Picks of the Week: The Return of the Cheesy Goodness and A Bravo Bonus

“CSI: Miami” actually returned with a new episode last week, but it was rather ordinary. This week, however, we get a two-parter on two consecutive nights featuring the return of Elizabeth Berkley’s Julia.

And that means the return of the cheesy goodness. Which makes “CSI: Miami” my Pick of the Week.

Remember when Horatio killed the man in Brazil who killed his wife? Apparently Julia does too because she’s using that information to get Horatio into a little jam. Plus, Calleigh finds herself in dire straits.

“CSI: Miami” airs Monday, March 31st and Tuesday, April 1st at 10 p.m. on CBS…

Now for my Bravo Bonus Pick, which is the season finale of “Make Me a Supermodel.”

It should be no surprise to you that I’m hooked on “Supermodel.” It is on Bravo after all. So I’m eager to see how it turns out.

In the finale, the models will be reunited with their significant others. In other reality shows, that would be a happy occasion. But “Model” has been occurring in real time which means Ben’s wife will no doubt have questions about Ben’s relationship with Ronnie and Perry will have to face his girlfriend who’s been linked with Britney Spears’ paparazzo boyfriend.

This should be good…

As for who will win, I think America chose Ronnie, even though I think Perry should win.

“Make Me a Supermodel” airs Thursday, April 3rd at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

This Weekend

So, I’m going out of town the next couple of days to get this whole computer thing taken care of.

But I hope to be back sometime Sunday with LOTS of stuff, so, of course…

Stay Tuned…

So What About Britney?

I just knew that all of that hype was going to be for nothing, but somehow I still fell for it.

And I’m glad I did because Monday’s episode of “How I Met Your Mother” was the kind of sweet, romantic comedy I haven’t seen in a long time. I barely even noticed Britney was there…

If Alicia Silverstone did back out of playing the role of Stella because she didn’t want to be overshadowed, I can understand why—which is a real shame because Sarah Chalke (Stella) was the true star of the show. She showed a romantic charm that we haven’t seen on “Scrubs” and her chemistry with Josh Radnor (Ted) was amazing.

And what about that two-minute date at the end of the episode? Not only was it completely charming, but it was quite a technical achievement since it was done completely in one take.

So, what about Britney? The word I would use would be adequate. She wasn’t great, but she wasn’t bad either. I probably would rate her performance a little higher if we hadn’t heard ALL of her jokes in the promos.

However, you can’t really blame CBS for mega-hyping her appearance—especially since it aired opposite “Dancing With the Stars.” And if it helps “Mother” get renewed, then I’m all for it. Hey, it got me to watch…

Maybe Britney could return as Barney’s girlfriend and show him how to really party…

I’m especially hoping that Chalke will be able to return so she can be revealed as the mother.

I would definitely watch then…

The Walls Will Tumble No More

Okay, I know I said you wouldn’t hear from me for the rest of this week, but I couldn’t let this one go by without saying something…

One of the best television-related stories in recent memory will come to an unhappy ending tomorrow night as “Jericho” airs it series finale.

CBS officially cancelled the show last week after dismal ratings. I have no doubt that the fans are already mounting a campaign, but I also have no doubt that it will fall on deaf ears this time.

I was really hoping that “Jericho” would become a hit after the great fan revolution, but it just never happened. Yes, the show still scored high with DVR and Internet viewers, but it just wasn’t enough.

So, tomorrow, the show will air its alternate ending to give the fans some sort of resolution. But from what I hear, it’s not going to make them very happy…

If any of the Jericho Rangers are reading this, I salute your efforts and I hope that you don’t feel they were in vain. You accomplished something pretty tremendous. I just wish more people had joined you…

And I salute CBS for giving the show another chance. As much as I would’ve liked to have seen another season, I understand they have no choice here.

The series finale of “Jericho” airs Tuesday, March 26th at 10 p.m. on CBS…

Technical Difficulties...

So, just as I was sitting down to post my Pick of the Week, my laptop decided to go on the fritz. So now, I am without a computer at my house…

Which unfortunately means you won’t see updates on my blog for a little while, until I get things fixed. I apologize and I promise to be back just as soon as I can…

By the way, my Pick this week was going to be “How I Met Your Mother” which features a special guest appearance by Britney Spears. You can see it tonight (Monday) at 8:30 p.m. on CBS…

"Dancing With the Stars": Could Priscilla Take the Mirror Ball?

So if you had told me that Priscilla Presley was going to be in second place at the end of tonight’s performances, I would’ve asked you what you had been drinking.

But lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened after Priscilla gave a strong performance with her partner, returning pro and tour choreographer Louis van Amstel.

Of course, it was no surprise that Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas topped the night with an almost flawless performance. So far, they’re making my prediction look good…

And last night, Adam Carolla made my prediction about Julianne Hough not three-peating look good—or bad, depending on how you look at it. Apparently, no one told Julianne she’d just be wasting her time trying to teach him since Adam’s only there to work on his jokes—and they need A LOT of work…

And yes, you heard correctly. Adam did call Carrie Ann a word rhyming with witch—much to Julianne’s chagrin.

You know I’m not a fan of this show, but I’ll keep my eye on it—especially to see if Priscilla can keep up this pace. I think that would be really cool if she could…

Feel free to post your comments and let me know what you think…

"SNL" Gets Fierce!

Speaking of “Project Runway,” I have to share this clip from “Saturday Night Live,” featuring Amy Poehler doing a dead-on impersonation of winner Christian Siriano…

It’s fierce!

Did Anyone "Dance" Away With Your Vote?

So, I was going to watch a few minutes of “Dancing With the Stars,” but then I turned over to Bravo and saw they were doing a “Project Runway” marathon.

I don’t think I have to tell you which show won out…

However, I know that a lot of you out there are “Dancing” fans, so feel free to tell me what happened by posting a comment.

And remember that the women will dance tomorrow at 9 p.m. on ABC in a head-to-head battle with “American Idol”…

Pick of the Week: It's Going to Be a Doozy

I said last week that if any of the networks could come up with something as good as a Bravo reality show that I would be happy to pick it.

I think I found something…

My Pick of the Week is “Lost.”

Thursday’s episode is the last one until late April (Stupid Writers’ Strike!) and it promises to be a doozy as we find out what happened to Michael after he left the island. Plus, if the ABC promos are to be believed, someone is going to die. And from what I’ve been hearing, it’s not going to be some random supporting character.

“Lost” airs Thursday, March 20th at 9 p.m. on ABC…

And since it’s Easter Weekend coming up, I can’t not mention my favorite Easter tradition, “The Ten Commandments.” Though I’m still a little bummed that it no longer gets a Sunday airing, I’m still glad the tradition is continuing. Yes, I know the acting is a little stilted and campy and it goes on just a touch too long, but it’s a classic and I love every minute of it…

“The Ten Commandments” airs Saturday, March 22nd at 7 p.m. on ABC…

"Lost": Manipulatively Brilliant

How big of a “Lost” fan am I becoming? So big that I’m actually catching all of the little clues the show loves to tease us with.

And then Thursday morning, I immediately visit EW.com to read Doc Jensen’s blog for more clues and theories.

Man, do I need help…

[Warning: If you have not seen Thursday’s episode of “Lost,” stop reading now…]

I knew something was not quite right with Thursday’s episode. I was so sure that Sun was going to die that I thought this was a flashback to another baby that she lost. But then the nurse said she was part of the Oceanic Six, so I figured I was wrong…

Then, there was Jin. I barely recognized him with his long hair and his young-looking appearance (The makeup people on this show are amazing.). Something didn’t seem right. And then there was that cell phone that definitely looked like an older model. And when Jin chased after the car, he screamed, “I’ll kill you.” That was the attitude of the old Jin, not the guy we’ve been seeing on the island. Plus, there was something strange about the toy store owner telling us it was the year of the dragon. I hadn’t heard anything about that.

And then it hit me, just seconds before it was revealed. We were watching two different stories. Sun was in flash-forward. Jin was in flashback.

You can argue that it was manipulative and deceptive, but I thought it was awesome and brilliant…

And I was so proud of myself for catching it…

Something else I caught? The date of Jin’s death on his tombstone: September 22, 2004, the date Oceanic 815 crashed. This means that Jin is part of the lie that the Oceanic Six are keeping from the world. Either he dies on the island (or in the process of escaping the island) and they lie and say he died on the plane (Remember that Jack said there were only eight survivors. Maybe he’s one of the two that “didn’t make it.”), or he is still on the island and they lie and say he died on the plane. I can’t believe that he would let Sun return alone, so I’ve got to believe it’s the first one…

One thing I did not catch was the image of Nikki on Sun’s TV when she went into labor. Apparently she was part of a show called “Expose” (Remember, she was an actress.)…

I also didn’t make any connections to Regina, the woman who jumped off the freighter, and events we had already seen, but fortunately Doc Jensen came up with a pretty good theory. He speculates that Regina is the R.G. that was inscribed on Naomi’s ring and that she jumped because she was devastated over her death. Interesting, no?...

