By Tom Jicha
South Florida Sun-Sentinel TV/Radio Writer

December 3 2006

Q. One of the best new shows this season is ABC's Brothers & Sisters. It has a most appealing cast along with interesting story lines. However, I was unable to find it anywhere in last Sunday's lineup. Has it been put on hiatus, moved to another slot or unceremoniously dropped? -- C.K., e-mail

A. Brothers & Sisters was pre-empted on Thanksgiving weekend so that ABC could see if Boston Legal, a former occupant of the time period, could hold more of the potent lead-in from Desperate Housewives. Brothers & Sisters has been losing almost half the DH audience, which is generally unacceptable. Boston Legal did better, but probably not by a great enough margin for ABC to tear up the schedule.

The saving grace of Brothers & Sisters is that despite the dropoff, it still wins the time period in the advertiser-cherished 18-49 demographic. As a result, Brothers & Sisters has been picked up for the full season. Whether it will be renewed for a second season won't be decided until spring.

A side note for fans of all series: With the November sweeps out of the way and viewers distracted by Christmas shopping and socializing, all the networks will be pre-empting some regular series occasionally during December to preserve original episodes for later in the season, when the audience is more attentive.

Q. I read your answer regarding the coincidence/conspiracy of TV screenwriters inserting a commercial break every 10-11 minutes. Has anyone ever considered changing that format to capture the attention of channel surfers looking for something else? Once captured, they might linger and increase ratings. -- R.O., Fort Lauderdale

A. There's a flaw in your solution. What happens when your show, whose commercials are out of synch with the others, breaks? The channel surfers will have actual programs in progress elsewhere to sample and might not return.

Q. Why are so many TV programs so dark? I watch Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds and Numb3rs on Friday and the shows are so dark at some points all I can see is the actors' faces and a black background. -- D.K., e-mail

A. I'm with you but the producers think it's artsy and gives TV a film look. The shows you mention might be bad in this area but they all win their time periods. Moreover, there has never been a worse offender in this area than The West Wing, which went on for seven years.

Q. Last season, I was badly bitten by 24. Do you know when the new season will start and if any past seasons will be showing? -- S.I., e-mail

A. The sixth season opens with back-to-back two-hour episodes on Jan. 14-15 before 24 settles into its regular 9 p.m. Monday time slot on Jan. 22. As of this week, you can get the first five seasons on DVD, with season five to be released on Dec. 5.

Q. Perhaps Sirius and XM should set up kiosks near retirement communities. Since I got my XM radio, I can listen to whatever type of music I like, advertisers be damned. -- J.G., Boynton Beach

A. You have identified the most dependable alternative for people addicted to music of the '40s, '50s and '60s. The question is how many folks in the target demographic can afford another $12.95 a month if they are on a fixed income.

Q. While traveling, I used to find "music of your life" stations but these are also declining. At 72, I use an iPod. -- J.S., e-mail

A. iPods would be another option.

Q. What happened to Justice? It was on Fox on Wednesdays, then it was moved to Monday. Then it disappeared. I guess it has been canceled. Am I right? -- R.G., Boca Raton

A. You're close enough to right to get full credit. Fox plans to burn off some unaired episodes on Fridays but for all practical purposes, Justice has been canceled.

Q. To make things right again in TV, Meredith Vieira would return to The View, Katie Couric would return to the Today show and Rosie O'Donnell would go home. -- J.G., Boca Raton

A. None are going to happen but they're all fine with me, unless Rosie going home means returning to South Florida.

Send your questions about local television, the networks or cable to Tom Jicha, TV/Radio Writer, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293 or tjicha@sun-sentinel.com. Personal replies are not possible, please do not send self-addressed envelopes.
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