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Celebrity Finale Showdown: May 14

May 12, 2006

Two Emmy-winning series will end seven-season runs this Sunday -- in the same time slot. "The West Wing" wraps on NBC from 8-9 while "Malcolm in the Middle" ends on Fox from 8:30-9. Both shows have struggled in their final seasons. The similarities get more personal when you consider that Bradley Whitford stars in "WW" while his wife Jane Kaczmarek stars in "Malcolm." What will their living-room TV be tuned to?

TV Historians note: A similar Sunday May 14 showdown occurred in 1989 when two of the most popular shows of the 80s -- both with rising movie star leads -- squared off. The result? The "Family Ties" farewell was #1 for the week for Michael J. Fox but "Moonlighting" with Bruce Willis limped across the finish line at #70. --Ken Hommel

Judge Schnitz?

May 11, 2006

Who was the judge on "The Sopranos" that released Johnny Sack from jail for his daughter's wedding? Robert Hirschfeld, who played Officer Leo Schnitz for five seasons on "Hill Street Blues." --Ken Hommel

"Scrubs" Near-demise Thwarted by Mass Panic

Apparently rumors that "Scrubs" was on its last season whipped up so much free publicity that the word in the ICU is it's on the schedule for next year.

I should have known "Scrubs" was on a mission to save itself when my mom asked if I knew anything about a "very funny comedy about young, quirky doctors." That question makes me think even NPR got into the buzz, since that’s her only media source.

The main threat to Scrubs this year came from competing medical institutions – "Grey's Anatomy," "House" and stalwart "ER." But while on paper they may look similar, "Scrubs" is in a league of its own. While the show has had sad moments, it's a comedy. The writing is witty in one of those this-is-hysterical-on-so-many-levels kind of way. Similar to "The Simpsons," viewers in a wide age range, varying educational levels and sensibilities see its humor in different ways. "Scrubs" is a smart show. Whether it will be smart enough to drum up this much buzz and save itself every year is another question. –Chris Parker