TV THIS WEEK

Memories: Brandy does 'One on One'
May 15, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim 
Media Life Magazine

        As UPN gets ready to sign off, the TV version of the circle of life continues with a guest appearance by Brandy on tonight's season finale of  "One on One" and probably its series finale. Brandy was the star of "Moesha," UPN's first hit show, starting in 1996. 
        Tonight, she returns to the network to try to boost the ratings for bubble show "One on One."
        On tonight's episode, Michelle (Brandy) becomes the center of a love triangle when Arnaz (Robert Ri'chard) wants to follow her to Paris. But Breanna (Kyla Pratt), who already has a boyfriend, isn't ready to let go of Arnaz just yet.
        The past couple years haven't been kind to sitcoms featuring African-American characters. ABC's "My Wife and Kids" has gone off the air, and it doesn't look likely that Fox will renew "Bernie Mac." With no breakout star, "One on One" doesn't give the CW much of an incentive to choose it over other as-yet unrenewed urban sitcoms such as "All of Us," backed by Will Smith, and "Eve," starring rapper Eve. 
        "One on One" averages a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating in its time slot--or .6 less than the WB's "7th Heaven" in the 8 p.m. hour. Meanwhile, CBS competitor "King of Queens" almost triples it with an average of 3.6.

 On 'NCIS,' an ender veiled in mystery
May 16, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim 
Media Life Magazine

        It looks like the "NCIS" producers are ready to get rid of another character on tonight's season finale. Last year, a sniper picked off Agent Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander). Promos for tonight's episode promise that another series regular will be leaving the show. 
        Not that that's a bad thing. Ratings have been consistently strong since Caitlin's death. The show got a lot of publicity and ratings climbed during summer reruns.
        While ABC, UPN and NBC have unsuccessfully pitted their own offerings against Fox's "American Idol," with show after show cycling through the timeslot, the CBS drama has fared well against the singing contest. It pulls in an average 3.1 adults 18-49 rating, making it No. 2 in its time slot behind "Idol." 
        Characters who could leave the show tonight include Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Abby (Pauley Perrette). We assume CBS would never be stupid enough to kill off series star Mark Harmon, who plays hard-nosed Leroy Gibbs, who is already suffering memory loss after a recent explosion. 
        "NCIS" series creator Don Bellisario is playing coy about the season finale, which airs at 8 tonight. "I'm not saying I am going to kill someone off," he tells TV Guide. "I'm saying someone is leaving."
        Just remember, leaving is the operative word. 

 Fore! Now to the instructional video.
May 17, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim 
Media Life Magazine

        If it seems odd for a reality series to air on a golf channel, consider that since its January 1995 launch, the Golf Channel has provided round-the-clock coverage of all things golf. But there are only so many tournaments they can repeat, and even the most ardent fans tire of interviews with Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods. 
        So why not try a reality series starring amateur players that the average viewer can relate to as they work to improve their game? While past Golf Channel offerings have given tips, this one provides a an actual coach to help the amateurs shape up their game according to their own strengths and weaknesses. 
        Debuting at 9 tonight, "How Low Can You Go" doesn’t seem to have any ulterior motive other than instructing three amateur golfers as they work to trim their scores. 
        At a time when shows are loaded with gimmicks and nasty surprises (Your millionaire really is a pauper!), the premise here is so simple it's actually quite clever. Although viewers won't benefit from the awesome new clubs being provided to the amateurs, we can all benefit from the free advice the PGA instructors will lavish on them.
        While no one would expect this series to take viewers away from "American Idol" or even "Lost," the latter's Hurley and Jack, the island’s amateur duffers, might be well advised to pick up a golfing tip or two from the series.

 So long, Will, so long, Grace. It's time. 
May 18, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim 
Media Life Magazine

        After eight seasons on air--some very good, the later years not so much--"Will & Grace" bids farewell tonight. Unlike its characters, which have gotten increasingly squawky over time, the show is getting a relatively subdued send-off that doesn't match the manic frenzy surrounding the "Friends" finale two years earlier. 
        If the show had ended four or even three years ago, viewers would've been outraged. "Will & Grace" was still a relevant presence in NBC's lineup then. But in the time since the sitcom has come to outstay its welcome with recycled plotlines and quirky characters that have since morphed into tired caricatures. 
        And while the show still averages a respectable 4.5 adults 18-49 rating, it's been down noticeably in recent weeks, and it's not hard to understand why. Rather than relying on smart writing, it's turned rapt attention to Megan Mullally's ample breasts and increasingly grating voice for cheap laughs. 
        The show's recent stuntcasting has included guest appearances by Britney Spears, Madonna and the delightful Kevin Bacon, who appears again tonight. And then there were those live broadcasts that, if nothing else, proved why sitcoms shouldn't do live broadcasts. 
        But "Will & Grace's" biggest problem is its tired premise. 
        When the sitcom debuted in 1998, having a show with major gay characters was exciting and just a little bit shocking. These days, no one is shocked with the characters' somewhat fey, selfish ways.
        The two-hour series finale of "Will & Grace" begins at 8 p.m. tonight on NBC with a clip show followed by the Emmy-winning sitcom's swansong in which we find out whether Grace chooses Will or Leo to be her happily-ever-after.