So now, the Oceanic Six are complete: Jack, Kate, Aaron, Hurley, Sayid and Sun. Or at least I think they are. We’ll see…

You’ll notice that I haven’t yet mentioned the appearance of Michael. That’s probably because for me, that was the least important part of the episode.

However, that’s mostly because since I am now obsessed with “Lost” Internet chatter, I had already read the speculation that Michael was on the freighter. And because I don’t what to ruin it for any of you, I won’t tell you the two theories that are going around now about what he’s doing there…

But I will tease you with this. Juliet said that Sun had to be off the island within three weeks. Since Sun had a healthy baby, we know she must’ve left the island in that timeframe. But if you’re thinking that three weeks means next season, you’re going to be sadly mistaken…

“Lost” airs Thursday, March 20th at 9 p.m. on ABC…

Book Review: A Good "sTori"

You know someone’s a good storyteller when you actually feel sorry for them that they only inherited $800,000.

Not to mention that you almost understand when they cheat on their spouse.

But somehow Tori Spelling manages to do both of those things in her new book, “sTori Telling”…

I was never a “90210” fan (although I did catch the final few episodes) and I’ve never been a Tori Spelling fan. But I loved “So NoTORIous,” so I got Tori’s book to get some more juicy gossip on her life.

And there is plenty, but not the kind I was looking for. Tori teases us with the revelation that all the actors on “90210” were hooking up with each other, but she doesn’t share who (other than her hookups with Brian Austin Green). And she breezes over the whole Shannen Doherty controversy a little too quickly for my taste. She also shares a little nugget about the actors re-writing the scripts during the final season of “90210,” but she doesn’t go into detail.

Several times she glosses over the real dirt, by saying “it’s not my story to tell”—which is true, but when has that stopped anyone else? I guess you have to admire her for that…

Instead we get only her story. And even if it isn’t as juicy as we might like, Tori still finds a way to keep us reading. We hear about her bad relationships with men, her dream wedding to the “wrong man,” and her affair/divorce/marriage.

At the heart of the tale, however, is Tori’s relationship with her mother, which she details with brutal honesty. What’s refreshing, though, is that she doesn’t completely blame her mother for their problems, but accepts some of the responsibility herself (and also reserves some for her dad).

I have to say that reading this book made me even more appreciative of the relationship I had with my mother. We had our moments, but it was nothing like this—a relationship carried on through e-mail and in the press. Tori’s mom never even called Tori to tell her her dad died. Tori found out via a text message from a reporter friend.

See? Now you’re feeling sorry for her…

If you’re a Tori Spelling fan, or someone who’s just interested in her life, you should definitely pick up “sTori Telling.” It’s breezy style sucks you in until you just have to sit down and read the whole thing.

If you’re looking for some juicy “90210” scoop, you’ll have to wait until Shannen Doherty or maybe Jennie Garth writes their books…

John Rich Gets Real--Again

Is John Rich becoming the new king of reality TV?

Rich, who just completed his stint as the host/judge on CMT’s “Gone Country,” has signed on as a judge/mentor for “Nashville Star.” Rich will write and produce the winner’s debut single.

Apparently someone at NBC was watching Rich’s scathing critiques of the contestants on “Country” and realized what a good judge he would be. But the contestants better not have any pop aspirations or he will shoot them down immediately since he’ll “die for country music.”

Also, AEG Live and Warner Bros. Records will join forces to produce a tour after the show ends.

“Nashville Star,” hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus, will premiere June 9th at 9:30 p.m. on NBC…

"Gone Country" Finale: Screaming Women Make the Difference

Friday was the finale of one of the most endearing reality shows I’ve ever seen, CMT’s “Gone Country.”

I mean, what other show has all of the competitors rooting each other on and giving advice before the final competition?

And what other show could expose the lead singer of a classic heavy metal band as a total pussycat?

After John Rich and Randy Owen rated the contestants’ demos of the songs they had written, two clear favorites had emerged—Bobby Brown with his heartfelt ballad, “The Man I’m Gonna Be” and Maureen McCormick’s classic honkytonk ballad, “Being Me.”

