The Fall Of ABC's Former Successes

I think I've officially given up on ABC's two breakthrough shows from 2004, "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy." Having watched both of these shows religiously since their beginning, it's time to finally let go of my dedication. The wells on both of these series is running dry as they enter their sixth seasons.


This latest season of "Grey's" has been focusing on downsizing as Seattle Grace has merged with Mercy West introducing far too many supporting characters. It's all become far too muddled, and the leading stars have been shoved into the background. With an explosive and astonishing first few seasons, the show has been making its steady decline into mediocre melodrama as of recently, and it appears to have finally made it there. Even the soundtrack, which used to be the show's highlight, has been lacking.


"Housewives" has certainly had its ups and downs throughout its lifetime, and although season five showed some promise with jumping ahead five years in the characters' lives, unfortunately this latest season has slumped right back down into nothingness. With yet another introduction to new neighbors, I'm really starting to feel like I've seen it all before. And without Nicolette Sheridan in the picture, it's lost a lot of sizzle.

A Full Fall Line-Up Commences

Last night ABC's fall TV line-up started out with a bang as the new half-hour comedy, "Modern Family," premiered at 9 p.m. This mockumentary-style show follows three families that are considered to be the idea of what a modern family is today. The show is already getting high critical acclaim and is being considered this fall's best new sit-com even with the likes of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and NBC's "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and "Community" in the running. ABC's other half-hour comedy, "Cougar Town," starring Courteney Fox, is not faring as well.

ABC's standards such as "Grey's Anatomy," "Desperate Housewives," and "Brothers and Sisters," among others, are also having their season premieres this week, satiating any need for resolve from unnerving cliff-hangers.

Last night also marked the series premiere of the twisty, big-level thrills drama "FlashForward." In the same vein as "Lost," this show features an evocative premise about everyone in the world blacking out at the same exact moment for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. A crazy puzzle is obviously going to unfold with this one, and it's almost as if ABC is scrambling to find their replacement for "Lost" as it has reached its sixth and final season. "FlashForward" is supposedly proving to have some promise as a filler.

And yet this fall also brings the third season of AMC's award-winning series "Mad Men," which, just as always, is getting the highest critical acclaim of any TV series out there.

But "Lost" is still the top for me. January simply can't come soon enough.

He Found His Loophole

Last night's season finale of "Lost" proves without a shadow of a doubt that it is the very best television has to offer right now. Anybody who disagrees just hasn't been following it close enough. Yes, it's a confusing show, but if you're keeping up with it, the rewards it provides in entertainment are well worth the effort.

The show's fifth season came to an almost shockingly too perfect close last night as the bomb indeed went off, flashing a white light across the screen that faded into the show's title card, this time switching it's usual white letters against a black background to the opposite. It's a signal that a drastic shift has occurred, and something big is about to come.

The final season arrives in January 2010, and many questions still remain to be answered. Will the bomb going off really reverse everything and make them never land on the island in the first place? Somehow, I don't think it will turn out to be as simple as that because if this show has proven anything about it's storytelling, it's that nothing is ever that simple.

This season had the tagline, "Destiny Calls," and the final season fittingly has the tagline, as shown in the very brief promo, "Destiny Found."

What an amazing show.