The complaints have gotten ever louder: "My VCR was set for an hour, but it shut off before 'desperate housewives' ended!" "I programmed my DVR for my favorite Wednesday shows, but I missed the start of 'The West Wing' because 'Lost' ran over!" "Why are the networks starting shows at such odd times?" "If they don't stop, I'll stop watching them!" Well, they're hearing you ... but that doesn't mean the practice will cease soon, if at all.
More than in any other television year, off-the-hour starting and ending times for some shows are evident this season. The odd-time practice has long been common in the cable universe, but its transition to the broadcast world has put network scheduling executives on a tightrope, making them weigh the desire to keep viewers tuned in against the possible loss of audience members' good will.