TV with MeeVee

Fox Announces 2008-09 Season Plans

Fox wants you to feel their electricity. No, really. "“Broadcast television needs a jolt. We feel it’s our responsibility, as the No. 1 network for the last four seasons, to provide that electricity,” Fox Broadcasting Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori says in remarks  prepared for his upfront presentation to advertisers in New York today.

The schedule announced this morning puts the most focus on dramas from J.J. Abrams ("Lost") and Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). The network is not exactly reinventing the wheel, but they are putting something besides repeats on Friday night. And the bloated "American Idol" results show gets cuts back to a half hour in '09.

Fox executives on a conference call with reporters this morning admit that, like the other networks, Fox has fewer new shows due to the writers strike's disruption of the development cycle. Of course, when you're the most-watched network among total viewers as well as viewers 18-49 ...no worries mon. And they say they actually have shows in development now for all the way to the start of 2010.

Two new series debut in the fall:

"Fringe" (above), a thriller from Abrams, stars newcomer Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and John Noble as allies thrown together to investigate weirdness emanating from a mysterious Boston plane crash. Think "Lost" meets "The X-Files." It will air behind "House" on Tuesday nights in the fall.

"Do Not Disturb" is a comedy with Jerry O'Connell as a manager at an upscale New York hotel; Jason Bateman of "Arrested Development" will direct some episodes.

The "24" prequel also airs in November, as we reported earlier this morning. One Fox exec on the call just termed it "a really cool piece of standalone business."

Coming after the first of the year - along with "24" and "American Idol" - are four more new series, including another giving-it-away reality show, called "Secret Millionaire."

The year's most anticipated drama is Whedon's "Dollhouse" (right). Eliza Dushku, who enlivened the final seasons of "Buffy," stars as one of an underground group who have their personalities "wiped" and replaced with new ones in order to better carry out their secret missions.

In the spring we'll see two comedies, the unlikely "Family Guy" spinoff "Cleveland" and the animated "Sit Down, Shut Up," from "Arrested Development" creator Mitchell Hurwitz. That's about a group of less-than-dedicated teachers, with Bateman leading the voice cast.

Tidbits from the conference call:

Someone just asked the execs how they decided whether to give "Fringe" or "Dollhouse" the fall launch. Entertainment President Kevin Reilly - I think it was him, anyway - said it was "a high-class problem to have." Whedon had seven scripts written from the get-go, but Abrams finished pilot production sooner. Whdeon welcomed the extra time, the execs said.

A Few Afternoon Links, Mostly About "Lost"

• Yet another take on last night's taxing "Lost." (Buzzsugar)
• And a note about the music. (Buddy TV)
• And despite the writers strike, we will get our full remaining quotient of "Lost" episodes. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Gay kiss on "Grey's Anatomy." But it's two dudes. (Televisionista)
• DVR viewing makes up 7.5 percent of all TV viewing, up 64 percent from a year ago. (TV By The Numbers)

Lunchtime Links! Almost As Good As A Nooner!

Big, big Thursday night, lots of news and insights today...

• 
• William Baldwin spills the beans - "Dirty Sexy Money" will move to Thursdays next year. (Televisionista)
• Correctly pointing out what's so much fun about this year's blindside-intensive "Survivor" - Cirie! (TV Squad)
• Detailed exigesis of last night's bedeviling "Lost." (TV Squad)
• Recap of "CSI's" comedy episode. (Buddy TV)
• Ditto "My Name Is Earl," which actually is a comedy. (Buddy TV)
• Dreadlocks Boy talks about getting punted from "American Idol." (TVG)
• A less successful "American Idol" reject gets busted for pervy online chats with kids. (NYDN)
• Univision is a big deal in the ratings, si? (TV By The Numbers)
• Sex scandal at the Weather Channel? Is it legal to use "sex" and "Weather Channel" in the same sentence? (TSG)

"Lost" Scorecard: Destiny Is A Fickle Bitch

Okay, it took me about ten minutes to get my eyes uncrossed after that ending. That was a full-tilt boogie, "Lost" style. I think I'm looking forward to seeing the half-baked theories that the internet comes up with almost as much as I'm looking forward to seeing the next episode. Given what we've learned, and what's been hinted at, there are many billions of crackpot theories now available to the obsessive fans. Not that I would have any idea about that kind of thing.

