Television 2001: A look back

Highlights of the year in TV include the amazing news coverage of Sept. 11; parenthood on a popular comedy; a return by the king of pop; Slayers and aliens moving stations; and the first time

Highlights of the year in TV include the amazing news coverage of Sept. 11; parenthood on a popular comedy; a return by the king of pop; Slayers and aliens moving stations; and the first time delay, not once but twice, of the Emmy Awards.

Minutes after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, newscasters countrywide appeared on practically every television channel trying to relay to viewers what was going on. In the coming days, reporters like Dan Rathers and Tom Brokaw kept showing up, most functioning on little or no sleep. Somehow they kept plugging.

Another huge result of the attacks was the coming together of the major networks — CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC, WB, UPN — for a broadcast of the telethon put on by celebrities to benefit the world trade fund. This is the first time, and probably the last time, that the networks have worked together and broadcasted something simultaneously.

On “Friends,” viewers were delighted with Rachel and her impending pregnancy. And viewers were even more thrilled to find out that the father was none other then Ross. At FOX, a hit was found in placing four couples on an island to see if they could be tempted by the opposite sex on “Temptation Island.” “Buffy” and the gang from “Roswell” packed up and moved their home from the WB to UPN. A smart idea, as the two shows have helped boost UPN’s numbers. Other events include the amazing job done by Ellen Degeneres preparing for three different Emmys shows after the first two had been postponed.

After all this, who knows what the 2002 TV season will bring us?

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*