CBS Loves The Wizards

Last week on this blog, I called out CBS for it's shabby mistreatment of the Washington Wizards (before later admitting they probably had every right to dis the Wiz) on one of my favorite network shows, Madam Secretary. Well apparently, I spoke or wrote too soon. I really should watch all of CBS' shows in any given week before I make such sweeping accusations. Turns out the Wizards got some love last week on one of that network's other Washington, D.C. based shows.

As I mentioned last week, I'm not much of a network TV guy. However, I do know someone who is an expert in this subject matter and last night she brought to my attention that NCIS, the NUMBER ONE RATED SHOW ON TELEVISION according to the Neilsen ratings folks, gave some love to the Wizards in their broadcast last week. Now I don't know the show much at all except from what I can read on closed captioned re-runs which sometimes play in my building's gym when I'm working out so forgive my clumsiness with the characters. After all, I really have no idea who's who.

Last week was the show's 2016 Valentine's Day themed show. Towards the beginning of the episode, Michael Weatherly's character Tony DiNozzo was complaining about the commercialism of V-Day and the expectations placed on men to get things just perfect every year when he utters the following line (and yes, I'm putting it in a separate paragraph in bold and in larger font just like I did last week):

"You know what I'd like just once? Somebody to come up to me and say Happy Valentine's Day! Go to a Wizards game!"

Now this show is more like it, CBS! I love this stuff. Although honestly, I don't have time to add another show to my week so I'm not going to watch future episodes necessarily. I'm just now getting up to speed on the new Hawaii Five-O since I got back from the islands. CBS definitely has my attention big time already right now.

Anyway, last week's episode sprinkles this Valentine's Day stuff throughout the entire plot where Mark Harmon's group is investigating a death in a deep sea vessel until the Wizards crop up at the end where Weatherly is given what he really wants, a ticket to a Wizards game. He ends the episode with (in bold and large font again):

"Look at that: a Wizards ticket. Best Valentine's Day ever!"

Sounds right to me. Thanks for restoring my faith, CBS. I think I should shut up about the Wizards on network TV shows.

CBS Mocks The Wizards

I'm not much of a network TV guy. I mostly watch sports (i.e. Wizards and NBA playoffs) and HBO's various series in addition to a movie now and then. In fact, until a couple of years ago, I hadn't really watched any sort of network (and by network I mean ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC) television show at all for years and years. But recently I've been convinced that there might actually be something worthwhile watching for free on my cable system (free meaning at a cost of about $100 per month that is) so I've started paying more attention.

One of my favorite current shows is Madam Secretary, which follow Tea Leoni in a sort of Hillary Clinton-esque Secretary of State role solving crises for the United States both internationally and here at home in Washington, D.C. I like the show because it's set near to where I live but also because I think the plots are relevant to recent news events and I think the cast is pretty good. The first season was way better than the current shows but what else am I going to watch at 9 p.m. on a Sunday evening?

So I'm fresh back from the All-Star break and a 10 day trip to Hawaii and I'm catching up on my DVR-ed shows when a disturbing sequence occurs at the McCord (the last name of the Tea Leoni's character) house on Madam Secretary. Her three kids are complaining about their mom working late again when their dad (played by Tim Daly) mentions that their mom's job comes with a lot of perks. The response from their oldest daughter is (and I think this is worth putting in a separate paragraph in bold and in larger font) as follows:

"Box seats to the Wizards is not my idea of a perk."

Whoa! Back up a second. What?!?!?! Lest residents of D.C. and the fictional Secretary of State's family need reminding, the Wizards are actually the most accomplished of the four major Washington sports teams over the past two years. Yes, I'm deliberately narrowing the sample size here to suit my argument. The Washington Capitals, Washington football team and the Washington Nationals have all made a single appearance in the postseason the last two years and the Nats and the football team have failed to advance beyond the opening round. Although admittedly the football team won a division title.

The Wizards, on the other hand, have been playing in each of the last two NBA playoffs and have advanced to the second round each year. In addition they probably have one of the most dynamic players in the sport (John Wall, in case that wasn't obvious) putting on a show on a nightly basis in the beginning of his prime. And box seats to the Wizards are NOT a perk? I'd be there every night if I had access. Shame on you, CBS!!!

Admittedly, it is difficult to overcome 35 years plus of mostly mediocrity (at best) though so I really can't fault CBS for this cheap laugh at the expense of my favorite team of all time. Sigh!