wrestling

I always get antsy when companies start to go beyond their niche. I mean, does Dunkin' Donuts really have to start selling pizza and sandwiches too?

The Sci-Fi Channel is expanding beyond the worlds of Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and sci-fi in general. We've already seen wrestling on the network, and the execs at the network say that more stuff like that is coming. Sci-Fi Channel GM Dave Howe says that the definition of the network is "What if?" As in "What if The Sci-Fi Channel made a bunch of really shitty made for television movies?" This "What If" slogan also includes movies like Field of Dreams. Execs are even thinking about changing the name of the channel.

Needless to say, many science fiction fans aren't happy with this, including members of The Science Fiction Writers of America. TV fans are already upset for TV Land airing more and more reality shows and movies, and now this. What's next? TCM airing cooking shows and auto racing?

Wrestling fans can breathe a sigh of relief today: you'll still get your Friday fix of power drives and folded chair smashing.

MyNetwork (aka "the network no one is quite sure they have on their local cable system or not") has won the rights to air Friday Night Smackdown. The show had been on The CW (and before that UPN - remember those days?) since 1999, but the rights ran out on January 31.

Well there are two words you don't see in the same sentence that often, "CNN and "WWE."

Last week, CNN aired a special investigative special about pro wrestling titled Death Grip. At one point during the show, wrestling star John Cena is interviewed. The WWE claims the interview was edited, and now they've posted the proof on their site. Not only were CNN's cameras rolling during the interview, but so were the WWE's, from a different angle. The interviewer asks Cena if he's ever used steroids, and he answers "absolutely not," but in the CNN version that immediate denial isn't heard. All you hear is the rest of Cena's answer, which makes his answer sound vague. The Baltimore Sun has a good take on the controversy.

No word from CNN yet.

The weekly basic cable ratings, by number of viewers.

1. NBA All-Star Game (TNT)
2. NBA All-Star Tip-Off (TNT)
3. NBA All-Star Sat Night (TNT)
4. SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon)
5. Fairly Odd Parents (Nickelodeon)
6. SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon)
7. Fairly Odd Parents (Nickelodeon)
8. WWE Thursday RAW (USA)
9. Ned Declassified (Nickelodeon)
10. Fairly Odd Parents (Nickelodeon)

1. Pirates of the Caribbean (USA)
2. Home Run Derby (ESPN)
3. The Closer (TNT)
4. Nextel Cup (TNT)
5. WWE RAW - Mon, 10pm (USA)
6. Nightmares & Dreamscapes - Weds, 9pm (TNT)
7. Monk (USA)
8. Psych (USA)
9. WWE RAW - Mon, 9pm (USA)
10. Nightmares & Dreamscapes - Weds, 9:54pm (no idea what that means - TNT)

• The Sci-Fi Channel's Twilight Zone marathon continues all day and all night.
• At 8pm, NBC has a repeat Treasure Hunters, followed by a new episode.
• ABC Family has a new Kyle XY at 8.
• TCM has The Wizard of Oz at 8, followed by The Wiz.
• Also at 8: AMC has The Pink Panther, followed by Return of the Pink Panther.
• At 9, USA has a new WWE Monday Night RAW.
• TNT has a new episode of The Closer at 9, followed by a new Saved.
• At 10, ABC has a new episode of How To Get The Guy.

(S02E05)

I Wrestle My Sons HARD --bumper sticker on Tom's car

Gary Busey guest stars in this episode, as, oddly enough, a man who is completely and utterly insane. More exactly, he plays Coach Harris, a man trying to lead the Jefferton Pinners wrestling team to victory using such esteem-building techniques as telling all of his students they're nothing more than little girls trapped in little fat boys' bodies. Meanwhile, Tom, who is the team's "equipment boy" and dresses as if he's an extra in Flashdance, discovers that the kids have been using an illegal supplement called "Flaxamax." Tom discovers this while hanging the boy's jock straps in the locker room and spraying them down with a garden hose.

• At 8, ABC has a repeat America's Funniest Home Videos, followed by repeats of Kyle XY (they're running the ABC Family show to expose it to ABC viewers), then a new 20/20.
• CBS has repeats of Ghost Whisperer, Close To Home, and Numb3rs.
• NBC has a new Dateline at 8, followed by repeats of Las Vegas and Law and Order.
• Over on FOX at 8, two 24 repeats.
• The WB has a repeat What I Like About You at 8, followed by repeats of Twins, Reba, and Living With Fran.
• UPN has a new Smackdown! at 8.
• A&E has a new Biography of Johnny Depp at 8.
• Also at 8: Disney has a new Hannah Montana, followed by a new The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
• OLN has a preview of The Tour de France at 9.
• At 9:30, Rachael Ray explores Portland, OR on Tasty Travels.
• At 10, TCM has North By Northwest.