One Show a Day the Heather Way

We live in a fast-paced society and time is precious. So why waste time flipping through channels, hoping to stumble upon a good program? Below is a guide that will help you find one good television show to watch each day… Enjoy!

Sunday: Amazing Race (CBS 7:00PM)
Amazing Race, currently in its twelfth season, is a show in which pairs from all over the country race around the world in an effort to win $1 million. Whether they are recently-dating couples, brother/sister combinations, or father and daughter teams, watching each couple interact in high-stress situations is enough to bring out the psychologist in each of us. But participants aside, The Amazing Race gives viewers at home a view of countries around the world. Through challenges viewers are shown real villages, real cultural traditions and real local pastimes. It’s like getting a passport stamp without ever leaving the comfort of the couch. But don’t just take my word for it: Amazing Race has been given all five Emmys for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program.


Monday: Little People, Big World (TLC 8:00PM and 8:30PM)
Little People, Big World documents the life of the Roloff family. School, homework, soccer games, chores, vacations, projects on the farm, friends and the pie-in-the-sky ideas of Matt (the dad) who is always scheming to better the farm in one way or another. But more than just showing off their family life, Little People, Big World gives viewers an appreciation of the challenges that face little people living in a big world. The Roloffs show viewers just how resilient little people can be. And as Amy says in the opening credits, “We can do anything an average-sized person can do. Just in a different way.” Tune in to see all the Roloff-style antics each week…


Tuesday: Jeopardy! (ABC M-F 6:30PM)
Often called “America’s Favorite Quiz Show”, Jeopardy! gives contestants and viewers the opportunity to test their knowledge on a wide variety of topics every week night. Created by Merv Griffin in 1964, Jeopardy! has been hosted by Alex Trebek since 1984. In 2001 the show was ranked second in TV Guide’s 50 Best Game Shows of All Time, loosing only to The Price is Right. And while some may see Jeopardy! as a show for the older generations, it is a fun show that lets college students show off just how much they’ve learned in school. Answer: Jeopardy! Question: What is what I should watch on Tuesday nights?


Wednesday: Private Practice (ABC 9:00PM)
A new show this season, Private Practice follows the in-office and personal lives of the doctors working in the Oceanside Group. As a spin-off of ABC’s popular show Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice may not be living up to the expectations of critics, but since when did they know everything? Private Practice, intended to be a medical drama, comes off more like a night-time soap opera. So if you aren’t at all interested in which doctor is dating whom and who used to want to date that same doctor then Private Practice isn’t for you. But if you like a little cheesy drama with your blood and guts then tune in this week.


Thursday: Ugly Betty (ABC 8:00pm)
Ugly Betty, currently in its second season, is based on the Colombian ‘telenovela’ Yo soy Betty, la fea. Starring América Ferrera as Betty Suárez, Ugly Betty shows how this not-so-likely girl from Queens handles a job in the fast-paced and integrity-lacking world of fashion. The show highlights Betty’s work and personal life, and while she may be good-intentioned and sweet at heart, she often finds herself in predicaments stemming from her awkwardness and naïveté. Ugly Betty is good-natured show that always leaves viewers laughing and waiting for the next episode.


Friday & Saturday: Grey’s Anatomy & ER (TiVo’d on Thursday ABC 9:00PM and NBC 10:00PM, respectively)
That’s right, in order to find something good on Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll have to plan ahead and record two shows on Thursday night. Currently in its fourth season, Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama based on the life of Meredith Grey and the other doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital. While intra-hospital relations are highlighted, the surgical department and drama therein also entertain. Similarly, ER takes place at County General Hospital and gives viewers a nice mix of personal life drama and medical procedures and hospital politics. Currently in its fourteenth season, ER has gone through enough cast members to confuse any payroll department. And although it has not always stayed as strong as it started, ER is currently featuring a good cast with very well-written plots.

So instead of just randomly flipping through the channels, take a look at these must-see shows this week. And if you get hooked on one, then take advantage of the writers’ strike and catch up with all the reruns…Enjoy!

