TV THIS WEEK: May 8th through May 14th, 2006

TV THIS WEEK

Gasping for air: David Blaine stunting
May 8, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim
Media Life Magazine

        There used to be a time when magicians were happy to pull a rabbit out of their hats. These days they don't seem to be pleased unless they've tortured themselves to the top of the ratings.
        Which brings us to David Blaine, the attention-loving Gen Y magician who doesn't mind being buried alive, frozen, or drowned--all for the sake of good TV, or at least good ratings.
        In "David Blaine: Drowned Alive," which airs at 8 tonight on ABC, Leonardo DiCaprio's sleight-of-hand buddy will attempt to hold his breath underwater longer than any human being in history.
        It's one of a slew of sweeps stunts on ABC this month as the network attempts to regain sole possession of first place among adults 18-49 after slipping into a tie with Fox. Other stunts include an Oprah special next week, tomorrow's bird flu movie and multiple super-sized episodes of its biggest hits. Tonight's special could produce decent ratings. Blaine's "Vertigo" May sweeps special four years ago on ABC averaged a 4.1 adults 18-49 rating.
        Now onto the other big question: Will Blaine be able to break the record by holding his breath for longer than 8 minutes 58 seconds? Yes. He's not in this business to fail. Is there really any chance of him drowning? No. There may come a time when real-life deaths make for great primetime TV, but we're not quite there yet.
        To prep for this stunt, Blaine has spent the past week living in a gigantic fishbowl in Manhattan for all to see because what's the point of doing this if no one can watch? For now, he has the benefit of a breathing device.
        Blaine's day-to-day routine is tedious at best. As he tells ABC News: "I would wake up and hold my breath for 48 minutes out of the course of every hour. I'd breathe for a minute, hold my breath for five minutes immediately after, and then right after that, breathe a minute, hold for six minutes and keep going for all the way up to an hour."
        The clock's ticking, David. As for viewers, they don't need to hold their breath out of fear that it might be Blaine's last stunt.
Cooties: ABC's horrific avian flu flick
May 9, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim
Media Life Magazine

       There's nothing like a potential pandemic to rouse audiences, especially as a movie of the week airing during sweeps and on a network that could use the boost. Thus tonight's movie, from ABC: "Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America," airing at 8 p.m.
        ABC points out that while this film is meticulously researched, it's still a fictional account of what could happen should avian flu break out in the U.S. This scenario has an American businessman bringing the virus home after a trip to China. The end result is horrific, with millions of people worldwide dying from the flu.
        It wasn’t that long ago that travelers were worried that the SARS outbreak would result in a similar tragedy. Who can forget the images of people walking around airports in Asia and Canada wearing facemasks?
        The ABC two-hour movie's purpose is to entertain, but the filmmakers have also claimed that if they can scare viewers into being aware of the virus and prepare for what could happen, then the movie will have served its purpose.
        Of course for ABC the purpose is to boost ratings on its struggling Tuesday night, where it ranks fourth among the Big Four in 18-49s. Any bump over its 3.1 season average could help it catch up to Fox, which already has a big sweeps lead.
For 'Unan1mous,' a final twist of fate
May 10, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim
Media Life Magazine

        It's become an unwritten rule that reality shows, especially Fox shows, must have unexpected twists. Typically there's a cruel twist as well. So expect a big one tonight when the season finale of "Unan1mous" at 9:30 p.m. reveals which contestant wins the cash prize of $1.5 million.
        Scratch that.
        The contestants were told that the winner would get a $1.5 million prize once they made a unanimous decision on who should win all that money. But the longer they took to decide, the less money they will get. Tonight's winner potentially could end up with just enough to cover a few Happy Meals.
        It's a cruel ending for a moderately successful show, which Fox brought in a couple months ago after various sitcoms failed to generate much interest in the valuable post-"American Idol" slot. The network may well go with reality again next year after "Unan1mous'" relative success.
        With a 6.0 average among adults 18-49, "Unan1mous" has retained about half of what "American Idol" averages the half hour preceding it. That's better than "Stacked" did last year in the same slot. Still, Fox needed to end the show early in the May sweeps to make way for super-sized “Idols” the next two weeks.
        Given the network’s love for twists and turns, who knows what it might do for a big finish on “Unan1mous.” It wouldn't be surprising at all if the show's producers ended up giving the remainder of that original prize money to one of the contestants who has already been knocked out of the competition.
        The show's inherent cruelty is that the players think their strategies are helping them become a millionaire, rather then costing them money. Literally.
One year later, everybody loves 'Chris'
May 11, 2006
By Jae-Ha Kim
Media Life Magazine

