DWTS star departing and I'm not even all that sad about it

According to this article, Samantha Harris is leaving Dancing with the Stars. She will not be co-hosting with Tom Bergeron when the new season premieres this spring. No word yet on who will replace her but this change definitely does not leave me in tears. Samantha said more awkward things than witty things so ridding the show of her may actually be a positive. Now if this were new about Tom leaving, then I would be in tears. How about you? Are you upset by this news or do you think this may be a blessing in disguise? Also, who would you like to see replace her?

Things at ABC won't be 'Ugly' for too much longer

According to this article and others like it, ABC has announced that this season is the last for Ugly Betty. Though I never watched the show, I know that it has a rather cult-like following. After initial success, the show has been struggling, especially since it has been bumped around the ABC line-up. After unsuccessfully airing on Friday nights for a while, the show now airs Wednesday nights. I've already heard from a few friends who are going to miss the show. Are you one of them? What makes this show special? How to you want things to end?

Castle: "Things just spun out of control"

On this week's Castle episode, Castle is named one of the top 10 most eligible bachelors in New York. In the blurb accompanying his picture it is implied that he is in a relationship with Beckett. This obviously pisses off Beckett, but it also pushes her into going on a date. Then when Beckett and Castle end up on dates at the same restaurant, things go downhill. The two are so caught up in solving the murder case they are working on it is all they can talk about on their respective dates. When they figure out the missing link they have to abandon their dates, but neither seems too disappointed.

This episode makes it clear that both Beckett and Castle's lives have changed since meeting the other. They are also beginning to understand that the other is not going anywhere so they depend on one another more than they did initially. This episode was humorous as always and the police drama was equally entertaining. Overall it was a great episode.

I still love this show and it seems like I may not be the only one. According to this article, Castle hit a series high in ratings this week, beating other 10 p.m. shows like They Jay Leno Show and a CSI: Miami repeat. I would be sad if this was the show's last season so news like this makes me happy. I hope the audience continues to grow. And if you are not watching, I think you should give it a chance.

Life Unexpected: "You've got a shot at a new life"

This week's Life Unexpected episode starts with Cate being very worried about whether or not she and Baze will be approved as temporary guardians for Lux. And before the final result is announced a lot happened. Here is a recap, broken into three parts.

1) The radio station wants Cate to lie about having a child because it will taint her reputation and the reputation of the station. So they have her read a statement on air. Lux is not supposed to hear it, but of course she does and she takes it to mean that she is unwanted. It takes some work, but with some help from Ryan, Cate proves to Lux that she is ready and willing to be her mother.
2) Lux is dropped off at school but doesn't attend. Instead she goes to her boyfriend's house. It is then that we meet some of her friends, one of whom was also trying to get emancipated from foster care. The friends make it very clear that they feel abandoned by Lux and talk shit about Cate and Baze, saying they probably don't even want her. These friends are the opposite of supportive and I was glad when Lux stopped listening to them and made up her own mind.
3) On the outside, Cate seems like the perfect parent. But she admits she has a difficult time committing to things and people, which may be her biggest fault in this instance. Then there is Baze who lives above a bar and continues to act like a teenager. After things with the social worker do not go well, Cate accuses Baze of trying to screw up on purpose because he does not really want to take on the responsibility of being a parent. Then he realizes he needs to step up and both parents say they do not want to bail on Lux again.

In the end the parent are approved, obviously or there wouldn't be a show. Anyway, I again enjoyed the episode but I'm waiting to see where the show is going. With the introduction of Lux's boyfriend and more impending drama between Cate and Baze, I can see the show continuing to be intriguing. I just hope it keeps holding my attention.

OTH: "Just tell me you know how messed up this is?"

The highlight of Monday's One Tree Hill episode came from a catfight between sisters Hailey, Quinn and Taylor. But before we get there we should start at the beginning. Here comes a recap of this week's episode.