Given what we know about his history, "destiny is a fickle bitch" seems like the perfect motto for Benjamin Linus. I'm surprised he doesn't have it tattooed across his butt. Ben is a man who knows about the winds of fate, and which way they blow, and they are most definitely, err, blowing Locke. Clearly Ben's not exactly excited about losing his slot as the golden boy, but then again he's also probably going to stop getting slapped around by lady luck quite so much. It's a mixed bag. Speaking of mixed bags, what's the score?

"Lost" Scorecard: Jack And Kate, Sittin' In A Tree

Tonight's episode must have really tickled the fancies of the Jack/Kate shippers of the world, but for the rest of us it left a bit to be desired. There's some good action in there, and a hell of a classic "Lost" cliffhanger, but you have to wade through a bunch of Jack and Kate cracking up in flashbacks and the least tense surgery ever. After telegraphing Jack's illness so thoroughly, it's disappointing that they went with the most cliché illness ever, and it's hard to build up much concern about the health of a character who is verifiably alive several years later.

That aside, the added flavor that the Kahana crew brings to the mix makes for some interesting action. It's a curious revelation that Charlotte speaks Korean, but there's no way that's just an interesting coincidence. Perhaps now that the exigency of Jack's illness is passed, Bernard will be able to go back to focusing on just why Charlotte and Daniel are jerking them around. I, for one, would like to get to the bottom of the no good they are clearly up to. Now, let's see how this episode did on points.

Morning Links: We Love Paula Twice As Much

There's yet another explanation for Paula's Tuesday night "American Idol" screwup - the rehearsal thing, as we guessed. But what I really like is that the New York Times felt the need to look into the controversy. In other "news"...

• CBS overlord criticizes crap CBS bosses are airing. Love that! (Hollywood Reporter)
• HBO's "Flight of the Conchords" lands at #3 on the pop chart. (Reuters)
• Hector Elizondo will replace the late Stanley Kamel as the shrink on "Monk." (E! Online)
• Actors union negotiations are looking bad. Uh oh. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)
• Like your print edition of TV Guide? Better make like Frank Costanza and start saving them. (DHD)
• TV biz should stop whining? (NYT)
• A look ahead to tomorrow's "Lost." (Buddy TV)
• Some minor hints about the future of "The Office." (E! Online)

"Lost" Scorecard: You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry

Benjamin Linus is rapidly moving from "pretty excellent villain" to "perhaps one of the best TV villains of all time." Make no mistake, he is a guy with whom you would not want to frak. It probably bodes well for no one that the events of this most recent episode have stripped Ben of one of the last remnants of his humanity, but as bad as it is for the survivors of Oceanic 815, it's pretty much awesome for us.

Our latest "Lost" episode is titled "The Shape Of Things To Come," and we definitely get a taste of what is coming up. Lots of dead bodies, lots of villainy and - of course - lots more questions. Along with new questions, we get a nice dose of an old favorite. Namely, what the hell is up with the smoke monster? Yes, old smoky is back again, and he is not in a good mood. So, what's the score?

***WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***

Let's Get "Lost" Again

The biggest show on this big night of TV is of course the return of "Lost" to finish up its strike-abbreviated fourth season. And while there are still those who mock the ABC drama's labyrinthine plot and endless enigmas - I am married to one such person - most "Lost" fans would I think say that this season has been one of the best. A New York Times article this morning has producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof explaining why it seems so juiced - the announcement that the show would end in 2010 allowed them to plan how the mythology would unfold, rather than vamping slowly toward a conclusion. They credit Stephen King's prodding and J.K. Rowling's example for giving them the stones to go to the network and ask for an end date. Another way to prep for tonight is to read this post by one of our deeply troubled friends over at TV Squad, who has tallied up the notable deaths on the island, beginning with the crash of Oceanic flight 815. I'd forgotten Hurley's great line after one minor character blew himself up: "You've got Arzt on you." Ah, 10 p.m. ET can't come soon enough.