You might recall that my early pick was Diana DeGarmo. But John knocked her for doing a pop vocal. When he asked Diana why she wanted to get into country music, she said “she wanted a challenge” and John absolutely trashed her for her answer, giving an impassioned speech about how he wasn’t looking for someone looking for a coattail ride and that he’d die for country music. As she said, he made Simon Cowell look like a pussycat. So I wrote her off…

But she did manage to countrify her ballad, “Right Back Where We Ended” about the revolving door of a relationship, and give a good final performance in front of a Nashville crowd.

In fact, all of them were good performances. Julio Iglesias Jr. did “The Way I Want You” that sounded more like an Enrique Iglesias song than a country song, but the women in the audience loved it—especially when he sang in Spanish. Carnie Wilson sang a really cute song about how her daughter changed her life called “Everything Changed.” Sisqo did a ballad called “The Way That I Love You” that did have a country sound, but he kind of messed it up with some of his R&B dance moves. And Dee Snider did a rollicking country tune called “30 (Rock Out With Your Rooster Out)” that was going well until he flipped off the audience and dropped the f-bomb.

But as Dee said after Maureen’s performance, “She’s got us” and I was sure that she did—although it was hard to deny Bobby’s impassioned, slightly intoxicated performance. Mo did not have the strongest voice, but her song was classic, Loretta Lynn-style country.

So, after all of the performances, John gathered the contestants around to name the artist he thought had the best chance of going country. His criteria were the quality of the song, how the performance went, how the artist fit into the country lifestyle over the two weeks of the show, and the artist’s x-factor.

And after all of that, he awarded the “Gone Country” ring to…Julio?!

As I said, Julio’s song did not have a country sound and the lyrics certainly weren’t country (I want you/you know I do/I need you to want me too). Not to mention that Julio seemed to adjust to the country lifestyle worse than any of the other contestants. So why did John choose him?
Two words: screaming women. John saw all those screaming women and started counting dollar signs.

He seemed to be defending his decision in an interview with “Billboard” before the results were announced. “We have been looking for a bridge to bridge that gap between the Hispanic community and country music for forever. We could really use a couple of artists that speak their language and speak our language and bridge the two together. If he wanted to stick with it and take a serious run at it, he could do something.”

The other contestants were as shocked as I was, but no one was more shocked than Julio. Personally, I don’t think the contest meant that much to him, but now he’s got a single sent to country radio stations and a major cheerleader in one of today’s biggest country stars.

Personally, I would’ve chosen Maureen, but I would’ve looked up some of my R&B friends (Randy Jackson, perhaps?) and co-produced Bobby’s track with them. Bobby’s song has the catchiest hook of them all (“I’ve been locked up/messed up/I came so close to almost giving up), but it really does have more of an R&B feel. I think it could be a big comeback for him, so I hope he doesn’t give up on it.

You can judge for yourself with the final performances in their entirety and Julio’s video on the CMT website…

Julianne’s Country Career Gets a Major Boost

Brad Paisley has announced his 2008 tour with special guests Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough.

Yes, that’s the same Julianne who is the two-time defending champion on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The 42-date tour will kick off June 11th.

Julianne’s debut album is scheduled for release May 20th on Universal Records. Her first single, “That Song In My Head,” has already been released to country radio.

You can hear the song here.



So what do you think? Can Julianne make it in country music or should she stick to dancing?

Feldman Starts the Buzz for "The Two Coreys"

The new season of “The Two Coreys” is shaping up to be a pretty good one.

Either that or Corey Feldman has really learned how to generate buzz…

In his blog, Feldman writes that filming on the second season is nearly complete and it may be “the end of the two Coreys as a thing, or an entity, or whatever you want to call it. Haim and my friendship has taken another blow, and this one may be fatal. I really don’t see how it can possibly go on after what has transpired over the last few weeks.”

He does have a fine flair for the dramatic, doesn’t he?

Corey also said that the show this season feels more like cinema, whereas last year it was designed to feel like a sitcom.

“The Two Coreys” is scheduled to premiere this summer on A&E…

Pick of the Week: Utensils Down, Hands Up!

You guys are probably starting to think I’m a broken record since I keep picking Bravo reality shows…

So I’ll make you a promise. When a network show comes close to the greatness that is Bravo, I will be happy to pick it.

But until then, this week’s Pick of the Week is the premiere of “Top Chef: Chicago.”

I don’t know what it is about this show that hooked me last season. Most of the time, I have no idea what they’re making and I can guarantee you I wouldn’t eat most of it. Yet somehow, I can’t stop watching.

Thankfully for me, the first challenge in the premiere involves making pizza, which I would eat—except something tells me they’re going to put all that fancy culinary crap that I don’t understand on it…

And I wouldn’t dare miss it…

“Top Chef: Chicago” premieres Wednesday, March 12th at 10 p.m. (until 11:15 p.m.) on Bravo…

"Project Runway" A "Major" Finale

I planned on summing up last night’s “Project Runway” finale with Christian Siriano’s favorite word—fierce.

But then guest judge Victoria Beckham gave me a better word—major.

Because when the runway show is the best it’s ever been in the show’s four seasons, that is major indeed…

Warning: If you have not yet seen the “Project Runway” finale, stop reading now…

However, I thought the show as a whole was a little strange. First, there was no drama in the workroom. They tried to create a little drama with Jillian’s model casting, but even that turned out to be nothing. Second, there were no fights between the designers, only group hugs. And lastly, the judges had hardly any bad things to say about the collections, and there was very little interrogation of the designers.

But in the judges’ defense, there was very little they could say since the collections were so good. There were only one or two pieces total that I didn’t care for.

Now granted, nothing in Christian’s collection was my taste (or very wearable), but you had to admire his skill and creativity.

And it was all that skill and creativity that helped him get the win—and a well-deserved one at that. It’s the first time in the show’s history that I completely agreed with the judges’ decision.

There were, however, two surprises during the episode. First, when Jillian was “aufed” before Rami. Although the judges’ comments didn’t really explain why, I think it was because her collection was not cohesive enough. And boy, was she unhappy about it…

The second surprise came when the cocky, arrogant Christian became almost insecure. In the workroom, he wondered how he could compete with Rami and Jillian’s talent. Then he was so nervous on the runway he couldn’t even answer Michael Kors’ question. And then, as he stood on the runway with Rami, awaiting the decision, he tried to hold his head up, but the tears were already flowing. When Heidi named him the winner, he completely broke down.

But, of course, the Christian we know and love made a comeback when he told Tim (and us) he knew he would win. And his Saturn promo at the end? Totally fierce.

And now, I’ll have to find something else to watch on TV during the evenings since the countless “Runway” reruns will be gone. Thank goodness “Top Chef” is just around the corner…

Tim, I miss you already…

You can see additional scenes from the finale tonight during “Make Me a Supermodel” at 10 p.m. on Bravo…

Photo courtesy of BravoTV.com

"New Amsterdam" Review: Something Intriguing...

In the TV world, if a show doesn’t come out full blazes in the first episode, it doesn’t usually make it to the second.

But in today’s TV world, where we have such a lull in original programming thanks to the strike, unless a show does just dreadfully, it gets a little more of a shot.

And that’s good for a show like “New Amsterdam”…

If you missed it, “Amsterdam” revolves around a New York City homicide detective with an interesting secret—he’s immortal.

In 1642 in the colony of New Amsterdam (which eventually became New York City), John Amsterdam (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) takes a sword in the back to save the life of a Native American girl. To repay him, the girl casts a spell on him that makes him immortal—until he finds the love of his life. The only person who knows his secret is jazz club owner Omar (Stephen Henderson).

In the opener, John suffers a “fatal” heart attack when he sees Sara (Alexie Gilmore), which makes him believe that she is his soulmate and he sets out to find her. Of course, that’s going to be hard to sell her on since she pronounced him dead (She’s a doctor.), only to have his body disappear later from her ER.

Since it’s a detective show, there was a mystery as well as John uses the knowledge he’s gained over his lifetime to give the case a different perspective than his feisty partner, Eva (Zuleikha Robinson).

In all honesty, the pilot was kind of dull. The visuals were stunning, but there was not much story. The murder mystery was slightly interesting, but you could see the ending from a mile away.

However, it was great to see Stephen Schnetzer (Cass from “Another World”) back on TV. I’ve missed him…

But there’s just something intriguing about this show. Maybe it’s the whole immortal element with someone who has to watch everything and everyone he loves age while he stays the same. Maybe it’s the idea of true love making someone human. Or maybe it’s the fact that the leading man is seriously hot.

Whatever it is, I’m not ready to give up on this one yet. You should give it a shot too…

“New Amsterdam” airs Thursday, March 6th at 9 p.m. before moving to its regular timeslot Monday, March 10th at 9 p.m…

Are We In for Another Strike?

Just when you thought things were at peace in TV world, another possible work stoppage looms on the horizon…

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists contract with the AMPTP expires June 30th. But SAG is taking its sweet time getting to the bargaining table, which is making people nervous.