- Julian and Alex are about a week away from starting production on their movie. For now, they are practicing with the director and things are not going well. The director tries taking advantage of Alex, thinking she is a slut. When that does not work he is really rude to Alex, yelling at her and saying inappropriate things. When the director comments crudely about Alex's suicide attempt Julian knows he has taken it too far and punches the director. Julian then also fires him. So with not much time left, Julian is without a director. That is when Brooke appeals to him and makes him realize he should direct the movie. When Julian asks his father for permission, his father says he was at the top of the replacement list.
- Mouth is back and he is worried about Millie. As for Millie, initially, Brooke is unpleasant to her while at work. But then Victoria points out to Brooke that she really needs a friend right now so Brooke tries giving Millie another shot. And Mouth decides he will stay in Tree Hill instead of returning to LA because he knows Millie shouldn't be alone.
- Hailey is obviously - and loudly - upset with Taylor for dating Quinn's recent ex-husband David. At first it is assumed that Taylor is just a bitch and that David is trying to hurt Quinn, but by the end of the episode it seems like the two just enjoy spending time with one another. Quinn and David both handled being divorced badly - David with jumping into his ex's sister's arms and Quinn with lying about sleeping with another man - but they begin to understand that they are allowed to be happy with other people.

The whole Taylor/David/Quinn drama was really funny mostly because Hailey handled it so poorly. From making tons of noise, to calling Taylor names, to hiding the cookware, it was all very Hailey. Then there was Quinn who seemed to handle the situation too well. Even when Taylor and David decided to make out at the kitchen table right in front of her, she kept her cool. While Hailey was very verbal and schemed the entire time, Quinn refused to let it bother her. How these two are related is beyond me. I just hope to see more catfights in the future, especially because I agree that Taylor is a slut and an awful person.

SYTYCD welcomes back a friendly face

No word yet as to what exactly this means in the long run, but Mia Michaels joined Nygel and Adam at the taping of next season's New York auditions. The full story is here. Honestly, I agree that there is a great diversity in choreography on So You Think You Can Dance and one choreographer is not really missed, but Mia is such a gifted choreographer that it is recognizable when she is not a part of the show. I would love if this means she will be back for season seven, but I am not yet getting my hopes up.

PP: "Your body, your choice"

While there were a few other things that happened on this week's Private Practice episode, the only thing that mattered was the drama surrounding Naomi and Sam's 15-year-old daughter's announcement that she is pregnant. Here comes a summary of what happened following the news being let out of the bag.

Following Maya telling her parents, Naomi withdrew while Sam confronted her with questions. After a few minutes of consideration, and after admitting that she feels like she failed at protecting her daughter, Naomi storms into Addison's office with Maya and demands Addison give Maya an abortion even though Maya doesn't want one. Naomi doesn't even believe in abortions, which is a belief she has passed along to Maya throughout her life. So even when Maya reluctantly agrees to the abortion, she questions whether she will go to hell or whether everything her mother has ever told her about abortions is actually untrue. In the end, Maya decides not to have the abortion.

We'll have to see what happens from here, but I can only imagine that this will be a part of the show's storyline for much of the near future. Everyone on the show will have to learn to live with this predicament and it will be interesting to see how their friends are there for Sam and Naomi.

In other happenings: Charlotte and Cooper are still feuding, Violet lied to a stranger and let him believe her son was dead, Sam confronted Maya's boyfriend who had not yet found out Maya was pregnant and Violet invited Charlotte to move in with her while she is searching for a more permanent place.

Grey's: "I choose my gift"

Here comes a recap of tonight's Grey's Anatomy episode.

- Derek wants to report Richard now that he knows he is drinking again but that would mean ending Richard's career. Meredith pleads with Derek not to while also voicing her opinion that the only reason he wants to tell is because then Derek would be named chief. The problem is that Derek no longer trusts Richard and for most of the episode he debates whether to go to the board with the information he has or to wait until Richard hurts someone. In the end, Derek goes to the board, with Meredith's reluctant permission, and Richard loses his job.
- Izzie is coming home and at first it seems like it would be for the long haul. Meredith walked in on Alex and Lexie in bed together but the three decided to keep it a secret. Later, Alex tells Izzie he slept with someone but not who, which seemed like the smart thing to do. In an out-of-character moment, Izzie tells Alex she is willing to work past his misstep. Later, Izzie realizes she is on the road to being herself again now that the cancer is gone, she is looking for a new job and she is willing to work on her relationship with Alex. So she goes to Alex, but he tells her he knows he deserves better than to be abandoned. He cannot forgive her for leaving when things got tough and he tells her to talk a job elsewhere and leave him behind. As she is packing, Izzie tells Meredith she is leaving and that she needs to start over.
- Teddy tells Cristina the chief wants her to finish up her contract, which means she will be sticking around for a few more weeks instead of leaving immediately. During this conversation, Cristina explains that she did not mean it when she traded Owen. From then, and for much of the episode, the question posed, mostly by Cristina, is would you give up the person you love for the thing you love? While responses are mixed, Cristina decides, in the end, that she could not live without surgery and after Teddy shows she has the same feelings, Cristina tells Teddy she cannot leave. Teddy then gets rather drunk and tells Owen Cristina was willing to trade him to Teddy if Teddy agreed to stay in Seattle. It seems like the correct response would have been for Owen to get angry, but instead he goes to Cristina and tells her he won't let her toss him aside because he matters.

Overall, this was an episode that was dramatic under the covers. Nothing crazy happened and no one bled everywhere. But it did examine love and the relationships the doctors at this hospital share. I liked it. Agreed?

The Deep End: "Until you learn how to swim..."

Before I start my official post on tonight's series premiere of The Deep End, I want to say that all of the "deep end" and pool innuendos were quite stupid. By the time they pushed Dylan into the pool I wanted to scream and/or turn the channel. But I did neither. Though I do want to say, on the record, that I probably will not continue watching this show, mostly for the fact that these stupid comments existed and despite the cast of rather hot guys.

Anyway, here is what I thought of the ABC show's premiere: It's a washed up idea. I know ABC has had lots of success by putting pretty people in a work environment and watching them hook up, but the idea is getting old.

The one aspect of the show I liked was that much of the drama unfolded out of the courtroom. The episode showed out of court settlements and meetings in judge's offices, which is a side you don't usually get to see on other law shows like Law & Order. That said, throwing so much inter-office sex at the audience up front removes some of the suspense.

The show is intriguing, but I can see people getting bored. What did you think? If you watched I would love to hear your opinion or the pilot.

Two 90210 stars leaving the show

According to this article, Rob Estes and Jennie Garth are no longer steady cast members of the CW's 90210. Estes will leave as of the end of the season and, apparently, there will be an explanation that makes sense. As for Garth, in a recent interview she mentioned that she is not really doing the show anymore. And in other 90210 news, this article announces that Gilmore Girls alum Scott Patterson will appear as Liam's father for a multiple episode stint when the show returns this spring.

NBC finally confirms future of late-night

Here is the TvGuide.com article confirming what we kind of already knew. Conan and NBC are parting ways, the Jay Leno show is no more and Jay is returning to the Tonight Show. There are still lots of questions, many of which are asked in the article I linked to, but the one I really want to ask is What happens when Jay returns to his 11:30 p.m. spot and the Tonight Show's ratings do not return to their previous glory? Also, am I alone is feeling badly for Conan who seemed to be royally screwed by this whole deal? And, to end on a lighter note, did you see the skit Conan performed last night as a way to screw NBC and cost them tons of money? See it below.

Big Bang: Apparently, there is crime everywhere

On this week's Big Bang Theory, Sheldon and Leonard's apartment is broken into and it kind of freaks Sheldon to the point where he can't sleep and doesn't want to be in the apartment alone. At first their response is to install a high-tech security system, but after Sheldon gets caught under an electric net, he decides to do some research and move to a low-crime town in another state. So he packs some things and goes to Montana. As soon as he gets there, a man asks him if he would like help with his bags and takes off with the luggage. Sheldon realizes there is crime everywhere and gets right back on a bus to California.

Life Unexpected: Another in a long line of predictable CW dramas

I don't know if you know this about me, but up there with Sex and the City and Friends, two of my favorite television shows past and present are Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls. So every time the CW comes out with a new show, I secretly hope it will fill the void left after these shows were discontinued. While One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl do a pretty good job of keeping me satisfied, I couldn't help myself and had pretty high expectations for Life Unexpected, which premiered on the CW Monday night. It may still be too early to make a complete judgment, but this show is lacking the wit of Gilmore Girls, so it is already falling a bit behind. But it does contain some ultimate drama, and it promises to be heartwarming, so it has that going for it.

Anyway, here is a short synopsis of the first episode. Lux, a soon-to-be 16 year old, has been bounced around foster homes for most of her life. But on the eve of this all important birthday she goes searching for her birth parents in the hopes that they will sign release forms and she can become emancipated. But then a judge refuses her emancipation request and, in a turn of events, leaves Lux in the care of her biological parents, radio talk show host Cate and never-to-grow-up bar owner Nate.

The show definitely has potential and did well in ratings, apparently beating all Gossip Girl airings from so far this season. I already knew Gossip Girl was in trouble, mostly because the fan base that seems large in number doesn't actually watch the show. We'll have to see if Gossip Girl will be able to find its footing when it returns in a few months, but for now I want to know if you watched Life Unexpected and if you agree that it is a show worth watching? I'm pretty sure I will follow the show, at least in the coming weeks, but one misstep and I will find other ways to spend my Monday nights.

