SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1997-1998 Sundays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Sundays in the 1997-98 season!

ABC	7:00	8:00	9:00	10:00
Sep	The Wonderful World of Disney		Sunday Night Movie
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

ABC revamped their Sunday nights for the 1997-98 season with America's Funniest Home Videos taking a break after going from one of TV's top rated shows to an afterthought. With Disney purchasing ABC, the time was right for the return of The Wonderful World of Disney. The franchise had aired in one form or another, sometimes under different names and across all big three networks, since the 1950s. It had not aired as a regular weekly event since The Magical World of Disney left the NBC airwaves in 1990. ABC got off to a big start with the network television premiere of Toy Story and then the heavily hyped updated version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella airing in November Sweeps. Like any film night, ratings fluctuated wildly based on what they were showing but some, like Cinderella, were dominant ratings performers. Despite the improved ratings in the first two hours, ABC's movie at 9pm trailed behind CBS and NBC's movies as well as The X-Files on FOX.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 2/24/23

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories this week!

#1 - "SUCCESSION" TO END WITH SEASON FOUR

The adventures of the Roy family will come to an end sooner than most fans wanted. Jesse Armstrong, creator of HBO's award winning drama Succession, announced that the upcoming fourth season (debuting March 26) will be the last for the series. Although Armstrong and the cast have consistently said that they didn't see the show lasting for years and years, most assumed the show would go at least one more season beyond the upcoming fourth season but that won't happen. The series, which won Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys in 2020 and 2022, seems likely to be another frontrunner for the Emmys this year despite competition from HBO's own The White Lotus, The Last of Us and House of the Dragon among other dramas like AMC's Better Call Saul, Netflix's The Crown and Showtime's Yellowjackets. I will be sad to see the Roy story come to an end, but I'd rather have a shown leave too soon than stay too long. Speaking of...

VERY VERY: High Society

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very High Society!

This Week's Episodes

Happy Days #98 "My Fair Fonzie" (First Aired: November 22, 1977)

Fonzie is interested in a snobby woman and she schemes with her cousin to embarrass him at the country club.

I liked this episode of Happy Days because it put Fonzie in a little bit of a defensive and vulnerable position as opposed to the usual strategy of him saving the day. The show does a good job of keeping Fonzie out of the loop longer than normal to the point that it feels almost a little sad when he's at the party (even if the jokes are pretty predictable and repetitive). It actually elevates Fonzie's eventual heroics though Fonzie is a little more oblivious than usual. Guest stars Morgan Fairchild (yes, that Morgan Fairchild) and Sam Freed play the snobby roles well. 

I Love Lucy #81 "The Charm School" (First Aired: January 25, 1954)

Lucy and Ethel get upset when Ricky and Fred pay more attention to a friend's date than them so they enroll in charm school to impress the boys.

The plot for this episode is a little dated, even for an etiquette storyline but that doesn't mean it's not a funny one. This is a wonderful showcase for Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance to do what they do best. I actually think Vance even outshines Ball here with frumpy Ethel being thrown completely out of her comfort zone. The reveal of Vance all glammed up is truly an incredible moment with a great reaction from the studio audience. Future Gilligan's Island star Natalie Schafer also turns in a really strong guest performance.

ONE SEASON WONDERS: Total Security

On Wednesdays, I take a look at a show that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at 1997's Total Security!

TOTAL SECURITY

September 27, 1997 - November 8, 1997

6 episodes

ABC

Starring: James Remar, James Belushi, Debrah Farentino, Tracey Needham, Bill Brochtrup, Flex, Kristin Bauer, Tony Plana

Created by: Steven Bochco & David Milch & Charles H. Eglee & Theresa Rebeck

Plot: The inner workings of a high tech Los Angeles security firm. The firm is run by Frank Cisco (Remar) who hires private investigator Steve Wegman (Belushi) to join his team. The rest of the cast make up the rest of the security team.

Brief Pilot Review:

This pilot had all the trappings of a 1990s-era ensemble drama in the vein of hits like NYPD Blue (from the same creators), ER, Chicago Hope and others. The best thing about it was it felt a little bit different because of the setting. This wasn't the usual cops or doctors or lawyers ensemble. There was a law enforcement aspect but it was definitely more about the tech firm and different tasks related to security. That gave a little bit of a fresh approach to an ensemble drama, even one that followed the usual tropes and character archetypes. 

