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With Election Over, TV Networks Have Big Void To Fill

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By WALT BELCHER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2008

As much as people complained about how they were sick of the 2008 presidential race, there's going to be a big void to fill today.

David Letterman and Jay Leno will be looking for new material.

MSNBC, CNN and Fox News Channel will be longing for viewers.

"Saturday Night Live," "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" won't have as much fun.

And political junkies will be going through withdrawal pains.

No prime time fictional drama could have been more intriguing than what played out during this election.

The story of a black man making a serious bid for the White House became all the more fascinating when he had to overcome one of the most dynamic women in American politics and then face a popular Vietnam War hero.

In one corner was a little-known, youthful, charismatic intellectual taking his first shot at glory.

In the other was a well-known, temperamental maverick taking his last shot at glory.

Along the way, the plot thickened with the collapse of the housing and banking industries and the rise of an attractive vice presidential candidate from Alaska, a conservative hockey mom who is handy with a rifle.

There were unexpected twists and turns just about every week, from a controversial hell 'n' brimstone minister named Jeremiah to a bald plumber named Joe.

But all that is history now.

It's quiet. And it's likely to be quiet until the current White House occupant finishes his term.

As far as television entertainment goes, real life has overshadowed fiction this fall.

While cable news networks saw ratings soar (CNN alone was up 241 percent over last October), the big four broadcast networks have languished. Ratings are down across the board. New shows are struggling. Old favorites are slipping.

Will the viewers come back?

Instead of getting an adrenaline rush from the news, will we get it from Jack Bauer when he returns in a special "24" movie on Nov. 23?

Can "Fringe" or "Heroes" or "My Own Worst Enemy" fill the suspense vacuum?

Will we return to "Desperate Housewives" for back-stabbing, or "Pushing Daisies" for fantasy, or "Law & Order" and "CSI" for the comfort of seeing justice prevail?

Maybe comedies will take off. After this election year, we could use a few laughs.

BREAKING RECORDS: NBC's "Law & Order" begins its 19th season at 10 tonight. Producer Dick Wolf would like to keep it going until he surpasses "Gunsmoke," which ran 20 seasons.

The episode involves a beaten stockbroker, who appears to be part of a trend this season as corrupt bankers and financiers have become villains in the real world.

The opener also incorporates terrorism and gang violence.

Sam Waterston is back as District Attorney Jack McCoy, who is seeking re-election (another topical subject).

Meanwhile, the debut of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" on the USA network has been pushed back from Friday to early 2009.

When it returns, Jeff Goldblum joins the cast, replacing Chris Noth.

MEDAL OF HONOR: A new 90-minute PBS documentary, "Medal of Honor," debuting at 9 tonight, traces the history of the military award from a profile of Sgt. Paul Smith, the first soldier to receive it in the Iraq war, back to its creation during the Civil War.

For information, go to PBS. org.

Walt Belcher can be reached at (813) 259-7654.

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