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November ratings may thin TV herd
Miami Herald - October 21, 1999
By KEN PARISH PERKINS
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Which network series will live and which will die is being decided right about now, four weeks into a new season that's hardly the creative apocalypse many expected it to be. Of course, it's
not the richly textured season that the network executives and producers so breathlessly promised, either. But is it ever?
As the networks implement strategy in preparation for the November sweeps, it's easy to determine what's going well, what's going wrong and what needs more time to find an audience. Because
November is so economically crucial, shows that disappear next month are considered to be in trouble.
GOOD NEWS
But good news first. Third Watch, NBC's frenetic ER in the streets, is showing glimpses of staying power, as is the network's political drama West Wing and its Law & Order spinoff, Law &
Order: Special Victims Unit. Also doing well: the female-driven law show Family Law, starring Kathleen Quinlan and airing Mondays on CBS.
But so far, it's the CBS drama Judging Amy, with Amy Brenneman as a rookie judge, that has shown the most promise. Airing at 10 p.m. Tuesdays, the series has distinguished itself with clever
writing, high ideals and a solid supporting cast led by Tyne Daly. And all without much critical buzz.
It built viewership over its lead-in, 60 Minutes II, and clobbered Once and Again, the ABC romantic drama that received good reviews and whose promos alone generated water-cooler word-of-mouth.
In fact, Judging Amy is the second-highest-rated new show behind NBC's dismally reviewed Stark Raving Mad, the Neil Patrick Harris sitcom that seems to owe its viewership to its Thursday night
time slot.
Judging Amy may be pulling away from Once and Again, but that drama, about love developing between a pair of 40-ish divorcees, is in no danger of getting booted. In fact, ABC is so pleased with
Once and Again's ratings that it may leave the series in its Tuesday night spot and find another place for permanent tenant NYPD Blue. This has reportedly infuriated Blue creator and executive
producer Steven Bochco.
BOTTOM OF HEAP
But in TV, this is a time for heightened emotions. Surely the cast members of Manchester Prep, the TV version of the teen film Cruel Intentions, were shocked when their show got canned before it
aired. And what's Mike O'Malley thinking, now that his second consecutive show (remember Life With Roger?) has bitten the dust? NBC axed The Mike O'Malley Show after two episodes.
The Fox sitcom Action isn't faring much better. Critics adored the show, but many viewers have found it revolting. The network will shelve the series during November, bringing it back Dec. 2.
Copyright © 1999 Miami Herald. All rights reserved.
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