First new 30 Rock in months, and KNTV-DT picks tonight to have ‘technical difficulties’. The SD channel was apparently working, so my SD-TiVo recorded Scrubs. The HD channel was not, so my DirecTV HD-DVR recorded 30 minutes of “We are having technical difficulties, so NO TINA FEY FOR YOU!” Nobody answers the phone at the [...]

First new 30 Rock in months, and KNTV-DT picks tonight to have ‘technical difficulties’. The SD channel was apparently working, so my SD-TiVo recorded Scrubs. The HD channel was not, so my DirecTV HD-DVR recorded 30 minutes of “We are having technical difficulties, so NO TINA FEY FOR YOU!”

Nobody answers the phone at the NBC station, and DirecTV can only tell me they are “aware of the problem” but don’t have any other information. I wonder if there’s any chance the station will re-broadcast the shows that were messed up tonight.

SF Chronicle TV critic Tim Goodman told me in email that he had the same problem. I don’t know if he has DirecTV or Comcast or DISH, though.

The Chronicle’s Tim Goodman has a humorous rundown of the upcoming week of televised Bay Area sports – including several Giants and A’s games, conveniently consecutively scheduled. My kingdom for a PiP tuner!

The Chronicle’s Tim Goodman has a humorous rundown of the upcoming week of televised Bay Area sports – including several Giants and A’s games, conveniently consecutively scheduled.

My kingdom for a PiP tuner!

SF Chronicle TV critic Tim Goodman writes about last night’s recall debate from an entertainment perspective. Taking a page from cable news shout-fests — but looking like guests on a cheap cable-access program — five of the candidates in the California recall campaign staged a “debate” that turned into a childish but entertaining brawl. Pundits [...]

SF Chronicle TV critic Tim Goodman writes about last night’s recall debate from an entertainment perspective.

Taking a page from cable news shout-fests — but looking like guests on a cheap cable-access program — five of the candidates in the California recall campaign staged a “debate” that turned into a childish but entertaining brawl.

Pundits may be parsing over who won this debate right up to election day, but it was clear that throwing haymakers and not shutting up was the only way to stand out — good or bad — in a forum that looked as if it were staged at a high school and moderated by your doddering uncle. The acoustics were horrendous, the visuals amateurish (a dull green-gray background and cheap curtain on the table) — so much for slick California entertainment — but the end result was a surprisingly lively exchange.

Not deep, not focused, maybe not even fair, but lively.

I saw pretty much what I expected to see, though I find myself wishing Tom McClintock wasn’t so socially backwards; I agree with many of his positions on policy and budget. Unfortunately, he’s dead-set against women’s choice (abortion rights) and gay marriage, two issues on which I will not compromise my vote.

SFGate TV writer Tim Goodman writes a nice obituary for John Ritter, who died suddenly last week of a rare heart disorder.

SFGate TV writer Tim Goodman writes a nice obituary for John Ritter, who died suddenly last week of a rare heart disorder.