May Sweeps Preview: New Episodes, New Dilemmas for Top Series

 

New post-strike episodes of our favorite primetime shows have been trickling out onto the airwaves for the past few weeks. But for those top-rated shows, the ones we all have been waiting for most anxiously, new first-run episodes have been saved for May sweeps, of course.

 

The all-important May sweeps, last of the season and the leading ratings indicator leading into the upfronts, begins Thursday, April 24, and runs through May 21. It’s no wonder that Grey’s Anatomy and Lost both return this Thursday; House returns next Monday; and L&O SVU and others have pulled out their primo episodes and A-list guest stars for episodes airing in the next few weeks.

 

Since these shows are all of my, and many of your favorites, let’s take a quick look at where we left off, in both storyline and ratings, and tap into some intel as to where we might be going next. Beware, some minor spoilers may be revealed.

 

Season-to-date ratings shown for each show are through April 13. Averaged from September, these reflect a show’s ratings before, during and since the strike. (Source: Nielsen TV Ratings Data: 2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc.)

 

STD Total Viewers Rank: No. 13--14,019,000 Total Viewers

STD A18-49 Rank: No. 7--7,310,000 A18-49 Viewers

52.1% of Total Viewers are A18-49.

 

When last we saw our beloved docs of Seattle Grace, George and Izzie were still hot and heavy. Derek had reached his limit with the ever-whiny Meredith and had turned to hot brunet nurse Rose for attention. Christina was still trying to pull herself together after Burke’s departure and get her personal and surgical edge back. Alex was trying to move on, but still carrying a torch for ex-patient “Ava.” Bailey’s career was on the upswing, having been made chief resident, but her marriage was on the rocks, and Callie was trying to figure out what comes next for her career-wise and on the personal front.

 

In this Thursday’s episode, entitled “Where the Wild Things Are,” we will find Derek (Patrick Dempsey) dating Rose, and Meredith none too happy about it. (Then again, when is Meredith EVER happy?) I’m extremely happy, actually JOYOUS, to report that George and Izzie will no longer be an item. Thank God, we can finally put this total mismatch to rest. George and Izzie were a much better pair when they were best friends. Let’s get back to that, since there was never any chemistry there. Thanks, Shonda Rhimes. According to an interview writer Rhimes did with TV Guide, there will also be a resolution to the Alex and Ava storyline in the coming week, as well as a “kiss so good it will make us lean into our televisions.” No word as to who will be sharing that kiss, though I’m sure we’re all hoping it will be Der and Mer (especially since my fave couple, Izzie and Denny, sure can’t). I have to admit I was losing interest in Grey’s before the strike, in large part due to the utter ridiculousness of the George/Izzie romance. With that soon to be gone, I’m happy to give it another chance, but they will have to draw me in like they did at the beginning or I am gone.

 

STD Total Viewers Rank: No. 8--16,208,000 Total Viewers

STD A18-49 Rank: No. 4--8,405,000 A18-49 Viewers

51.9% of viewers are A18-49

 

Fox helped catch us up on where we left off with Houseby airing their last new episode before the strike on Monday night. It reviewed the excellent case of a woman who had given up the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle to become a Hassidic Jew. While House and his team tried to resolve her rapidly degrading condition, House also was grappling with the new realization that Wilson and “cut-throat bitch” Amber had an ongoing and so far successful relationship. House is clearly jealous, but not because he wants Amber. He doesn’t like Wilson’s attention diverted from himself and his own issues and needs.

 

House has moved to Mondays and the new episode on April 28 finds House still vying with Amber for Wilson’s time and attention. In the weeks that follow, we will see guest star Jason Lewis (Samantha’s hot “Smith Jerrod” on Sex & the City, and recently on Brothers and Sisters) as a soap star suffering from the MOTW (malady of the week). The two-part season finale, scheduled to air May 12 and 19, was originally intended to be aired as a post-Super Bowl two-parter. Storyline arcs that were planned to fall out of these two episodes had to be held off until next year, but this two-parter still promises to be intriguing, and I’m sure will compel us to return to House in the fall.

 

In the two-parter, House will be a victim of a bus accident that will cause him to lose a chunk of his memory. He’ll have to piece together those missing memories to solve the case at hand, to sort through his feelings for several of his colleagues (something for all of us House/Cameron fans… PLEASE) and to move forward professionally and personally. I really miss those piercing blue eyes…and I just…can’t…wait.

 

STD Total Viewers Rank (lower than Top 20)--11,882,000 Total Viewers

STD A18-49 Rank: No. 12--6,375,000 A18-49 Viewers

53.7% of viewers are A18-49

 

We’ve already reviewed what happened up till these “Final Five” episodes of Lost Season 4 in my previous post, “What to Know before the Final Five.” So, without revealing too much in the way of spoilers, let’s look at what tidbits of news I’ve gathered about the upcoming episodes.

 

Several things we’ve wondered about for this season, or several seasons, will be re-explored and at least partially, answered. Remember the big sculpture of the four-toed foot we saw in Season 2? Lost’s executive producers Lindelof and Case promise we will soon see that foot again, and learn more about why it is on the island, how it got there and what it means.

 

A two-hour finale is on tap, in part because there were so many loose ends to tie up before season’s end and fewer episode hours to do it in. Now that we know who the Oceanic Six are, we also know who they aren’t (Sawyer, Jin, Claire, among them.) Expect to learn more, but probably not everything, about how the Oceanic Six got off the island, and how and why the others didn’t. There may be some more deaths, but is anyone ever really dead onLost? Many of the dearly departed get more airtime deceased than they did alive…and as we fans know, may not really be dead at all. Also, I’ve read that we can expect to see our dear friends “Smoky” and “Jacob” back again. The Penny/Desmond storyline will still be an important one, and Penny’s dad promises to be back, and in a bigger and more significant way.

 

Lost always gives us a wild ride roller-coasting ride right to the final scene of the season. I’m sure these five episodes will be no different. I’m looking forward to them.

 

It’s been a long, cold spring so far with few new episodes to keep us warm. Now that the top shows are coming back for May sweeps, TiVos will be smoking and storylines are certain to heat up. It’s going to be fun.