        At last year's upfront presentations, media buyers praised "Everybody Hates Chris" as the show that would revive the stagnating sitcom genre. But then again, many also were touting Martha Stewart's version of the "Apprentice" as a sure thing.
        Flash forward a year later. While Stewart and Donald Trump were busy blaming each other for their failed series, Chris Rock's sitcom has actually lived up to much of the hype. It's the No. 3 show on UPN, averaging 4.3 million total viewers season to date, more than Fox’s “Arrested Development” averaged before it was axed.
        Extremely popular in black households, where it's often a top 10 show, "Chris" is certain to be a cornerstone in the new CW's lineup, likely anchoring a sitcom lineup on Monday nights.
        What differentiates "Chris" from most sitcoms is its smart writing and ability to reach across racial lines through humor to in the way "The Cosby Show" did two decades ago.
        The Rocks are real people, like the Huxtables, but they are not the Huxtables, who were affluent achievers. The Rocks are a working-class family trying to lead a better life.
        They're also not like any other family on TV actually. Unlike sitcoms with uncharacteristically hot moms married to so-so dads, these parents are well matched in looks and in their approach to dealing with their children.
        When Chris's determined mom has him bused to an all-white school to get a better education, she inadvertently sets him up to be bullied by bigger students and, to a lesser extent, pitied by teachers whose empathy is a product of their own latent prejudice against blacks.
        In one scene, a teacher, assuming the Rocks must be needy because they're black, sends Chris home with bags of food. Even though their budget is tight and they could use the canned goods, his mother reacts by sending all the food back plus additional brand-name packages to prove they don't need anyone's charity.
        As the comedy's debut season concludes at 8 tonight, kid Rock and his siblings search for the perfect Father's Day gift for their hardworking dad. Of course the gift their father wants most would've cost them nothing, a day of peace and quiet to himself.

A look at this week’s top TV draws

MONDAY, MAY 8
7 p.m. WB "7th Heaven" (D) Jessica Biel and Barry Watson return for the10-year-old series' finale that features the entire cast celebrating at Simon's wedding to Rose.
8 p.m. Fox "Prison Break" (D) Michael leads his gang's escape, but not everyone makes it out alive.
8 p.m. NBC "Deal or No Deal" (T) Deal! Yes, Howie Mandel has a hit with this infectious game show.
9 p.m. HBO "Before Sunset" (D) A couple whohad a one-night stand a decade ago reunite and discuss that magical evening. Dude, talk is cheap.
9 p.m. Fox "24" (D) President Logan shows Jack Bauer just how dirty he can be.
TUESDAY, MAY 9
8 p.m. WB "Gilmore Girls" (C) It's a bittersweet season finale for the fast-talking mother-daughter team of Lorelai and Rory, who will move to the CW next year.
8 p.m. UPN "Veronica Mars" (D) It's graduation day for our gang, and a real nice graduation gift for viewers would be for the CW to pick this plucky little series up for a third season.
9 p.m. NBC "Scrubs" (C) Dr. Cox's confidence is at an all-time low and Eliot takes it upon herself to cheer him up. She apparently doesn't remember all the times he's referred to her as "Barbie."
9:25 p.m. Showtime "Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior" (M) Now that Jackie Chan isn’t doing all his stunts anymore, Phanom Yeeram is ready to take over.
9:30 p.m. MTV "8th & Ocean" (R) The model reality show ends its first season with more twin drama as Kelly gets a job offer from her sister's former client.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
8 p.m. Fox "American Idol" (R) And then there were three. This results show will reveal which contestants get to remain and warble their hearts out.
8 p.m. ABC "Alias" (D) Finally, we get to see more of Sydney's beloved Vaughn, who isn't quite dead.
9 p.m. NBC "Law & Order" (D) Michael Imperioli takes a break from "The Sopranos" to try to crack a case in which he's the prime suspect.
9 p.m. ABC "Lost" (D) We learn whether Libby survived Michael's gun shot. Also, Locke and Mr. Ecko whup some island butt.
10 p.m. Discovery Health "Ultimate Plastic Surgery: Before & After" (R) The anti-"Dr. 90210." Doctors show what plastic surgery can do for patients with actual serious disfigurements. Not that big noses and flat chests aren't.
11:35 p.m. NBC "Tonight Show" (T) Nick Lachey makes an appearance to bleat out his latest Jessica-done-him-wrong ballad.
THURSDAY, MAY 11
8 p.m. WB "Smallville" (D) The season finale ends with Lois and Martha in peril, and Lana oblivious to Clark's considerable charms.
8 p.m. Fox "That '70s Show" (C) First Kelso, then Hyde, now Fez? Jackie, Jackie, Jackie--girlfriend needs to aim higher.
8 p.m. PBS "Soundstage" (T) Backed by a 16-piece orchestra, Sheryl Crow sings cuts from her album "Wildflower."
8:40 p.m. NBC "My Name Is Earl" (C) Earl and his brother wait for karma to slap them some good luck, but end up broke instead.
11:35 p.m. NBC "Tonight Show" (T) Jay Leno had better nail down his sofa. Tom Cruise makes an appearance to chat about his baby, his fiancé and "Mission Impossible III."
FRIDAY, MAY 12
7:30 p.m. The N "Instant Star" (R) With her CD all done, Jude's record label throws her a celebratory shindig in this season finale.
8 p.m. CBS "Keith Barry: Extraordinary" (T) Ireland's Keith Barry leaves the creepy magic stuff to the likes of David Blaine and charms celebs like Jessica Simpson and Rachel Hunter with his more traditional card games.
8:30 p.m. FX "Auto Racing: NASCAR Busch Series" (S) Matt Kenseth beat Kenny Wallace in this event last year. Tonight, in the live event, the drivers are looking to shake things up again on Darlington Raceway, NASCAR's oldest big track.
9 p.m. NBC "Las Vegas" (D) There's a big wedding planned for the third-season finale. Guests sharing a nice chicken dinner at the reception include Dean Cain, Jerry O'Connell and uberchef Wolfgang Puck.
9 p.m. BBC America "The Thick of It" (C) Satirical like "The Office" (the original British version), this English series stars Chris Langham as a government official who doesn't quite have what it takes to get the job done.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
6 p.m. HGTV "International Furniture Show 2006) (T) Check out all the furniture you love and can't afford. Hosted by Gail O'Neill and Mark Totty, whose last name is very fun.
8 p.m. CNN "Chasing Angelina--Paparazzi and Celebrity Obsession" (T) A documentary about the stars and the paparazzi who love them. Or who love to make money off of them, anyhow.
8 p.m. TLC "Little People, Big World" (R) The Roloffs have won enough viewers to warrant a second season. In the first-season finale, Zach nervously prepares to go on his first date.
9 p.m. Starz "Lords of Dogtown" (M) Heath Ledger stars in this extreme skateboarding flick where the stunts are more important than the plot.
10:30 p.m. Cartoon "Justice League Unlimited" (K) Aw heck, there's no school tomorrow. Let the kids stay up late to catch the season finale, where the heroes must form an alliance to beat their foes.
SUNDAY, MAY 14
7:30 p.m. Fox "King of the Hill" (C) Tom Petty lends his voice to the 10th-season finale as Lucky, who's out to win Luanne's hand in marriage.
8 p.m. CBS "Survivor: Panama--Exile Island" (R) The first two hours shows the players being narrowed down to the final two contestants. The winner is announced in the third hour, which takes place on a live reunion show.
8 p.m. NBC "West Wing (D) The critically acclaimed drama ends with a series finale that will tug at heartstrings. Bartlet leaves the White House after Santos is inaugurated.
8:30 p.m. Fox "Malcolm in the Middle" (C) Malcom finally escapes his loving but annoying, dysfunctional family as he prepares for life at Harvard. This is also the show's swansong episode.
8 p.m. NBC "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (D) The crime drama ends its season with two back-to-back episodes. The first showcases the sleuthing techniques of hinky Goren and Eames as they try to nab an arsonist. The second has Logan and Barek searching for a killer who bludgeoned his last victims.
9 p.m. VH1 "Surreal Life" (R) This tacky (but addictive) series ends its sixth season with Tawny Kitaen finally doing what she's wanted to all year long--stripping off her clothes to show she's still as hot as her Playboy centerfold roomie.
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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