Tonight, "Everwood" returns (8 p.m., Ch. 30) with another great episode. But before we get to how good the show is, let's talk about how terrible the WB's scheduling is.
It's awful. Annoying. Stupid. Counterproductive.
It's been eight weeks since the WB aired an original episode of "Everwood." Long enough for even fans of the show to get out of the habit of watching it — for some to even wonder if it had been canceled.
And it is far from the only show the WB has so mistreated. "Jack & Bobby" returned last week after a six-week absence. So did "Smallville." "One Tree Hill" returns Tuesday after a seven-week absence; "Gilmore Girls" airs its first new episode in six weeks that same night; and "7th Heaven" airs its first new episode in eight weeks next Monday.
I'm not naive. I know how television works, and I can do the (simple) math. Most series produce 22 episodes a year; networks tend to save new episodes for the 12 weeks during the November, February and May sweeps; that leaves 10 episodes spread out through the rest of the season.
But how does it help a show like "Everwood" — a drama with continuing story elements — to go two months without an original episode?
What Fox is doing with "24" and ABC is doing with "Alias" ought to be more of a scheduling model. Both shows started in January and run straight through the end of the season with new episodes every week.
(Well, "Alias" took one week off, but that was because of ABC's coverage of the State of the Union address.)
If you've forgotten where "Everwood" left off two months ago, Ephram (Gregory Smith) and his father, Andy (Treat Williams), are in New York so Ephram can audition at Juilliard. But he ran into his old girlfriend, Madison (Sarah Lancaster) — who, unbeknownst to him, left Everwood when she got pregnant with his baby.
Andy did what he thought was right, offering Madison all the financial support she needed (she refused) and urging her not to tell Ephram. His thinking was that, having already suffered through his mother's death and being on the verge of a bright future, Ephram needed to be protected.
Those chickens are coming home to roost tonight.
"Everwood" has had some rough patches this season, but it's still great family drama that tackles tough issues. The characters ring true because of, not in spite of, their flaws.
Get back in the habit of watching "Everwood." This is the first of six straight episodes the WB has scheduled. Finally.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com