways.
Without doubt, Lost is far from lost. (I'll probably defend this adventurous, one-of-a-kind show to the end.) But when it returns Feb. 7 amid all sorts of hype and hoopla, it needs to deliver the goods, and quickly, to bring us back to the show we know and love. Treading water for six weeks, because of this experimental split season, hasn't been the show's greatest moment. As I've discussed at length in the "Ask Matt" forum, maybe next season ABC will finally be ready to schedule the show 24-style, straight through, without repeat or interruption. If that means ending the show early in spring, or starting it late in the winter, so be it. Lost is too valuable, but also too fragile, an asset to risk with "mini-season" stunts like what we've just endured.
I can't wait for these next 16 episodes, because I'll be treating them as if they were the actual third season, and what we've just lived through as something of a bad nightmare (literally and otherwise). Bring it on.
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Nov 9, 2006 9:54 AM
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I don't think ABC's looking to challenge the total viewership numbers of ER or Shark, but needs Men in Trees to hold on to more of Grey's Anatomy's audience than Six Degrees did. It's similar to Brothers and Sisters benchmark for comparison being Boston Legal (when it was on Sundays) and not Grey's Anatomy.
But moving Men in Trees off of Fridays leaves the network with a two-hour gap of programming. I don't think it's unrealistic that ABC would give a show like Six Degrees or The Nine a shot there to see if they can live up to the diminished expectations of a Friday night slot.
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Nov 9, 2006 10:50 AM
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Man, I LOVED this six-episode arc on "Lost." Best six episodes all together since the first six, with enormous growth for Jack and Kate and a great new character in Juliet. The big finale was fabulous.
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Nov 9, 2006 11:01 AM
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I don't think these episodes were Lost's finest hour or its worst hour - in fact, I've never seen a show so consistent in its quality over the course of 2 1/2 seasons, and these six episodes merely continued the story that has been told since Day 1. I think the hiatus is a little long, and a longer "fall season" wouldn't have hurt either, but I'm as excited as ever for the return in February. I also didn't find the first six episodes "nightmarish" in any way(unpleasant, perhaps, but only because of my investment in the characters who are being hurt, which is Lost's greatest asset). And to reiterate the obvious, Elizabeth Mitchell has been a wonderful addition to the show. She reminds me a lot of Lena Olin - probably not coincidentally - and the life that she injected into Alias in its finest hours.
That said, it will be interesting to see what Damon and Carlton come back with in February. It is always tricky to balance what the fans are asking for (which is in itself contradictory from viewer to viewer), what the network wants (declining ratings might equal network interference), and their own creative vision. Look at what happened to Alias - discontent during Season 3 led to an abandonment of the show's core in Season 4, especially with the network's aversion to the word "Rambaldi." The flashbacks are part of the genius of Lost. Occasionally toying with the concept (the flashback with the Tailies, an upcoming look at the Others' village, Michael and Claire's flashbacks to their own adventures on the island) is fine, but I truly believe that abandoning the flashbacks would be deadly to the show.
I will defend Lost until the series finale because I believe that everything is still going according to a greater plan; if I am let down by the final episode, then so be it, but until that day I'm enjoying every minute of the ride, although seeing it become increasingly "popular" to put the show down adds a new wrinkle to the mix, raising my ire every Thursday.
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Nov 9, 2006 12:25 PM
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"maybe next season ABC will finally be ready to schedule the show 24-style, straight through, without repeat OR interruption. If that means ending the show early in spring, or starting it late in the winter, so be it."
My thoughts exactly! I've felt this way from the beginning of the season. This great format that FX started with straight weeks, different times of the year and that Fox adapted for 24 is so smart it was obvious that the other networks would take ages to implement it. They have mull it over, hem and haw until someone forcibly hauls their butts into step.
I would have preferred to wait until a Jan launch of Lost and went straight through.
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Nov 9, 2006 1:06 PM
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With 6 Degrees and The Nine failing, ABC still has many holes to fill (Wednesday and Friday). It looks like Friday will become the new Saturday for most networks (except CBS).
I favor the 24 approach when scheduling Lost. The 6 ep mini-season raised the bar way too high and it was impossible to please everyone. However, if the 6 eps were part of the entire season, it may not have been such a letdown from people's expectations.
While I don't think it's necessary to have the tribe together all the time, I do think the show needs to do a better job integrating all of the stories together. The Eko ep was perfect in jumping back and forth between the 2 islands and multiple stories.
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Nov 9, 2006 2:20 PM
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I agree with most of what Nick said. I enjoyed these episodes. And as everyone else has said, I think they should just go to 22 straight eps.
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Nov 9, 2006 4:28 PM
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Thank you Matt! I couldn't agree with you more about LOST. My friends and I have been discussing our disappointment with the new season. Several of us were even contemplating not watching anymore. Most of the scenes were totally forgettable or boring repeats of the same stuff(I'm surprised Sawyer could walk let alone get busy with Kate given all the beatings he's taken). These past six weeks could have easily been condensed into 2 dynamic, jaw-dropping, can't catch your breathe episodes. That's why we watch LOST.
Hopefully, LOST will truly come back in February or some of us may find something else to do on Wednesday nights!
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Nov 9, 2006 8:44 PM
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do we all realize that the football season will be over before lost comes back on???
and its at the halfway point!
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Nov 10, 2006 9:20 AM
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I hate to disagree with Matt, but I really enjoyed the mini season. I guess I'm just a patient viewer or perhaps I just haven't learned my lesson, but I believe that the producers have a plan and that we will get the answers we want by the time the run is over. I see these six episodes as the producers dumping the rest of the pieces out of the jigsaw box. Now the pieces are scattered across the table. And, though it will take four more years, the puzzle is ready to be assembled.
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Nov 10, 2006 11:53 AM
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I was really getting into 6 deg. Now if they do bring it back later.. Everyone will have forgotten what the heck was going on... I hate when they do these things.. Nine ?? well I lost interest in that one!!!!
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Nov 10, 2006 6:13 PM
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I don't think anything will do well in the time slot following Grey's Anatomy. I know too many women (myself included) that both watch the Grey's episode again right after it airs, and also talk in chat rooms with other die hard fans to dissect everything about it!
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Nov 11, 2006 8:55 PM
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I loved the Lost finale. Evangelline Lilly made a strong case for a nomination for best actress -- it was a demanding episode and Lilly delivered.
By the way, everyone should catch THE OC on Thurs at 9 on Fox. It's good again!
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Nov 13, 2006 3:13 AM
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Matt, I have always valued your opinion, but WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Lost has been great this season and I'm sick and tired of people criticizing it.
It was six episodes. It wasn't a whole season. Being away from the other survivors was necessary. They couldn't have taken them to their island and just brought them back. A story must be told. I have found these episode just as entertaining as the previous two seasons. It's time we start looking at the good things that came out of these six episodes.
I'm also glad you support the flashbacks. They are such an important aspect to the show. Without them, the show wouldn't be the same. The fans have taken them for granted. It's a great way to watch the actors' talents. Also, through the flashbacks, countless questions have been answered.
I agree with you on doing the 24-style airing. It makes so much sense. 24 is so effective when it airs in January. There's a new episode every week and the four-hour two-day premiere is my favourite. Imagine watching Lost like that.
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Nov 13, 2006 8:55 AM
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I keep coming back to one thing.
There is no show on television that I look forward to the way that I look forward to Lost every single week.
Surprisingly, Veronica Mars is close in my heart and I love Battlestar Galactica and am very fond of Grey's and becoming fond of Heroes. I feel with these five shows on the air, plus Scrubs, that there is some fine tv on the air after being inundated with reality tv for too long (and I was not resistant to good reality tv like Amazing Race, Idol and Survivor -- just bored with those after how many seasons).
Maybe the six episodes of Lost wasn't at its greatest level -- because the group was too separate even tho the story did move along -- but it still was better than everything else on tv (except perhaps BG which is strong right now).
I am sick of the complaining about Lost. I know that I complained about Desperate HW and took them off Tivo, but I did stick around for an entire second season that was dreadful. Lost fans need to not be so quick as to be hyper-crytical after a few episodes. Then again, I loved Lost's season two, which gave us one of the best season finale's ever, and some may not have.
I certainly don't expect a show like Lost to have the ratings of well-done light-fare like Grey's.
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Nov 13, 2006 9:18 AM
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