Afternoon Links As We Await The Most Awesome Night Of TV This Season

Let's see, a kickass "Survivor" - unless you prefer "Ugly Betty" or "My Name Is Earl" and "Scrubs" - followed by the first "The Office" since Jim showed us the engagement ring, followed by "30 Rock" - unless you prefer "Grey's Anatomy" or "CSI" - followed by the return of "Lost." All new for the launch of May sweeps! And that's not even mentioning "Without a Trace" or "Smallville" and the return of "Supernatural." Scripted television is back, baybee! On a night like this, that strike seems a distant memory. But we have a few hours to kill first. So here are a couple things to read...

• Roger Friedman says Jimmy Fallon will take over for Conan when Conan takes over for Jay. (Fox News)
• TV Squad says he's talking through his hat. (TV Squad)
• Friedman, by the way, also has some "Weeds" dish that fans won't want to hear, way down in the same column. (Fox News)
• Kathy says she picked the wrong Dunder-Mifflin week to go on vacation. (GMMR)
• An NBC source says, uh, don't worry about seeing O.J. on "The Apprentice." (TMZ.com)
• Another look at the sag in ratings post-strike. (Hollywood Reporter)
• We forgot to link to this yesterday when it was still sorta news, but Showtime has signed "The Tudors" (right) for season three. (AP)

New "Lost" Spoilers Are Like Meat In A Hot Car

OK, maybe they're not as spoiled as that family-pack of hamburger you forgot about in the trunk on the way to the cookout. But TV Guide has six secrets from upcoming episodes of "Lost."

Don't click through if you don't want to know!

You know you can't resist. Dooooo it!

Afternoon Food For Thought

• TV Guide says Tania Raymonde, otherwise known as Ben's daughter on "Lost," is going to be in a high school sex comedy - based on Lysistrata, no less - and starring Rob Schneider and Rumer Willis. Shudder. Guarantee you the girl's going to have a new agent the week after that movie comes out. I mean, seriously, Rob Schneider and Rumer Willis? Spending a lifetime in the tropical weirdness of the island sounds like a glorious vacation in comparison.
• Last year's "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks (right) has been forced to withdraw from Alicia Keys' tour by the horrible sounding "acute vocal cord hemorrhage." You wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy, would you? Get well soon, hon.
• Jesse L. Martin has revealed his post-"Law & Order" plans. He's apparently going to play the Sidney Poitier role in a new Broadway version of "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner." Not exactly cutting edge, but...whatever. Martin first came to fame in the original cast of "Rent." He's being replaced on "L&O" by Anthony Anderson, who we had an interview with last week, and we'll bring that to you tomorrow.
• It will be interesting to hear what "issues" led Khandi Alexander to quit "CSI Miami" effective at the end of this season.

Good Morning, Good Morning

• More on CW's decision to stop streaming "Gossip Girl" comes in this post and this one. The latter suggests it's all a ploy to whip up interest in the under-watched show. OMFG, really?! (TV By The Numbers)
• Maybe it wasn't Gary Dourdan's idea to leave "CSI" after all. (TV Guide)
• Leelee Sobieski: Obviously A Robot. (Glitterati)
• I've been trying to decide which Robin Sparkles/"HIMYM" post to link to. Let's try this one. (BuzzSugar)
• Some new deets on Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse." (TV Squad)
• Spoilery "Lost" speculation: Could Sawyer be on his way out? (Buddy TV)
• Addison's returning (temporarily) to Seattle Grace and "Grey's Anatomy." Yawwwwwwn. (Buddy TV)

Moore Develops Show For Fox; Fans Hold Breath

It looks like "Battlestar Galactica's" Ron Moore (right) is jumping on board the FoxWagon. Moore is reportedly developing a series called "Virtuality," and can I be the first to lodge a "that's a stupid name" complaint? It's about a dozen deep space astronauts who are stuck in space for ten years and turn to virtual reality to keep themselves entertained. So basically it's "Star Trek: Holodecks Gone Wild."

