Americans can find comfort in a classic fall lineup

Brian Lowry’s harsh critique of ABC’s new prime-time lineup (“ABC Looks Back, Hoping It Will See the Future,” Wednesday) shows that he is completely out of touch with the sentiments of many, if not most, Americans.

Since our collective post-9/11 shock, dismay and fear, many television viewers have sought the comfort of less-complicated times. Networks like Pax are too small or skew too far to the religious right to satisfy this need.

Rather than filling its airwaves with violent, overtly sexual or doomsday, futuristic fare, ABC programming executives have strived to offer viewers a balance.

Clearly networks must appeal to the masses in order to achieve ratings success. Yet ABC attempts to do this with a combination of family programming, adult drama and, out of necessity, mainstream reality shows.

It is almost with joy that Lowry writes with such sarcasm, almost as if to intimidate Times readers from actually checking out the new lineup.

Programs such as “8 Simple Rules ... ,” “Less Than Perfect” and “Life With Bonnie” are classic sitcoms, rooted in humor that never approaches the ridiculous or offensive. Comedic dramas such as “MDs” and “That Was Then” challenge viewers’ attitudes toward life, aging, prejudice and, in the case of “MDs”--and 40 million or so Americans--living without health insurance!

For Lowry to write this epitaph for ABC’s new lineup is completely shortsighted or evidence that his agenda is influenced by something more.

Jacqueline Cohen (a former “Happy Days” addict) is employed in sales by ABC/ESPN Radio Networks in Burbank. She is not involved in television programming but had the opportunity to view pilots of the new ABC prime-time lineup.