The TKTV Newsletter is a weekly publication that is read by TV viewers and non-viewers alike. It includes reviews of shows, previews of upcoming television events, random commentary by TK, Kim's Commercial Comments, guest writers, trivia quizzes, and more. To subscribe, email majordomo@tktv.net with "subscribe newsletter" in the body of your message (no quotes).

Below is the most recent episode of the newsletter, published May 21st, 2001. You can also view the full archive collection of the TKTV Newsletter.

THE TKTV NEWSLETTER
Season 4, Episode 19 aired May 21, 2001

CONTENTS
1. Intro
2. Letters from the viewing audience
3. The poll
4. Don't Miss
5. TV Trivia
6. Favorite quotes of the week
7. A totally unrelated link

1. Intro

I promised you the highlights from the other three fall network schedules, and here goes:

Fox is experimenting with a couple of new things. First of all, in the tradition of Felicity, Ally McBeal will be sharing a time slot. Instead of Ally reruns in March, a new show called Emma Brody will be slipped into the Monday 9pm ET time slot.

In addition, Fox has scheduled a "Fox Family Comedy Wheel," which will show reruns of Fox family sitcoms at 8pm ET on Wednesdays, including shows like That '70s Show and Malcolm in the Middle.

Fox renewed The X-Files for yet another season with Gillian Anderson, but without David Duchovny. Whatever. I think I might have to stop watching this show all together.

Fox is bringing back their animated comedy, Family Guy. It's not only on the fall schedule for Thursdays at 8pm ET, but will also be showing episodes over the summer starting in June.

UPN has put their two ex-WB dramas together on Tuesday nights, with Buffy airing at 8pm ET followed by Roswell at 9pm ET.

UPN has confirmed that they will be launching a new Star Trek series next fall. It will be called Star Trek: Enterprise, and will be a prequel to all the Star Treks that came before. It will air at 8pm ET on Wednesdays and be followed by my favorite new guilty pleasure, Special Unit 2.

I was surprised to hear that UPN cancelled Seven Days, although I'm not sorry to see the show go.

I was happily surprised to see CBS's Yes, Dear back in its Monday 8:30pm time slot.

That's Life got a last-minute renewal from CBS although it's been moved to Fridays at 9pm ET.

Touched by an Angel's renewal by CBS was no surprise for anyone, but I didn't expect it to be moving to Saturdays at 8pm ET.

And some late-breaking rumors: Rick Schroder may be leaving NYPD Blue. It hasn't been confirmed yet, but if it's true, it would explain why Mark-Paul Gosselaar is joing the squad next season.

That's all the news for now. Later in the summer we'll explore some of the new shows you can expect for the fall, and what's worth catching and what you can let pass you by. There may not be a new newsletter for a week or two while I have a little spring vacation and recover from May sweeps and the end of the season. Have a great week!

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2. Letters from the viewing audience

From Katie:
I don't know who that sixteen year old chick is who complained about Brad's reviews of Friends, but I thought his Boston Public review was the funniest flippin' thing I've read in a while. I hope he guests more often in your newsletter.
From Rob about sweeps weeks:
Judy hit on the major part of the problem with poll driven art/entertainment. A vicious cycle is created the instant any form of entertainment begins trying to anticipate its audience's desires. It's a part of why Broadway has become so wary of producing any piece of theatre that is not completely mainstream, completely easy to digest, OR guaranteed to be a hit because of stars/directors/writer types.

The same holds true for TV. When they start trying to create the programs in anticipation of what advertisers want or what the audience wants, they end up sacrificing any integrity the show might have had.

And so, yes, sweeps week cannot possibly work.

But it won't ever stop. Because, if the advertisers change the week, or the technique of evaluation, the networks will find out, and once again alter their means of production.

Letters from the viewing audience are always welcome. Please email any opinions, questions, comments, or random thoughts to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of "letters." Letters may be edited for length or content.

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3. The poll

Last week's poll asked you what show you thought deserved its own TKTV show site. Gilmore Girls and Roswell nearly tied for first place, Gilmore Girls getting almost 50% of the vote and Roswell getting almost 47%. Gideon's Crossing came in dead last with less than 4% of the vote. Good thing, too, since it was just cancelled by ABC.

So, TKTV will definitely be launching a Gilmore Girls site over the summer, and hopefully a Roswell site soon after, although I make no promises since the show moved to UPN and will probably be losing viewership due to that move.

This week's poll asks what you'll be watching during the summer doldrums. There really aren't that many options.

As always, the TKTV weekly poll can be found right on the front page of the site.

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4. Don't Miss

The last of the season finales...
For details and lots more fun TV to look forward to, see
http://www.tktv.net/index.html?/upcoming.html

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5. TV Trivia

Last week's question was: which actor recently announced that she will be leaving her second Aaron Spelling show before the end of the show's run?

First prize goes to Allan J. Congratulations!

Honorable mentions go to Krystie D. and Jess0147.

The correct answer was, of course, Shannen Doherty, who will not be returning for the fourth season of the WB's Charmed, and also left Fox's Beverly Hills 90210 before the end of that show's run.

This week's question is: which Fox co-stars recently announced their real-life engagement?

Send answers to TK at tk@tktv.net with the subject of tvtrivia. Winners will be chosen at random from all the correct answers.

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6. Favorite quotes of the week

From The West Wing
Leo: Watch this.

From Ally McBeal
John: You shouldn't be practicing law without adult supervision, Richard.

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7. A totally unrelated link

Do bathtubs drain counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere?

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There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams