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For 'Back to You,'
sweet kiss of 'Idol'

Once-promising sitcom returns behind the Fox hit

By Diego Vasquez
Feb 27, 2008

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“American Idol” saved “’Til Death” last year. Can “Back to You” also get an “Idol” reprieve?

The first-year Fox comedy returned to the air after several months away last night at 9:30 p.m. with the first of two new episodes. The second airs tonight. The episodes were filmed before the writers’ strike shut down production back in December and smartly scuttled away for a post-strike return.

They air after two 90-minute editions of “Idol,” which will undoubtedly be the two top shows of the week among total viewers and adults 18-49.

The question for “You” is how much “Idol” will pump its ratings, and whether that will be enough to earn a second season for the low-rated but promising sitcom.

“You” has averaged a 2.3 adults 18-49 rating this season, ranking No. 100 on broadcast. That’s not a great average, but with the writers’ strike disrupting viewing patterns and schedules for months, the show won’t be judged on that number.

Rather, it will be evaluated on potential, and it seems to have plenty.

With leads Kelsey Grammer (“Frasier”) and Patricia Heaton (“Everybody Loves Raymond”), the show has two of the most talented comedians on television. And while the show’s over-the-top jokes sometimes feel stale, there’s promise in Grammer and Heaton’s chemistry and the fairly unique conceit of the show, set at a mid-market local TV news station.

Should “You” perform well the next two nights, and continue to show improvement when it returns with a month’s worth of originals Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. starting April 16, the show will almost certainly return next year.

Last year “Death” showed similar potential during a limited “Idol” engagement, and this year it’s one of the few programs that saw its audience grow, albeit slightly, before the strike.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Donny Osmond makes a guest appearance.
8 p.m.	CW	“America’s Next Top Model” (R)	The 14 remaining wannabes move into an apartment in NYC, then do a show in Times Square.
8 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	Tonight the top 10 females perform.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Supernanny” (R)	When Jo questions a pair of parents’ techniques, the mom threatens to kick her out.
10 p.m.	NBC	“Law & Order” (D)	Prostitutes accuse each other of murdering a high schooler.
10 p.m.	Bravo	“Project Runway” (R)	In the first half of the season-four ender, the designers prepare their work for Fashion Week.
10 p.m.	History Channel	“UFO Hunters” (N)	The crew looks into UFO encounters with the English military over the years.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Toady” (N)	Reunion day! The cast of “Knots Landing” guests.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Survivor” (R)	An unexpected person tries to execute a power play.
8 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	Four more contestants, two male and two female, are bounced from the competition.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Lost” (D)	Sayid and Desmond run into trouble while on their way to the freighter.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)	The two teams try to put together a four-page magazine spread.
10 p.m.	VH1	“Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” (R)	The first of a two-part season finale.
11 p.m.	Spike TV	“Pros vs. Joes” (G)	The Joes try to survive getting cross-checked by hockey legend Paul Coffey.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	ABC	“Good Morning America” (N)	Actress Reese Witherspoon and singer James Blunt both guest.
7:30 p.m.	ESPN2	“Arena Football Preview” (S)	A look at the upcoming season, as well as some of the most memorable moments in AFL history.
8 p.m.	CBS	“The Price is Right” (G)	The classic game show will try to test its muscle against NBC’s new game “Amne$ia.”
9 p.m.	NBC	“Dateline” (N)	Reporters Dennis Murphy and Sara James investigate two separate murders.
10 p.m.	History Channel	“Battle 360” (N)	Series premiere. A look at the USS Enterprise – the WWII carrier, not the “Star Trek” ship.
10:30 p.m.	ESPN	“NBA Basketball” (S)	Carmelo and the Nuggets host the Clippers.
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
Time	Network	Program	Description
2 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Marquette hosts Georgetown in a Big East battle.
3:30 p.m.	ABC	“College Basketball” (S)	North Carolina travels to Boston College for an ACC tilt.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in California try to chase down a drunk suspect on foot.
9 p.m.	BET	“Generation Now: Top 25 Under 25” (N)	A countdown of the most promising celebrities under the age of 25.
9 p.m.	ESPN	“College Basketball” (S)	Huge Big 12 rivalry game between Kansas State and Kansas.
11:30 p.m.	NBC	“Saturday Night Live” (C)	Actress Ellen Page hosts.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Important SEC game between Kentucky and Tennessee.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“NASCAR Racing” (S)	The UAW-Dodge 400, live from Las Vegas.
3:30 p.m.	ABC	“NBA Basketball” (S)	The new-look Mavs take on the new-look Lakers in L.A.
7 p.m.	Fox	“The Simpsons” (C)	Topher Grace lends his voice as a new student who helps Bart pull pranks.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Oprah’s Big Give” (G)	Series premiere. First of an eight-part series in which contestants try to change people’s lives in a positive way.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Quarterlife” (D)	Now in its regular timeslot, can it build on Tuesday’s premiere?
10 p.m.	ABC	“Here Come the Newlyweds” (G)	Series premiere. Seven couples compete to test their teamwork.
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.