It's reassuring to know that some things in life just never change. Or is it? After a five-year absence from Hong Kong television land, I return to find terrestrial English-language programming on Wednesday nights as abysmal as ever.
While Americans have the award-winning Desperate Housewives and Brits are served up the brilliant BodyShock documentary series (two million viewers switched on to its second programme, entitled Orgasmatron), what are Hongkongers entertained with on a mid-week evening? Trackside. Racing. At 8pm. Primetime television? Hello! I think we are missing out on something good here.
But, thanks to some sensible decision-making, at least TVB Pearl no longer carries live racing coverage. In fact, if it was not for TVB - and its CBS hit drama Without a Trace - Wednesday night terrestrial English-language viewing would be beyond redemption. But before I pat TVB too hard on the back, why are they still showing America's Funniest Home Videos on Saturday nights? Dated entertainment, even by 1999 standards. At 8pm. Primetime weekend TV. It just isn't funny anymore.
I have to confess, since the last time I penned a regular television column in 2000, my viewing habits have changed drastically. I don't watch much terrestrial television anymore - Cantonese or English.
Last year, something scarily addictive from the unlikely category of 'Korean drama' took over my life. After a 40-hour Korean drama marathon in the summer, my decade-old 29-inch set finally gave way and, quite literally, burned itself out, with smoke billowing out during a heated triad fight scene. Very apt, but I digress.
For this new weekly column, I will, once again, be sitting through hour after hour of preview tapes and VCDs to bring you the latest on what's hot and what's not in local TV broadcasting: terrestrial, cable and satellite.
The good news is that programme buyers from both TVB Pearl and ATV World have managed to secure a reasonably strong line-up for 2005. This is despite the fact the range of programmes, notably those from Britain and the United States, from where Hong Kong buys most of its shows, has shrunk. It's all reality, reality and more reality these days.
