Benjamonster's TV

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 an...

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...

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 ...

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 d...

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 anothe...

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 f...

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 re...

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 chara...

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...

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) woul...

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 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...

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 to...

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 ser...

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 T...

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...