This article was written, by me, on June 3, 1997 and posted to the rec.arts.tv newsgroup. That original article has been somewhat edited by me before being placed on the web on June 6, 1997.
THE NETWORKS (in order): 1. NBC 2. WBN 3. FOX 4. CBS 5. USA 6. Syndication 7. UPN 8. ABC
This list is pretty straight-forward: it is based on figuring out which networks I like/watch the most, and then figuring out which networks make the programming decisions that I think are objectively smart.
The leader of my list, NBC, wins mostly based on the first factor. NBC is just the network I watch the most: I am guaranteed to watch NBC programming, at least some of the time, on 5 different nights throughout the week. Basically, I am one of the demographics NBC is targeting, so this makes sense. That's not to say I agree with what NBC does most of the time (do we really need 4 "Datelines"?!), but the strength of their programming cannot be denied. So they get my nod as the best network of the '96-'97 season.
After NBC, my favorite network this season has been WBN. Warner Brothers has been very adept at programming the types of shows the other networks are ignoring, and I've got to respect that. In addition, WB seems to have a sensible plan in place, in terms of what they are trying to do and who they are trying to get to watch. It also helps that I just like a lot of WBN's shows. In basically the same category is FOX, which gets my almost undivided attention at least 2 nights of the week. Both these nets have bold programming that appeals to me.
CBS is also pretty high on my list this season, mostly because I approved of most of the decisions they made in their attempt to recover from their disastrous 1995-96 season. Having said that, I'm somewhat less impressed with their plans for 1997-98. So while I like what they did this season, I may be less likely to like them next season.
Of special mention for their increasingly successful attempts at challenging network programming are the cable USA network and the syndication market. From "Xena" to "Nikita", these guys are the ones who are most responsible for the continuing decline of the "Big Three". (Other cable nets don't seem to be a consistent threat to the networks in the same way USA network is on Sunday nights.) I, for one, couldn't be happier. That's not to say that I think that USA and syndication are a consistent threat to the nets (yet). But on 1 or 2 nights of the week, USA network and syndication are giving the nets a run for their money. And that's a good thing.
In the cellar with me this year are UPN and ABC. UPN is mostly in the cellar for decisions they had made previously (e.g. canceling "Nowhere Man"). Still, those earlier decisions left me cold about UPN programming this year, and (with only one exception) I did not watch a single UPN show all year. But, I am happy to report that UPN finally seems to be grabbing a clue, so they may be better off in my opinion next season.
However, the same does not apply to ABC. ABC has successfully eliminated the last vestiges of ABC shows that I (and a lot of other people!) used to watch regularly (though there weren't that many ABC shows that I was watching this season to begin with!), and I don't expect I'll be watching ABC at all next season. Making moves like burying "Murder One" in a terrible timeslot (and then cancelling it), ruining "Spin City", and replacing "Clueless" with "Step by Step" are not likely to make you my favorite network. And having had a bad season this year, ABC seems poised to have an even worse season next year, based on their Fall schedule. A Bronx cheer for ABC...
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