TV Tuesday

Heavens to Betsy I'm sleepy.

It's Tuesday, so we're playing the TV Tuesday game.

Executive Decisions
The Networks are getting ready to announce their new fall schedules. Imagine what would happen if you could play programmer for one day!

1. What shows would make up a perfect night of TV viewing for you?

In a perfect universe, Futurama would still be around, followed by King of the Hill. A nice John Swartzewelder-penned episode of the Simpsons, followed by The Tick, which was never cancelled. Arrested Development would follow at nine, with Andy Richter Controls the Universe at 9:30.

And then we'd watch Andy Griffith reruns all night long.

2. What show(s) would you cancel without a moment's hesitation?

I don't see the appeal of Will and Grace. Most reality shows.

3. Is there a show (previously cancelled or just no longer airing) that you'd bring back, original cast and all?

Futurama was the red headed stepchild in the Fox lineup. Even though it ran a goodly amount of time, I think it still had a lot of steam left....before Futurama started running on Cartoon Network, I'd not seen half the episodes. It was always getting pre-empted for football.

I think the show could pretty easily get back in the groove.

Given the success of the Family Guy DVD's and the resurrection of the animated show, I find myself hoping against all logic that the gods would smile upon Futurama, and bring it back. Family Guy's alright, but having watched the three seaons of Futurama on DVD within the past few weeks, there haven't been many shows to have made me laugh as consistently over a long period of time as Futurama did.

That includes the Simpsons and Seinfeld.

It would have been nice to have seen what The Tick could have done had it gotten a nice, steady timespot, instead of being scheduled on again, off again, often against Survivor and Friends.

On the commentary to the Clerks animated series, Kevin Smith wonders what would have happened if they'd signed with a network besides ABC, perhaps UPN....with lower expectations for ratings on the newer network, Clerks might have run a little longer, too.

I'd like to see what those shows would do if given the chance.

And also, the Dukes of Hazzard. What if had run for 30 years straight? I kind of think it would have been cool. But then, I'm really, really sleepy.

~Bonus~ You get to create one show to put on the schedule, with any stars you choose. Who and what would it be?

I'd kind of like to see a troupe show. Kind of like a sketch comedy type of show, except each episode has its own single narrative. Each week, the actors play different characters and play out different stories. Like a different 30 minute or 60 minute short movie each week.

Thanks for playing "Programmer for a Day", now don't let the power go to your head - you know what Donald Trump says... "You're Fired!"