They've got a word for scifi shows on Fox that aren't "The X-Files," and it's not a nice one. No fan hears the words scifi and Fox in the same sentence without starting to twitch and mumble about "Firefly" under their breath. It looks like this fall Fox is turning its attention to scifi in a big way, so we can look forward to at least a couple of brilliant shows that we pick up the "complete series box set" for a couple months later. "Lost's" JJ Abrams is working on "Fringe," which at least sounds enough like "The X-Files" to have a fighting chance, and of course Joss Whedon, who apparently is enough of an optimist to try it again despite being the index case for Fox's mishandling of genre shows, is putting together the decidedly creepy and awesome sounding "Dollhouse." I'm going to start a pool to see if any of them survive a first season, who's got a bet?

Morning Reading: Zac Efron, Stephen Colbert, "The Office"

• Shopping with Mindy Kaling, aka Kelly Kapoor of "The Office" (right). (NY Times)
• "The Colbert Report" to broadcast from Philly all week in effort to make Pennsylvania primary even more ironic. (AP)
• Meanwhile ABC's Charlie Gibson is prepping for Wednesday's Clinton-Obama debate in Philly, which he'll moderate. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Advance word on the Disney Channel '08-09 sked. They'll, um, probably renew "Hannah Montana." (Buddy TV)
• "High School Musical" star Zac Efron to play gay twins? I think somebody's dreaming. (Buddy TV)
• Did "Gossip Girl" flacks try a little trickery to stir up buzz? Duh. (TV Addict)
• All the news on scheduling of "Lost" and "Grey's" season finales, including those extra hours. (TV Guide)

The Lost "Lost" Opening

J.J. Abrams is a TV maverick, you can tell by the way he eschews such tired ideas as plot resolution and coherent answers to questions, and perhaps most importantly, by the edgy, minimalist opening on "Lost." As it happens, I like the absence of opening credits. Particularly if, like me, you enjoy marathoning a show on DVD, listening to the same credit sequence again and again can get boring. Not everyone agrees with me, however, and there's a whole cottage industry (if something that no one gets paid for, or wants, can be called an "industry") building imagined opening credits out of scavenged clips from the show. They range in quality from good to bad, but Slash Film has found what has to be the very best of the bunch, "Lost" as a kind of low-rent 90s "Baywatch" style drama. The theme song really is the very best part.

Breakfast Links

• Disney is already transitioning to the next generation of "High School Musical" stars. They hope. "4" is in the works, and some new characters may be introduced in "3." (Hollywood Reporter)
• "BSG" star Tricia Helfer is getting a show of her own. (Hollywood Reporter)
• I'm glad to see someone commenting on the horror of the Go Phone commercial starring Meatloaf and Tiffany. Although, you know, they have to make money somehow, right? (BuzzSugar)
• "Secret Talents of the Stars" not so good. (TV Guide)
• And finally, thanks to BuzzSugar for introducing me to this hysterically funny "Lost" compilation clip which shows characters asking, "What?" and "What?" and What?!" ad infinitum, much like the oft-baffled viewers of the show...

Spoiler Warning: My Predictions For This Week's Shows

I don't have insider confirmation about the following stories, but I'm pretty confident in my powers of prediction and guesstimation. Beware my spoilers! They have more spoilage than day-old meat in the back of a Japanese dekotora (at left)!

On Tuesday, "American Idol" contestants will be singing Dolly Parton songs. Despite country being her natural genre, horsey girl Kristy Lee Cook will screw up badly.

The other week, Gordon Ramsay told us that he doesn't enjoy swearing and that he can stop at any time. He'll prove it tomorrow night on the season premiere of "Hell's Kitchen," which will feature no rage or anger at all. He's turned over a completely new leaf and will gently correct any mistakes he sees in the kitchens of his new proteges.

On "Top Model" this week, the girls do go-sees - that is, client visits. At least one of them is going to get horribly lost, show up late, and blame a totally innocent cab driver for her poor planning.

I'm not naming names, but the winner of "Make Me A Supermodel" on Thursday is irritating and self-centered.

"Lost:" Some crazy shit is going to happen, man. Crazy.

