Tag / ABC

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Book 4 (of 52) – Just The Funny Parts

Just The Funny Parts: …And A Few Hard Truths About Sneaking Into The Hollywood Boys’ Club – Nell Scovell

Television writer and producer Nell Scovell looks back at her career in this funny and biting memoir.  She tells the story of her career, starting in magazines, moving to television and movies, and teaming with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg on her book Lean In.  Usually one of the only women in the writing room, Scovell was only the second female writer hired by Late Night with David Letterman and, following Letterman’s 2009 admission of improper “relationships” with female staffers, she wrote an essay in Vanity Fair calling his show a “hostile work environment” for women.  Besides Late Night, Scovell has written for The Simpsons, The Wilton North Report, Coach, Monk, Murphy Brown, Charmed, Newhart, The Critic, NCIS, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast, amongst others.  She also created Sabrina The Teenage Witch, adapting the Archie Comics character for ABC.

Odds are good that you have seen a program written by Scovell at some point over the last 3 decades.  She tales a serious subject, the roadblocks to a writing/directing/producing career in Hollywood for women, and wrapped it in funny anecdotes of her time bringing beloved characters to life.  Hopefully this work opens more opportunities for her, and others like her.

by jim

Post Mortem – Once Upon A Time

After 6 seasons, and with most of the main cast announcing that they were leaving the show, Once Upon A Time wrapped up its story and looked like it was ready to call it a day.  Unfortunately, ABC wasn’t quite ready to let it go just yet, so it was brought back for a 7th season, with a time jump, a new storyline, a new curse, and a move to Seattle.  In February, ABC announced that this would be the final season of the show.

While never a great show, Once Upon A Time was usually a reliable way to spend an hour, up until the last season, despite basically being a way for Disney to re-use its existing intellectual property.

by jim

Post Mortem – Designated Survivor

When a terrorist attack during the State of the Union address destroys the government of the United States, an FBI agent tries to track down the perpetrators while the “designated survivor” tries to rebuild the government structure.  While this sounds like a pretty good season of 24, with Jack Bauer on the case, it made for a lackluster series where Kiefer Sutherland was stuck behind the desk as the new president.

On May 11, 2018, ABC canceled Designated Survivor after its second season, but it is expected to return for a third season on Netflix sometime next year.  I made it partway through the first season, where a missing episode made me stop.  Now that it is on Netflix, I may go back and revisit it, if I ever find the time.

by jim

Post Mortem – Kevin (Probably) Saves The World

Every couple of years, a show comes out where God picks a human emissary to help those who need it.  Recent examples include Joan of Arcadia, Wonderfalls, Eli Stone, and, of course, Kevin (Probably) Saves The World.  After 16 episodes, Kevin joined the rest of them on the scrap heap of history, as ABC decided against a second season.

by jim

Post Mortem – The Mayor

When an unsigned rapper decides to run for mayor as a way to get publicity for his mixtape, he never actually planned on winning.  When he does, he tries to do good, but bumps up against a city council lead that isn’t interested in doing much of anything.

Only 9 episodes aired before ABC pulled the plug, despite the stellar cast of  Brandon Micheal Hall, Lea Michele, and Yvette Nicole Brown.  The remaining 4 episodes were put up on Hulu and, eventually, ABC.com, but I haven’t seen them.

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ABC Upfronts

ABC is shaking up their lineup this fall, with changes on every night save Monday and Thursday.  The week gets off to a familiar start with Dancing With The Stars, followed by The Good Doctor.  Roseanne returns for another season to kick off Tuesday nights, followed by The Kids Are Alright, about a traditional Irish-Catholic family navigating the turbulent 70s, then black-ish and Splitting Up Together staying put.  The night ends with The Rookie, bringing Nathan Fillion back to the network in a familiar setting.

Wednesday starts the same, with The Goldbergs, American Housewife, and Modern Family starting the night, followed by Single Parents, a comedy about, well, single parents starring Taran Killam and Leighton Meester.  The night is capped off by A Million Little Things, about a group of Boston friends who re-examine their lives when one of them dies.  Thursdays stay exactly the same, with the three Shondaland shows remaining in place.  A revamped Friday kicks off with the re-located Fresh Off The Boat and Speechless, followed by Child Support and 20/20.  Sunday goes all reality, with a junior edition of DWTS sandwiched between America’s Funniest Home Videos and Shark Tank.  The night ends with The Alec Baldwin Show, the first prime time talk show since the unfortunate attempt to keep Jay Leno happy while Conan O’Brien hosted The Tonight Show.

Agents of SHIELD will return in summer of 2019, and American Idol and For The People will return at some point.  Also on the bench for mid-season are The Fix, a legal drama from Marcia Clark starring Robin Tunney, Grand Hotel, from executive producer Eva Longoria, and Whiskey Cavalier, about a partnership of FBI and CIA agents played by Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan.  The one comedy is Schooled, a spin-off of The Goldbergs.

Cancelled shows never to be seen again are Alex Inc., The Crossing, Deception, Designated Survivor, Downward Dog, The Great American Baking Show, Kevin (Probably) Saves The World, Inhumans, The Mayor, The Middle, Once Upon A Time, Quantico, Scandal, Somewhere Between, Still Star-Crossed, and Ten Days In The Valley.

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Book 3 (of 52) – Natural Disaster

Natural Disaster: I Cover Them, I Am One – Ginger Zee

Continuing my run through the ABC news department, the new memoir from meteorologist Ginger Zee tells of her rise from a young girl growing up in Michigan to her college years in Valparaiso, back to Michigan to start her television career, her move to Chicago, and, finally, on the New York to work for the network.  All the while dealing with depression.

Natural Disaster gives Zee the outlet to tell her tale, including checking in to a mental hospital the week before starting with ABC news to try and deal with the demons that had plagued her for years.  She made it through to the other side, allowing her to meet her future husband and start a family, giving hope to the rest of us that there may be better days ahead.

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Book 2 (of 52) – 10% Happier

10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice In My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works – Dan Harris

Last fall, Dan Harris gave a talk at work that I tried to attend, but missed out on due to space issues.  Val managed to get in seemed intrigued by what he had to say, so, when his first book found itself on sale the week of her birthday, I bought us both a copy.  Harris, one of the stars of the news division at ABC, had documented his path to meditation and how he learned to integrate the precepts into his life.

My first taste of meditation came last year, courtesy of Val.  She recommended an app to help with my sleeping problems.  I used it on occasion, but certainly didn’t become a devote.  Having now read Harris’ book, I’m intrigued enough to give it another shot.

The book brought me in from the get go, where Harris says he originally wanted to call it “My Inner Voice is an Asshole.”  Val had said something very similar to me a few years ago when I told her about the insecurities that kept creeping up inside me regarding our relationship.  Harris tells of his long journey, from skeptic to interested student to proselytizer.  If 10% happier is achievable, it is a journey worth taking.