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Thursday, November 30, 2006
New midseason berth for ‘Friday Night Lights’
NBC is moving the Austin-filmed football drama “Friday Night Lights” to Wednesdays at 7 p.m., starting Jan. 10. Its current home is Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
The new time slot might be better. It might be worse. We’ll find out in a few weeks, when the competition announces its midseason schedules. But whatever the competition has to offer, the early hour is still difficult for people coming home from work and trying to get dinner on the table. Settling in for an emotional hour of storytelling is a hard chore at 7 p.m.
But at least the show won’t get trounced by CBS’ “NCIS” any more.
And “Lights” won’t be opposite “American Idol,” as some had feared. Fox’s mega-hit talent show is scheduled to return Jan. 16 and will air Tuesdays and Wednesdays. But the Wednesday results show will be shown at 8 p.m., not 7 p.m., so “Lights” dodges that bullet.
I know I’ve become a broken record on this subject, but “Lights” really is one of the best TV dramas ever. Wherever it winds up, check it out.
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‘Scrubs’ and ‘Trees’ hit Must-See Thursday
“Scrubs,” the outlandish medical sitcom that many people thought was gone for good, is back tonight (8 p.m. on NBC). Yes, it’s up against ABC’s super-powerhouse “Grey’s Anatomy.” Set the DVR.
Talk about a disrespected series. Going into its sixth season, “Scrubs” has been on and off the schedule more times than Britney Spears has graced the tabloids.
The show, starring Zach Braff and a host of hilarious others, has never had boffo ratings. Last season it averaged about 6.5 million viewers.
But it certainly has a core of unusually loyal followers. Even when it moves around the schedule, goes off the air and returns months later, fans manage to find it.
Tonight the story picks up where it left off: J.D. (Braff) is trying to deal with the fact that a woman he dated only once (guest star Elizabeth Banks) is pregnant with his child. He handles the pressure by fleeing to Las Vegas and running into the Blue Man Group. And turning blue …
Meanwhile, perpetually angry Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley) prepares for the birth of his second child, Turk (Donald Faison) and Carla (Judy Reyes) prepare for their little bundle of joy and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) wonders why she’s the only one in the hospital who is not reproducing.
“Scrubs” is as nutty as ever — filled with cartoonish slapstick, nonsensical situations and outright silliness. In other words, it’s still funny as all get-out.
Must-see Anne Heche
Crowding up the already crowded Thursday lineup is ABC’s “Men in Trees”, the surprise hit on (of all places) Fridays. After a nine-episode run in that dark spot, “Men” gets a shot at real stardom tonight at 9, after “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“Men in Trees” follows the “Northern Exposure” route, taking a hardened city character and giving a fresh, fish-out-of-water perspective. Heche stars as Marin Frist, a romantic self-help author from New York who, after learning that her boyfriend has betrayed her, finds a little peace and happiness in Elmo, Alaska.
If you’re tired of bloody procedural dramas or intense serial thrillers, this sweet, feel-good show might be the answer. Plus, it has truly spectacular scenery.
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