Ten sweeping flops
Wednesday, October 28, 1998 BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Plenty of pre-Thanksgiving turkeys fill the air during sweeps month. Here are 10 to avoid:
1. Exposed: Pro Wrestling's Greatest Secrets (7 p.m. Sunday, Channels 5, 22): NBC hops into the sleazy TV ring with a Fox-style special. Wrestling is fake? We're shocked!
2. The World's Funniest (7 p.m. Nov. 8, Channels 19, 45): Fox showcases "Shot-to-the-Groin" home videos. How much more pain and misery can Fox exploit? Plenty. Keep reading.
3. The World's Most Shocking Moments Caught on Tape (9 p.m. Nov. 5, Channels 19, 45): Fox promises "the most incredible footage ever taped, including courtroom brawls, a sinking luxury liner and a mudslide devouring an entire street."
4. The World's Worst Drivers: Caught on Tape 2 (9 p.m. Nov. 20, Channels 19, 45): Video of "incredibly stupid, dangerous and outrageous things" done by motorists around the world (to other motorists).
5. When Good Pets Go Bad (9 p.m. Nov. 12, Channels 19, 45): Fox footage of out-of-control cats, dogs, horses and snakes turning on their owners.
6. Early Edition (8 p.m. Nov. 7, Channels 12, 7): Call this "When A Good Show Goes Bad."
CBS' fine family drama gives the Jerry Springer show more publicity, when Gary (Kyle Chandler) disrupts a Springer show to prevent the next day's bad news.
7. Beverly Hills 90210: After 8 1/2 years, does anyone care that Jason Priestley leaves Nov. 4 (9 p.m., Channels 19, 45), or Luke Perry returns Nov. 18? Didn't think so.
8. Caroline in the City (9 p.m. Nov. 9, Channels 5, 22): Caroline (Lea Thompson) and Richard (Malcolm Gets) finally have sex, a desperate act by creatively bankrupt writers that forever changes a show's chemistry. Stick a fork in this one.
9. Buddy Faro (9 p.m. Nov. 20, Channels 12, 7): Why does Dennis Farina's lovable retro hipster hire Hanson when he throws a birthday party for a teen-ager? The swinging Big Bad Voodoo Daddy band is more his style.
10. Late Show with David Letterman 5th Anniversary Special (9:30-11 p.m. Nov. 23, Channels 12, 7): OK, Dave, what network weasel forced you to do a November anniversary special?
Past prime-time specials have aired in February, the anniversary of your late-night NBC debut in 1982.
Your CBS anniversary was Aug. 30. You can't fool us.
John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV/radio critic. Write him at 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, 45202.