Castle: "I have a hard job, Castle, and having you around makes it a little more fun"

Two important things happened in this week's Castle episode: 1) Beckett got one step closer to finding her mother's murderer and 2) Beckett finally acknowledged that she enjoys having Castle shadow her. Here come a few more details about exactly what happened in the episode.

An Irish mobster is found dead and from the wounds the medical examiner realizes that the person who killed him was a highly trained contract killer. They then realize there are patterns between this murder and four others, one of which happened to be Beckett's mother. By the end of the episode, Beckett finds closure on half of the equation. She found the hitman who physically murdered her mom, but he was shot because he had taken Castle hostage and he died before he could tell Kate who hired him.

At the end of the episode, Castle goes to Kate and apologizes for ruining her chances at finding the person who was responsible for her mother's death. He even says he will stop shadowing her, but she admits she wants him to stick around.

The second half of this week's episode was heart wrenching. The usual laid-back attitude of the show stopped the moment Beckett found out she could possibly find her mother's killer. But that only made the episode more enticing. This episode proved that there is a time and place for both the funny and serious sides of this show.

OTH: "Don't let this taking space be a long way to goodbye"

One Tree Hill picks up after a winter break six weeks in time from where we left off. This is just enough time for Alex to recover, Hailey to finish her tour, Clay to go out on the road scouting and Brooke and Julian to grow further apart. Below is a recap of what happened in Monday's episode.

- Brooke is launching a new line called Clothes For Bros. Victoria hired a male designer to help Brooke with her sketches and his name is Alexander. The two spend a lot of time together and though Alexander seems mighty willing to have a more personal relationship with Brooke, Brooke wants to keep it professional.
- Victoria, who has always been the bitch of the show, is starting to show a softer side. Just when it looked like Millie was going to have to face serious consequences after drunk driving, Victoria shows up to the courtroom and speaks on her behalf. Victoria also offers Millie her job as an assistant back, which she at first declines. It also becomes clear that Alex really wants to help Millie. Alex even goes as far as to go to a party, where she is surrounded by temptation, to drag Millie home. Millie, at first, doesn't understand why Alex is helping her, especially since Millie feels responsible for Alex's suicide attempt, but Alex is only trying to do what she wishes someone had done for her. Millie, with Alex's help, realizes she needs to take steps toward recovery and starts by accepting Victoria's job offer. At the end of the episode, Mouth also returns to Tree Hill so things may be looking up for Millie.
- Quinn's divorce is now final and things with Clay seem to be going well; They even go on their first official date. Clay also decides that he does not want to flaunt their relationship in front of Nathan, which leads to a few awkward moments. Late in the episode, Nathan acknowledges things are a bit awkward between them and says he not only wants his manager back, but that he also needs his friend back.
- Julian and Brooke are still on very rocky ground. Julian tries to talk to her, but Brooke pushes him away. He even goes to Victoria for support, which is when she realizes he is doing everything he can to mend their relationship but that Brooke needs to let him in. Brooke and Julian finally talk at the concert, but they end up fighting and Julian essentially throws in the towel. He realizes Brooke will never accept his working with Alex, which cannot be ignored now that they are filming. (In a side note, we found out that the reason the movie is being made is that Julian and his father fronted the money because Julian believes that much in Alex's script.)
- In other, and oh so random/only in Tree Hill, news, Hailey and Quinn's sister Taylor shows up at Hailey's concert and asks to stay with them while she's in town. Nathan, who if you remember correctly, lost his virginity to Taylor, was reluctant but didn't really have a choice but to say yes. When she shows up at the house we find out that she brought her boyfriend with her. And guess who her boyfriend is? Quinn's ex-husband David. We can expect some catfights out of this one.

Seth Myers says it like it is

Of all the jokes about the NBC late-night shuffle, Seth Myers had one of the best. He did a pretty great job with the "analogy" in the video below. Take a watch.

Which television shows were awarded gold last night?

Below is a list of the television shows and actors that won Golden Globes at last night's award ceremony. I was working, so didn't get to watch the ceremony, but here is a recap written by the Globe's Matthew Gilbert.