Morning reading

• "Lost" fan sez byebye Danielle. (Tifaux)
• "Dollhouse" a Whedonverse reunion? (TV Guide)
• Some byebye "Jericho" details. Don't get your hopes up for a cable resuscitation. (TV Guide)
• The deeply confusing "Scrubs" situation examined. (Buddy TV)
• RIP "The Return of Jezebel James." Sort of a mercy killing if you ask me. (Hollywood Reporter)

"Lost" Scorecard: You Don't Die Till We Say You Die

Often, when watching an episode of "Lost" that centers around a character I don't like (cough Kate cough cough Jack), I find my patience for the storyline significantly reduced. Conversely I'm more inclined to be favorable about a weak Sayid, Sun or (sniff) Charlie episode. Every fan of a show is like this, and I try to take it into account when I write my reviews. So it's saying something that the fact that this week's episode is all about the morally flexible and whiny Michael didn't put a damper on my interest.

Having finally gotten the painfully obvious reveal of Michael out of the way, we're free to find out what the heck he's been doing since he sailed off into the sunset lo these many episodes ago. It's a sign that I've gotten too accustomed to "Lost"-style storytelling that I was finding the flashback sort of disorienting. Michael's flashback is bracketed by him telling Sayid his story, and follows a more or less linear path from beginning to end. In other words, it's like a perfectly normal flashback on any other show. Weird, right? Enough of that, let's talk score.

Lost For A Season, Michael Returns To "Lost"

AP has a pretty good interview with Harold Perrineau of "Lost," who delivered some harrowing gunshots at the end of season two and then sailed away from the island with his son. For any one of you who's ever pestered an actor in an airport with questions about the future of their character, this will put to rest once and for all the notion that they have any idea what's going to happen. He was pissed off to be sidelined for a season, and he while he believes the producers do have a plan, he doesn't know what it is. "I told myself I had to watch the show, so I at least knew what was going on in case I was brought back, but then I was like, 'Why?' I never knew what was going on before. Why should I start trying to figure it out now?"

"Lost" Scorecard: All's Well That Ends Tragically

After all the mega-intensity of the last few episodes, "Ji Yeon" seems remarkably sedate. Not that sedate is necessarily a bad thing; the slow, almost dreamy crawl to the big gotcha at the end is remarkably emotionally effective. The plucking of the heart-strings usually takes a back seat to the big spooky mysteries, but this week the big spooky mysteries are sort of a yawner and the melodrama gets you right on the edge of your seat.

Remember how last week we were feeling all sad for Juliet? Boy, I am seriously over that. It's easy to forget that Juliet spent a whole bunch of time with Ben, learning how to be sinister and manipulative, but she sure busted out the "otherness" this week. See if we say nice things about her dead boyfriend now! But enough about Ms. No-Fun-Bad-Times-Burke, let's get on to the score.

Morning reads

• The evil get eviller. (AP)
• The Emmys show switches from the Shrine to the Nokia. Just so you can tell your limo driver where to go. (Reuters)
• Britney Spears has been hired to ruin guest star on "How I Met Your Mother." (GMMR, from whom we stole the awesome graphic)
• And her casting has already averted a guest appearance by Alicia Silverstone. (TV Guide)
• Big Thursday for "Lost," as we learn the final two members of the Oceanic Six. (Buddy TV)
• "Lost" is also the most time-shifted episode, with a DVR audience of 3.7 million!! (TV By The Numbers)
• Maybe it's time for us to get paroled from "Prison Break"? (Buddy TV)
• Tom Goodman went quality in drowning his sorrows over the end of "The Wire." (The Bastard Machine)
• Nikki Finke says you shouldn't be too happy about the launch of Skynet Hulu. (Deadline Hollywood Daily)

Pre-Weekend Cocktail Hour Reading

• A totally genius idea. Let's fix up those "American Idol" kids. (Glitterati Gossip)
• In the same "American Idol" vein, someone finally got to ask David Hernandez about the gay-stripper reports, and he finessed them. Duh. (EW.com)
• "Lost: Every Episode is a Ben Episode." Precisely. Look at him. (Buddy TV)
• Aside from the sadness surrounding John Ritter's death, I can't say I ever felt anything for the sitcom "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Daughter." Well, when David Spade was on screen, maybe a little revulsion. Now the author's followup, "8 Simple Rules For Marrying My Daughter," is going to be a movie. Woot. (Hollywood Reporter)
• Whoever told the NY Post that Jerry Seinfeld was talking about a new sitcom wasn't telling the truth. (AP)
• "The Wire" isn't the only finale on Sunday; there's also the season-one ender for "Breaking Bad." (TV Guide)

"Lost" Scorecard: You Belong To Me

Between last week's episode and this one, I think I'd be hard-pressed to decide whether Desmond or Juliet has gotten the shaft worse on the island. A little more Juliet backstory (yes, backstory, we're back to flashbacks and not flashforwards), and it's hard not to feel for her, even if she does have the bad taste to be mooning over Jack. Along with pity-inducing Juliet action, we get another big part of the puzzle, more interpersonal drama and one very incredulous Sawyer. All the ingredients required for another fine, solid episode.

It's hard for any episode to follow up "The Constant," easily one of the strongest episodes of the series, but even in comparison this week is pretty good. I recently re-watched the lackluster season 2 on DVD, and season 4 seems more and more like a payoff for all that waiting; finally loyal "Lost" fans are validated. Now, on to the points!

Morning Reading: "Dirt" Bedeviled, "The Office" Reordered

• Ratings for "Dirt's" season premiere sucked. Don't expect another one. (Hollywood Reporter)
• More tea leaves for "Lost" fans. (GMMR)
• Lana and Lex are leaving "Smallville," or at least the actors are. (Televisionista)
• CBS will finally air the potentially controversial "Swingtown" - this summer, which may be a sign of low confidence in the show. (Hollywood Reporter)
• NBC has ordered 30 - count 'em! - episodes of "The Office" for next season. (GMMR)
• More nightmarish bullshit about the potential for an actors strike. This time its their two unions who are fighting. Jeez! (TV Guide)
• Nikki Finke thinks it's kinda sick that a children's rights group is honoring Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, which aired "Kid Nation." (Deadline Hollywood Daily)
• Apparently Simon Cowell got in a barely audible dig at our favorite stripper guy on "American Idol" last night. (TMZ)

"Lost" Scorecard: Desmond Hume Is Unstuck In Time

If anyone gets kicked around by fate, metaphysics and whatever else on this island, it's Desmond Hume. The guy spent ages pushing the stupid button only to have it blown up by Locke, nearly drove himself crazy trying to save Charlie only to have the hobbit kick the bucket, and fought like hell to get off the island only to be driven totally bitchcakes on the way to the boat.

On this week's "Lost," along with more kicks in the teeth for Desmond we're treated to a fat dose of sweet, sweet answers. Well, sort of. Well actually not really at all, but we did learn something really interesting and that seems as good as answers. Okay, it was something we had kind of suspected for a while but... look, it was cool. Maybe, like a mistreated dog, "Lost" fans are just excited to be thrown a scrap or two, but it's hard not to get excited when big things are happening, even if the big things aren't answering any questions or solving any riddles. But enough about that, what was the score?

"Lost" Scorecard: Baby Mine

Let this be a lesson to you, "Lost" fans, do not have a couple of glasses of wine before you watch an episode. This was my mistake, and it's more than a little embarrassing to realize that you've been arguing belligerently with your television for most of an hour. At least this wasn't one of the more perplexing, clue-dropping episodes or I'd probably still be staring slack-jawed.

As it was, this week's episode managed to pack more than a few surprises into the time alloted. You can't help but appreciate the show's Twilight Zone-esque habit of slowly warming you up and then drop kicking you through the end zone in the last minute. Of course, most of the big news happened in the flash-forward (Kate again, the two remaining "Oceanic 6" are still a mystery), though we did get a few choice tidbits on the island. The new flash-forward method of storytelling means that the off-island story is becoming the most interesting element, which is nice for those of us who dragged our way through Jack's totally interminable backstory.

But enough about that, on to the score.