People were made even more nervous by SAG’s announcement that it will offer “guaranteed completion contracts” to indie feature producers, just like the WGA did for more than 20 companies during the writers’ strike. This announcement is a sign that SAG is not expecting a quick resolution to talks—when they do finally begin.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg has said the guild won’t be ready to negotiate until April, but AFTRA and actors such as George Clooney are pushing for the negotiations to start sooner. AFTRA President Roberta Reardon sent a letter to Rosenberg to let him know if SAG is not ready to negotiate by March 31st that it will start bargaining on its own. This would diminish SAG’s leverage at the bargaining table, but Rosenberg has not responded publicly to the letter.

Meanwhile, film studios have ramped up production in anticipation of a possible strike.

It just makes you want to cry, doesn’t it?...

“Swingtown” Finally Swings Onto TV Screens

Remember way back in May when I told you about the new CBS drama, “Swingtown,” about swinging couples in 1970s suburbia?

You’re finally about to see it…

CBS has announced that “Swingtown” is getting a summer run. The show was originally scheduled for midseason, and then the executive producer went back to “Jericho” after the fans resurrected it, and then the writers’ strike happened.

The show was meant to be part of CBS’s attempt to push the boundaries. But the network’s first two attempts at that—“Viva Laughlin” and “Kid Nation”—both failed and its third, “Moonlight” is on the bubble. Those failures, a summer run, the FCC’s continued crackdown on racy content and protests by family values watchdog groups of such shows do not bode well…

“Swingtown” will be joined on CBS’s summer schedule by “Flashpoint,” a drama about a strategic response unit based on Toronto’s Emergency Task Force…

NBC's "All-American Summer"

To get us pumped up for the Olympics, NBC is having an “All-American Summer”…

“American Gladiators” will return May 12th at 8 p.m…

“Last Comic Standing” returns May 22nd. Remember when NBC actually cancelled that show? Oh, how times have changed…

“Fear Itself,” a new horror anthology series, debuts May 29th at 10 p.m…

“Nashville Star,” hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus, premieres June 9th at 9:30 p.m…

“Celebrity Circus,” in which celebs compete to perform in a Cirque de Soleil style show, premieres June 11th at 9 p.m…

“America’s Got Talent” will return with A LOT of extended episodes June 24th at 9 p.m…

And “The Baby Borrowers,” a reality show in which childless couples borrow babies to see how they handle them, premieres June 25th at 8 p.m…

The CW Makes Its Plans for the Future

The CW has renewed six shows for next season: “Gossip Girl,” “America’s Next Top Model,” “One Tree Hill,” “Smallville,” “Supernatural,” and “Everybody Hates Chris.”

That leaves “Reaper” and “Aliens In America"--two of the critics' top choices before the season began--on the bubble.

The CW also announced that it is cutting its comedy department and merging the drama and current programming units. This means that the CW will back off on developing new sitcoms…

Picks of the Week: Two Grand Finales

Thanks to the Writers’ Strike, our TV schedule is full of cheesy reality shows.

But this week, two of the best reality shows—in no way affected by the strike—say goodbye and you won’t want to miss them.

So, my Picks of the Week are the season finales of “Project Runway” and “Gone Country”…

As I figured, it was Rami that joined Christian and Jillian to compete in this week’s “Runway” finale. I knew as soon as I read that Chris was using human hair on some of his pieces that he didn’t have a chance.

I was also positive after seeing pictures from Fashion Week that Christian was a shoo-in to win this thing. But after seeing some of Jillian’s line and the previews that show Christian literally breaking down, I’m not so sure now…

“Project Runway” airs Wednesday, March 5th at 10 p.m…

“Gone Country” is one of this season’s biggest surprises. What should have been a stupid show is actually an endearing and entertaining one.

It’s been fun to watch Maureen McCormick and Bobby Brown bond and to watch Bobby’s sleepwalking which causes an attempted urinating on his roommate Dee Snider. And Carnie Wilson is just adorable.

Friday, all of the contestants must perform their original country song in front of a large Nashville audience and then John Rich will choose a winner.

“Gone Country” airs Friday, March 7th at 8 p.m. on CMT…

And if you haven’t seen any of the episodes you can catch up with the “Gone Country Weekend” beginning Saturday, March 8th at 6:30 p.m…

Say it isn’t so…

I guess it was just a matter of time, but I’m still not happy about it…

ABC is turning “High School Musical” into a reality show.

The series will show a nationwide talent hunt, followed by the chosen few showing their skills at a music conservatory. The prospective Troys and Gabriellas will be eliminated each week until a winner is chosen. No word on what the winner will receive.