--Series, Drama: Mad Men

--Actor, Drama: Michael C. Hall for Dexter

--Actress, Drama: Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife

--Series, Musical or Comedy: Glee

--Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

--Actress, Musical or Comedy: Toni Collette for United States of Tara

--Miniseries or Movie: Grey Gardens

--Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Bacon for Taking Chance

--Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Drew Barrymore for Grey Gardens

--Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: John Lithgow for Dexter

--Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Chloe Sevigny for Big Love

And, for those interested, the people over at New York Magazine's Vulture blog put together this 20 second recap video that is supposed to summarize last night's show. It doesn't really say or show much, but it is worth the time it takes to load.

PP: "It doesn't matter now, does it?"

Before I get to the recap of this week's episode, I need to apologize for never writing a recap of the two hour Private Practice event that aired in early December. By the time I got around to it it was too late to be of any importance so I put it off permanently. So let me tell you the extreme highlights:

1) Naomi and Sam's daughter, Maya, is acting out and when Sam gives her a little space to act her age, she takes advantage, which leads to them pulling back on the reigns.
2) Addison's father was still in town and he starts an affair with Violet, which pisses off Addison who is thinking about her mother's well being. Just as Addison is beginning to trust her father, mostly because he showed interest in her work, she realizes he doesn't deserve her affection and confronts him. She wants to know why he treats every other woman in the world well, but treats her and her mom like trash.
3) Heather was cooking meth in the house with Betsie there and it blew up. Heather has a 30 percent chance of survival and, luckily, Betsie only has carbon monoxide poisoning. Dell is so angry with Heather for ruining their lives that, even when he knows she is going to die, he refuses to allow Betsie to see her so they can say their goodbyes.
4) Addison knows something is up with her family, especially when her mom shows up in LA. Then she walks in on her mom kissing her female assistant and Addison realizes her entire life has been a lie. She always thought her father was cheating on her mom, but now she knows it was all part of a scheme to keep her mother's sexuality under wraps.

Now onto a recap of this week's episode.

- Cooper and Charlotte are still not speaking. He tells Violet he can't forgive her. This also leads to some misplaced anger throughout the episode, but Violet makes Cooper realize that he needs to talk to Charlotte instead of letting it stew. The two finally confront one another and their fights starts with her secret, but blows up from there. They end up arguing about everything and say some pretty harsh things to one another. Then Cooper announces that they are breaking up because he is done. Charlotte tells him this is just a fight and that he can't dictate when their relationship ends, but he continues to spew insults and she walks out obviously also done trying.
- Betsie is visibly angry with Dell. Even though she is only 7 years old, she knows she had a right to say goodbye to her mom. But Dell still doesn't understand why he is being made into the bad guy. Naomi finally stops lying to him and tells Dell Betsie has a right to be mad. She even suggests he apologize. So he does, first apologizing to Pete and then talking with Betsie.
- Mark and his daughter, Sloan, are in LA for Addison to finish the surgery. While Sloan is being helped by Pete, Addison and Mark are alone in her office. They are both having a hard time - she just found out her mom is a lesbian and he has just been dumped. They need to numb the pain and end up having sex, which Pete and Sam both walk in on. Later, while at dinner with Sam and Naomi, Mark talks about moving to LA and having a future with Addison. He mentions this possibility multiple times, which has Sam putting up his guard. Anyway, Addison performs the surgery and things do not go as planned. Everything works out in the end, but it was up in the air for a minute. When Sloan wakes up after the surgery, Addison is there and Sloan breaks down. She cries about wanting her mom and not wanting the baby. It is then that Addison realizes Sloan needs to understand her options. Even though Addison knows Mark wants a chance to raise the baby, Addison talks to Sloan about the possibility of adoption. Later, when Mark again mentions moving to LA, Addison asks him if he wants this for the right reasons. She opens up and admits she cannot allow herself back into a relationship with a man who loves someone else. Without actually saying it, we realize Mark was settling for Addison and she realizes he wasn't thinking about her, but instead the stability she could provide.
- Naomi knows something is wrong with Maya and she tells her that she should talk about what's bothering her. So Maya goes to Addison and tells her she is pregnant.

Definitely a cliffhanger. Plus, did you see the preview for next week when Naomi slaps Maya? Next week promises to be a dramatic episode. And this week's wasn't too shabby either. I liked seeing Mark and Addison together, even if it was only for one episode. Plus, I like that we are seeing how invested Sam is in protecting Addison. This show still keeps me on the edge of my seat. Until next week...

