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Archive 2004
 The
ABC network needs to make some major changes in their programming in order to
compete with the other networks so they started out with a massive executive
shake-up. ABC Entertainment chairman, Lloyd Braun and Entertainment president,
Susan Lyne did a hasty exit and were replaced with newly appointed President
Stephen McPherson and newly appointed Chairperson Anne Sweeney.
Prior to this appointment
McPherson was president of Touchstone Television, where he was responsible for
all day-to-day operations of the studio. He reports to Anne Sweeney.
Sweeney was named one of the
50 Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune Magazine. She is co-chairman of
Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company, and president of Disney-ABC Television.
(Click here for the full story)
June 20, 2004
 I
don’t know when I’ve been so disappointed in a network for canceling a
television show but CBS has won the award this year. They decided not to bring
back “The Guardian” starring Simon Baker and this in my opinion was one of the
better shows on TV. The series wasn’t doing too badly in the rating but
apparently that doesn’t matter if the network executives don’t believe in the
show and support it.
“The Guardian’s” timeslot
will now be occupied by another hour drama on Tuesday nights at 8:00-9:00 p.m.,
CST, called “Clubhouse.” As much as I will miss “The Guardian” and Simon Baker,
“Clubhouse” could have real potential to be a success.
(Click here for the full story)
June 6, 2004
 The
networks have made their decisions for the new 2004-05 season and overall it
doesn’t look too bad. We lost a few good shows but we expected that and have to
move on. As I receive the preview tapes I will give my personal opinion on what
I think but until then here’s what we can expect in the new season.
The WB was the first
network I received information on and they’ve made a few interesting changes.
Sundays, “Steve Harvey’s Big Time” (6:00-7:00 p.m., CST) will start the evening
out and will be followed with “Charmed” (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST).
(Click here for the full story)
May 20, 2004
 This month Viewers Voice
celebrates 13 years since it was founded in 1991. The organization since has
worked hard to help keep quality and family programming on the air. It hasn’t
always been successful but it certainly has been interesting.
The first show Viewers
Voice campaigned to keep on television was “The Trials of Rosie O’Neill”
starring Sharon Gless. Along with writing letters we also had a petition drive
and collected over 10,000 signatures. We were given credit with helping to
extend briefly extra episodes of the series but lost the battle to keep it on
the air for another season.
During this campaign is
when I really got to know Sharon Gless and her husband, executive producer of
the show, Barney Rosenzweig. These two people helped us to get Viewers Voice
started and have been friends to me and the organization ever since.
(Click here for the full story)
March 14, 2004
 By now everyone who
reads my column knows I’m not a big fan of reality shows, but the other night I
happen to watch “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and she had on one of the rejects
from “American Idol.” His name was William Hung; he was a young Chinese man who
may appear by some as geeky with buck teeth. When he sang his first of four
songs, Ricky Martins “She Bangs,” I had a quick understanding of why he was
rejected, yet there was something about this young man that was very appealing.
By the time he finished his fourth song, Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” I was really
impressed with him. He has absolutely no singing talent but a great attitude
towards life and tons of charisma. He really doesn’t care if he has any talent
but he loves performing and really gives it his all just for the love of it.
(Click here for the full story)
March 7, 2004
 It’s
that time of the year when the networks start making plans for the 2004-05
television season. Hopefully it will be for less reality shows but I wouldn’t
count on it. I already heard a rumor that CBS is planning a 10-episode reality
show to find the next Martha Stewart. Come on now wasn’t one Martha Stewart more
than enough. The new show is planning on putting 12 participants in the same
house and tests their skills in decorating, cooking and party planning.
(Click here for the full story)
April 4, 2004
After all the hype these last weeks about
Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake it’s so comforting to know that there is
some excellent family programs on the air and there are celebrities that believe
in family values. One of these celebrities is Stephen Collins from the excellent
family WB drama, “7th Heaven.” This isn’t saying that Mr. Collins
career has been all focused on family entertainment, but I’m sure you’d never
see him ripping a woman’s blouse off on live television.
