What sinister secrets does The Drake hold? We and Jane (Rachael Taylor) might never find out -- because ABC's "666 Park Avenue" is in danger of being canceled. (Photo by Patrick Harbron | ABC)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On TV Guide's website, there's a headline that proclaims "Save These Shows!" It's a list of shows that are in danger of being canceled, of which you can rank your top five and share your choices with friends. It's a way for you to spread the word for others to watch and perhaps boost the ratings of your favorite flagging shows.
The list is: "666 Park Avenue" (10 p.m. Sunday, ABC), "Beauty and the Beast" (9 p.m. Thursday, CW), "Chicago Fire" (10 p.m. Wednesday, NBC), "Emily Owens, M.D." (9 p.m. Tuesday, CW), "Guys with Kids" (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, NBC), "Last Resort" (8 p.m. Thursday, ABC), "The Mob Doctor" (9 p.m. Monday, Fox), "Nashville" (10 p.m. Wednesday, ABC), "The Neighbors" (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, ABC), "Partners" (8:30 p.m. Monday, CBS) and "Up All Night" (8:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC).
("Guys'" Wednesday night partner, "Animal Practice," isn't on that list because it's already been canceled. The final episode airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday.)
Obviously, I am SUPER bummed that "666" is on the list. The only reason I can think that it hasn't caught on better is that it's not super soapy like a lot of ABC's other dramas, including its lead-in, "Revenge." I guess it's not soapy enough to be a guilty pleasure, but it's too much of a straight-up drama for people who want their Sunday ABC shows to have some levity (see "Desperate Housewives," "GCB").
It has a great cast, though, and it's wonderfully atmospheric. In addition to the main story of the building owners (Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams) and the new managing couple (Dave Annable and Rachael Taylor), the opportunity for supernatural stories is virtually limitless, since it's set in a large apartment building that always seems to have some openings.
I've seen it referred to by some as "American Horror Story lite," but I prefer "666" to that show. It has genuine creepiness that's just as effective, although much more understated than the over-the-top horror in "AHS," which I often find more funny than scary.
As for the other shows on the list, I've already stopped watching a number of them: "Emily Owens, M.D.," "Guys with Kids," "The Mob Doctor," "The Neighbors" and "Partners." Most likely, "Beauty and the Beast" and "Chicago Fire" will join them soon; I've got several episodes of each that I haven't gotten around to watching yet because their pilots didn't hold my interest.
I'm still on the fence with "Nashville." I enjoy "Last Resort," although I won't be heartbroken if it gets canceled (but I do hope it's given enough notice so it can give us some sort of conclusion).
The lone returning show on the list is "Up All Night," and I'm OK with that. It was one of my favorite new shows last season, but I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much since they retooled it this season, canceling Ava's talk show and adding the character of Regan's brother.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On TV Guide's website, there's a headline that proclaims "Save These Shows!" It's a list of shows that are in danger of being canceled, of which you can rank your top five and share your choices with friends. It's a way for you to spread the word for others to watch and perhaps boost the ratings of your favorite flagging shows.
The list is: "666 Park Avenue" (10 p.m. Sunday, ABC), "Beauty and the Beast" (9 p.m. Thursday, CW), "Chicago Fire" (10 p.m. Wednesday, NBC), "Emily Owens, M.D." (9 p.m. Tuesday, CW), "Guys with Kids" (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, NBC), "Last Resort" (8 p.m. Thursday, ABC), "The Mob Doctor" (9 p.m. Monday, Fox), "Nashville" (10 p.m. Wednesday, ABC), "The Neighbors" (8:30 p.m. Wednesday, ABC), "Partners" (8:30 p.m. Monday, CBS) and "Up All Night" (8:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC).
("Guys'" Wednesday night partner, "Animal Practice," isn't on that list because it's already been canceled. The final episode airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday.)
Obviously, I am SUPER bummed that "666" is on the list. The only reason I can think that it hasn't caught on better is that it's not super soapy like a lot of ABC's other dramas, including its lead-in, "Revenge." I guess it's not soapy enough to be a guilty pleasure, but it's too much of a straight-up drama for people who want their Sunday ABC shows to have some levity (see "Desperate Housewives," "GCB").
It has a great cast, though, and it's wonderfully atmospheric. In addition to the main story of the building owners (Terry O'Quinn and Vanessa Williams) and the new managing couple (Dave Annable and Rachael Taylor), the opportunity for supernatural stories is virtually limitless, since it's set in a large apartment building that always seems to have some openings.
I've seen it referred to by some as "American Horror Story lite," but I prefer "666" to that show. It has genuine creepiness that's just as effective, although much more understated than the over-the-top horror in "AHS," which I often find more funny than scary.
As for the other shows on the list, I've already stopped watching a number of them: "Emily Owens, M.D.," "Guys with Kids," "The Mob Doctor," "The Neighbors" and "Partners." Most likely, "Beauty and the Beast" and "Chicago Fire" will join them soon; I've got several episodes of each that I haven't gotten around to watching yet because their pilots didn't hold my interest.
I'm still on the fence with "Nashville." I enjoy "Last Resort," although I won't be heartbroken if it gets canceled (but I do hope it's given enough notice so it can give us some sort of conclusion).
The lone returning show on the list is "Up All Night," and I'm OK with that. It was one of my favorite new shows last season, but I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much since they retooled it this season, canceling Ava's talk show and adding the character of Regan's brother.
At midseason, it will go on a three-month hiatus to be retooled again, turning it into a more traditional multi-camera/live-audience show. Then, it gets five new episodes to prove itself before the end of the season.
That might be more than other shows on the list get, so if something you like is on it, watch now, while you still can.
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Series premieres: "Malibu Country," 8:30 p.m. Friday, ABC (Reba McEntire sitcom); "Dangerous Grounds," 10 p.m. Monday, Travel (global search for rare coffee beans); "Start-Ups: Silicon Valley," 10 p.m. Monday, Bravo (young tech entrepreneurs); "LOLwork," 11 p.m. Wednesday, Bravo (inside Internet humor site ICanHasCheezburger.com).
Season premieres: "Last Man Standing," 8 p.m. Friday, ABC; "Undercover Boss," 8 p.m. Friday, CBS; "Gold Rush," 8 p.m. Friday, Discovery; "Brides of Beverly Hills," 10 p.m. Friday, TLC; "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," 9 p.m. Monday, Bravo; "Moonshiners," 10 p.m. Wednesday, Discovery; "Top Chef," 10 p.m. Wednesday, Bravo.
Schedule changes: "The Voice" rerun pre-empts NBC's comedies Thursday; "The X Factor" extra episode, 8 p.m. Sunday, Fox; election coverage pre-empts all primetime network shows Tuesday.
Season finale: "Call the Midwife," 8 p.m. Sunday, PBS.
Series finales: "The Men who Built America," 8 p.m. Sunday, History (miniseries); "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations," 9 p.m. Monday, Travel.
Special: "Country Music Association Awards," 8 p.m. Thursday, ABC.
Of note: See Dr. Dog on "Austin City Limits," 10 p.m. Saturday, PBS2, then hear them live at "Mountain Stage" at Huntington's Keith Albee Theater, 7 p.m. Sunday.
Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com.
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