Networks begin giving their upfront presentations this week but early word is out on a few shows. Two of which I will tell you about now.

First the good news. Boston Legal is renewed after intense negotiations between David E. Kelley and ABC. I'd enjoy it because odds are this will be the last season. People are saying the show is coming back with a reduced cast.

The bad news is that The CW has apparently canceled the best show in their line up and quite possibly one of the best sitcoms on television for the past several years, Aliens in America.

One network does something right and one does something woefully wrong.

RAWR(for more)

An Open Letter to the CW

Dear CW,

How have you been? Not well? I see. Bad ratings? Yeah...life's hard.

I feel like we've been here before. Yeah, about a year ago when you were canceling a brilliant show called Veronica Mars. Do you remember? Seems like that's your M.O. now. Y'know, canceling brilliant shows in exchange for more and more vapid and insidious garbage. Crowned, anyone?

Why do you do this to yourself?

Here we are again only now it's not a highly loved drama, instead we're in danger of losing a smart, important comedy like Aliens in America.

But by all means, you need to make sure there is room for the next Pussycat Dolls show.

Don't think about how Aliens in America is one of the funniest sitcoms on the air, or how it's probably one of the smartest or best written. I'm sure it would best to ignore it. Let's not aspire to keeping a positive show on the air. Let's instead do a spin off to America's Next Top Model.

Is my sarcasm coming through CW?

Aren't you tired of having a lineup full of crappy shows? I can count on two fingers the number of good shows you have. That's right. Two. And one of them is only good because it's so trashy, that being Gossip Girl.

The other of course is Aliens in America. This show is the best show you have on the air, and is probably the best sitcom on the air right now period.

Why drop it? Why not stand behind it and show that you are committed to bringing intelligent and socially conscious entertainment to the masses. Let everyone know that not only can a show be funny and touching but that it can also carry an extremely positive message of tolerance.

This isn't a petition nor do I plan to start one. There are no plans for a campaign to mail you thousands of pounds of Pakistani candy or little alien heads either.

All I have are my words and a simple request:

Give Aliens in America a chance. Let it stick around and grow an audience. What do you have to lose?

Only a brilliant show.

For whatever that might be worth to you.

Yours,

Pop Culture Beast

RAWR(for more)

Fall TV Roundup

Well the fall season is in full swing now and I've made my picks of the best of the season so far.

Best New Comedy: Aliens in America

Best New Drama: Gossip Girl

Best Returning Comedy: 30 Rock

Best Returning Drama: Brothers & Sisters

Best Night on TV: ABC Sunday Night with Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters.

Honorable Mentions: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boston Legal, Heroes, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy

Biggest Disappointments: Reaper (I don't understand the critical acclaim of this show), Moonlight (watch Angel. 100X better)

Most Missed: Veronica Mars. /tear

What I Still Need To Watch: Pushing Daisies and Private Practice

Imagine my shock when the two new shows I'm enjoying the most are on a network I hate. Curse you for getting on my good side CW! I guess I will forgive you for canceling Veronica Mars.

RAWR(for more)

Fall Seasons Biggest Surprise

Imagine my surprise when idle curiosity about a show on The CW caught my attention and hooked me in after the first few minutes.

I'm talking of course about The CW's Aliens in America, which is about a Muslim exchange student moving in with a family in small town Wisconsin. The fall season is in full swing and I have to say for sure that this is my pick for the Best New Comedy of the year. It's smart, funny, touching, and relentlessly charming.


Dan Byrd plays Justin a social outcast just starting his junior year of high school. He believes this year will finally be the year where things go well for him. Things start off that way until a prank makes him realize its not just his past appearance that makes him an outcast and that removing braces and a sunny outlook won't give him the friends he wishes he had. I really related to his character and that is something that has never happened with a sitcom. Having to get by in a school where no one seems to like you hit home for me. Feeling like an Alien in your own school is certainly a feeling anyone can relate to. Dan Byrd brought this character to life perfectly.

The rest of the family is rounded out by Scott Patterson as Gary, the father looking for a ways to make money. The $500 monthly check for taking in the exchange student being the primary reason he agreed to it. Lindsey Shaw plays the recently blossomed hot sister that everyone suddenly wants to date. Amy Pietz returns to series television as the mother Franny. She is very funny and her reactions to the situation are great. Even when she is about to kick the student out the door and her abrupt change after learning about his family. I can say I've never seen someone act with just their eyes the way she did in that scene.

Last, and certainly not least, we come to the exchange student Raja played by Adhir Kalyan. He might be one of the first Muslim characters portrayed in a positive light in quite a while which is something desperately needed in this country. His character is sweet, funny, and his reactions to the way he is treated at school (blamed for 9/11 etc) are genuine and sincere.


I am really excited to see this show develop and hope to god The CW doesn't cancel it. This is a show that needs to be on the air. The characters are so refreshing and real and the social lessons that can be taken from it are endless. When is the last time a sitcom has been called important? I'll say it now: Aliens in America is the most important sitcom on the air. It is a must watch show. Parents watch it with your kids and let them see that just because someone looks different doesn't mean you have to hate them. In this day and age we need a show like this. When hatred is running so rampant in this country maybe a show like that can open peoples eyes? Maybe my hopes are too high.

I really really want this show to make it. I can't recommend it enough. Watch it and fall in love with these characters just as I did.

Best New Comedy of 2007. By. Far.

Aliens in America

The CW

Mondays 8:30

RAWR(for more)