(Click here for the full story)
February 15, 2004
 Television as we know it today has very few
shows on the air that you can sit down and enjoy with your family. I guess
that’s why Sundays Super Bowl XXXVIII was so disappointing to me; supposedly
here is an event we can all get excited about and enjoy watching with our
families. The game itself between the Panthers and the Patriots was great and
probably one of the best ones I’ve ever watched, but the halftime show was
disgusting. What a shame to put such a trashy memory on a game that was so well
played. This Super Bowl will not be remembered for the Patriots last second
field goal to win the game but for Janet Jackson’s bare breast. Somebody was
quoted as saying this has given a whole new meaning to the words boob tube.
(Click here for the full story)
February 8, 2004
 On
a very cold Saturday afternoon I ventured out to go over to the shopping mall at
Brookfield Square to meet our 2004 Milwaukee Brewers. Get to meet them I did,
along with about 11,000 other people. It was crazy but it was fun. The fans are
staying loyal even with all that has happened to their team within the last
three months. First the Brewers split with its president and CEO, Ulice Payne
over plans to cut payroll, traded away it’s most popular and productive player,
Richie Sexson and then announced that the group of owners had planned to sell
the team. I know I personally was confused and upset and losing all faith in a
game I’ve loved since I was a kid. The tour and event at Brookfield Square is
the best thing the Brewers could have done to bring the fans back to Miller
Park. It’s made believers of the Brewer fans again and has created an atmosphere
of excitement.
(Click here for the full story)
February 1, 2004
 It’s
really hard to believe but we are already into the second half of the television
season, and in a few more months, back to reruns. The networks are starting to
realize that in order to compete with cable they will have to start presenting
new shows for us to watch in what was once considered the off season.
Unfortunately that will probably mean more reality shows. Personally I think I’d
rather watch the reruns.
The Networks will
be offering some new shows to the midseason lineup to replace shows that have
been canceled. The WB has sent me three new shows to preview and I was very
impressed with one of them.
(Click here for the full story)
January 25, 2004
 Once
again Viewers Voice is trying to keep an excellent television drama from being
canceled. The series is ABC’s “10-8” on Sunday nights at 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST.
The show was given a stamp of approval from ABC when they were picked up for an
additional 9 episodes, which would have been a full season commitment. Then for
some reason ABC changed their mind and only gave them a two episode commitment
and put them on hold. They were actually doing well in the ratings, but
apparently ABC thinks they could do better.
(Click here for the full story)
February 8, 2004
 On
October 8, 2003, I was fortunate enough to visit the set of the UPN TV series
Enterprise (see our article from last year). Viewers Voice member Joe
Stryzewski and I arrived on the Paramount lot early in the day and met with
publicist Melissa Gieringer. We learned that she was originally from Milwaukee,
like Joe and I, so we had an instant connection. She led us over to Stage 18,
one of three stages where Enterprise is filmed.
(Click here for the full story)
January 21, 2004
 The
last evening most of our fantastic trip Viewers Voice went out eat at a fancy
restaurant before going over to a bar, “14 Below,” in Santa Monica, to hear
Stephen Collins & The 7th Band perform. On the set of “7th
Heaven” I mentioned to Mr. Collins that we heard he was performing with his band
and we had thoughts of going over and seeing him. He had offered to get us free
passes if we decided to come.
(Click here for the full story)
January 18, 2004
 All
good things must come to an end and our business trip to California was no
exception. Saturday, was our last day and we were free to do what we wanted. We
started the morning out with breakfast at the pool and discussed going into
Hollywood. Some of our members have never been to the Los Angeles area so they
wanted to do some sight seeing. I’ve been out there so many times my first
thoughts were to stay back and relax at the pool, but instead I decided to go
with. My husband, Jim decided to stay back at the hotel and get his annual
sunburn. A few other members went over to the L.A. Zoo.
(Click here for the full story)
January 18, 2004
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