Sometimes it can be lonely being a TV critic, even when you're surrounded by 150 or so other TV critics.
That was certainly the case for yours truly during January's Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena -- at least when the subject of NBC's "Providence" came up.I liked the show. A lot. I gave it a good review. Which put me in a decided minority among TV critics.
As one of my colleagues put it to the show's creator and executive producer, John Masius, "I think it's fair to say the show didn't premiere to exactly glowing reviews from all of us vultures. . . . Did you think we were just utterly wrong, out of touch with America, what?"
Much to his credit, Masius refused to gloat. "Providence" is a bona fide hit despite all those bad reviews.
"Listen, your job is to review shows, and everyone's entitled to their opinion -- and I appreciate that," Masius said.
At least he only had to face the crowd of "Providence"-haters for 45 minutes or so. Those of us critics who liked the show spent 2 1/2 weeks with them.
And there were a few of us. Well, I can think of one critic besides me -- Rob Owen of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette -- who liked it, and Rob told me he knew of one other.
Being judgmental for a living affects the way one acts in real life. Which explains the looks of shock, horror, disdain and/or condescension I received when admitting my fondness for "Providence."
And, frankly, I was as surprised as Masius that so many critics seemed to dislike the show so much.
"I thought that the show would be treated as, at worst, benign, because it was coming from a sweet place," Masius said. "And, at best, maybe it would move people. But what I found odd was the vitriol that I read in a lot of places, that I felt was over the top.
"But, on the other hand, you can move people positively and you can move them negatively. And for me, trying to find the spin on a lot of the negative reviews was (that) it obviously affected critics in a very strong way. And I would rather have a strong negative or a strong positive than have something that just sort of sits there in the middle.
"But all is forgiven."
(Of course, it's easy to forgive when your show is a hit.)
This is not meant as either a defense of my review or an attack on anyone else's. Critics are all paid to write what they feel, and everyone is entitled to his or her feelings about a TV show -- whether he or she gets paid to write about those opinions or not.
But I still like "Providence." And I'm gratified that the show is doing so well in the ratings.
(It's not a huge, monster hit or anything like that, but it is consistently winning its Friday-at-7 p.m. time slot in both households and key demographics.)
"Providence" is a nice show about a rather unorthodox family full of likable characters. What others see as maudlin, I see as sentimental. What others see as manipulative, I see as sincere.
The cast -- including Melina Kanakaredes, Mike Farrell, Paula Cale, Seth Peterson and Concetta Tomei -- is attractive and personable. The situations, which revolve around a medical doctor, a veterinarian and the family, are heartfelt, amusing and touching.
I wouldn't want a whole lot of shows like "Providence" sprinkled throughout all the networks' schedules, but one of the great things about TV is that there is some degree of diversity. Not everything has to be another sitcom or another cop show.
Once again, however, the fact that "Providence" is a hit doesn't require anyone to change his or her opinion. Quality and ratings are not directly related. (Just look at top 10 hits "Jesse" and "Veronica's Closet," both of which epitomize mediocrity.)
This certainly isn't the first time a show has succeeded despite largely negative reviews. And, for those of us who did endorse the show, that's also sort of entertaining in an odd sort of way.
"My feeling is that if the people came to see the show despite the huge negative review, it's either one of two things," Masius said. "Either they were truly moved by the promos or they don't care about reviews, which suggests that maybe what it is that you people write doesn't affect your own audience."
Touche!
TOUCHED BY THE CREATOR: In its promotions for "Providence," NBC noted that it comes from the creator of "Touched by an Angel." Which is both entirely true and hugely deceptive at the same time.
John Masius did indeed create "Touched." He wrote and produced the show's original pilot -- which was completely scrapped and has never been aired.
It was a decidedly darker show than what "Touched by an Angel" became once it was turned over to executive producer Martha Williamson and completely revamped -- although Masius' name is right there on every episode of the CBS hit identifying him as the show's creator.
"My idea of spirituality was a little more Old Testament than what 'Touched by an Angel' is now," he said. "I kind of think that my take on God is more vengeful than embracing."
And, in a way, "Providence" is more like what his vision for "Touched by an Angel" was.
"I love ('Providence') because it's a family show," Masius said. "I love it because it's real. I mean, 'Touched by an Angel' is dealing with, in my mind, more about what people's fantasies are, about not taking responsibility for their lives and hoping that there is a higher force out there that will, therefore, put them on the right path.
"I feel people are responsible. You can change your life and you can make decisions that can affect other people. And you can be responsible for the way that your world turns out."