Grey's: When the ones you love become the afterthought

After a pretty long holiday season break, Grey's Anatomy returned tonight with a new episode that also housed the beginning of a Grey's/Private Practice crossover. Below is a recap of the episode.

- The chief is still tutoring Meredith, but Derek is becoming a bit suspicious. He also, inadvertently, figures out that Bailey is covering for the chief. It doesn't take long for Derek to realize the chief made a mistake during a surgery, but he has a hard time figuring out the bigger picture. At the end of the episode, Meredith tells him Richard is drinking.
- Alex is back to his womanizing ways, specifically with Reid. When Meredith figures this out, she confronts him, reminding him that he's married. But he says he is done with Izzie and is moving on. At the end of the episode he tells Reid he does not trade sex for passes into surgeries, but that doesn't stop him from sleeping with someone else. Read on to find out who.
- Even though his daughter is taking advantage of his generosity, Mark is going out of his way to help Sloan. He also asks Lexie to help her, particularly by performing a sonogram for her. Lexie does the ultrasound, but finds something wrong. She calls in another opinion, but Mark knows who he needs if he wants the best. He calls Addison and she comes to Seattle to perform a surgery on the baby. During the surgery there is a complication and instead of allowing Addison the chance to fix everything anyway, Mark makes her stop the surgery. Before the end of the episode he decides to take Sloan to LA so Addison can finish what she started. During this episode we also saw Mark finally become a father. He even offers to help Sloan raise the baby, which is a decision he should have consulted with Lexie on first. Lexie realizes she is too young to become a grandmother, among other things, and breaks up with Mark. She moves back into Meredith's house just in time to meet Alex, who is also lonely and upset. The two, without thinking, have sex.
- Teddy gives Cristina a solo cardio surgery, which is a huge step and something Cristina is very pleased about. Then Cristina meets the patient and realizes she is eccentric to say the least. The patient makes Cristina bend over backward for her, but Cristina does it because she knows the end payoff will be worth it. In the middle of the surgery, while Teddy sits on a stool in the corner reading a magazine, the patient crashes. Cristina asks for help, but Teddy tells her she is on her own. Owen is mad at this, but Teddy knew what she was doing. Teddy forced Cristina to save the patient herself because Teddy knows Cristina needs to be pushed. Following the surgery Teddy and Owen talk. This is when Teddy realizes she needs to find another job because working with him is too difficult. When Cristina finds out she is leaving, she runs after Teddy and pleads with her. And, in a decision and discussion that happened so fast neither really thought about it, Cristina offered Teddy Owen if it meant she would stay in Seattle.

The show definitely came back with a bang. I enjoyed the episode and am looking forward to Izzie's return next week. Agreed?

NBC's new schedule

Though NBC released a post-Leno primetime schedule for the weeks following the Olympics (it is pasted below), they are still staying tight-lipped about their late night shake-up. Tmz.com is claiming that Jay Leno has reached a deal to retake over the Tonight Show, but no word yet on what happens to Conan.

Mondays
8-9 p.m. — Chuck
9-10 p.m. — Trauma (beginning March 8)
10-11 p.m. — Law & Order (returns March 1 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. (ET); resumes in regular time slot March 8)

Tuesdays
8-10 p.m. — The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m. — Parenthood (premieres March 2)

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. — Mercy
9-10 p.m. — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (encores beginning March 3)
10-11 p.m. — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (originals beginning March 3)

Thursdays
8-8:30 p.m. — Community
8:30-9 p.m. — Parks and Recreation
9-9:30 p.m. — The Office
9:30-10 p.m. — 30 Rock
10-11 p.m. — The Marriage Ref (premieres March 4; sneak preview February 28)

Fridays
8-9 p.m. — Who Do You Think You Are? (premieres March 5; Friday Night Lights returns on April 30)
9-11 p.m. — Dateline NBC (begins March 5)

Saturdays (all beginning March 6; all repeats)
8-9 p.m. — The Biggest Loser
9-10 p.m. — Law & Order
10-11 p.m. — "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Sundays (all beginning March 14)
7-8 p.m. — Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. — Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. — The Celebrity Apprentice

The powers that be realized what we already knew

According to this article, Dancing with the Stars' tenth season, which will begin airing March 22, will feature about 11 or 12 contestants, down from the 16 who competed last season. I already voiced my opinion about the large number of contestants and am happy they realized the mistake. With the show airing two seasons per year, there are simply not enough second-rate celebrities to fill the spots, plus it is too difficult to get to know 16 contestants in such a short amount of time. I think 11 or 12 is a pretty good amount, especially if that leads to one person being sent home per week. I hope this is a retreat that sticks. Agreed?

