Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
February 5, 2004

The local stations will be counting on the networks to bring in viewers for February "sweeps" which runs from February 5 through March 3. 

Top-rated network CBS airs the "46th Annual Grammy Awards" on Sunday, February 8.   "Survivor All Stars" settles into its regular Thursday timeslot after its super "Super Bowl" premiere.   There will be a ton of guest stars on the CBS series including  Jenna Elfman on "Two and a Half Men," Jon Favreau, Janeane Garofalo, and Anne Meara on "The King of Queens," Kirstie Alley on "Without a Trace," Jean Smart and Markie  Post on "The District," Paul Sorvino and Sally Struthers on "Still Standing" Tim Conway, Jerry Van Dyke and Vicki Lawrence on "Yes, Dear," Russ Tamblyn (star Amber Tamblyn's father) on "Joan of Arcadia," and the return of Fred Willard and Georgia Engel on "Everybody Loves Raymond." 

Real-life married couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen play a couple on the verge of divorce in the TV movie "It Must Be Love" on February 15.

On NBC, Danny DeVito guest stars on "Friends," Michael J. Fox dons "Scrubs," and Dr. Lewis is pregnant on "E.R."  NBC also likes to promote that it will air four consecutive episodes of "ER" and five straight "West Wings" in February (remember when shows were supposed to have new episodes every week?)  This will be the final February for "Friends" and "Frasier." 

ABC is dusting off "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and increasing the ante to ten-million dollars for "Who Wants to be a Super Millionaire" beginning February 22.  It will be counting on theatrical movies such as "Pearl Harbor" on February 8, "The Mummy Returns" on February 9, "Jurassic Park 3" on February 16 and "The Fast and the Furious" on February 23.  "The Academy Awards" have been moved up from March to February 29 and "The Barbara Walters Oscar Special" will precede the big show.  "Celebrity Mole" and "The Bachelorette" complete their mini-seasons February 18 and 25 respectively.  The television movie "The Mystery of Natalie Wood" airs on March 1.

Fox's juggernaut "American Idol" is in full-tilt on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Its benefactor "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" ends on the 16.  "The Celebrity Spelling Bee" airs February 13, 20, and 27.  and "The Littlest Bachelor" debuts February 23.

For WB, "The Surreal Life" finale is February 22.  Congratulations to "Angel," which airs its 100th episode tomorrow.