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Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
"Lost" are the great TV finales
Like a 20-minute fireworks show that’s reached its 19th minute, network television is in grand finale mode. In some cases, it’s not just the season finale, it’s the series finale, the last episode ever.
I haven’t seen one episode of ABC’s “Lost,” and that’s unusual because it’s just the kind of series I would normally have great interest. I am fully aware of the incredible fan base and popularity the program enjoys. The end comes Sunday for “Lost.” The New York Times reports fans are taking serious steps to avoid having their surprise spoiled:
“Erin Farley has her plans for Sunday all laid out. Two hours before the last episode of ‘Lost’ is broadcast three time zones away, she will shut down her home Internet connection. TweetDeck? Off. Facebook? Off. Her cellphone? Stashed out of reach.
‘I’ll turn off the whole Internet just to avoid having anything spoiled,’ said Ms. Farley, a 31-year-old freelance writer in
DVR users and people who don’t live on the East Coast, where ‘Lost’ is shown first, are especially at risk for online spoilers. Overseas fans may have to wait days for a local broadcast — several years in Internet time.”
Are “Lost” fans in for a disappointment? Mike Hale of the New York Times “lost” interest a long time ago:
“The show had one good season, its first. It was very, very good — as good as anything on television at the time — but none of the seasons since have approached that level, and the current sixth season, rushed, muddled and dull, has been the weakest.”
From that perspective, it sounds like ABC is pulling a Jack Kevorkian.
Speaking of pulling the plug, “Law and Order” ends its 20-year run Monday. It was once my favorite, can’t miss show. I won’t be watching Monday night or taping, either. This classic has been a dog since Lennie Briscoe left the precinct. My guess is the final L & O will not be memorable.
Are any series finales anything to write home about?
M*A*S*H? That whole Hawkeye losing his marbles deal took some stars from that finale’s review.
Seinfeld? Even its most ardent supporters hated it and rightfully so. A bad ending to an overrated show.
Cheers?
The Mary Tyler Moore Show?
Final episodes have been letdowns.
One stands out, and in my view, it’s the best of all series finales.
Late summer, 1967.
Almost half of the American households with televisons were tuned to ABC.
I recommend that you only watch the following clips if you have seen the final episode of The Fugitive before. If you have not, get your hands on videos of the series and watch several episodes before you see the great finale. For those of you who were watching that night back in 1967, enjoy again.
But first, the beginning.
"Lost" and "Law & Order" can't even begin to come close.
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