Shades Of Grey #3

Well, ABC regained it's senses, and rewarded us fans with a new episode January 11. Networks often seem to reward our loyalty with production stoppage. My theory is that they think a hit show can be used to spawn additional hits. For instance, is it my imagination, or do networks schedule popular show between obvious flops? They hope we will come early, and stay late, eventually becoming hooked on all three. But us coolsters know how to work the remote, or TIVO. We thus avoid the shitty shows and ultimately watch just what we want. Networks now drop their hit shows, stretch them out, and/or repeat them. (I guess it's just too much work for ABC to carry all that ad revenue to the bank!) ABC did this repeatedly with Lost. Stretch out the episodes, leave the viewers, the fans, hanging with repeats, a lack of episodes, etc. Now they can't get anybody to watch it! ABC keeps running ads for Lost claiming 11 new episodes! No repeats! All new! But all ABC hears is the echo of their own pandering. Nobody cares anymore. Except the bean counters.

Which brings me back to Grey's Anatomy. It took the show's writers three episodes to accomplish what could've been accomplished in two. The show's holiday hiatus ended with the first returning Grey's episode being fluff. A bunch of uncomfortable scenarios, while humorous, served only to refresh us to the previous storyline. Blah, blah, blah. The second new episode was centered around George's father being removed from life support and passing on. And frankly his character, played by George Dzundza, was one of the most sincere and endearing this season. Maybe they should have taken Dr. Isaiah Washington off from life support and kept Mr. Dzundza on the show!!

So by the time this month's third episode came rolling around, I had fears that Grey's Anatomy was over. Like my beloved Patriots against the over-hyped Colts, the forces of greed had won. They had killed another winner. But not all was lost! The signs of life came in the fourth quarter. Most specifically was the shallow in-fighting among the resident doctors for the Chief's position. And Alex confronting Addison about their would-be kiss and how she had been avoiding him. (Why do you women treat us men as sex objects, anyways? We have feelings, too!) His explanation that he felt pressured by her to go along was classic. Now she has to sleep with him.

So yes, it's still a great show. And yes Isaiah Washington will be back. And yes I want to be the beef in a Katherine Heigl/Kate Walsh sandwich. But please ABC. No more six week vacations. Or your viewers will be Lost.