new amsterdam

Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.

OK, OK, so we know that American Idol grabbed the top two slots again (get used to it). But I'm getting a little tired of putting a picture of AI on this post each and every week. Not because of any dislike for the show, but because it's the same old thing every week. So, above is a picture from the number 15 show, The New Adventures of Old Christine.

1. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
2. American Idol - Weds (FOX)

(S01E04) I was never a fan of the other shows like New Amsterdam. Highlander, Forever Knight and shows of that kind never really appealed to me. Which is why it's so puzzling that I enjoy this show. Case in point...since our dreams are a manifestation of the way our subconscious reacts to our life experiences, a dude who has been alive for over 400 years must have some pretty crazy-ass dreams. That's kind of cool to me.

When this show premiered, I wondered if there was ever going to be some real New York style crimes featured. I guess I have my answer.

(S01E03i) I don't know about you but this week's episode almost lost me in the opening scenes. I like exposition as much as the next guy but when a cop show takes that long to get to the first crime, I start to lose interest.

I was glad to see the return of Robert Clohessy. When he wasn't in the second episode I feared that he might have gotten axed from the series. With all of John Amsterdam's philosophical ramblings, this show desperately needs a sarcastic character like Clohessy's.

• At 8, FOX has the premiere of Canterbury's Law, then a new New Amsterdam.
• ABC has a new "Where are they now?" episode of The Bachelor, then the two hour season finale of October Road.
• NBC has new episodes of My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad, Deal Or No Deal, and Medium.
• TLC has two new episodes of Little People, Big World at 8.
• ABC Family has a new Kyle XY at 8, then a new Wildfire.
• Also at 8 (special time this week): USA has a new Monday Night RAW.
• At 8:30, CBS has a new Old Christine.
• At 9, The CW has a new Pussycat Dolls.
• At 9:30, CBS has another new Old Christine.
• Also at 9:30, HBO has a new episode of In Treatment.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S01E02) Whenever a character in a drama like New Amsterdam has a secret, there is always a character who knows about it. On Smallville, it was Pete and then Chloe, on The Greatest American Hero it was Bill and on this show it's Omar. The difference here is why Omar knows his secret...because he is John's son. That's different. It's really quite brilliant actually, because not only does it explain why Omar knows all about John and his entire history it also explains their relationship. Omar can be bitter and upset with John on a daily basis but they will always be there for each other since they are family. In the TV business, we call this the Simon and Simon principle.

(S01E01) "Most cops would kill to get into homicide" - John Amsterdam

I like the way this show begins. A brief voice over, a few establishing scenes and some hints as to what makes this series special. In the first five minutes, we learn that John Amsterdam is a homicide detective living in New York who owns a dog, has an active sex life is a recovering alcoholic and was once fatally stabbed in the chest. Makes sense.

Once the show gets rolling, we meet his new partner and his seasoned co-worker. This is where it becomes evident that New Amsterdam is your basic cop show with an added twist.

• CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and C-SPAN have Election Coverage all night.
• At 8, FOX has a new American Idol, followed by the series premiere of New Amsterdam.
• ABC has a new Just For Laughs at 8.
• NBC has a new, two hour Biggest Loser at 8.
• TCM has Hitchcock's Spellbound at 8.
• At 9, CBS has a new Big Brother, then a new Jericho.
• The CW has a new One Tree Hill at 9.
• Also at 9: Food Network has a new Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
• At 9:30, HBO has a new In Treatment.
• At 10, Travel Channel has a new Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.

Check your local TV listings for more.

New Amsterdam, FOX's upcoming midseason drama about an immortal man living in modern day New York City, has some fans of a certain 2002 novel wondering if the plot is as distinct as the show's creators say it is.

Pete Hamill's novel, Forever, centers on a man named Cormac O'Connor who is granted eternal life and dwells in Manhattan. New Amsterdam also centers on an immortal man living in Manhattan.

Hamill does not intend to sue over the similarities, claiming the legal fees wouldn't be worth it. Still, he points out similarities between the two characters: O'Connor still bears the scar that "killed" him, and Amsterdam's body is similarly ravaged with scars; O'Connor uses his infinite time on earth to teach himself piano, and Amsterdam does the same; O'Connor must find his true love in order to find peace, and Amsterdam must also find his soul mate in order to grow old again.

Fox Broadcasting Company gets its turn today to go in front of the TCA membership at the Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom.

You can bet Kevin Reilly, president, entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, is going to be asked a few questions about his exit last spring from NBC.

Once those inquiries get out of the way, Reilly, and Peter Liguori, Fox's chairman, entertainment, will tout Fox's upcoming TV shows.

FOX has ordered a pilot for a new cop show with the working title of New Amsterdam. The new series is about a cop who, unbeknownst to everyone, is actually centuries old because he's cursed with immortality. I always thought that was the plot of Colombo, shows what I know. Allan Loeb and Christian Taylor wrote the pilot script, but beyond that not much is known about the series. I like to think the cop will spend most of the episodes lusting after septuagenarians who are way too young for him.

Also, it took me longer than I care to admit to piece together that "New York" used to be called "New Amsterdam," hence the immortal cop has been there a long time. I'm a bit slow at times, but I get there eventually.