In the June 3-9 issue of TV Guide they had a section where they listed the schedule of the fall season. CBS decided to put Diagnosis Murder on the exact day and time as ER. I started cracking up. Is CBS really that dumb? They know what happened to Chicago Hope when it went against Millionaire. I can tell you what'll probably happen. Er will kick DM's butt. Then again maybe it won't. I have heard that some people won't be watching ER anymore because Carol and Lucy are gone. Now there's a rumor that Dave may be next. What's your opinion on this?

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), June 07, 2000

Answers

Okay, Cammie, here's mine. I might be wrong but I think these two shows (ER & DM) draw from a different audience group, where CH was a little closer to ER. My parents watch DM and I don't. I watch ER but not DM (though I love Dick Van Dyke in the old B&W series). I don't think it'll have much impact on ER. As for people not watching ER with Carol and Lucy and maybe Dave being gone, there might be some that stop...but the show might pick up some more viewers or retain some by reducing the number of regulars and getting into the real stories. My sister doesn't watch as much since GC left, but I never faltered...and neither did ER really, did it? The other networks really don't know what to put on against ER so they keep trying different things. ABC even admitted that anything they tried against the season finale didn't have much of a chance so they aired the behind the scenes of Millionaire thing and got trounced anyway. Interestingly enough, they announced in advance that they'd rerun that special later. What's ABC putting on Thursdays at 9 (CST)?

-- Diana (dilynne@juno.com), June 07, 2000.

They're putting 20/20 Downtown on Thursdays at 10/9 central

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), June 07, 2000.

Whoops! I'm sorry. I put the show ABC is airing now instead of what they'll be airing in the fall. The show in the fall will be Primetime Live.

-- Cammie (rmaelhorn@home.com), June 07, 2000.

Diana, you're right. DM has an older audience than ER which is why I think CBS put it against ER. But the truth is ER's new episodes have beaten Millionaire all the time.

-- abigail (abbyqueen@aol.com), June 07, 2000.