“HSM” stars are expected to appear during the show, which will likely premiere this summer…

Scrub In for a Big Battle

There’s a battle brewing between NBC and ABC over “Scrubs”…

Thursday, the “Hollywood Reporter” said that a deal was almost done that would bring the show to ABC (ABC Studios produces it.). But Friday, NBC was caught totally off guard by the story since it thought it was still in negotiations.

NBC vowed to take legal action if the story was true since ABC Studios would be in breach of contract.

Here’s the deal. There are six remaining episodes under NBC’s 18-episode order. NBC and ABC Studios were negotiating to see if NBC would air these eps, or if some would go to DVD to give the show a proper ending for its last season. NBC was hesitant to show the love, fearing a move to ABC for another season.

Of course, when has NBC ever showed “Scrubs” any love? It’s been moved 17 times in seven seasons…

But there’s no way NBC will let ABC just swoop in and take the show away from them. So, NBC might give in just to keep ABC from winning.

Reports are that if the show did move to ABC next season, the entire cast would be on board.

Meanwhile, NBC has scheduled the five eps completed before the strike beginning April 10th…

ABC Gets Real

ABC announced this week that it’s renewing five of its reality shows…

Coming back next season are “Wife Swap,” “Supernanny,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” “The Bachelor” will be switched next season with “The Bachelorette”…

Billy Ray is Back, Baby!

There’s no doubt about it, folks. Billy Ray Cyrus is back!

NBC announced last week that Billy Ray will host “Nashville Star” this summer.

This comes just weeks after CMT announced that Billy Ray and Miley will host the 2008 CMT Music Awards April 14th at 8 p.m. The two will also perform during the show. Billy Ray’s video, “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” is nominated for Tearjerker Video of the Year.

Billy Ray will be busy later this spring when he begins production on the Hannah Montana movie in Tennessee. The movie is expected to open later this year or early next.

“Flying By,” which stars Billy Ray and Heather Locklear, will also be released sometime this year. “Bait Shop,” in which Billy Ray co-stars with Bill Engvall, will be released on DVD this year as well…

And, of course, Billy Ray will be working on the third season of “Hannah Montana.”

I’d say that qualifies as being back, wouldn’t you?...

More Leno Rumors

Add another name to the list of people interested in Jay Leno when he leaves “The Tonight Show” in 2009…

The “New York Times” reports that Sony Pictures Television has joined ABC and FOX on the list, but none of them can officially negotiate with him until November 2009.

The paper reports that Sony has made it known that it will offer Jay a syndicated gig that would make him the highest-paid host in late-night TV.

NBC says it intends to develop a new program for Jay. If that doesn’t work out (and I hope it doesn’t), Jay cannot appear on another network until 2010.

I, for one, would be happy to wait for him…

A “Quarterlife” Cut Short

It was supposed to be a cutting edge, hip drama to help NBC out during the lull created by the strike.

It didn’t work.

NBC has cancelled “Quarterlife” after just one airing. The remaining episodes are expected to be shown on Bravo later this year.

This comes after the premiere gave NBC its worst Tuesday at 10 numbers in 17 years.

If you missed it—and I’m guessing you did—the show is a drama about a blogger and her group of twentysomething friends.

I saw the first 15 minutes, but that was all I could actually sit through. It actually made me rethink my entire blogging career. I sincerely hope I’m not that annoying…

“Quarterlife” was a series of popular Internet shorts created by the team behind “Thirtysomething.” One of those creators said Wednesday that it “never should have been a network show.” But he later tamed those comments and thanked NBC for its efforts. NBC’s programming genius Ben Silverman said it was well worth the try.

I hope you know that genius was meant to be sarcastic…

Will “Jim” Actually Be Back?

It’s things like this that make ABC President Steve McPherson my TV enemy…

ABC is in talks to bring back “According to Jim” for an eighth season.

Why would they do this when the ratings are horrible and every critic in America ripped them for doing it last year?

One word. Money.

“Jim” is a cash cow for ABC Studios, thanks to syndication. Another season would mean more profits for years to come.

Couldn’t they have kept their cash cow and still saved “Knights of Prosperity”?

I know. I need to get over that…

A Major TV Anniversary

Last Thursday was an important anniversary in the world of TV.

It was the 25th anniversary of the airing of the series finale of “M*A*S*H.”

Why is that a big deal? Because to this day, it is still the most-watched network telecast of all time. It was watched by a total of 106 million viewers with a staggering 77 audience share.