ABC Finally Spills Spring Plans For "Desperate Housewives" And The Rest

ABC has finally unveiled its spring, post-strike debut schedule. The bad news is that "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" won't return until next season. The good news is that they will return. "Desperate Housewives" returns to the scheduled April 13 with seven hours of new episodes including a two-hour season finale. Also returning with new episodes: "Boston Legal," "Brothers & Sisters," "Grey's Anatomy," "Samantha Who?" and "Ugly Betty." "Grey's" returns April 24, when "Lost" switches to 10 p.m. Thursdays. The full release with all the details is after the jump.

Morning Reads: Saturn Awards Find "Lost"

• "Lost" leads the TV nominations for the Saturn Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy And Horror Films. Best Network Series nominees are: "Heroes," "Journeyman," "Lost," "Pushing Daisies," "Supernatural" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." "Journeyman"? Really? (TV Addict)
• Lorne Michaels knows that "Saturday Night Live" is in a tough place as it returns to the air this week. (NY Times)
• Fox now has the highest average network rating for the season. Yikes. (AP)
• I guess "K-Ville" really isn't coming back. Anthony Anderson is going to replacing Jesse L. Martin on "Law & Order." (Hollywood Reporter)
• "Jericho" and "Big Brother" both had really bad weeks for CBS. (tvbythenumbers.com)

Morning Reading: Mo' "Monk" Mo' "Monk" Mo' "Monk"

First of all, I hope you read last night's hi-larious and right-on "American Idol" liveblog by our man Aaron. More entertaining than "Idol" itself, actually, and setting a high bar for me to clear tonight. But assuming you've done that, here's some more fodder to consume with your java:

• "Monk" with Tony Shalhoub (right) gets a seventh season, to bow this summer. (Hollywood Reporter)
• The 18-49 demographic beloved by advertisers loved "Knight Rider." Sigh. (TV Decoder)
• "The Amazing Race" and "Numb3rs" are among the pickups announced by CBS yesterday for the fall. (Buddy TV)
• Finale "Nip/Sucked." (TV Guide)
• Loving this season's "Lost." (Tifaux)

Morning reading: Presidents Day

Or is that President's Day? Or maybe Presidents' Day? And really, who cares. I'm not even on the clock. I just thought you'd want to read one or more of the following...

• An update on the return of "The Office": "The first episode back will revolve around the Dunder Mifflin employees attending a dinner party. That script was finished and ready for shooting when the strike halted all production on the show Nov. 5." (Scranton Times Tribune.com)
• At right - finally there's a way to quantify our feelings about each week's "Lost." (TV Addict)
• Kimmel retaliates. (NY Post)
• "Private Practice" stars dish on their return. (TV Guide.com)
• "Will & Grace" creators take on another gay-straight alliance - their own. (Hollywood Reporter)
• One paragraph is all that's needed to jeer the "crap-tastic" "Knight Rider" remake. (TV Guide.com)
• Watching TV on the job? Hell, I do it every day. (TV Squad)
• The perennial cable-era question "Is PBS neccessary?" gets a fresh going-over: "Scanning the PBS lineup, in fact, it’s hard to detect much of a bias toward anything at all, except possibly mustiness." Ouch. (NY Times)

"Lost" Scorecard: You Always Hurt The One You Love

I'll admit it, a part of me was hoping for a very special Valentine's Day episode of "Lost." Locke could have given Ben a Valentine that said "I choo-choo-choose you" with a picture of a train, and we all could have learned a valuable lesson about sharing. Of course, this is "Lost," so the only romance ends with a bullet and the lesson we learn is that you should trust no one, even the super-nice, trustworthy people.

I hope you won't miss these reports too much, but I'm afraid I'm going to be spending the rest of my life in a hermetically sealed bunker, crouched in a corner with a knife. It's the only way to be sure.

We got #4 of the Oceanic 6 tonight, as well as another dumptruck full of mysterious mysteries of a mystifying nature. Watching "Lost" is like dating someone hot but annoying: You're willing to go along for the ride, but only if you know they'll eventually put out. J.J. Abrams keeps on promising us he'll put out, but this episode was just one long tease.

