During my senior year of college, I started watching reruns on JAG in the afternoons. As I tend to do, I got hooked and quickly started watching new episodes every week. So when the network decided to make a spinoff of my favorite show, you’d think I would have jumped on board.
Well, no.
First of all, that spinoff – originally known as Navy NCIS – did not star David James Elliott. Second of all, I knew that a spinoff meant the end of JAG was near. So I boycotted. CBS was sad, but what could they do? I drew the line, and I would not cross it.
Until a couple summers ago, when there was just nothing else on. My fierce devotion to all things JAG had dimmed a bit, as it had left the air a couple seasons before and new shows had replaced its #1 spot in my heart. Somehow watching NCIS (apparently someone realized the original title’s redundancy) didn’t seem so bad anymore.
I mentioned to Smitty that I had started watching the show, and she said, “Oh yeah, my mom loves it.” Then I noticed that, possibly due to Mark Harmon’s starring role, this was a show thought to be watched primarily by older women. Seriously – Google it. You search “NCIS + grandma,” and you’ll see I’m not even kidding.
Despite that reputation – and TV Guide’s refusal to have a blog for the show – I added NCIS to my weekly rotation. And now, all of a sudden, this little show loved by grandmas and me (and okay, maybe a few others) is getting a lot of attention.
This week, media outlets from Slate and MSN to the New York Times and the LA Times have been forced to recognize. Apparently, NCIS had 18.8 million viewers last week – more than any other show on television!
How did this happen, you ask? Well, nobody seems to know for sure, although lots of theories are been tossed around. One site, TV Squad, listed the top 5 reasons it’s cool to like NCIS:
- It’s not really a procedural.
- It’s not really a military show.
- It’s pop topical. (This is true – I had to laugh and wish Mark was watching with me this week when Tony smoothly segued from references to Convoy to Smokey and the Bandit.)
- It’s all about the team.
- It’s filled with funny bits.
It is a funny show. And for the chick-flick-loving ladies like me, there’s a little bit of romantic tension, too. Of course, the mysteries and political intrigue are good, too. But perhaps the biggest mystery is just how, according to the New York Times, “While no one was looking, a six-year-old television series that lands on few magazine covers, enjoys almost no love from critics and never gets a sniff of a nomination for prestigious awards is suddenly the hottest show on the air.”
We’ve talked about favorite TV shows a few times around here, but do you watch any unpopular shows? (Amy, you mentioned The Unit. Maybe it will be the next military show to gain popularity?!)
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I think this just goes to show they should give shows longer than they do to make ratings. Especially the ones Melilot reviews on her blog (they always seem to get canceled!). Just because it doesn’t have a strong following the first week or so doesn’t mean it won’t. Personally, I think they often end up keeping the wrong things! (but then, I’d probably call NCIS — even though I’ve never seen it — one of those;) I suppose it’s all a matter of opinion.
Your comment segues perfectly into mine, Chelley. I was going to say I like a show that was unpopular (and therefore cancelled after one season), but now has a cult-like following (they cancelled too soon, apparently). The show? Freaks and Geeks. Photo, if you haven’t seen it, you would LOVE it. It really makes me sad if I think too long about the fact that there are only 14 episodes (an hour long each, though) and that I will never find out what happened to Sam and Lindsay Weir.
P.S. I really enjoy reading your blog, Photo. I don’t know if I’ve told you that before, but I’m sitting here at conferences enjoying myself because my friends (Photo and Chelley) are such proficient blog writers!
Oh no, did I spell canceled wrong? Drat.
Oh, never mind, I just looked it up and I’m spelling British English again (I always do that…like I put an extra ‘e’ in ‘judgement’)
Hm, Chelley, maybe you shouldn’t judge tv shows you haven’t seen…? Then again, I totally judge Criminal Minds, and I’ve never watched that.
Thanks, Triple! That means a lot, coming from my British English-writing friend. :) I haven’t watched Freaks and Geeks, but I remember that you loved it. It’s on my list of shows I need to watch on DVD!!
That was my point, Photo. :P Just that I think I know which shows they should give a chance and which I don’t care about, but I could be wrong since I haven’t watched all the shows. ;)
Hurray for British English! Please just always assume my spelling mistakes are actually just the Queen’s English! :)
I am thoroughly addicted to Numbers.
They’re (Numbers, not the British :) ) actually talking a lot about religion lately and it’s effect in different characters lives- it’s led to many funny and thought-provoking lines. The last episode, one of the characters said something to the effect that his belief in an all creating something out there doesn’t help him sleep at night, but instead keeps him awake with big thoughts!
that’s a cool thought kimberly.
photo – i promise not to say anything about ncis.
Sorry to chime in so late here! YES, The Unit. I’m totally convinced we’re the only people watching it (and have from the beginning), but Matt said it’s been on for 4 years, so someone else must be watching!
NCIS is one of those that I pass over all the time – because it’s not JAG! Criminal Minds is brilliant. But it’s lost some of its allure without Mandy Patinkin.
Finally, FREAKS AND GEEKS is the best show to have ever been canceled after one season. Seriously. Wait no longer.
Kimberly – I've watched Numbers a couple times, and it seems good. I think I'd like it more if I watched it more.
Mel – thanks. :)
Amy – okay, okay, I'll watch F&G! As for the Unit, isn't it weird that some shows get SO much buzz and others don't get any…but those under the radar shows still stay on the air? Funny how that works.
I have to do some Freaks & Geeks name dropping here. I probably would have missed the show completely except that one day working at Universal, I was sent out to spend the day in the park with one of the guys who was in it (Martin Starr). The show hadn't come out yet so he wasn't "famous," (which is why they sent me – I got the celebs no one else wanted) but he was so ridiculously funny that I decided to look out for the show. So, now when you watch it, you can be reminded that I spent a day with that guy (one of the Geeks) and he was really fun.
oh, he was the really geeky geek, wasn't he? he was great! :) (i've seen a couple episodes on dvd)
photo, you're motivated by 1 comment of Amy's to go out and watch F&G but still haven't read HP after all of my attempts to get you to?? hmph. :P
That's cool, Amy!
And chelley, you calm down. Reading HP is on my list. Just like watching F&G is on my list. Unfortunately, I'm not sure when I'll get to either. But you know me – I'm much more likely to get to the books on my list than renting a TV show!
AND, I already wanted to watch F&G because of how many times Triple has talked about it! However, I will concede that I didn't think of it when I did my original list of TV shows to watch on DVD.
On another note, my coworker got the Twilight book over the weekend (after we had talked about how we didn't understand the crazy)…and now she's hooked!
lol — so is that next for you? ;) you should quick read it tomorrow & then come down on wednesday and see it with me & lori :)