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Friday
Night 2004/2005:
Fall
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Net
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8:00pm
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8:30pm
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9:00pm
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9:30pm
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10:00pm
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ABC
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8 Simple Rules
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Hope & Faith
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Less
Than Perfect
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20/20
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CBS
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Joan
of Arcadia
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JAG
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FOX
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The
Jury
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<Local>
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NBC
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Dateline
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Third Watch
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UPN
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America's
Next Top Model
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Star Trek: Enterprise
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<Local>
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WB
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What I Like About You
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Reba
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Grounded
for Life
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<Local>
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Savages
[Complete Savages]
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ABC
--- Half-Hour Sitcom --- Friday --- 8:30 PM
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Premise
A story about a single dad with five teenage
boys who is trying to teach them how to be independent
men. Since the boys were essentially raised
by nannies and housekeepers, tackling everyday
chores becomes a real battle. Simultaneously,
the father is re-discovering the ups and downs
of being the caretaker of five growing young
men.
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The
Brady Bunch before the Lady met the Fellow
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Familiar
Faces
Keith Carradine (Deadwood),
Erik von Detten (The Princess Diaries)
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Our
Take
ABC’s proud claim that Savages comes
from Mel Gibson is unlikely to impact the viewership
of this program. While it will probably fit
in with ABC’s comedy block, ratings are nowhere
close to the heyday of TGIF. It all depends
on what ABC’s expectations might be.
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Expect
to Hear
"You
have to be willing to risk a no if you ever
want to hear a yes."
-
Nick Savage
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CBS
--- Hour Drama --- Friday --- 10:00 PM
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Premise
Surprise! Surprise! Another primetime drama
takes place in Sin City. Rob Lowe stars as Dr.
Vegas, the house physician at a high-rolling,
hopping casino. He treats all sorts of patients
including hotel guests, casino customers and
Vegas locals.
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Las
Vegas meets any one of a myriad of medical/doctor
shows
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Familiar
Faces
Rob Lowe (The West Wing),
Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos)
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Our
Take
On one hand, both Rob Lowe and Joe Pantoliano
are big names. However, neither The Lyon’s
Den nor The Handler (which was in
the same timeslot) benefited from the high-profile
nature of their stars. However, this year the
8pm-10pm timeslots are already established.
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Expect
to Hear
"Do
you want them to suspend your license again?
At least last time it was for a sick little
boy, not your casino paymaster."
-
Nurse Alice Doherty
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FOX
--- Hour Reality --- Friday --- 8:00 PM
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Premise
Oscar de la Hoya, the six-time World Champion
boxer, hosts this new reality series. Twelve
up-and-coming fighters will compete to become
the Next Great Champ.
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Rocky
meets American Idol (also see NBC’s The
Contender)
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Familiar
Faces
Boxer Oscar de la Hoya
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Our
Take
Following in the footsteps of the Trading
Spouses/Wife Swap battle comes another one
of two virtually identical reality programs.
A male-skewing reality show may not be the best
choice for a Friday night (although there is
very little male competition in this timeslot).
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Expect
to Hear
<<Not
Available for Preview>>
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NBC
--- Hour Drama --- Friday --- 10:00 PM
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Premise
Based on true accounts, this new drama portrays
the inside of the National Institute of Health
where doctors are summoned anywhere to solve
medical mysteries. Each risky assignment presents
life-or-death scenarios.
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ER
meets CSI (without the corpses)
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Familiar
Faces
Neal McDonough (Boomtown),
Kelli Williams (The Practice)
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Our
Take
10pm is a tricky timeslot when you consider
that both 2003/2004 dramas failed to return
(including the critically acclaimed Boomtown).
However, investigation-type programs are hot
now. The only question is if anyone will be
home to tune in to this one.
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Expect
to Hear
"Remember,
I am going to have to link these two people
."
-
Dr. Steven Connor
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WB
--- Half-Hour Sitcom --- Friday --- 8:30 PM
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Premise
This 22-year-old ex-commando from the British
Special Forces faces his greatest challenge
yet: taking care of Beverly Hills rich kids.
Working in the household initially presents
everyday challenges, but soon he develops
a friendlier rapport with his newfound family
unit.
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Mr.
Belvedere meets Major Dad
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Familiar
Faces
Gerald McRaney (Major Dad, Simon and Simon)
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Our
Take
While the format seems somewhat outlandish,
the actual pilot is a pretty typical sitcom
and in line with what one would expect to
find on WB’s Friday line-up. As long as people
can get past the name and the rest of the
line-up stays strong, Commando Nanny
has a chance.
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Expect
to Hear
"Miles,
you can’t be a nanny. You were a commando.
Nanny and commando don’t go together. That’s
why they don’t show double features of Rambo
and Mary Poppins."
-
Miles’ Friend
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Friday
Night 2004/2005:
Winter
|
Net
|
8:00pm
|
8:30pm
|
9:00pm
|
9:30pm
|
10:00pm
|
|
ABC
|
8 Simple Rules
|
Savages
|
Hope & Faith
|
Less
Than Perfect
|
20/20
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|
CBS
|
Joan
of Arcadia
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JAG
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Dr. Vegas
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FOX
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<Local>
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NBC
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Dateline
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Third Watch
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Medical Investigation
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UPN
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TBD
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Star Trek: Enterprise
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<Local>
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WB
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What I Like About You
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Commando Nanny
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Reba
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Grounded
for Life
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<Local>
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FOX
--- Hour Drama --- Friday --- 8:00 PM ---
[Winter]
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Premise
Rachel Nichols stars as Elizabeth Worth,
an undercover federal agent posing as a
high school student. Maintaining her popular
high school image while trying to crack
the case (as well as care for her younger
sister) presents many challenges.
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21
Jump Street meets The Mod Squad
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Familiar
Faces
Rachel Nichols (Dumb & Dumberer),
Peter Facinelli (Fastlane)
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Our
Take
Fox has had trouble with dramas on Friday
night for many years (with The X-Files
being a notable exception). Additionally,
CBS has shown strong growth thanks to Joan
of Arcadia. The Inside’s only
chance may be younger viewers who are not
interested in sitcoms (a challenge for Fridays).
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Expect
to Hear
“Brandon
was just a kid with a crush. I kept him
around because he got me where I needed
to be. And now he’s dead ."
-
Danny Roberts (alias of Elizabeth Worth)
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FOX
--- Hour Drama --- Friday --- 9:00 PM
--- [Winter]
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Premise
Jonny Calvo has recently been released
from prison for drug possession and is
now struggling to redeem his identity
while rebuilding the relationship between
him and his son.
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Switch
and Tenspeed and Brownshoe are
just two examples of shows about former
criminals who became heroes
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Familiar
Faces
Franky G. (The Italian Job)
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Our
Take
Jonny Zero will compete against
three established dramas (JAG,
Third Watch, and Star Trek:
Enterprise and its cult following).
Additionally, prior strong-male dramas
(such as John Doe) have not made
it on Friday night.
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Expect
to Hear
“I
sold used cars for 20 years. I know people
and you’re no criminal."
-
Martin Styles
referring to Jonny Calvo
(a.k.a. Zero)
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Go to Saturday Night Programs
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