The season so far...

  LOST recap is coming tomorrow.  I know- I'm a slacker.  Let's talk about television for a few, though.  I've done the reading so you don't have to.  Except you have to read this.  The system is flawed.

SUNDAY:  This night still belongs to ABC even with the loss of Grey's Anatomy.  Desperate Housewives has made a creative comeback, though the rumblings are getting louder that it's slipping again.  Brothers and Sisters despite the behind the scenes troubles before it even debuted has been a solid hit and holds DH's numbers better than Boston Legal ever did.  (Though doesn't build on them like Grey's did.)  FOX is happy with its comedy block, though they want to dump The War at Home which doesn't match the animated nature of the rest of the lineup.  They have hired Robert Smigel, he of SNL's TV Funhouse and Conan's Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, to create a new show.  NBC is happy to be back in the football mix, but I haven't heard what they plan to do in January.  At CBS, things are solid with the "Race, Case, Trace" lineup, but Amazing Race's numbers are down from the other nights it has been on.  I don't think that show has ever been in the same time slot twice.

MONDAY:  CBS is still untouchable with its comedy line-up, even though The Class has dropped off its initial good numbers.  Might have something to do with the quality taking a nosedive.  Not that I've ever seen it in the first place.  FOX has seen Prison Break's ratings drop consistently (which is a shame!) and Vanished has already vanished to be replaced with Justice, which also sucks anyway.  I think these shows will at least hold the fort until the 24 juggernaut returns in January.  NBC has its biggest hit with Heroes (awesome show btw) but Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip has dipped way down below its premeire numbers.  The good news: NBC has ordered at least three more episodes and the show is tops among "upscale" viewers.  (+ $75,000 income).  Bad news: A rerun of the show has been replaced by Friday Night Lights this week.  Damn monkeys running the network seem to think a show about football will do well against actual football on ESPN.  Psssh!  I don't even know what ABC has on.  They've definitely saved their best crap for other nights.

TUESDAY: ABC is doing well with DancingWith the Stars.  FOX is happy with House.  Standoff will be back for at least three more episodes.  I don't really watch anything on this day so I haven't paid too much attention to what's happening.  The one show I do watch, Veronica Mars, has improved its numbers on The CW and, though they haven't said it, there's no reason why it shouldn't be bumped up to a full season instead of the 13 originally ordered.

WEDNESDAY:  The unthinkable has happened.  LOST screwed with its audience too much and has "lost" it.  It has been losing to freakin' Criminal Minds on CBS.  The upcoming three month hiatus could be catastrophic.  In other bad news, the critically acclaimed (and excellent) The Nine has been tanking (as in getting trounced by freakin' Dateline).  If they are forced to cancel it as well as the too high concept Daybreak (which slips into the LOST spot) ABC may very well end up losing the very night that began their big comeback two years ago.  On NBC, Kidnapped is already gone, relegated to Saturday to run its course, which is more dignity than most bombs get.

THURSDAY: CSI and Grey's Anatomy are having the biggest battle in years, finishing one and two every week and alternating who is on top.  William Peterson (Grissom) will be taking a break from the show in January and will be replaced by B list movie star, Liev Schreiber.  That might definitely swing things toward ABC as it's a pretty major shake up.  CBS is committed to Survivor, even though it's wearing thin and they picked up a full season of Shark, even though it hasn't found an audience.  ABC has the biggest new hit with Ugly Betty.  NBC has settled into third with Earl and The Office holding steady and ER enjoying a resurgence in ratings.  They will make a bid in November to reclaim the Must See Comedy moniker when Deal or No Deal slides out of the 9 o'clock hour to make room for 30 Rock and Scrubs.  All the comedic eggs are officially in one basket now.  FOX has The OC coming back, but other than that, they've lost the small foothold they once had on the night and have all but given up. 

FRIDAY:  CBS owns this night too, as Numbers and whatever other crap they put on continue to do well. ABC has gotten a better than expected performance from Men in Trees and it will probably make it to Season 2.  NBC has another game show hit with 1 vs. 100 and it shouldn't be long before they try to fill the gaping holes in their lineup with at least one all game-show night.

SATURDAY:  Still nothing on.  I checked.  Not even Kidnapped.  Liars! 

 

Here's this week's Top Ten:

1. Hang Me Up To Dry- Cold War Kids

2. The Pick of Destiny- Tenacious D

3. Sundress- Ben Kweller

4. Wildcat- Ratatat

5. A Pillar of Salt- The Thermals

6. Pushover- The Long Winters

7. Let Me Go- Wired All Wrong

8. Postcards From Italy- Beirut

9. Naive- The Kooks

10. I Need Some Fine Wine and You Need To Be Nicer- The Cardigans