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1997-1998 Saturdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Saturdays in the 1997-98 season!

ABC	8:00	9:00	10:00
Sep	C-16	Total Security	The Practice
Oct
Nov
Dec	Various Programs
Jan	Nothing Sacred	Cracker	ABC News Saturday Night
Feb	Saturday Night Movie
Mar	Various Programs	Nothing Sacred
Apr	Saturday Night Movie
May

Despite many failed lineups on the night for years, ABC was at it again for 1997-98 with a trio of dramas to compete with CBS's winning lineup of dramas and NBC's "Thrillogy." Leading off at 8pm was C-16, a new drama about a special unit of the FBI. The cast included a lot of solid names including Eric Roberts, Angie Harmon, D.B. Sweeney and Morris Chestnut. It was followed by another new crime drama. Total Security came Steven Bochco and centered on a high tech security agency in Los Angeles. This Bochco production came on ABC even as he was moving to CBS with a new deal and launching the more high profile Brooklyn South. Check back tomorrow for a One Season Wonder look at Total Security! Both new dramas did not find an audience and were off the air by mid-November. Total Security was cancelled while C-16 returned in the summer under the new name C-16: FBI. At 10pm was the second season of The Practice. The series had a promising midseason debut in the 1996-97 season but it seemed to be thrown to the wolves with this timeslot. Creator David E. Kelley was furious about the Saturday move and made his feelings well known to the press. The Practice did not set the world on fire on Saturday nights but it did far better than anything ABC had aired on the night in several years. It was rewarded with a move to Mondays at midseason. ABC was a wasteland on Saturday nights for the rest of the season. They aired a couple episodes of Thursday cast-offs Nothing Sacred and Cracker, some movies and specials and a little-watched newsmagazine called ABC News Saturday Night. Once again, ABC had nothing to show for another valiant Saturday effort.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 2/17/23

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - RYAN SEACREST LEAVING "LIVE"

Surprising news arrived on Thursday morning that Ryan Seacrest is leaving Live! after six seasons. The longtime American Idol host will depart this spring when Idol switches to live shows in Los Angeles (Live! tapes in New York City). Seacrest has been co-hosting the morning show with Kelly Ripa since Michael Strahan's surprising departure (and subsequent drama with Ripa). Of course, before Strahan it was Regis Philbin and before Ripa, it was Kathie Lee Gifford so there have been a lot of incarnations of the show that started as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. The next co-host will be Ripa's husband, soap and Riverdale star and frequent guest co-host Mark Consuelos. The show will be rebranded Live with Kelly and Mark and it seems like this could be the final destination for Ripa's revolving door of co-hosts. I have to think the real life couple will stay on the show for as long as it runs in its current incarnation or until they are ready to be done. Seacrest will continue to host Idol among his myriad of other jobs including New Year's Eve hosting.

VERY VERY: Matchmaking

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very Matchmaking!

This Week's Episodes

I Love Lucy #62 "Lucy is a Matchmaker" (First Aired: May 25, 1953)

Lucy and Ethel set up their friend, Sylvia, with an eligible bachelor who is a friend of Fred's but Eddie thinks Lucy wants to date him.

I've always thought this is an underrated episode of I Love Lucy. For one, it is one of the racier episodes of the show (racy for 1953 TV I mean). But more importantly, it really kicks into high gear when they get down to the hotel. The unique setting and madcap situations along with a strong guest turn by Hal March, makes the second half of the episode really strong. Even before the hotel scene, the writing sets up everything really well so we know we're in for a ride. Lucy answering the door in a negligee is a really funny moment that "goes there." It's just always been a personal favorite of mine that doesn't get mentioned with the all time greats. 

The Donna Reed Show #21 "Donna Plays Cupid" (First Aired: February 11, 1959)

Donna tries to set up a bachelor friend of the Stones with their friend, Ceil. It goes well until Ceil's old boyfriend shows up.

