This has been a lackluster "sweeps" month on the local news- no visits to nudist camps or strip clubs, no celebrity scandals, no 60 Minutes type exposes of local companies.

Here's what happened on the my local CBS affiliate during the all-important 5PM slot on Tuesday 11/21/00.

4:59- Hello, the #1 Male Anchor has the night off (probably on his way home from Tallahassee for Thanksgiving). #1 Female anchor and #2 Male anchor introduce themselves

5:00- 2 weeks and still no president - show network's pool footage of Florida events of the day - interview with a local law professor about the impartiality of Florida Supreme Court

5:05- Crime spree in a northern suburb, bold teens commit robberies in broad daylight, interview purse snatching victim

5:08 - Credit card fraud suspect arrested, video of suspect hiding his face in a police car is shown. Flu vaccine shortage in the county - female reporter on location at a hospital shows video of people receiving shots.

5:11 - Web poll question, will you be getting a flu shot this year? Cut to traffic reporter in the helicopter. Show a stretch of freeway with cars going slowly in the dark.

5:12 - Tease - next segment - dangerous toys. Another freeway shot then break for commercials. Ads include a sexy Shoe Pavilion commercial.

5:15 - Trouble in Toyland. Dangerous toys include those hot scooters, plastic bath books (contains pvc's), nail polish with solumine, and toys with small parts.

5:18 - Online charities will be getting help from City Hall - includes comments from the Mayor.

5:19 - AAA Survey about popular holiday travel destinations - while showing video of our popular tourist spots. Also the cost of Thanksgiving Feast dropped $1.50 fro last year, the first price drop in 9 years.

5:20 - Weather tease - video of Buffalo's snowstorm. Listing of upcoming stories. Break for commercials. During the break is a promo for tomorrow's 5PM News, more on Florida and Holiday travel.

5:23 - A shot of traffic while doing a voice over commercial, then cut to the traffic reporter - show live shot of cars moving slowly in the dark.

5:24 - Toss to the weather guy on location at the Local Pro Football Team's Annual Blood Drive. Show videotape of some of the donors.

5:25 - Show time-lapse video of the clouds over the downtown area. Show a regional satellite picture. Show the current temperatures in the region. Show video of earlier weather from one of the communities around town. Show a live picture of downtown. Show a map of the National High temperatures. Show a National Satellite Picture. Video of Indianapolis snowstorm. Video of Buffalo's snowstorm. County forecast.

5:28 - Toss it back to the studio. Tease about Mass Transit in the future. Show Dow Jones numbers. Break for commercials. Includes promo for tomorrow's early morning newscast and a promo for next Monday's 5PM newscast feature about crime and fear.

5:31 - #1 source for news in the city. recap news about Florida Supreme Court, show video of standing ovation for Kathleen Harris in the Florida Legislature.

5:32 - Special Assignment - Traffic woes- show file footage of traffic jams- plans to expand mass transit- interviews with people who don't want to use mass transit - pros and cons to expanding mass transit- show Brazilian buses that run like trains- show the planned Las Vegas system- cost expected to be $7 billion and 20 years to complete - more details on TV station's website

5:37 - show footage of safety message from Transit companies at site of a bus accident earlier this year.

5:38 - tease - problems with Goodyear tires. Break for commercials which include a clothing store Christmas ad, a electronics store XMAS ad, and an Indian Casino shopping outlet Xmas ad.

5:40 - Show a live shot of the city while reading a voice over commercial, then cut to traffic reporter voice over of an accident sight. Then female anchor reports of problems with Goodyear tires - videotape of shredded tires and damaged cars.

5:41 - Enter the Consumer Reporter - a generous lady bought a refrigerator for her church, but cancelled when the church had their old one repaired. The store did not refund her money. After 10 days of a runaround by the stores the consumer crusader finally got the lady her money back. The lady then bought a stove for her church at a different store. Show the consumer hotline phone number and website.

5:44 - Breaking News - The accident alluded to earlier by the traffic reporter. More live pictures of lights on a dark street.

5:45 - Sports tease - the local (winless) football team may catch a break for Sunday's game- McEnroe quits Davis Cup. Break for commercial which includes a repeat of the clothing store Xmas ad.

5:48 - Toss to the sports guy who is also at the blood drive. He has AB Negative blood which is perfect typecasting. The opposing team's Quarterback is questionable for Sunday's game due to an injury- Video highlights of Rams choking against the Redskins on Monday- McEnroe resigns as Davis Cup coach - show a tongue in cheek salute to Mr Jerkenroe (file footage)- preview local college basketball- banter with anchors about giving blood

5:53 - Break for commercials including a promo for tomorrow's 5PM news, a restaurant chain's Xmas ad, and a curious auto park ad that has been running here for months ( a Britney Spears lookalike sings the praises of the autopark - who is the target audience? - teenagers who can't possibly afford new cars or dirty old men who are turned on by Britneys?)

5:56 - Male anchor promos the 6:30 Newscast - more on Florida events and a black bear sleeping in a tree. Enter the clown prince of the station via videotape featuring baseball, show kids taking batting practice, interview the head of the baseball school, clown tries his hand at batting (unsuccessfully).

5:59 - Good Night. Dan Rather is next. See you at 6:30.

Congratulations if you made it this far. I noticed there were no promos for network shows nor appearances by Dan Rather promoting the CBS Evening News. Marvelous restraint being shown by the news honchos.