Top Ten Worst TV Decisions of 2006

Any fan of TV can tell you that not the people who make and air the shows we like don't always make the best decisions. In 2006, there were some stories and behind-the-scenes TV decisions that had many fans (or in some cases, just me) scratching their heads wondering what exactly the thought process was. Here's a look at 10 really bad decisions made by TV creative and business types in the 2006. This includes the end of last season and the start of this one and are listed in no particular order.

1. Renewing 7^th Heaven. I know a lot of people like this show. Well, let me rephrase, a lot of teenaged girls like this show. But personally, I thought the incredibly cheesy sendoff it got last season - with everyone having, what's this: twins! - was an appropriate end for the series. Really, I have no problem with earlier episodes of the show- you know, prior to the last few years, seasons where it was about more that who was marrying who at 22 years old, and when some of the actual kids were still there (and still kids.) But for a while now, the show's been running on fumes and add-on characters and it's past time for it to go. 'Course for CW it wasn't such a bad call; I'm sure the show is doing fine in the ratings. If I cared a little more, I'd check.

2. Marrying off Loralai and Christopher on The Gilmore Girls. Speaking of the CW: UG on this decision. I realize happy couples don't keep shows going and Loralai and Luke were destined for a few slings and arrows. However, bringing in Christopher - repeat, UG - with his smarmy sincerity (yeah, he can make sincerity smarmy) and his "I'm so charming" schtick? Way not cool, people, way not. And the constant cramming down our throats of how special their relationship was because they were both rebellious, Ramones-loving, blueblood kids who had their own kid. Yeah, we get it. We got it four seasons ago, you know, when you were also trying to convince us that Luke and Loralai were best friends and belonged together. Cheap diversionary tactic, very cheap.

3. Squandering Jon Leguizamo on ER. Despite my previous commentaries about how ER needs to end, I still like ER, and I think this season, it's been okay. But last season, man, did they squander Jon Leguizamo as Victor Clemente. Not only was he smart, incredibly sarcastic and funny, different from the other "rebel" characters they've brought on, and an actual attending (how many residents does it take to screw in a light bulb...) but he was a solid and fresh new male lead (which the show needs. Luka is an eight year old character, for crying out loud...). I realize the deal with the actor was probably for a limited run, but, man, all that stuff out of the ER with Jodie and the stuff with the monkey. He could have been so much more. I did dig his mental breakdown, though.

4. Canning Arrested Development. I have to say upfront I'm not a big fan of this show and I've probably only watched one episode, but when you see what passes for comedy on Fox - The Loop, Happy Hour? Why Fox canned a show with a base and critical acclaim for a bunch of flash in the pan series they had to know at the gut level were just junk- it makes no sense.

5. Trying to revitalize sitcoms by airing bad sitcoms. This comment is connected to the one above. So many series last season were such warmed over retreads or just bad. of bad ideas that it makes me crazy. Four Kings. That one about the guy who still lived at home? Courting Alex. The Class. Don't people watch these shows and not laugh and know they shouldn't be aired? Seriously. I mean, there are some good sitcoms on now - Like NBC's lineup of The Office, Earl, 30 Rock, even Scrubs sometimes. George Lopez is pretty good. A lot of people seem to find Two And A Half Men Funny. So, somewhere, some executives must know what's amusing. Why do they keep giving us shows that aren't?

6. Putting "the aeries" on after every Gilmore Girls' episode

I know I already have a Gilmore comment here, but, people, what the heck is with those idiot women at the end of every episode saying absolutely nothing of value? It literally makes me not want to buy products from that company just to protest.

7. Cast changes on L&O

I have nothing against the young woman now partnered with Jesse Martin on Law & Order, but, I really liked Dennis Farina as Fontana, a smart-mouthed veteran cop who wasn't just a Lennie Briscoe knockoff. And I also thought Alex Borgia was the best assistant to the A.D.A in a long time, better than the Robot Southerlyn and probably better that Jamie Ross. Why they got rid of her - was it her choice?- I don't know, but it'd be really sad if she just wasn't young and stick-figurey enough. The replacement lawyer, straight from that schlock factory known as CSI: Miami (no offense) had me flipping to another show right off the bat. I guess it's the 15^th season, or something, so they might not even care who they put on anymore.

8. Getting ready to hook up Taylor and Delgado on Without A Trace. Not only was that episode where they had to fake getting it on really sort of cheesy in the "sex sells" way, but it was such an obvious set up for future fun and games between the two. Aw, look how he's nice to her little kid. I like Taylor. I like Delgado. I even think they might be good together. But Without A Trace has had too many intra-squad dalliances for this little pairing to be legit. I realize there have only been two, but, two when there are only five or six people on the team, it's sort of like, this isn't "Friends" already. Not that I always dig it when they bring on some character to obviously be the love interest, either, though, Ann worked out for a while.

9. Sending Franco's kid off with Susan Sarandon. I know there are a lot of creative missteps you might pick out on the last season of Rescue Me: the controversial rape scene, killing off yet another member of Tommy's family, all the soapy sleeping around. But to me, there was a little bit of reality and truth - a little at least- in most of those scenarios which made them bearable. But to me, the plot device that rang the untrue was having Franco's rich sugar mama kidnap (or "adopt") his kid - who he himself had kidnapped and thus couldn't fight for publically. First, sure, maybe he'd suck as a father, but Susan's character, Alicia, was a little nutty too, which was never explored. Second, Alicia just sent her to France, she didn't even raise her. But worst of all, we're meant to believe a girl is so desperate for a new mom that she'd be fine with leaving with a woman she's known for a month instead of staying with the only parent she's really know. I mean, I know kids can be brainwashed pretty easily, but it was all sort of fake and just a convenient way to free up Franco. Not a good storyline.

10. Not giving James Woods better friends on Shark. I know that the premise of the new James Woods show is that he's the big fish - get it- and he's teaching all these young kids how to be lawyers. But the new lawyers are so all-fired bland. The who supporting cast is bland. So we have James Woods sparring with - Jeri Ryan? Who cares? I'm not saying the casting is the worst thing about this show - that would be the lame storylines, but Woods' presence makes parts of those stories decent. If he had a whole cast of good actors (think Robert Sean Leonard and Omar Eppes), then the whole series would be more worth our while.