I'm so confused...

So yesterday, after I reported to you that “The Black Donnellys” would end its run April 16th, NBC changed its mind and pulled the plug immediately. Next week it will be replaced by “Thank God You’re Here,” the improv program that was originally scheduled to air at 9 p.m. “The Real Wedding Crashers” will start in the slot April 23rd. You can see the unaired episodes of “Donnellys” on NBC.com…

And I hesitate to even tell you anything about ABC’s schedule because they change it on an almost hourly basis, but here goes anyway. After TV critics almost universally trashed ABC’s decision to replace “October Road” with “Notes From the Underbelly,” the network has changed its mind. “Underbelly” will premiere Thursday, April 12th at 10:00 p.m. with back-to-back episodes. Then April 18th, it will move to Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m., allowing “Road” to finish its six week run. So, does this mean “Men In Trees” will come back this season after all? ABC has made no announcement yet…

ABC has also changed its mind about “In Case of Emergency,” deciding to allow the show to air all 13 of its episodes. I like this show, so I’m happy about this decision and hope they stick with it. The only problem is that because ABC had originally planned to air only 11 episodes, they started showing them out of order to get the Jane Seymour arc in before the end and now things are a little confusing (Yeah, ABC. That’s the way to get people to watch. Mess up the order of a serial comedy.). “Emergency” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m…

Still Going Down the "Road"...

There’s one thing I forgot to say about “October Road” in my review that may explain why I find it compelling—the music.

Because Nick left 10 years ago, the show tries really hard to give things a 90s feel with the Goo Goo Dolls and other bands that sound like them and it really works.

Granted, they occasionally get things wrong. For example, teenagers in 1997 would not be huge REO Speedwagon fans, but you’re willing to forgive a show that uses “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” for its closing montage. I realize the timing on that one is about 10 years off too, but it was still really cool.

Warning: The remainder of this post contains details about last night’s “October Road”…

I thought this episode was better than the premiere, but I’ve still got some issues with Eddie. Were we really supposed to believe that he charmed an intelligent college girl by pretending to have a talking raccoon? How drunk was she? And how stupid was he to mention Nick’s name, thereby exposing his plan to use her to get back at Nick? And since she was sober enough to figure that out (with not much evidence, I have to admit), I must ask again why she thought a talking raccoon was cute. Eddie was almost redeemed when he asked out Janet, but then the previews showed us he hasn’t given up on his revenge plan so that pretty much spoiled it.

It was a nice twist that Owen’s wife, Allison, is still sleeping with Ikey (even though I find that really strange) and Nick’s father taking Hannah’s own cat to the vet where she works so he could check out Sam was hysterical.

So for now I’m still going down this “Road.”

I just wish I knew why…

Thoughts?

"October Road": A Familiar Path

Since I only taped the show out of duty to you, my faithful readers, and because it got so many bad reviews, I wasn’t eager to watch “October Road.”

So imagine my surprise when I actually found the hour somewhat compelling. Maybe it was because so much of it was so familiar…

“October Road” is the story of Nick Garrett (Bryan Greenberg). 10 years ago, Nick left his hometown, Knights Ridge, Massachusetts, to go on a six-week backpacking trip through Europe. He left behind his friends Eddie (Geoff Stults), Owen (Brad William Henke), Physical Phil (Jay Paulson) and Ikey (Evan Jones), and his girlfriend Hannah (Laura Prepon). And he never came back.

Now 10 years later, Nick is a successful author. His book, “Turtle on a Snare Drum” was a bestseller and turned into a hit movie. Nick is working on a new book, but he’s suffering from writer’s block. After visiting his old apartment for inspiration, Nick decides to accept an offer to teach for a day at Dufresne College and return to his hometown.

But when he gets there, the reception isn’t as warm as he hoped—especially since his novel made some of his friends look foolish. Eddie is angry because Nick didn’t return to go into business with him (and was made to look the worst in the book) and Hannah is still hurt over their breakup. She has a nine-year-old son that Nick suspects maybe his, even though she says he is not. And she’s dating “Big Cat,” who bullied Nick and his friends in high school.

Faced with all of this, Nick can’t get out of town fast enough. But when he’s presented with more evidence that Hannah’s son may be his, Nick decides to stay in town and make amends to his old friends.

The biggest problem is the walking stereotypes known as Nick’s friends—Eddie being the worst. Why would a 30-year-old want to bully college freshmen? And what is up with the guys still doing their air band every day at 3 p.m.? I also don’t get why the show found it necessary to have Physical Phil be a recluse. I guess they didn’t want all of them to have jobs. And Hannah dating the bully? Completely predictable…

And speaking of predictable, when Hannah’s son, Sam, stopped his bicycle to talk to Nick, I was sure that a car would come out of nowhere and hit him, causing him to need blood, thereby revealing the true identity of his father. So I was relieved when Sam pedaled away—until the previews showed him getting hit by a car.

Still, there’s something compelling about the Hannah-Nick story. After meeting Nick’s father, “The Commander” (Tom Berenger), it’s understandable why Nick took his late mother’s advice to pursue his dreams and didn’t come back home. But you can also understand Hannah’s pain and why she’s moved on with someone so wrong for her. And Laura Prepon is perfect as a young single mother trying to deal with it all.

If you like angst along the lines of “Dawson’s Creek” or “Felicity,” you’ll like “October Road.” Otherwise, you’ll want to skip its same-old, same-old ways…

“October Road” airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC…