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It’s that time a year again; some our favorite TV shows will be canceled to make room for the new fall television season. One of those shows in great danger of getting the axe is “American Dreams.” When the NBC Network moved this excellent series from Sunday night (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST) to Wednesday night (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST) you knew they were trying to kill the show off. I received tons of e-mails from viewers asking why the show was moved from Sundays when it seemed to be such a perfect place for it. The networks say they are trying to save shows by doing this, that they are trying to find a place for them to find more viewers, but in reality this is their way of kissing a show off. They do very little to promote the new time slot so many viewers have no idea what happened to their show. In the case of “American Dreams” they have been moved opposite one of the top shows on TV, ABC’s “Lost,” so how does NBC think they will pick up more viewers? They haven’t officially said the show will be canceled but the producers and stars of “American Dreams” know the end is near. Will Estes who plays J.J Pryor the oldest son and Rachel Boston who plays Beth, J.J.’s wife; have already made commitments to do another series.

  “American Dreams” is in its third year and has many more stories it could tell. This excellent quality drama is set against the memorable music, the cultural clashes, and the Vietnam War during the 1960’s. It’s seen through the eyes of the Pryor family of Philadelphia as they share their adventures with us.

The entire show is very well done but the best part of the series for me is the inserts every week of Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.” Seventeen-year-old Meg Pryor (Brittany Snow) and her outspoken best friend Roxanne (Vanessa Lengies) are dancers on the bandstand and every week special guests stars appear and portray the stars of the sixties; Kelly Clarkson portrayed Brenda Lee, Nick Lachery as Tom Jones, Alicia Keys as Fontella, and Hilary and Haylie Duff as The Shangri-Las.

When not dancing Meg and Roxanne, high school seniors at East Catholic High School, continue to pursue their dreams of making a difference as they struggle through the transition from teenager to adult.

Meg’s mother Helen (Gail O’Grady) faces the challenge of the era’s modern woman, working and holding the family together. The father, Jack Pryor (Tom Verica), runs for city councilman and wins but ends up dealing with corruption. J.J., a US Marine, returns home after being injured fighting in Vietnam and marries his ex-fiancée, Beth who has given birth to his son. Adolescent Will (Ethan Dampf), the youngest Pryor, tries to fit in at school after successful polio surgery and daughter, Patty (Sarah Ramos) tries to find a balance between her brilliant mind and social acceptance among her high school peers.

This series in its third season is an excellent family drama about the Pryors, a family of the sixties that has to deal with the sociological and economic changes in their lives. There is one more episode this week of “American Dreams” and then its future is in the hands of NBC. If you watch this series and would like it to continue for a fourth season you can make a difference by writing the NBC Network and letting them know in a positive way you’d like to see the show back next year. Believe it or not the networks do read your letters and will listen if they receive enough positive support. Don’t let another quality family drama slip away.

I have another excellent drama to tell you about, but you have to subscribe to cable because it’s on the WE (Woman’s Entertainment) Network.  “McLeod’s Daughters” is brought to us from Australia and is in its second season here in the US. I received e-mails from viewers to take a look at the show and I did and I was hooked.

“McLeod’s Daughters” tells the story of the two McLeod sisters who are reunited when they inherit a vast outback cattle property. Thrown together after 20 years apart they pull together an all-female workforce and with an abundance of heart and humor, commit to an extraordinary life at Drovers Run,  

The women of Drovers Run share the same dreams that all women share. They could be our friends or our sisters. They happen to live in an extraordinary place, a place that will allow them to be who they are…heroines.

Tess Silverman McLeod’s (Bridie Carter) is an audacious city slicker who arrives at her family farm Dover’s Run, to announce to her half-sister Claire that she has inherited half of the family cattle farm from their recently deceased father. Determined to sell her share of the ranch and get on with her fast-paced life, Tess’s world suddenly takes an unexpected presence.

Down-to-earth Claire McLeod (Lisa Chappell) has lived her entire life on the family cattle ranch, Dover’s Run. When her half-sister, Tess, suddenly appears at her doorstep after 20 years, Claire’s life is turned upside down as she learns to deal with the conflicting emotions brought on by her sister’s unexpected and very dominant presence.

Alex Ryan (Aaron Jeffrey) is the handsome eldest son of the Ryan clan. Alex and his family live on the property that lies next to Dover’s Run, Killarney. A natural daredevil, Alex has a wild streak, and anticipates the day he will inherit Killarney. His bad boy behavior wins him the admiration of the men and more than his share of attention from women.

Nick Ryan (Myles Poliard) is Alex’s younger brother and, alongside his father, works their property Killarney. A university graduate, Nick is a quiet man with a will of steel who competes with his older brother for Claire and Tess McLeod’s attention.

Meg Fountain (Sonia Todd) is the affable housekeeper at Dover’s Run, she keeps the ranch running with the help of her teenage daughter Jodi (Rachel Carpini).

“McLeod’s Daughters” airs Saturday nights on the WE Network at 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST. If you have cable you don’t want to miss this series, it’s a keeper.

Until my next column let your voice be heard.