TV Guide

    I originally envisioned this blog post as another diatribe against Fox. I spent the last year becoming totally enamored by a 2002 show named Firefly, a wondeful series Fox thoughtlessly killed off after only fourteen episodes. I was eager to watch a new series, Drive, mainly because it shared Firefly‘s star, Nathan Fillion, as well as writer/producer Tim Minear. After four episodes, in only two weeks, Fox killed it off — just as the series was starting to find its bearings.
    I’ve spoken before about the dichotomy that is Fox. How they consistently greenlight interesting and unique concepts, how these shows attract a rabid fan base, but then get canceled before they can really catch on. It’s as if there’s some huge gulf separating the R&D guys and the marketing guys. (And, especially in the case of Drive the shows are given so little chance you’d think the programmers are ADD-addled kids who can’t sit still. I imagine they’re all on their sixth or seventh marriages and living in half-furnished condos.) The series attract critical raves but never seem to find their audience…until it’s too late and they’re released in some retrospective DVD box set. “How could they have canceled this?!” is a common refrain when watching these DVDs. It happens so often with Fox shows I’d suggest Fox simply give up all their affiliate channels and go into the direct-to-DVD business.
    Drive was Fox’s lead-in to 24, and Fox said Drive was canceled because its low ratings were actually affecting 24‘s ratings. But now, CNN says that ratings are down overall. “More than 2.5 million fewer people were watching ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox than at the same time last year, statistics show.” Some claim this is due to the accelerated Daylight Saving Time change; others cite the increased use of PVR time-shifting. Plus there’s always the underlying suspicion that the Nielsen polling data is poor and flawed. Part of me wants to demand Drive‘s return, seeing as it was removed from the schedule under false pretenses; but since I am a kind-hearted charitable soul, I will instead do Fox and all networks a favor.
    I might not be the average TV viewer — most notably since I abhor all forms of “reality TV” — but I am a dedicated TV viewer. So, for what it’s worth, here is an honest and accurate list of what I watch.

M:	9:00 PM	NBC: Heroes (usually time-shifted)
		Fox: 24
	10:00 PM	NBC: Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip (back when it was on)
Tu	9:00 PM	Fox: House
W	10:00 PM	ABC: Lost
Th	8:30 PM	NBC: The Office
	9:00 PM	NBC: 30 Rock
	9:30 PM	NBC: Scrubs
	10:00 PM	NBC: ER
F	8:00 PM	Universal HD: Firefly repeats (back when they were on)
	11:00 PM	HBO: Real Time with Bill Maher (usually time-shifted)
Sa	9:00 PM	Universal HD: Battlestar Galactica repeats (usually time-shifted)
Su	9:00 PM	HBO: Rome (when it was on) / The Sopranos
	10:00 PM	Sci Fi: Battlestar Galactica (back when it was on, and usually time-shifted)
M – Th	11:00 PM	Comedy Central: The Daily Show (usually time-shifted)
M – Th	11:30 PM	Comedy Central: The Colbert Report Show (usually time-shifted)
M – F	11:35 PM	CBS: The Late Show with David Letterman

    I vouch that these are the shows I consistently watch each week. Please do not cancel them.