ABC's 'Hopkins,' a cut above the rest

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TV This Week
ABC's 'Hopkins,' a cut above the rest
By Diego Vasquez
Jul 31, 2008 - 12:38:14 AM

ABC’s “Hopkins,” the six-part docu-drama that wraps up tonight at 10 p.m., was by no measure a hit, averaging 5.7 million total viewers and a 1.6 rating in adults 18-49.

But it wasn’t a bomb either, sometimes winning its timeslot, and it’s notable for proving that there’s still room for thoughtful, well-made summer television on broadcast, which tends to be dominated by unscripted dreck.

“Hopkins,” the sequel to a 2000 documentary series about Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, helped pioneer the idea of narrative storytelling that’s since been co-opted by reality series to great effect.

And that was the problem. Whereas eight years ago "Hopkins'" style and technique were unique, this year it had trouble convincing viewers it was much more than another reality series. It never caught on, despite strong critical support.

The show follows a group of doctors and patients at the hospital, many of them young and prone to mistakes. That makes for dramatic television, but to producers' credit the show never presents their mistakes in an exploitive manner.

In tonight’s episode, first-year surgical student Oscar Serrano accidentally punctures a patient’s lung. He worries he’ll lose his job but it becomes a teaching moment when his supervisors explain that screwing up is part of becoming a better doctor.

The show received good to glowing reviews. Writes Newsday’s Verne Gay, “[‘Hopkins’] is the best unscripted show on commercial television this season, which you may correctly point out is faint praise; but in this case, it's not.”

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, JULY 30
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Pamela Anderson and Brendan Fraser both guest.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	It’s down to the final six, meaning just a one-hour episode.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Baby Borrowers” (R)	Season finale. The teens finish up by taking care of the elderly.
9 p.m.	Bravo	“Project Runway” (R)	The designers are tasked with making clothes for a special day.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Run’s House” (R)	With Diggy and Russy’s grades slipping, Run thinks of an idea to help get them back up. Not participating in a reality show could be a start.
10 p.m.	TV Land	“Family Foreman” (R)	George becomes a part owner of an IndyCar racing team.
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	CBS	“Big Brother” (R)	Another of the housemates is eliminated from competition.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Last Comic Standing” (R)	The field is trimmed to five wannabe comics, and then they perform.
8 p.m.	ESPN2	“Basketball” (S)	Team USA takes on Turkey in another Olympic warm-up.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	Tonight’s results show will leave just four dancers standing.
9 p.m.	ESPN	“X Games” (S)	The 14th annual action sports event launches in Los Angeles.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Flashpoint” (D)	The cop drama makes its second Thursday outing.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” (R)	Kathy performs her routine at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C.
10 p.m.	USA	“Burn Notice” (D)	Michael gets to know a human trafficker while looking for a client’s sister.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Sheryl Crow performs live on the plaza.
8 p.m.	Nickelodeon	“Fairly OddParents” (K)	An Olympic-inspired episode featuring the Fairy World Games.
9 p.m.	E!	“True Hollywood Story” (N)	A look at Joe Francis, the creator of “Girls Gone Wild.”
9 p.m.	History	“Jurassic Fight Club” (N)	Series premiere. New show examines some of history’s most dangerous predators.
9 p.m.	USA	“Monk” (D)	Monk looks into the murder of the host of a local lottery show, whom Natalie replaces on TV.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Swingtown” (D)	An original episode, but the move to Friday nights doesn’t bode well.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
Time	Network	Program	Description
1 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Today we have White Sox-Royals, Angels-Yankees or Brewers-Braves.
6 p.m.	ESPN	“Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction” (A, S)	This year’s class, including former Redskins Darrell Green and Art Monk, is inducted.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Palm Beach pull over a guy openly smoking marijuana.
9 p.m.	ESPN	“X Games” (S)	Day-three events include the men’s skateboarding halfpipe final.
9 p.m.	Hallmark Channel	“Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery” (M)	Dick Van Dyke’s Jonathan Maxwell looks into the death of a spiritual healer.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
Time	Network	Program	Description
1 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, won last year by Tiger Woods.
3 p.m.	ABC	“X Games” (S)	The final day of competition includes rally racing and more skateboarding.
7 p.m.	ESPN2	“Basketball” (S)	USA takes on Russia in a pre-Olympic exhibition in Shanghai.
8 p.m.	ABC	“High School Musical: Get in the Picture” (R)	The 12 finalists visit the set of the third “High School Musical” film.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Sunday Night Football” (S)	The annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, this year between the Redskins and Colts.
9 p.m.	USA	“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)	A murder leads investigators into the secretive culture of an exclusive private school.
10 p.m.	VH1	“Brooke Knows Best” (R)	Brooke is a special guest at a host of spring break events.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.