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TV This Week

One year later,
everybody loves 'Chris'


Comic's sitcom ends its first season a keeper

May 11, 2006

At last year's upfront presentations, media buyers praised "Everybody Hates Chris" as the show that would revive the stagnating sitcom genre. But then again, many also were touting Martha Stewart's version of the "Apprentice" as a sure thing.

Flash forward a year later. While Stewart and Donald Trump were busy blaming each other for their failed series, Chris Rock's sitcom has actually lived up to much of the hype. It's the No. 3 show on UPN, averaging 4.3 million total viewers season to date, more than Fox’s “Arrested Development” averaged before it was axed.

Extremely popular in black households, where it's often a top 10 show, "Chris" is certain to be a cornerstone in the new CW's lineup, likely anchoring a sitcom lineup on Monday nights.

What differentiates "Chris" from most sitcoms is its smart writing and ability to reach across racial lines through humor in the way "The Cosby Show" did two decades ago.

The Rocks are real people, like the Huxtables, but they are not the Huxtables, who were affluent achievers. The Rocks are a working-class family trying to lead a better life.

They're also not like any other family on TV, actually. Unlike sitcoms with uncharacteristically hot moms married to so-so dads, these parents are well matched in looks and in their approach to dealing with their children.

When Chris's determined mom has him bused to an all-white school to get a better education, she inadvertently sets him up to be bullied by bigger students and, to a lesser extent, pitied by teachers whose empathy is a product of their own latent prejudice against blacks.

In one scene, a teacher, assuming the Rocks must be needy because they're black, sends Chris home with bags of food. Even though their budget is tight and they could use the canned goods, his mother reacts by sending all the food back plus additional brand-name packages to prove they don't need anyone's charity.

As the comedy's debut season concludes at 8 tonight, kid Rock and his siblings search for the perfect Father's Day gift for their hardworking dad. Of course the gift their father wants most would've cost them nothing, a day of peace and quiet to himself.

A look at this week’s top TV draws

THURSDAY, MAY 11

Time

Network

Program

Description

8 p.m.

WB

"Smallville" (D)

The season finale ends with Lois and Martha in peril, and Lana oblivious to Clark's considerable charms.

8 p.m.

Fox

"That '70s Show" (C)

First Kelso, then Hyde, now Fez? Jackie, Jackie, Jackie--girlfriend needs to aim higher.

8 p.m.

PBS

"Soundstage" (T)

Backed by a 16-piece orchestra, Sheryl Crow sings cuts from her album "Wildflower."

8:40 p.m.

NBC

"My Name Is Earl" (C)

Earl and his brother wait for karma to slap them some good luck, but end up broke instead.

11:35 p.m.

NBC

"Tonight Show" (T)

Jay Leno had better nail down his sofa. Tom Cruise makes an appearance to chat about his baby, his fiancé and "Mission Impossible III."

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Time

Network

Program

Description

7:30 p.m.

The N

"Instant Star" (R)

With her CD all done, Jude's record label throws her a celebratory shindig in this season finale.

8 p.m.

CBS

"Keith Barry: Extraordinary" (T)

Ireland's Keith Barry leaves the creepy magic stuff to the likes of David Blaine and charms celebs like Jessica Simpson and Rachel Hunter with his more traditional card games.

8:30 p.m.

FX

"Auto Racing: NASCAR Busch Series" (S)

Matt Kenseth beat Kenny Wallace in this event last year. Tonight, in the live event, the drivers are looking to shake things up again on Darlington Raceway, NASCAR's oldest big track.

9 p.m.

NBC

"Las Vegas" (D)

There's a big wedding planned for the third-season finale. Guests sharing a nice chicken dinner at the reception include Dean Cain, Jerry O'Connell and uberchef Wolfgang Puck.

9 p.m.

BBC America

"The Thick of It" (C)

Satirical like "The Office" (the original British version), this English series stars Chris Langham as a government official who doesn't quite have what it takes to get the job done.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Time

Network

Program

Description

6 p.m.

HGTV

"International Furniture Show 2006) (T)

Check out all the furniture you love and can't afford. Hosted by Gail O'Neill and Mark Totty, whose last name is very fun.

8 p.m.

CNN

"Chasing Angelina--Paparazzi and Celebrity Obsession" (T)

A documentary about the stars and the paparazzi who love them. Or who love to make money off of them, anyhow.

8 p.m.

TLC

"Little People, Big World" (R)

The Roloffs have won enough viewers to warrant a second season. In the first-season finale, Zach nervously prepares to go on his first date.

9 p.m.

Starz

"Lords of Dogtown" (M)

Heath Ledger stars in this extreme skateboarding flick where the stunts are more important than the plot.

10:30 p.m.

Cartoon

"Justice League Unlimited" (K)

Aw heck, there's no school tomorrow. Let the kids stay up late to catch the season finale, where the heroes must form an alliance to beat their foes.

SUNDAY, MAY 14

Time

Network

Program

Description

7:30 p.m.

Fox

"King of the Hill" (C)

Tom Petty lends his voice to the 10th-season finale as Lucky, who's out to win Luanne's hand in marriage.

8 p.m.

CBS

"Survivor: Panama--Exile Island" (R)

The first two hours shows the players being narrowed down to the final two contestants. The winner is announced in the third hour, which takes place on a live reunion show.

8 p.m.

NBC

"West Wing (D)

The critically acclaimed drama ends with a series finale that will tug at heartstrings. Bartlet leaves the White House after Santos is inaugurated.

8:30 p.m.

Fox

"Malcolm in the Middle" (C)

Malcom finally escapes his loving but annoying, dysfunctional family as he prepares for life at Harvard. This is also the show's swansong episode.

8 p.m.

NBC

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (D)

The crime drama ends its season with two back-to-back episodes. The first showcases the sleuthing techniques of hinky Goren and Eames as they try to nab an arsonist. The second has Logan and Barek searching for a killer who bludgeoned his last victims.

9 p.m.

VH1

"Surreal Life" (R)

This tacky (but addictive) series ends its sixth season with Tawny Kitaen finally doing what she's wanted to all year long--stripping off her clothes to show she's still as hot as her Playboy centerfold roomie.

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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