Castle: "He heard wedding and probably got cold feet"

In an episode where a murdered bridesmaid led to the postponement of a wedding, we got the chance to see a softer side of Castle. The bride, whose bridesmaid was murdered the morning of the wedding, was Castle's "one who got away." The two met in college, had been in love for three years and broke up because he did not follow her when she left. Throughout the episode, the attraction between Castle and Kyra (played by Alyssa Milano) was obvious.

We also saw Beckett continue to deny her feelings for Rick, yet it was also obvious that they were percolating. I honestly feel so torn about the chemistry between Castle and Beckett. On the one hand, I would love to see them romantically involved. But on the other, the dynamics of television shows always change when the two main character start a relationship. Regardless, I continue to enjoy this show and hope you are watching too.

Palin no longer just a politician

Sarah Palin can now add TV news contributor to her resume. The former vice presidential candidate signed with Fox News yesterday and will be a contributor to numerous programs as well as occasionally host shows on her own. For more information, click here.

While I dislike Palin, if this means her chances of running for president in 2012 are slightly lower, than I support the move. But honestly, the Fox News channel is exactly where she belongs. She makes ridiculous comments that have no basis in the truth and she will soon find herself at home. She needs something to keep her in the spotlight, and this was the move she needed to make to ensure she wasn't forgotten. I just hope people will continue to see past her propaganda and see her for the unintelligent person she truly is.

NBC drama, but not in the form of a television show

While things seemed to be moving smoothly with the NBC late night shake-up, Conan O'Brien rejected NBC's proposal to move his Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. weeknights. The full story is here. I have to admit, I didn't see this coming. It will be interesting to see what happens next since NBC has already announced that the Jay Leno Show will no longer be airing at 10 p.m. Does this mean NBC will have to part ways with either Leno or O'Brien? Would you be sad if one was forced to leave the late night arena?

Cowell calling it quits

Simon Cowell announced yesterday that he will not be returning to American Idol next season, but instead will serve as a judge and executive producer of an American version of The X-Factor. Here is more information as written by Matthew Gilbert on the Boston.com Viewer Discretion blog.

I stopped watching American Idol years ago, but I do understand the show's appeal. Yet, with all the recent changes - first with adding a fourth judge, then rule changes, followed by Paula leaving and Ellen joining - it seems like a bit much. I know the show has a strong following, but I can't help but wonder if it will continue. While there are people who complain about Simon being too cruel, how many of the viewers watch only because they find Simon entertaining? We'll have to see what happens, but I'd like to hear your opinion. Feel free to leave comments.

I'm gleeful for Glee

Not that I had any doubts, but according to this blog post, Glee will be returning for a second season. Also announced in the post is that producers are looking for new cast members and the nationwide search will be its own reality show this summer. I can't think of many things more fun than being on such an awesome show as Glee. If only I was a good singer...

Howie finds a new job

After news that David Hasselhoff will not be returning as a judge on the NBC show America's Got Talent, it was announced that Howie Mandel will become the third judge. Here is the full story. Honestly, I don't have much of an opinion on this because I don't really watch the show. But I do think Mandel is a step up from Hasselhoff. I think the show will continue to do just fine even following the change.

The CW Monday shake-up

The new series, Life Unexpected, will premiere Monday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m., which is the same day new One Tree Hill episodes begin airing. But this also means that Gossip Girl will be out of a timeslot and fans will have to wait until April 19 for new episodes. While this makes me very sad, Life Unexpected does look a bit intriguing. Below is a nine minute sneak preview of the show. Leave comments about whether or not you think the show will be worth watching. Also, is anyone else upset about the delay before new GG?

News that may make every 6-year-old girl cry

Following its fourth season, which will air through 2011, the popular Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, starring Miley Cyrus, may end its run. Though the show is still highly popular, especially with young girls, I can see how Cyrus would want to move on. Does anyone else remember Hillary Duff? Anyway, the full story is here and feel free to leave comments about whether you think this is a good move.

Who did the people choose to be their winners?

Below is a list of the People's Choice Awards winners in the television categories. Also, embedded below is a video put together by New York Magazine's Vulture blog crew highlighting some of the award show's awkward moments.

