'Ed' findsits Foo again

Fans of the NBC show "Ed," which begins its third season at 7 p.m. Wednesday on NBC (Channel 41), will be pleased to learn that an old favorite is returning to the show: the original theme song. "Next Year," performed by Foo Fighters, perfectly captured the youthful ambition and sentimental longings of the show's main character, Ed Stevens, played by Tom Cavanagh. But Viacom Productions, the studio responsible for producing "Ed," has a corporate policy about owning the songs on its shows. It didn't own "Next Year" but gave the song a one-year pass because the show's creators, Jon Beckerman and Rob Burnett, loved it. And from the moment many viewers heard it, they did, too. "The first season went so well, we decided we needed to handicap ourselves," Burnett joked last week from the show's New Jersey production offices. "Turns out we handicapped ourselves too much." After the first season, "Ed" substituted a theme song from indie rocker Clem Snide. The arrangement suited the Viacom suits and nobody else. Internet boards lit up with angry messages from viewers who were willing to fight for their Foo. They weren't the only ones. Burnett said he and Beckerman "fought long and hard last season" to reinstate the song. Finally the company relented. A Viacom spokesman said "an accommodation" was made to bring back "Next Year." "Everyone missed the song," the spokesman said, shrewdly. Hearing it had a magical effect on me. My interest in "Ed" flagged sometime last season - I think during the 14th or so misadventure involving Warren, the Goofy Teen-ager - but that theme song actually made me want to like the show again. Happily the season premiere episode does not disappoint. For starters, Danny DeVito has a terrific guest turn as a psychologist who enjoys scamming people. But it's the addition of a cast member that will have fans chattering online. When Kenny (Mike Starr) quits his bowling-alley job, in to take his place rolls - literally - an effervescent, fast-talking kid in a wheelchair named Eli. Cocksure and opinionated, he makes everyone aware that he would be the best thing ever to happen to Stuckey Bowl. He's certainly one of the best things to happen to "Ed." It happens that Eli is played by Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, a fast-talking actor in a wheelchair, the result of a motorcycle accident last year. Burnett and Beckerman were leaning against replacing Kenny until Mitchell wheeled into their offices. "He's incredibly inspirational," Burnett said. "He left the room and three seconds later Jon and I look at each other and say, 'Well, that guy's in the show.' " Beckerman added, "This is the first time we've gotten to create a character for an actor. The way television pilots go through the system, you write it, then you cast it. ... I don't think we ever would've sat down and said, 'Let's have the guy who replaces Kenny be an African-American in a wheelchair.' " Kismet is like that. If you don't believe me, ask Foo Fighters. "NYPD Blue," 9 tonight, ABC (Channel 9). In a sea of procedural cop shows, where cold fish nibble wearily on their corpses, Dennis Franz's Det. Andy Sipowicz is a killer whale, an aging, warm-blooded giant to whom attention must still be paid. Franz is in fine form tonight when a drug dealer makes a death threat on his character. When you've been through all that Andy's been through the last nine seasons, some things that are meant to frighten you only make you mad. Alas, compared with Franz the supporting cast seems to be going through the motions. This is "Blue's" 200th episode, and ABC is marking the occasion with a special at 8 p.m. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," 7 tonight, UPN (Channel 29). Hard to say whether this will be the season when "Buffy" jumps the shark, but it can't be a good sign that Sarah Michelle Gellar is back in high school. This time she's accompanying Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) around the newly rebuilt Sunnydale High. While Dawn goes to class, Buffy improbably strolls around the hallways, as though waiting for demons to attack. Halfway around the world, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is listening in, using the Earth like a shortwave radio. Men? I think I saw one or two of those in the background. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com.