David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place. "Lost" finds a new timeslot
When "Lost" returns on Feb. 7, it won't be up against "American Idol;" no, ABC is moving it out of the way, to 10 p.m.
The happy job of competing against "American Idol" and/or being torn apart by wolves goes to a new ABC sitcom, "The Knights of Prosperity" (the one with Mick Jagger vamping it up in the pilot then disappearing, apparently for good), which will debut Jan. 3. For those keeping score, that's about a month before "Day Break" - currently in the 9 p.m. Wednesday timeslot - was to wrap up its season. Now, the 4 million people still watching that show may never find out if Taye Diggs manages to exonerate himself. Here's guessing at that point they're not going to be too broken up about it.
Another new comedy, "In Case of Emergency" (which would be a far better title for a show scheduled opposite "American Idol"), also debuts Jan. 3. In a blow to Western Civilization, "According to Jim" also returns then, at 8 and 8:30 p.m.; "George Lopez" returns at 8 p.m. on Jan. 24, thereby mercifully cutting America's intake of "According to Jim" by half.
"Lost" took something of a hit last season when "American Idol" returned in January, and of course has suffered massive viewer attrition this season. In its last two episodes, it was beaten in its timeslot by CBS's "Criminal Minds" (for which CBS has rewarded that show by giving it the primo post-Super Bowl timeslot). Moving "Lost" to 10 - after the fall's six episodes didn't seem didn't seem to stanch fan grumbling - means it'll only have to compete with "CSI: New York."
In further network musical chairs, ABC's moving the William Shatfest "Show Me the Money" to Tuesdays at 8. Because, honestly, airing a consecutive two-hour bloc of "Show Me the Money" and two episodes of "According to Jim:" The CIA doesn't even stoop to that as part of its extraordinary rendition program.