Where TV Shows Go To Die

T.G.I.F is definitely not in the vocabulary of any producer whose TV 'baby' airs on Friday nights.

Any show that gets 'a new date and time' that just happens to be a Friday is doomed. Kiss it Goodbye. End of Story.

And there's a good reason for this: most of the people who advertisers care about are out enjoying real life on Friday evenings. The only folks left are no-longer-youngsters who are either so low on energy that the mere thought of going out sends them shuffling to their recliners, or are so jaded the thought of going out sends them to the liquor cabinet for a G&T, or both. If you are 45 or over, you likely fit into one (or both) of these categories. If you are, and you don't, then you can kiss my reclining, G&T sedated ass.

And those of us who stay in on Fridays aren't on the most-wanted list for advertisers. So the shows that show on this hated evening get watched by people who aren't buying what they are selling, and the shows fade away.

Into this purgatory CBS has shoved 'CSI:New York'. It's a sad development for what had become my favorite CSI edition, but I can understand the reasoning. The show has been wobbling lately, and got a real punch to the chin when Melina Kanakaredes left the cast, to be replaced by Sela Ward, last seen on TV as Doctor House's unpleasant ex-wife. Kanakaredes, as Stella, was the perfect centerpiece for the other cast members. She could be tough and angry, and then be soft, sweet, caring, and sexy. Especially sexy.

It's hard to see Ward meeting that job description, but we'll never know, since she won't have time to develop the character. The move to Friday means goodbye. The only question will be whether the goodbye is long and reluctant, or "we're outta here". Given CSI:NY's popularity in syndication, my guess is the latter.

But that's not all, folks ...

Another show I happen to like has been shoved to the Friday exit ramp: Fringe. And this one is inexplicable. The show is hot. It ought to appeal to young and old alike. It's ludicrous but interesting, and has characters that alternately fascinate and irritate. Perfect entertainment, in other words.

So why Friday? My guess is this series came with a predetermined sell-by date. Some of the cast have bigger and better things waiting for them. Plus Fringe has a story arc, which the producers seem intent on winding to a conclusion. If so, I hope they are prepared to conclude soon, since on Friday's the ratings may drop too fast to allow them to finish.

I am struggling here to conclude with an example of a show that has succeeded on Friday nights. Best I can come up with is 'Friday Night Fights', both the new ESPN version and the old show from the late 50's sponsored by Gillette. Hmm, I know Olivia Dunham can take a punch; can Jo Danville?