Military TV, Television - Military Times

Bland ‘Homeland Security’ has viewers wishing for a scripted series

No one doubts the dedication shown or danger faced by most of the men and women who work for the Department of Homeland Security. Even so, there are serious questions concerning the Department — including whether it should exist at all — and it’s hard to see how we get any closer to the answers through some government-supported, feel-good, “full access” propaganda salute to the agency such as ABC’s “Homeland Security USA” (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET/PT). Here’s an idea: How about if ABC leaves coverage of Homeland Security to its news division and sets the entertainment division to the task of developing better scripted series?

If you want a burst of actual reality, turn to “Frontline” for “The Old Man and the Storm” (PBS, 9 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings), the story of an 82-year-old man working alone to rebuild his home in New Orleans’ devastated 9th Ward. Sight unseen, my guess is you’ll get a very different perspective on Homeland Security from him and his neighbors than you’ll pick up from ABC.

Speaking of ABC and pick ups, the network has acquired “Scrubs” (9 p.m. ET/PT) and has brought it back for another, presumably final run. At this point, probably no one but the show’s most dedicated fans care, but it’s nice to see them get a chance to give the show a proper farewell.