The Emmys: A Presentation of Awkwardness…

The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards aired on FOX last Sunday, Sept. 16. It would great to write about the beautiful dresses and hairstyles seen as celebrities entered on the red carpet. It would be great to comment on those who won awards; discussing their performances throughout the year. And it would even be nice to talk about the special tributes (Roots) and performances (Jersey Boys) that were seen throughout the broadcast. Sure, in an ideal world we could spend time talking about all these aspects of the show. But sadly, the entire program can be summed up into one word: Awkward.

That’s right, awkward.

From the moment the broadcast started with Ryan Seacrest’s introduction/monologue, things were off to an awkward start. Chosen as this year’s host, Seacrest left much to be desired. Of course, no one expected him to deliver a great stand-up comedy routine. He isn’t a stand-up comedian. But his opening remarks and “jokes” (I use that term loosely) left an awful lot to be desired. And what’s more, could have been delivered in half the time.

Speaking of half, where was Seacrest during the entire broadcast? Past hosts (including Conan O’Brien, Ellen DeGeneres and Garry Shandling) have all taken a more active role in the flow of the night. But rather than being moved along by Seacrest, this year’s award winners and announcers were awkwardly shoved toward the next item on the agenda by other announcers or the always-faceless “female voice.”

Oh, and while we’re on the subject of the ever-present “female voice,” why not bring up the extremely awkward presence of Grey’s Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl. When she and fellow presenter Kyle Chandler stepped on stage to present the award for supporting actor in a mini-series, the “voice” mispronounced her last name. Heigl, who was a presenter and nominee, should have had her name pronounced correctly. But the fact that it wasn’t could have easily been ignored. But it wasn’t. Instead, Heigl’s sarcastic attitude was evident in her fake smile and her “Actually, it’s pronounced…”

And while this little moment was awkward in and of itself, Heigl couldn’t just leave it at that. Later in the program, when accepting her award for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, she started her speech with “Thanks for getting my name right…” Come on. We all know a mistake was made, but what are you, nine years old? Now you just sound like a petulant brat. Get over it.

And while we’re getting over it, maybe we could get over the idea of using the Emmys as a venue to state our political views. If we as viewers wanted to hear about the war, the presidential race or even the political views of our favorite actors and actresses, we would tune into CNN or Larry King Live, not the Emmys. It’s an award show. One night a year is taken to honor the outstanding performances of those in the nighttime television industry. Let’s not ruin it with political crap. People like Sally Field who use their acceptance speech time (she won outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role on Brothers & Sisters) to make comments about war should be censored for more than just her inappropriate language. Whether we agree with her views or not, it is neither the time nor the place for political statements. It’s an award show. Period.

Censorship seemed to be quite common during this year’s Emmy broadcast. Ray Romano was censored while making a joke about his ex-TV wife Patricia Heaton “screwing” Kelsey Grammer in their new sitcom. Field was censored because of her use of the word “godd***” in her political statement/acceptance speech. And Katherine Heigl (can she do anything right?) was censored while mouthing the word “sh**” after hearing that she had won an award. The censorship was extremely awkward. But FOX is not the only one to blame for that. Yes, the network could have chosen a slightly better censorship plan. Rather than cutting to an outside view of the Shrine Auditorium, a simple logo could have been shown. But the actors themselves could have prevented the awkwardness. Do they not know that certain language is not permitted on primetime television? It seems like pretty common knowledge. Don’t use bad words when on an 8:00PM broadcast. There. Problem solved.

But unfortunately, the seating in the Shrine Auditorium was a problem that could not be solved. While the idea of theater in the round seating (a round stage with chairs facing it from all 360 degrees) may work well for plays and musicals, it proved awkward and disastrous for the Emmys. Rather than rotating the presenters throughout the program, she same section of audience seemed to always be the “front.” Which sadly, for the actors in shows like Ugly Betty, meant that there was always a “back.” They definitely gave a whole new meaning to the phrase “back stage.”

Overall, the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards were extremely disappointing. So much for showing off the best of television…

The only positive aspect of the broadcast was that next year has to be better... (Quick, give me some wood to knock on!)