Favorite TV DRAMA

* House

Favorite TV COMEDY

* The Big Bang Theory

Favorite TV DRAMA ACTOR

* Hugh Laurie

Favorite TV DRAMA ACTRESS

* Katherine Heigl

Favorite TV COMEDY ACTOR

* Steve Carell

Favorite TV COMEDY ACTRESS

* Alyson Hannigan

Favorite TV OBSESSION

* True Blood

Favorite COMPETITION SHOW

* American Idol

Favorite NEW TV DRAMA

* The Vampire Diaries

Favorite NEW TV COMEDY

* Glee

Favorite ANIMAL SHOW

* Dog Whisperer

Leno update

Here is a blog post from the Globe's Matthew Gilbert and here is another blog post, this one from the New York Times' Bill Carter. Gilbert suspects that The Jay Leno Show will not continue in its current form, while Carter's post talks more about specifics. It seems that Leno will move to 11:35 p.m., Conan will take over at 12:05 a.m. and Fallon will move to 1:05 a.m. This would free up the 10 p.m. hour five nights a week. All of this is still speculation and for now it seems like the changes will not take effect until after the Olympics.

Jay Leno, the McDonald's employee?

While I'm sure Jay Leno would never have to stoop as low as to become a McDonald's burger flipper, the fact that he mentioned how he may be "doing this again very soon" (this being working at McDonald's) may mean there have already been discussions about discontinuing The Jay Leno Show. Below is the video and here is a link to another blog post about the slip. What do you think? Is The Jay Leno Show in danger? Should it be? Are you watching? Let me know.

Sharon Stone taking on the small screen

Movie star Sharon Stone is stepping away from the big screen for a multiple episode stint on Law & Order: SVU. Stone will play a new assistant district attorney, a role that has been difficult to fill long term this season. While I'm sure Stone will do a pretty good job, I think maybe the show should move away from the blond, bitter assistant DA type. Maybe a man would be able to successfully hold the position.

Morgan Freeman adds new position to resume

Below is the AP news brief:

Nearly six months after Walter Cronkite’s death, his voice is leaving the “CBS Evening News.’’ His introduction of anchor Katie Couric was replaced yesterday by a voice-over featuring actor Morgan Freeman. The CBS News anchor recorded the introduction, played at the beginning of most newscasts, when Couric started at CBS in 2006. Cronkite’s voice was kept on the air even after his death July 17. Having Freeman on board gives CBS the flexibility to record different intros when Couric has special reports and is on location, said CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus. (AP)

While I appreciate the need to be able to change the intro as necessary, Cronkite is a piece of journalistic history and I am sad to say goodbye. Hearing his voice nightly was a reminder of the golden days of journalism. I don't doubt Freeman will do a wonderful job in the position, I only think Cronkite deserves to be recognized as the news program moves in a different direction.

Another rotation of Celebrity Apprentice

While it is always easy to talk about how "celebrity" reality television shows feature few actual celebrities and more has-beens, this joke is a bit played out. So instead, I will jump straight into a list of the 2010 cast of the Celebrity Apprentice, which includes the usual athletes, washed-up comedians, nobodies and Blago. So, without further adieu, here is the list.

- former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich

- baseball legend Darryl Strawberry

- "Rock of Love" star Bret Michaels

- reality TV star Sharon Osbourne

- track star Michael Johnson

- actress Holly Robinson Peete

- comic Carol Leifer

- comedian Sinbad

- swimming champ Summer Sanders

- wrestlers Bill Goldberg and Maria Kanellis

- celebrity chef Curtis Stone

- model Selita Ebanks

- singer Cyndi Lauper


Any early favorites? Who do you think will do well? And who do you expect to do poorly?

No one wants to wear those stupid glasses while sitting in their living room

According to this article, the days of watching television shows in 3D while in your living room are not far off, but you will have to buy a 3D capable television first.

UPDATE: This article reports that ESPN and the Discovery Channel are close to launching stations in 3D.

While I'm sure there are people out there who enjoy 3D, I can't help but see the negatives. First, I don't think it is fair to ask millions of Americans to buy new televisions, which are, of course, going to be extremely overpriced when they first become available. Second, not every show will have 3D elements so will it really be worth it? Plus, if you have a smaller television, the effects will most likely be lost. All in all, I don't see the necessity of this. Am I missing something? Are there people who are really excited about this transition?

Happy New Year to all

And before we start looking to television of a new decade, let's take a moment and recap the best television shows from the previous decade. Click here to see which shows made TvGuide.com's list and feel free to tell me if you agree or, more likely, which shows you think are missing.