A look at this week’s top TV draws

MONDAY, MAY 15
8 p.m.  Fox  "Prison Break" (D)  The prisoners finally make it out of Joliet, but how many will actually survive the season finale?
8 p.m.  ABC  "Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball" (T)  Winfrey's love fest (held a year ago) honors her famous friends, including Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King and Maya Angelou.
8:30 p.m.  CBS  "How I Met Your Mother" (C)  Ted tries to finally get the girl. Mayhem ensues.
9 p.m.  ABC  "Grey's Anatomy" (D)  The second-season finale finds McDreamy trying to save a friend's life and Cristina in charge of the ER. As for Meredith, she needs to get over Derek and pick the nice vet instead.
10 p.m.  CBS  "CSI: Miami" (D)  The Mala Noche gang attacks Horatio, but ends up shooting a loved one instead.
10 p.m.  TLC  "Shalom in the Home" (R)  Rabbi Shmuley's in the house, and he counsels a mother not to allow her violent teenage daughter walk all over her.

TUESDAY, MAY 16
8 p.m.  ABC  "Celebrity Debut" (T)  Wanna see your favorite celebs looking like average people? Here's your chance to peek at Felicity Huffman, John Travolta and Kate Winslet before they were megastars.
8 p.m.  Fox  "American Idol" (R)  The final three warble for America's votes.
9 p.m.  NBC  “Scrubs” (C)  The fifth season concludes with J.D. flirting with a urologist. And yes, the doc's female.
9 p.m.  ABC  “Boston Legal” (D)  Alan and Denny caravan to Los Angeles in this two-hour season finale that also includes guest stars Parker Posey and Wes Craven.
9:30 p.m.  MTV  "Blowin' Up" (R)  Jamie Kennedy stars in this partially scripted reality series (huh?) where he tries to reinvent himself as a rapper. Wait, wasn't that also the plot of his film "Malibu's Most Wanted?"
10 p.m.  NBC  "Law & Order: SVU" (D)  The seventh-season finale pits a young woman with a psychiatric disorder against two men who she says raped her.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
8 p.m.  Fox  "Bones" (D)  After more than 15 years missing, the remains of Brennan's mother are discovered.
8 p.m.  ABC  "Alias" (D)  Sydney relies on arch-enemy Sark to help nab the bad guys. Rachel discovers Thomas' secret. And Vaughn finally gets to see his infant daughter for the first time.
8 p.m.  UPN  "America's Next Top Model (R)  The sixth-season finale selects its latest walking mannequin.
9 p.m.  ABC  "Lost" (D)  Tired of just screaming for his son week after week, Michael gets a posse together to go get back Walt.
10 p.m.  NBC  "Law & Order" (D)  The drama concludes its 16th season with McCoy putting his job on the line to nail a group of (says he) corrupt murderers.

THURSDAY, MAY 18
8 p.m.  Fox  "That '70s Show" (C)  Set on New Year's Eve 1979, the series finale marks a guest appearance by former series regular Ashton Kutcher.
9 p.m.  Fox  "The O.C" (D) Someone will reportedly die on the third season finale. Pray that it’s Marissa.
9 p.m.  ABC  "American Inventor" (R)  Tonight's winner walks away with a cool $1 million prize. Or not so cool, considering the inventions these people pitched.
9 p.m.  CBS  “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (D)  Get out the Kleenex. A CSI's life hangs on the line in this season finale. Oh, and the team finds a headless body.
9:59 p.m.  NBC  "ER" (D)  Season finale. Violence erupts when the docs deal with a couple of prisoners. And an ER doc may bite it.
10 p.m.  Spike  "Ultimate Fighter" (R)  “WWE” fans may beg to differ, but this is the nastiest fight show on TV.

FRIDAY, MAY 19
6:30 p.m.  Disney  "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" (K)  Zack befriends the class rich kid.
8 p.m.  The N  "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (D)  Forget about the kids in the O.C. The Degrassi bunch is the one serving up the real drama.
9 p.m.  CMT  "Ultimate Coyote Ugly Search" (R)  You've gotta really want your 15 minutes of fame when you enter a contest to become a … bartender. OK, so you also get $25,000. Coyote Lil picks her ultimate coyote on the season finale.
9 p.m.  CBS  "Close to Home" (D)  The season finale features an undercover reporter shot while working on a piece about internet pedophiles.
9 p.m.  NBC  "Conviction" (D)  The two-hour first-season finale concludes with the murder of a politician's daughter. Likely series finale too.
10 p.m.  CBS  “Numb3rs”(D)  A serial killer murders two women in this season finale.
11:35 p.m.  CBS  "Late Night with David Letterman" (T)  "Alias" star Jennifer Garner appears to plug her show, which goes off the air next week.

SATURDAY, MAY 20
1 p.m.  Starz   "New Orleans Music in Exile" (N)  This documentary shows how Hurricane Katrina affected the Big Easy's music community.
5 p.m.  NBC  "Preakness Stakes" (S)  Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro tries to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
8 p.m.  WE  "Mrs. World 2006" (T)  There's just something icky about this concept. No, not the married contestants -- host Alan Thicke.
11 p.m.  Fox  "Mad TV" (C)  The sketch comedy's season finale features a send up of "The Sopranos."
11:30 p.m.  NBC  "Saturday Night Live" (C)  Kevin Spacey hosts the 31st season finale of SNL.

SUNDAY, MAY 21
8 p.m.  WB  "Charmed" (D)  After eight years, the Halliwell sisters will disappear after tonight's series finale.
8 p.m  Fox  "The Simpsons" (C)  In this season finale, Marge and Homer advise a baseball player on how to score with his wife (voiced by Mandy Moore).
8:30 p.m.  Fox  "Family Guy" (C)  This season concludes with guest voice stars Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley.
9 p.m.  ABC  "Desperate Housewives" (D)  Flashbacks are in order for the two-hour second-season finale, which also finds homeless Susan moving into a trailer. We always knew that girl was trailer trash!
9 p.m.  NBC  "10.5: Apocaplyse" (D) (M)  Part one of a two-part sequel to the 2004 hit miniseries has folks shaking after an earthquake hits.

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.

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