akl@wbux5.UUCP (03/16/84)
(for the almighty line eater) Thanks to those who sent me a summary of the March 7th episode of St. Elsewhere. I was able to watch the show this week and understand most of what was happening. I now pose this question: Has anyone noticed a change in the story lines of St. Elsewhere and its Thursday night counterpart, Hill St. Blues? Supposedly, the network execs weren't pleased with the shows' ratings compared to Hotel (Wed 10PM ABC) and Knotts Landing (Thu 10PM CBS), and requested that more "glossy" sex-related stories be added. Personally, I think the shows are as good as ever, but I would be interested to hear other people's opinions. A die-hard NBC fan, Anita K. Laux Bell Communications Research West Long Branch NJ
gds@mit-eddie.UUCP (Greg Skinner) (03/17/84)
This week's episode was the first I ever saw of St. Elsewhere, and I was
quite reminded of Hill St. It does seem to be a bit soapy, excepting
there's more humor in St. Elsewhere than in Hill St. As far as ratings
are concerned, Hill St. will have a lot to contend with Knots Landing.
I've gotten quite hooked on it in the past few weeks -- they are running
quite a storyline concerning Gary Ewing's "death".
--
By the power of Grayskull!
Greg-bo, Prince of Eternia
{decvax!genrad, eagle!mit-vax, ihnp4}!mit-eddie!gdscrigney@uok.UUCP (04/01/84)
#R:wbux5:-16900:uok:8700002:000:1341
uok!crigney Mar 31 01:49:00 1984
Re Anita Laux's question on the recent quality of HSB and St
Elsewhere. I seldom watch St Elsewhere, but try hard never to
miss HSB. In the last couple of months, I had become very
disappointed with it, but stuck with it out of loyalty. The last
episode was much better, and my faith is restored. I very much
get the feeling that Bochco & Co introduced the changes the NBC
Brass asked for, then obliterated them as smoothly as possible.
For example, the sex tapes scandal - the people involved got
wiped out and the tapes got hushed up. I really hated seeing a
professional hitman *stand up* and *empty* his automatic weapon
like the rankest amateur. If the guy had the guts to sneak into
a police station and kill his target, you'd think he'd have more
brains than to set himself up as a easy kill for any cop with a
shotgun. A minor point, but annoying as hell.
Likewise I dislike it when characters (such as Henry and Faye)
mouth cliches at each other, I've come to expect a higher
standard from HSB. It's too bad really, that HSB is better now -
I was going to write a passionate denunciation with the title
"Hill Street Boos." :-)
"Sorry, Frank. The little beggar caught me
with my flanks exposed."
Carl
..!ctvax!uokvax!uok!crigney
..!duke!uok!crigney