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FEATURES
The Clarion
Reception mixed for new TV shows
BY LENORA MOODY
Lights. Cameras. Action. What
does the season have in store?
"Third Watch, Snoops, Stark
Raving Mad, West Wing, Family
Law, Freaks and Geeks, Dream
Maker, Once and Again and Mike
O'Malley." These are just a few of
the 38 new TV shows this fall.
“Mike O’Malley’
]
me feel like I was actually watching
real life situations. I was impressed
with the rescues, saving of lives and
the emotional farewell to a fellow
policeman. "Third Watch" is a
show I would recommend anyone
to watch. I give it Five TV's.
“West Wing”
□□
□ □
For NBC's releases, I received
a "fuzzy" reception. The "Mike
O'Malley" premier was a display of
poor humor and bad writing. The
plot focused around Mike
O'Malley's conflicts over loosing a
girlfriend, her marrying another
man and trying to decide if he
should go to the wedding. Through
the episode, he reflected on the past
which was accompanied by flash
backs from their relationship.
Yet, these past excerpt did not
match the plot matter. They and the
show were not even tickle me
funny. My suggestion to NBC is to
throw this show in the flop file. I
give it half a TV, and obviously I'm
not alone; this show was canceled
after 2 episodes.
“Third Watch”
□ □□
I am sitting on the edge of my
seat waiting for the next episode of
"Third Watch." This new NBC
show is worth watching with its
high powered and fast paced action.
The writing and characters made
"West Wing" is a different
kind of show with some humor, a
little action and a lot of plot.
At the start of the show, I was
trying to hold onto where the
writers were going, but this w^s
hard when the plot switched back
and forth throughout the entire
story.
However, some good parts
lurked in the first episode. When the
president was examined by his
medical doctor, there was a moment
when the president needed advice
about the congress. During this
time, there was a relationship of
trust created. The end of the episode
was heart stirring when the plane
carrying the military doctor was
bombed by another country and the
president promised to attack no
matter the cost. "West Wing"
deserves a fair, three and a half
TVs.
‘Once and Again’
"Once and Again" is a new
show aired by ABC. The show has
been highly praised by reviewers
and some watchers. With all of this
praise, I was disappointed by the
lack of plot throughout the episode.
While I watched, I felt like the
situations were being repeated by
the single mother and father figure
to the single children characters.
The major problem was there was
no development of a story. I was
being bombarded with more infor
mation than just the starting of a
relationship.
In addition, I was lead to
believe this show would be for all
audiences. I can say if there are
children in the room, they will be
asking many questions about adult
topics after this show. My overall
rating of this show is half a TV.
Another show by ABC is a
detective show called "Snoops." I
was excited about seeing this show,
thinking it would be a little like "X-
Files" or "Profiler." Yet, again I was
disappointed. The plot and subject
matter of the show was good.
However, my hopes were dashed
by the portrayals of the two detec
tive female characters. The only
people who would watch this show
would be "Bay Watch" fans. These
women were not the highly techni
cal experienced detectives I was
expecting. Yet, they were portrayed
as the sexy go by your wits women.
I was expecting Scully and received
Bay Watch Beauties. This show
receives a grade of two TV's.
]
“Dr. Joy Brown”
Fox has been the producer of
many shows over the years. They
recently developed a show hosted
by Dr. Joy Brown, a psychologist. I
was expecting another show dis
cussing family problems or reveling
unbelievable phobias. What I
received was a higher-class version
of Jerry Springer. Most of the
subject matter focused on cheating
spouses, poor parent relationships,
etc. There was nothing new, differ
ent or unusual. I just chalked this
one up to the usual morning shows.
I give this show one and a half
TV's.
“Dream Maker’ □□
□ □n
My pick of the season would
be Fox's "Dream Maker." I was
caught off guard by this show and
host Richard Simmons. I was not
sure I could take Richard Simmons
hosting a show. Now I believe they
could not have picked a better
person. The show is extremely
emotional and kind. Richard
Simmons just adds to its unique
nature. I give this show five TV's.
My prediction; both bad and
good shows are in between those
channels, but only half will last the
season.
Moody Rating System;
□
Five Television Sets:
Highest Possible Rating
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