It's sometimes hard for me to believe that shows like The Donna Reed Show came after a show like I Love Lucy. Donna is just so tame. The show never has the uproarious nature or clever plotting of an I Love Lucy episode, it's a whole lot safer. It is not without its charms though. Donna is responsible for a couple good moments but I think the premise falls apart a little bit on a weak guest performance from Jackie Kelk. Matchmaking episodes often involve non-series regulars in promising roles and he's just not up to the task.

ONE SEASON WONDERS: The Gregory Hines Show

On Wednesdays, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. This week, I am looking at 1997's The Gregory Hines Show!

THE GREGORY HINES SHOW

September 15, 1997 - February 27, 1998

15 episodes

CBS

Starring: Gregory Hines, Wendell Pierce, Robin Riker, Brandon Hammond, Mark Tymchyshyn, Judith Shelton and Bill Cobbs

Created by: Mitchel Katlin & Nat Bernstein

Plot: Ben Stevenson (Hines) is a publishing agent and recent widower raising a 12 year old son Matty (Hammond). He leans on his brother, Carl (Pierce), father James (Cobbs) and co-worker Alex (Tymchyshyn). Rounding out the main cast is Alex's ex-wife Nicole (Riker) and assistant Angela (Shelton).

Brief Pilot Review:

The Gregory Hines Show's pilot was a tale of two settings. The scenes at his home with his son, brother and father were really strong. There was a nice family camaraderie between the characters and especially between Hines and his on-screen son. There was an easy chemistry between those two characters that made you realize why people at the time thought this could turn into the next The Cosby Show. The office scenes and especially those with Mark Tymchyshyn did not work nearly as well. Tymchyshyn was really smarmy and his scenes felt like they belonged in a different sitcom, maybe one of the NBC workplace comedies of the 90s. But they didn't belong here, a show that should have had a lot more in common with a show like Everybody Loves Raymond than a show like Suddenly Susan.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1997-1998 Fridays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Fridays in the 1997-98 season!

ABC	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
Sep	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Boy Meets World	You Wish	Teen Angel	20/20
Oct
Nov		Teen Angel	Boy Meets World	Various Programs
Dec		Boy Meets World	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Teen Angel
Jan
Feb
Mar				Hiller and Diller
Apr				Boy Meets World
May

It was an era of change for ABC's famed TGIF lineup. Gone from the lineup were longtime staples Family Matters and Step by Step as they had both been scooped up by CBS (more on that below). ABC leaned into the success of Sabrina the Teenage Witch the previous season by launching two more fantasy sitcoms with Sabrina as the lead-off to the night. You Wish was the I Dream of Jeannie to Sabrina's Bewitched. It centered on a genie who lived with a family with a single mom. Teen Angel was about a high school boy who dies after eating a six month old hamburger and comes back as a guardian angel to his best friend. The three fantasy shows, along with the odd show out - Boy Meets World, famously did a crossover event in early November that took each show to a different decade. That was the end of the road though for You Wish, which was pulled from the lineup after that night. Teen Angel limped along for a few more months and Hiller and Diller made a brief appearance on the night. But by the end of the season, ABC was just airing reruns of Sabrina and Boy Meets World alongside new episodes and it was clear that TGIF was losing its power. As usual, the top show on the night was 20/20 at 10pm.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 2/10/23

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - "YELLOWSTONE" POSSIBLY COMING TO AN END

Surprising news came this week that Paramount Network might end its massive hit Yellowstone after the current fifth season resumes this summer. The drama has defied all contemporary trends by being a massive cable hit. But it's also come with its own sets of issues as Paramount gave streaming rights to Peacock before it became a massive hit and now they can't air it on Paramount+ where they have aired spinoffs 1883 and 1923 as well as other Taylor Sheridan shows and other potential spinoffs. But that wasn't the main reason that came out this week. The main reason was disagreements with series star (and recent Golden Globe winner for the show) Kevin Costner over the shooting schedule. The report is that Yellowstone may end in its current form and launch as a different, but similar show featuring Matthew McConaughey. I'm sure Paramount (the corporation) would love to find a way to get the show onto their own streaming service so this might be the opening they need unless the fans are less interested in a Yellowstone show without Costner.

