Preface
Here are my notes for this column from the second day of January, 2002:
"Campbell's strikes back with nice things.
Adult Swim, Off Centre and Undeclared are the best new shows. Need more Adult swim. Less freekin' repeats.
Abfab s sill stupid. I swear. I watched it."
How times can change…

***

The majority of my thoughts still are true. Absolutely Fabulous remains a stupid television show. The only reason Comedy Central put that show on the air is because Jimmy Kimmel ran out of barf. There is no good reason for a revival of AbFab, that is, unless someone meant to hurt me.

What could be worse that that? I don't know. Maybe if Fox 45 here in Baltimore replaced the 11pm Simpsons with Sports Night. That would be cruel. But not the worst.

***

The worst television going is Adult Swim's "Baby Blues." This heaping sack of crap is based on the daily cartoon of the same name. The story of a couple raising their child is trite and boring in the newspaper, as are 99.9% of the daily strips, but it is worse as a cartoon.

I knew that I was going to be jabbed in the eye with a hot poker when the title came up on the tee-vee screen with the wretched sounds of the Barenaked Ladies crappy song, "It's All Been Done." What good show would ever being with a crappy song by a Canadian band? Why didn't they use a Rush song? Well, Rush is classic rock. Not modern enough, I guess.

I watched "Baby Blues" until the first commercial break. Then I vomited in a can.

Who thought that Adult Swim needed a crappy cartoon in it's line-up? If "Baby Blues" had not been on that night, I would have watched "The Brak Show." But I was in no mood to watch anything after the goddamn "Baby Blues" fiasco.

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that the new "Home Movies" episode was very funny. I was happy. But all that happy was stolen from me by "Baby Blues."

I am angry about this. (Can you tell?)

* * *

Now, on to the happy news.

Three new shows kicked some serious butt this year on TEEvee.

(This order does not indicate which show I prefer most, for I could not make that choice.)

#1: Off Centre
"Off Centre" is very funny. So funny, smart and good that I often wonder why it did not end up on Fox or NBC. No doubt, the small network independence allows the show to be sexier than other shows. But this show would work on any network.

Since the premier, I have looked forward to every "Off Centre" episode - even re-runs. This show will only get better in the next year. Watch it on Sundays at 9pm on the WB!

#2: Undeclared
I loved this show, too! Underage drinking, insane father on campus, casual sex - this show has it all!

"Undeclared" is everything that "90210:The College Years" should have been.

This show can only get better. They have not met a friendly neighborhood drug dealer, nor have the guys realized that they somehow slept with the same woman (this always happens in college - Aren't I right, ye on the Editorial staff?)

#3: Home Movies
Until the fiasco with "Baby Blues", I was happy with every aspect of Home Movies. And while I am pleased with what I watched this season, I fear that it's proximity to "Baby Blues" will lame it up beyond recognition.

My report - Great, funny and hilarious work so far. But stay away from lame Canadian bands.

* * *

I am happy! Futurama is back on TEEvee and as good as ever!

Sunday, January 6th was a happy day for Grandpa!