What was it about Sunday nights that lent to an extra hour of prime time scheduling? Why not Saturday as well? Was it the fact that, after an entire weekend with the family, we were all likely to need to relax an hour earlier? Wouldn’t you think that seven at night would be family dinner time? Strange.
Nevertheless, that’s the history of Sunday nights, and together we’ll determine the best lineup that they’ve had to offer us over the years. You can see how I arrived at my choices — and pick your own — by taking a look at my CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and The CW Sunday night lineups. Then get set for some action.
7:00-8:00 It’s hard to imagine, but there actually is a contest to start the night. But while The Wonderful World of Disney on ABC was a solid choice, I think I can safely set it aside, clearing up a two-hour conflict from seven to nine.
So we’re looking at 21 Jump Street versus Silver Spoons or Pinky and the Brain at 7:00, and Punky Brewster or Parker Lewis Can’t Lose (I goofed by choosing this as if Jump Street was 30 minutes long) at 7:30. I think the 7:30 choices are both weak … Punky Brewster was a very in-the-moment show that would fail to resonate with me now. And Parker Lewis Can’t Lose was a successful attempt at keeping the magic of Ferris Bueller alive, but do I really want to see Abraham Benrubi going back to being a big dummy?
Which kind of forces my hand, unless there’s a strong case to be made at 7:00. Pinky and the Brain was certainly cute, and I loved Brain’s plots to take over the world, but it was really just the strongest contender to be produced by yet another cartoon, not a great show in its own right. And I’ve caught a few episodes of Silver Spoons recently on Hulu … it’s great to see little Ricky Schroder again, but it ain’t funny.
But don’t imagine that I’m jumping down on Jump Street by default — I caught a few episodes of it on Hulu as well, and while it’s definitely dated, Johnny Depp can’t not be good (in my opinion). As much as it pains me to watch Holly Robinson Peete in her heyday, 21 Jump Street is my horse.
8:00-9:00 Cold Case faces off against Mad About You and In Living Color at 8:00, and My Two Dads, Roc, and Aliens in America at 8:30. Easy pickings here. Cold Case is unfortunately out — I’m a huge fan of Kathryn Morris, but there are too many other strong choices for me in this hour.
Like Mad About You, which is one of my favorite comedies of all times. It’s a tier two show behind the likes of Seinfeld, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Friends, but Paul Reiser is hilarious, and Helen Hunt is one of my favorite comedic actresses. In Living Color leaves me with a ton of great memories still today, but the sketch comedy show didn’t stand a chance.
Reiser’s brilliance wasn’t quite as evident on My Two Dads, so while I love it as a first-round choice, it doesn’t have the legs to see it through. Roc is a show that I hold in tremendously high regard … so high that I mistakenly (or not) slotted it on another day as well. But I’m not sure it’ll survive there either. You see, despite the fact that most everyone clearly disliked the show, I thought that Aliens in America was one of the best new sitcoms that’s come out in years. Laugh if you must, but I absolutely loved it.
9:00-10:00 Will it be The Celebrity Apprentice, Jack & Bobby, or the combo of Malcolm in the Middle and Herman’s Head? As much as I enjoy The Apprentice in all forms, I would never slot it in a greats lineup. And Jack & Bobby didn’t really get a chance to leave enough of an impression…. Either way it doesn’t really matter, because Malcolm in the Middle falls squarely in that second tier of my favorite comedies as well. No way would I schedule a week of TV without it. And that means that tonight’s lucky coattails winner is Herman’s Head. It’s here mainly due to sentiment, but dumb luck gains it immortality.
10:00-11:00 Only one choice here to begin with, but even if that weren’t the case, chances are that Boston Legal would be my pick anyway. It is hands down my favorite legal dramedy of all time … sorry Eli!
And that’s all there is to it. If it were up to me, I’d be watching the following lineup in perpetuity on Sunday nights: 21 Jump Street, Mad About You, Aliens in America, Malcolm in the Middle, Herman’s Head, and Boston Legal.
How about you? What does your dream Sunday night lineup look like?
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 14, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
Can I vote for Dexter, or does it have to be network?
*POST AUTHOR*
By all means … I avoided cable because it would just get too messy for me, but certainly my Sunday night would be all about The Sopranos, The Wire, and Entourage if I’d brought cable into the conversation.
Back in the days of my childhood, primetime used to start at 7:30! I’ve been “clacking” my own dream schedules by network and decade from about the time I started watching TV. It’s not as easy as it seems!
*POST AUTHOR*
Yes, we real heroes always go unsung!
21 Jump Street (although Depp constitutes a sufferance rather than an incentive—I liked DeLuise best on that show), In Living Color, Aliens in America, Malcolm in the Middle, Herman’s Head, and TV off. Pretty close list. :)