WHAT TO WATCH TOMORROW, OPRAH OR IDOL?
In the days prior to our 500 channel universe (or is it 5000 now?), instant downloads and PVRs, Thursday night was THE night to watch TV. ABC used to have the best lineup of all, with Happy Days at 8 pm, Laverne and Shirley at 8:30 and Three's Company at 9. The lineup was so popular that the other networks, NBC and CBS, put their WORST shows on Thursday because they knew they didn't have a chance of garnering decent ratings. Once the ABC lineup hit the skids in the early 80s, NBC took over the Thursday night lineup with Hill Street Blues, The Cosby Show, Cheers, L.A. Law, Seinfeld, ER, Frasier, Friends, Will and Grace and The Office, to name 10. Today, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS is the top Thursday night show, but just hold on a minute.
Tomorrow is, to steal an old line from NBC, "Must see TV". In this corner, at 8 oclock on FOX, it's the second night of the 12th season of American Idol, featuring a potential catfight between a couple of big time Diva's. Singer Mariah Carey, best known for her voice and two other wonderful attributes is one of the Idol judges. Another is singer/rapper Nicki Minaj, best known for her, ahem, enormous bottom and outrageous outbursts. The story goes that the two got into a screaming match during one of the taped auditions, and Carey told Barbara Walters that it was an "unsafe work environment". Minaj then taunted Carey on Twitter by saying "I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that Nicki is the best juidge we've had since Simon". Ouch! I hope like hell these two duke it out on TV. For sure I'll be watching tomorrow, and I don't even like American Idol.
Then, at 9 pm, I'm going to head up the dial to Channel 91, which I've discovered is the home of the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). Unless Minaj and Carey are throwing haymakers at each other, I just HAVE to see the Lance Armstrong interview. Not that I expect much, but since Oprah has already interviewed David Letterman, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Jamie Foxx (a two parter!), this is a huge coup for her. She's teased us a little already, and has said that the interview will be cut into two parts, and aired on back to back nights, Thursday and Friday. I'm really interested in seeing her interview "technique", and what, if anything, she can get out of Armstrong. If that doesn't hold my interest, I may have to go get my "Happy Days" boxed set, and watch the episode when Fonzie, waterskiing in his leather jacket, actually "jumps the shark".
I doubt that any self-respecting NHL manager reads this blog or watches me on TV, but thanks to whoever for telling the Maple Leafs that it might be good PR if they actually allowed fans into their training camp practice. Tomorrow morning at 10:15, the Air Canada Centre will open it's doors to the public and allow the hoi polloi to sit and watch. First come, first served for 20 thousand people. I wonder how many will show up. I also wonder if the club will offer one dollar hot dogs and 50% off merchandise to their incredibly loyal and patient supporters. It certainly would be a lovely gesture and let's face it, the Leafs need to start making some money if they hope to meet payroll (Ok, that was a joke).
You may know that I'm a Chicago Bears fan and that I'm pretty happy to see them hire Marc Trestman as their head coach. Trestman won two Grey Cups with the Alouettes, but is best known for his work with quarterbacks such as Bernie Kosar, Rich Gannon and Hall of Famer Steve Young. With that in mind, the Bears are hoping that Trestman can turn Jay Cutler around. The Bears have missed the playoffs in five of the last six years despite adding stars like receiver Brandon Marshall and signing running back Matt Forte to a long term deal. Trestman runs a West Coast style offense, much like the one he oversaw in San Francisco when Young and Jerry Rice led the NFL in passing offense (288 yards per game) in 1995. If the Bears can shore up their offensive line and give Cutler time to throw, the Trestman move could be just the ticket.
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