VERY VERY: Blackouts

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very Blackout!

This Week's Episodes

Bewitched #83 "The Short Happy Circuit of Aunt Clara" (First Aired: November 10, 1966)

While babysitting Tabitha, Aunt Clara accidentally knocks out the lights for the entire East Coast thanks to a botched spell.

Marion Lorne is such a treasure on Bewitched. She elevated every episode she was in and her comedic timing was on point even in her 80s. This episode starts out strong and gets a little silly as it goes on but I still love the madcap feeling throughout. It's one of Sandra Gould's better episodes but I just think about how much Alice Pearce's Gladys would have added to an episode like this. A sight gag with a grand piano on a staircase works well too. I didn't totally love the tie-in to the client, but I think the rest of the episode works so well that it doesn't matter that much.

Friends #7 "The One with the Blackout" (First Aired: November 3, 1994)

While dealing with a blackout across New York City, Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre and Ross considers telling Rachel how he feels.

This episode was part of NBC's infamously gimmicky "Blackout Thursday" that started with Mad About You (see below) and that Seinfeld opted out of . Despite the corporate gimmick, I think this episode was the first really great Friends episode of the series because they put all the friends together in one room for the entirety of the episode and they had so many great interactions with each other. Matthew Perry is not part of the group here but he has his own really funny storyline that he plays to perfection.

ONE SEASON WONDERS: Nothing Sacred

On Wednesdays, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. This week, I am looking at 1997's Nothing Sacred!

NOTHING SACRED

September 18, 1997 - March 14, 1998

15 episodes

ABC

Starring: Kevin Anderson, Ann Dowd, Bruce Altman, Scott Michael Campbell, Jose Zuniga, Tamara Mello and Brad Sullivan

Created by: Bill Cain & David Manson

Plot: Father Ray (Anderson) is a Jesuit priest with a liberal streak and a tendency to go against the grain when it comes to expectations. He works in a church with the young Father Eric (Campbell), feminist Sister Mo (Dowd), young secretary Rachel (Mello) and atheist business manager, Sidney (Altman). Rounding out the cast is another priest, Father Leo (Sullivan).

Brief Pilot Review:

This was a pretty gutsy show to put on TV in 1997. I think a lot of shows that once generated controversy (like NYPD Blue) would probably seem pretty tame by today's standards. However, if Nothing Sacred launched today, there would probably still be a fair amount of controversy considering the pilot includes a priest not only being supportive of abortion but also contemplating starting a romantic relationship with an ex from before entering the priesthood and questioning God's existence and whether Hell exists. Those are some topics that haven't gotten any less controversial in the 25+ years since the pilot originally aired. It's pretty impressive that a show was willing to "go there" on Broadcast TV in the 1990s, an era that saw most shows playing it safe when it came to content.

SCHEDULES OF THE PAST: 1997-1998 Thursdays

On Tuesdays, I take a look at schedules from yesteryear. Here's a look at Thursdays in the 1997-98 season!

ABC	8:00	9:00	10:00
Sep	Nothing Sacred	Cracker	20/20
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan	Prey	Thursday Night Movie
Feb
Mar
Apr	Various Programs
May

ABC programmed several ambitious dramas on Thursdays in the 1990s (My So-Called Life, Murder One, etc) only to get slammed by NBC's comedy lineup. That didn't stop them from doing it again in 1997-98 and they kicked off the night with a show that generated a lot of controversy. Nothing Sacred starred Kevin Anderson as a fairly liberal Jesuit priest. The series was praised by critics and won a Peabody Award but it also received a backlash from the religious right and Catholic League who deemed it "sacrilegious." Check back tomorrow for a One Season Wonder post on Nothing Sacred! It was followed by Cracker, a crime drama based on the British series of the same name. The American version starred Murphy Brown's Robert Pastorelli as a Los Angeles criminal psychologist. The two dramas struggled to find an audience against the dominant NBC lineup and the more gentle drama lineup on CBS. They were pulled for much of November Sweeps and off the lineup by the end of the calendar year with both resurfacing on Saturdays for a brief run. A Thursday edition of 20/20 had aired at 10pm but was dropped for a Monday edition in January as a movie took over the last two hours of the night. The new show in the 8pm hour was Prey, a sci-fi drama starring Debra Messing just months before she hit it big in Will & Grace. It starred Messing as an anthropologist who discovers genetic differences in serial killers that basically makes them a new species. The dark drama was an odd choice for 8pm and it lasted a few months before being cancelled. Specials filled the 8pm hour for the rest of the season as ABC had once again struck out with new dramas on the night.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week Ending 2/3/23

Here's a look at the Top 5 TV news stories of the week!

