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TV This Week

Brady kick
for fading 'That '70s Show'


How kitschy: Two actors from that original 1970s show

May 4, 2006

May 18 marks the series finale of "That '70s Show." This week marks what may be funnier, two back-to-back new episodes, one of which features guest appearances by real-life '70s stars Christopher Knight and Barry Williams from that real '70s show, "The Brady Bunch."

If they're not quite as famous as some previous guest stars (Bruce Willis, Luke Wilson, Brooke Shields), their kitsch factor complements the show pretty well. The pair, who played brothers Peter and Greg Brady, respectively, portray a gay couple who move in next door to Red and Kitty Forman.
 
The Fox comedy, which airs from 8 to 9 tonight, has lost some of its momentum due to a variety of factors. It's currently in its eighth season and what once was kind of charming, watching high school kids acting like kids, has grown old, much like the actors who play the characters.

Ratings have fallen off 21 percent, from a 3.4 adults 18-49 average last season to a 2.7 this season, when the show moved from Wednesdays to Thursday, where it has struggled even more.
 
Plus, the show lost its most popular stars in 2005 when Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher left the series to concentrate on their burgeoning film careers. As stupid as their characters were, they were more interesting to watch than the B-listers (that’s you, Wilmer Valderrama) who are left on the show.

A look at this week’s top TV draws

THURSDAY, MAY 4

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

UPN

“Everybody Hates Chris” (C)

Local hoodlums give Chris tips on how to raise money selling cookies.

8 p.m.

NBC

“Will & Grace” (C)

Will and Vince are back together, which makes "It's all about me" Grace worry about what will happen with the baby.

9 p.m.

CBS

“CSI” (D)

An assistant movie producer is found dead on the loading dock of a casino.

9 p.m.

NBC

“My Name is Earl” (C)

Earl tracks down a former crush he once shot with a BB gun.

9 p.m.

Fox

“The O.C.” (D)

Seth, already worried about college and women, finds something else to worry about.

10 p.m.

Discovery Military

“Iraq vs. Iraq” (N)

Comparisons between the 1991 war and the current one.

10 p.m.

CBS

“Without a Trace” (D)

A single dad and his two kids disappear from their home.

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

Fox

“School of Rock” (M)

Funny 2003 movie starring Jack Black as a failed musician posing as a substitute teacher.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

Season finale. Hundreds of spirits ask Melinda for help at the scene of a plane crash.

8 p.m.

Discovery

“Deadliest Catch” (R)

Crab fishing in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

9 p.m.

NBC

“Las Vegas” (D)

Delinda has an answer to Derek’s proposal.

9 p.m.

Comedy Central

“Stand Up Nation with Greg Giraldo” (C)

A Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring a slew of comics, including Carlos Mencia.

10 p.m.

CBS

“Numb3rs” (D)

Hackers take control of Don’s checking and savings accounts.

11 p.m.

HBO

“Real Time with Bill Maher” (C)

Maher delivers more of his left-leaning comedy.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Time

Network

Program

Description

2 p.m.

NBC

“NHL Hockey” (S)

Coverage of the conference semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Third-round coverage of the Wachovia Championship from Charlotte, N.C.

5 p.m.

NBC

“Horse Racing” (S)

The Kentucky Derby live from Churchill Downs.

8 p.m.

ABC

“Seabiscuit” (M)

The perfect movie to follow-up your Kentucky Derby viewing.

8 p.m.

GAC

“Grand Ole Opry Live” (T)

Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols and the Oak Ridge Boys all perform.

10 p.m.

CBS

“48 Hours Mystery” (N)

Eric Moriarty investigates the death of a dancer in New York.

11:30 p.m.

NBC

“Saturday Night Live” (C)

Tom Hanks hosts with music provided by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

SUNDAY, MAY 7

Time

Network

Program

Description

Noon

NBC

“National Heads-Up Poker Championship” (S)

Coverage of the Round of 16.

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Final-round coverage of the Wachovia Championship, won last year by Vijay Singh.

8 p.m.

Univision

“Bailando por un Sueño” (A)

Season finale of Univision’s popular dance competition show.

8 p.m.

Fox

“The Simpsons” (C)

Marge develops amnesia, meaning, in her mind, that she’s single again.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Desperate Housewives” (D)

Tom gets fired from his job and Gabrielle and Carlos come to an agreement with Xiao-Mei.

9 p.m.

HBO

“The Sopranos” (D)

Christopher makes an announcement to the crew while Paulie tries to cut corners at a street fair.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)

Derek lets his emotional side get the best of him, which is obviously something you don’t want to do when working at a hospital.

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.



Jae-Ha Kim is a Chicago writer.




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