TV is the New Reading

Time once

again for the holiday wish list

Ah, the HOLIDAYS! With streaming tinsel and decked-out trees and nipped-nose caroling, mulled wassail by a warm fire, festive giftwrap and ribbons everywhere, tables and stockings groaning beneath the bounty of the season and cheery hearts warmed by the closeness of family and friends and the joyous time together.

Thank God for all that, too, because this is usually a lousy time of the year for television.

Really, I had an opportunity to shovel out my DVR over the weekend and I was largely uninspired. First, most shows have already tucked themselves in for a long winter’s hiatus. Secondly, the specials are generally not, as a rule, all that special. Thirdly, every other commercial is for shows that aren’t starting new episodes until next year, and sometimes not until well into next year. Phooey.

So I’m going to use this space, as has become traditional, to share my wish list for the coming year, and hope that with the magic of the season some of my wishes might come true.

First and foremost, my fondest wish is for networks to realize there is more than one day in the week. It probably works out fine for everyone else, but NBC and FOX had so much original sci-fi flavored programming on Monday nights I couldn’t even cope with the two-hour series finale of “Boston Legal,” which ABC thought should also be on Monday nights along with "Samantha Who?"

Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad except for the double-barreled blast Sunday nights had become with fresh programming on BBC America, HBO, ABC and FOX. Wednesdays had also become ridiculous, stuffed full of “Bones,” “Life,” “Criminal Minds,” “Dirty Sexy Money” and, for some reason, “Pushing Daisies,” which struggled in the timeslot, wilted and died.

In retrospect, ABC should’ve folded "Daisies" into a stronger Tuesday night fantasy package with “Eli Stone” and “Ugly Betty” – a show that brings its own whimsy from its telenovela roots, broadly drawn characters and bright primary palette.

It’s never been a good fit with Thursday's “Grey’s Anatomy,” which itself used to be worth watching. In fact, part two of this wish list is to flatline the medical dramas. “Grey’s Anatomy” hasn’t been good for much of anything this season, “Private Practice” is unwatchable and “ER” has been on life support for years now. I’d mention “House” here but that’s only a medical drama anymore because it takes place in a hospital.

Could a geek such as myself wish for a second solid mystery to package with “Fringe”? I’d like to see a show where mysteries are solved, not necessarily by the police and certainly not by another forensic team. Rather, I’d like to see a little old lady -- a Miss Marple-type -- solving manageable mysteries, mostly by being nosy and by sending her hot grandniece on small recon missions. Because I know full well the demographics will suffer if Jessica Fletcher isn’t paired with Jessica Alba.

That being said, can I also wish that Kristin Chenoweth has a soft landing after “Pushing Daisies” goes off the air? I love her voice and her look and everything about her, and as Olive Snook she steals every scene she’s in -- not an easy task with Anna Friel in the cast. I wish good things for all of them but I don’t think I can face an entire season without that adorable little pixie popping up somewhere on television.

Finally, I wish everyone a happy holiday season, a prosperous new year and -- whatever 2009 brings us -- happy viewing!

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