A&E THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008 ❚ EDITOR JEFF DAY ❚ 905-526-2415 OR [email protected] ME TV Everyone gets to pick their favourites BY BRENT LAWSON elevision today is like a marriage between Outer Limits and the Twi- light Zone, with creator Rod Serling Toffering a black and white summary of the strange events that have unfolded: “The viewers have taken control of this net- work. Do not adjust your set. Normal pro- ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO gramming will never resume.…” Actress America Ferrera plays Betty in a scene from the East Side Story episode of Ugly Betty. Ferrera is a 2007 Teen Choice Awards For one thing, viewers aren’t all watching winner in the category of TV: Breakout. She was also in the running in the category of TV Actress: Comedy. the top television programs at the same time. TV fans can watch their favourites DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. You know you have a wide variety of groups making choic- Las Vegas shows on their computer, iPod or cell- es when the same show is on one group’s Best list — and another group’s Worse list. Here is a sampling Paradise Hotel 2 phone. of the diversity of tastes, likes and dislikes in the television playground: House, MD Hundreds of mini-networks have sprung Ugly Betty up around the 24-hour cable and satellite The TVAddict speaks Law & Order: SVU world, each offering its own well-defined From the Canadian website How I Met Your Mother menu of programs aimed at a specific de- thetvaddict.com, editor mographic. Daniel Malen’s top 10 shows Westerns Another factor that has TV executives of 2007: The ornery, straight-shooting reaching for their Tums: Hundreds of thou- 30 Rock typists, cowpokes and gun- sands of TV episodes are downloaded in Damages slingers — well, on paper — of cyberspace, the way music fans once used Dexter Western Writers of America, Napster to share song files. Battlestar Galactica Inc. (including Canadian mem- Unlike the early days of Napster, viewers How I Met Your Mother bers) have rounded up their are being encouraged to download: “For as Lost favourite western shows. little as $1.99, you can own the latest Gossip Girl Best Western TV Series: episode of your favourite show as early as Brothers & Sisters Gunsmoke one day after it airs, or purchase past Ugly Betty Bonanza episodes that you missed (or want to House Maverick watch over and over). Best Newcomer: Dirty Sexy Rawhide “Choose a season pass and get a whole Money Have Gun Will Travel season of a TV show, past or present, at a Two Reasons to keep HBO: The Virginian discount. Or buy multi-passes for shows Big Love and Entourage Little House on the Prairie that air every day, like The Daily Show with Best reasons to stay home High Chaparral Jon Stewart, and enjoy a month’s worth of on Friday: Moonlight and Fri- The Rifleman episodes downloaded automatically to day Night Lights Best Western your computer.” Tastiest treat: Pushing TV Mini Series: So is it any wonder that every Tom, Dick Daisies Lonesome Dove and Harriet has their own list of popular TV Most Missed: Even with the Centennial shows, depending on their point of view? whole Christopher mess, we The Good Old Boys Daniel Malen, editor of the Canadian can’t help feeling lonely with- How the West Was Won website thetvaddict.com, says the plethora out our Gilmore Girls The Sacketts of lists reflects the fragmented nature of Still mourning: Veronica Lewis & Clark today’s TV. The West Mars PETER IOVINO, SHOWTIME “The Internet, with its billions of pages, is Best British import: Extras Michael C. Hall is shown in Dexter. From thetvaddict.com, The Rough Riders all about niche audiences. And TV, with its Best Cable Series not on FX: editor Daniel Malen picks it as one of the top 10 shows of 2007. Most patriotic TV shows hundreds of channels is heading the same Mad Men way. Fans organize around their niche.” positive values parents are try- Parentstv.org: (according to www.ugo.com) Four or five decades ago, most North The Parents ing to instil in their young Best and Worst Network TV G.I. Joe American viewers had only three channel Television Council ones.” The council produces re- Shows as chosen by Parents Rescue Me options. “Television is the most power- search and publications docu- Television Council Entertain- 24 “Now, you now have a channel for every- ful medium in the world. It can menting “the dramatic in- ment Analysts. Future Weapons thing — Space for sci-fi fans, HGTV for the be a wonderful way to educate, crease in sex, violence and pro- Best: Battlestar Galactica home improvement fans, Food network ob- inspire and entertain America’s fanity in entertainment” and Extreme Makeover: Home Edi- Retirement Living TV viously has the foodies.” children. Sadly, it’s doing the aims to put pressure on adver- tion and Oprah’s Big Give Bills itself as the only network Malen says another reason for the frag- opposite and undermining the tisers and Hollywood My Dad is Better than Your dedicated to informing, involv- mentation is the advertising dollar. A show Dad ing and inspiring people 55 like Home To Stay on HGTV may have a Don’t Forget the Lyrics plus. RLTV is seen in 29 million smaller audience in comparison to a show American Idol homes in the U.S. and Canada like Desperate Housewives. But the small Everybody Hates Chris on DirecTV, and other providers. niche audience who watched Home To Sweet Nothing in My Ear Top programs include: Stay are incredibly passionate about home The Russell Girl AARP — My Generation design and decor. Thus, advertisers will pay Are You Smarter Than a 5th Another Chance For Romance more for the eyeballs. Grader Art of Living “Catering to niche audiences is the fu- Clash of the Choirs Daily Cafe ture of television. Because the days of 30 Supernanny Encore with John Palmer million people tuning into anything outside Worst: Healthline of a Super Bowl are unfortunately over.” Criminal Mind Living Live Hammering home the message was the Family Guy Prudent Advisor most recent Emmy Awards, which purports My Name is Earl The Florence Henderson Show to honour the best television has to offer. 30 Rock Retired & Wired The telecast was the second-lowest rated Medium Viewpoint of all time. 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