"Lost" And The Oceanic Six: Handicapping The Field

The instant Hurley yelled, "I'm one of the Oceanic Six," "Lost" fans across the internet went totally crazypants trying to interpret what that means and who else might be on the ABC show's latest extra-super-special double-secret list. Assuming that the Six are just the six people who made it back alive - something we don't actually know - it's clear that Hurley, Kate and Jack are on the list. According to Ominous Voiceover Guy, another one will be revealed on the Thursday's episode. There's probably no line in Vegas on the survivors, but if you want to rock the office betting pool, here are the odds as we see them.

(It's the editor here. First, a news break: "Lost" is being moved to yet another place on the schedule for its final five or six episodes of this eason. In April and May, the show will move an hour later to air at 10 p.m. Thursdays - the good news is, that puts it right behind hit "Grey's Anatomy." The bad news is, it's moving for about the zillionth time. The network has reportedly also decided the show should take a break after its current run of seven episodes, rather than eight, before coming back in April. Now on with the handicapping...)

Writers Strike: So Now What About "24"? And "Lost"? And...

The staff of your favorite sitcom is champing at the bit to start writing new jokes beginning Wednesday, assuming writers vote tomorrow to end their strike. But serial dramas are in a very different place, as the shows with the most to gain or lose as Hollywood returns to work. In recent seasons, the networks found out that shows like "24" and "Lost" play best in big chunks uninterrupted by reruns, allowing viewers to get fully absorbed in the often complex storylines. But the strike screwed up networks' plans. So what's up with your favorite drama series?

Well, the showrunner - aka the producer who makes it all go - is probably figuring that out at this very second, or possibly staring at his telephone in agitation, waiting impatiently for a call from the network that will give him his marching orders. (Shonda Rhimes aside, most showrunners are still men.) But even though the situation remains unsettled, the contradictory plans for Fox's "24" and ABC's "Lost" will give you a feel for what's really going on out there.

The anti-terrorism drama "24" was due to air 22 straight from early January through May sweeps, tag-teaming the Nielsen ratings with "American Idol" as in years past. ABC and "Lost" producers had committed to three more seasons of 16 episodes each, this year and in 2009 and 2010, giving dubious viewers some assurance of an orderly wrapup to the mystery-laden series. "Lost" was due to start airing in late January or February with a more-or-less uninterrupted run until May.

Lost Scorecard: It's Raining Men (And A Woman)

I can usually tell how good any given episode of "Lost" is by counting the number of times the letters "WTF" appear in my notes. Tonight's episode clocks in at an impressive 6.0 on the WTF scale, enough to rock the house for sure. It's clear, two episodes into the season, that setting a specific end date has untied J.J. Abrams' hands; the revelations are flying fast and furious, and there's no doubt that things are changing in a serious way. This is nice payoff for those of us who twiddled our fingers through interminable plots and aggravating new characters (ah, Anna Lucia, you're not missed) in season two, wondering if it was ever going to get to a point. Let's see what we won this week.

"Lost" Preview: See, There's Your Problem

A pretty woman with a parachute lands on the island, and is confused when the residents aren't overjoyed to see her. You can practically see the fear build in the pit of her stomach as she realizes she's fallen down the rabbit hole.

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"Lost" Finds Its Audience

Last night's season premiere hour of ABC's "Lost" scored 16.7 million total viewers, up three million from last spring's season finale, and the show's biggest audience since 2006. It helped ABC's "Eli Stone" get off to a good start, and, along with the "Lost" recap special, ABC won all three hours of prime-time last night on the first night of the February sweeps. Now, the writers strike is going to put a hell of a big asterisk on the sweeps ratings, but ABC execs have got to be happy. They'll be even happier if they see numbers like this next week. (Ratings via Televisionista)

"Lost" Scorecard: The Fans Hit The S***

As has been noted all over the internet, "Lost" has now reached a level of complexity so Byzantine that it requires pop-up video to keep you in the loop about what is going on. At least it's proof positive that American TV audiences don't require everything spoon fed to them in painfully clear detail (unless it's in the form of pop-up videos). In deference to the magical stylings of J.J. Abrams and co, I have decided to start keeping score. Let's see how many points the season 4 opener managed to rack up.