#1 - PARAMOUNT+ AND SHOWTIME MERGING

The long rumored merge happened this week as Paramount+ and longtime premium channel Showtime will be merging into one service later this year. There will still be a linear Showtime network but it will all be under the umbrella "Paramount+ with Showtime." This has been expected since CBS All Access became Paramount+ in June 2021 and it gives Paramount+ a place for prestige shows including the current hit Yellowjackets. With the merger coming soon, there has started to be the shedding of some shows from the streaming service - a trend that streamers have been employing since HBO Max started the practice late last year. That includes Let the Right One In and American Gigolo, which were both cancelled this week at Showtime. No specific dates have been announced but it will be interesting to see what the strategy is going forward and it's potentially a sign of more streaming services considering mergers.

VERY VERY: Stock Market

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very Stock Market!

This Week's Episodes

Bewitched #55 "My Baby the Tycoon" (First Aired: January 20, 1966)

The Kravitzes give newborn Tabitha a share of stock in Poughkeepsie Woolens. When it mysteriously starts to rise, Darrin suspects Tabitha had something to do with it.

This is the first episode of Bewitched after Tabitha's birth and it's a very clever plot because none of the main plot actually involves witchcraft despite Darrin's suspicions. There are some witchcraft moments but it's all in visual jokes. The main plot is really all about paranoia and that creates some great moments for Dick York. It's also a great showcase for Alice Pearce and George Tobias. This is not m y favorite Bewitched episode but it is Bewitched at its best - a really solid story sprinkled with just a hint of witchcraft moments. You would never have seen an episode like this in the show's later years.

Car 54, Where Are You? #13 "Put it in the Bank" (First Aired: December 10, 1961)

Officer Toody is elected treasurer for the precinct and decides to put all the money in the stock market instead of the bank like he's supposed to.

I have not really watched a lot of Car 54, Where Are You? It's definitely one of the more adult-themed sitcoms of the 1960s but it's awfully silly - just in non-fantasy or kid-friendly situations. Something I love about well-written shows from this era is how much room stories are given to breathe. Here you have 25 minutes of solid comedy and plot based on one idea. It's really more impressive in many ways than the A, B, C, even D plots of comedies in more recent years. This episode has a funny plot that just snowballs into more ridiculousness.

ONE SEASON WONDERS: The Tony Danza Show

On Wednesdays, I take a look at shows that lasted one season or less. Here's a look at The Tony Danza Show!

THE TONY DANZA SHOW

September 24, 1997 - December 10, 1997

5 episodes

NBC

Starring: Tony Danza, Maria Canals, Shaun Weiss, Majandra Delfino, Ashley Malinger and Dean Stockwell

Created by: Ian Gurvitz

Plot: Tony DiMeo (Danza) is a single father to two daughters: 16 year old Tina (Delfino) and 11 year old Mickey (Malinger). He is also a sportswriter who works with assistant Carmen (Canals). Rounding out the main cast is Tony's father, Frank (Stockwell) and his apartment's bellboy, Stuey (Weiss).

Brief Pilot Review:

Tony Danza has played basically the same character in all of his sitcoms and I have a feeling they are a lot like Danza himself. They are always named Tony and they are always blustery Italian guys with hearts of gold. On Taxi, he was part of a large ensemble and surrounded by great cast members while being buoyed by great writing. On Who's the Boss? he was the clear led but it was a more fully realized show and once again, there were strong cast members around him. Danza was good in those two shows so this isn't really a knock on him but The Tony Danza Show sort of showed us what would happen when you strip away the things that made those other shows great and all that's left is Tony's sitcom persona.