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Peeps: A spycam
on life's real dramas

ABC 'Primetime' cameras capture folks' reactions

By Diego Vasquez
Feb 26, 2008

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It was only a matter of time until the writers’ strike pressed the networks’ newsmagazines into service. NBC has aired a couple editions of long-dormant “Dateline” and CBS’s “48 Hours Mystery” has expanded from one to two hours. Now tonight ABC premieres a new “Primetime” series that provides some much-needed filler for the next five weeks, until scripted programs begin returning to the air.

“Primetime: What Would You Do?” debuts tonight at 10 p.m. The five-part series uses hidden cameras to record people’s reactions to extreme and unexpected situations, such as catching the husband of a good friend stepping out on his wife or watching teenage girls verbally abuse another at the park.

The idea is that, by recording the action without the knowledge of the participants, the show will get real, honest reactions, quite different from those displayed on so-called reality shows where people are usually playing to the cameras.

The show also has an interactive element, inviting viewers to share their reactions to the situations via ABCNews.com.

It’s a safe, essentially no-lose strike strategy for ABC in a timeslot where it’s generally weak anyway. Usual occupant “Boston Legal” managed a mere 1.8 adults 18-49 last week with an original episode, despite airing against minimal competition in CBS’s low-rated “Jericho” and a rerun of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

And if “Primetime,” which has served as a reliable schedule patcher for years, performs well, ABC can always revive the cheap-to-produce series as needed later this spring.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Will Ferrell and Valerie Bertinelli both guest.
7 p.m.	ESPN	“College Basketball” (S)	Ohio State takes on Indiana.
8 p.m.	NBC	“The Biggest Loser” (R)	One team earns a trip to Las Vegas.
8 p.m.	Fox	“American Idol” (R)	The top 10 male performers show their stuff.
9 p.m.	CW	“One Tree Hill” (D)	Mouth gets his first on-air assignment, and Peyton and Lindsey argue about Lucas.
9:30 p.m.	Fox	“Back to You” (C)	Its return after “Idol” should really boost its 2.3 season-to-date average rating among 18-49s.
10 p.m.	TLC	“LA Ink” (R)	Kat is rushed into surgery, and her co-workers try to pick up the slack.
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.