What was on TV? Tues, Nov 23, 2004

20 years ago today: parents everywhere were trying to decide if they should fork over $100+ for an American Girl Doll this Christmas. Let's see what was on TV.

8:00 Frontline (recorded)

"Is Wal-Mart Good for America?"

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

This is an example of an episode that hasn't aged super well. The reporting, which travels to Arkansas and Ohio and China, is very good. But the narrative is a little too idea driven, there aren't enough compelling talking heads, colorful characters, and the episode lacks a sense of urgency. The points it's making all apply now, but they still feel dated because everything described in the documentary (outsourcing, low wages, declining quality of products, deceptive marketing tactics, destruction of small business and local infrastructure) is still happening. But Amazon took the Wal-Mart playbook and cranked it up to eleven. This episode mostly makes me want to watch a documentary about that.

9:00 Veronica Mars on UPN

1x08 "Like a Virgin" (record House on Fox and According to Jim on ABC

Sometimes a show is only as good as its setting. TV was filled with rich imaginary places in 2004: Stars Hollow, Everwood, Wisteria Lane, and the Island. But Neptune might be my favorite. Pays off so much of the world-building the show has already done. We learn that Wallace's mother works for the town's biggest employer, Kane Software, and this has made her distrust Veronica. The local public defender Cliff McCormack makes a welcome return. Neptune feels like a real place, with a real culture and colorful cast of characters.

And this episode also introduces new characters and settings. We visit Wallace's apartment for the first time and meet his family. We meet Meg Manning, the popular girl who you can't hate because she's so talented and kind, and Mac, the outcast tech expert who's happy to take advantage of Neptune High's gossip-hungry rich kids. So next episode, the world of Neptune will be just a bit richer.

This episode is written by Aury Wallington. Wallington has most recently found success in children's TV, creating the animated show Spirit Riding Free.

This episode was directed by Guy Norman Bee. He has directed episodes of Criminal Minds, Supernatural, and Arrow.

10:00 House (recorded)

1x02 "Paternity"

The pilot established the characters and conflicts and additions and formula. Future episodes will make everything more complicated. But in episode two, House just gets to be a good old fashioned medical mystery show, and I enjoyed it.

It's easy to forget now, but lots of people wrote off House before it even debuted. Another medical mystery show (with the very original title Medical Investigation) had beat it onto the air. Medical Investigation wasn't a monster success, but it was winning its Friday at 10pm timeslot. It was the lone bright spot in NBC's fall lineup, and it had already received a full season order.

Based on promos, Medical Investigation was very dramatic and earnest and shouty. Meanwhile, on House, the case of the week is resolved thanks to a tasteless bet, an ethically dubious paternity test, and House taking time out of his day to tell off an anti-vaxxer mom. It's fun. I see why House prevailed in the battle of the medical mystery shows.

This episode was written by Lawrence Kaplow. In addition to his work on House, Kaplow has written for Law and Order: SVU and Bull.

This episode was directed by Peter O'Fallon. He has directed episodes of Pushing Daisies, Legit, and UnREAL.

Late Night

Conan O'Brien had a champion turkey caller on his show. If you did this today the guy would be some influencer. But this guy is just a guy. He owned a funeral parlor! In other news, Conan and Max Weinberg made small talk about The Swan, and managed to make me laugh and smile while talking about that nightmare of a show.

What Else Was On?

• The WB premiered Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. This thing had real pedigree too: Julia Roberts produced, Mia Farrow played the grandmother, and the screenplay was written by Pulitzer Prize Winner Marsha Norman. The whole thing was sponsored by Tide, and they aired these cute little animated short films during the broadcast. You can see the all the commercials here, for maximum nostalgia.
• On the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather announced that he was stepping down from the anchor chair. Everyone pretended it was his decision, but he was pushed out following the 60 minutes forged documents scandal and also because he was old. He later sued the network for breach of contract.
• Tonight's special sweeps guest stars: Flavor Flav on My Wife and Kids, Charles Durning on NCIS, Matthew Perry on Scrubs, Debbie Allen on All of Us.

TiVo Status

The three-hour Masterpiece Theater miniseries The Lost Prince, one Frontline episode, and The Office Christmas Special from across the pond (I’ll watch that one closer to the holidays after I’ve rewatched the series), the TNT movie The Wool Cap, and one episode each of Listen Up, Peep Show, and According to Jim. 9.5 hours, with 18.5 hours of space left.