By comparison, the second most watched telecast is this year’s Super Bowl XLII which had a total of 148.3 million viewers.

Because of the growth in cable, this feat is likely never to be repeated by a scripted show. In 1983, the three networks (There was no FOX.) had 81% of the viewing public. Last year, it was 32%.

As for whether the finale was any good, I couldn’t tell you because I’ve never seen it. But I know that over the years reviews have been mixed.

You can judge for yourself Friday, March 7th from 5-8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel…

Another “Law” Change

Just when things finally seemed settled again, “Law & Order” is about to have another cast change…

Jesse L. Martin, who plays Detective Green, is leaving after nine years. His rumored replacement is Anthony Anderson, who was last seen on “K-Ville.” If true, Anderson would first appear later this season.

Martin has just wrapped a movie and will soon start shooting “Sexual Healing,” an indie biopic of Marvin Gaye. Martin will play Gaye.

It’s a shame this is happening now when “Law” is experiencing a critical renaissance, but I think the show will be in good hands with “Anderson”…

Who Will Be “Dancing” Later This Month?

Monday, March 17th sees the return of “Dancing With the Stars” and the new cast is an eclectic one…

Here are this season’s pairs:

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas
Priscilla Presley and Louis Van Amstel
Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska
Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke
Mario and Karina Smirnoff
Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez
Penn Jillette and Kym Johnson
Adam Carolla and Julianne Hough
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough
Marissa Janet Winokur and Tony Dovolani
Monica Seles and Jonathan Roberts
Steve Guttenburg and Anna Trebunskaya

One name you’ll notice is missing from the pros is Maksim Chmerikovsky. He says he’s sitting out this season to focus on other activities, but you might remember he stirred up some controversy last season with his post-finale comments in which he revealed his frustration at losing. Maks was also critical of Marie Osmond and Jane Seymour staying on so long…

So, who do I see as an early favorite? I’m going with Kristi and Mark. Kristi is a professional skater so we know she has moves and Mark is a good partner—if his shoulder is completely healed.

One thing I can tell you for sure. Julianne is not going to three-peat…

One other note from “DWTS”: Karina had back surgery this week, but is expected to be back for the premiere…

CBS Gets Set for Next Season

When you’re the #1 network, you don’t have a lot of open spots…

CBS has renewed 11 shows for next season…

They are “Cold Case,” “Criminal Minds,” all three “CSI” shows, “Ghost Whisperer,” “NCIS,” “Numb3rs,” “Without a Trace,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Big Bang Theory.” “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” were already renewed.

That puts several shows on the bubble including “How I Met Your Mother,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Rules of Engagement,” “The Unit” and “Moonlight”…

FOX Announces Its Plans

I’ve always warned you in May that FOX’s schedule will be in flux come January.

And this year, thanks to the Writers’ Strike, it’s more in flux than ever…

As you no doubt noticed, “Back to You” returned last week. But it will now be on hiatus until April 16th when it moves to its new time slot Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m…

Its partner, “’Til Death,” will return with a post-“Idol” episode March 25th, but will then take a break until April 16th when it moves to Wednesdays at 8 p.m…

“Bones” will move to Monday at 8 p.m. beginning April 14th. But here’s the doozy. It will be followed by “House” beginning April 28th. The Tuesdays at 9 p.m. timeslot will be taken over by “Hell’s Kitchen” beginning April 1st.

Personally, I think moving “House” is a huge mistake. I understand FOX is trying to take on “Dancing With the Stars” and the CBS comedies with its top scripted show, but “Hell’s Kitchen” following “Idol”? Are you even serious?...

FOX also has four new shows premiering this month. “Untitled,” a comedy from the Farrelly Brothers, premiered Sunday at 9:30 p.m. “New Amsterdam,” a drama about an immortal detective, premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m. before moving to its regular Monday at 9 timeslot. The Julianna Marguiles drama, “Canterbury’s Law,” premieres Monday, March 10th at 8 p.m. The comedy, “The Return of Jezebel James,” starring Parker Posey, premieres Friday, March 14th at 8 p.m…

See what I mean about flux?...

ABC Sets Its Return Schedule

You’ve probably been seeing the commercials on ABC touting the beginning of spring and new episodes of your favorite shows.

So, when will that happen?

April 7th marks the return of “Samantha Who?” with six episodes left…

“Boston Legal” will return April 8th, also with six eps to go…

April 13th is the big day for “Desperate Housewives,” which will have five episodes and a two-hour finale. Its companion, “Brothers & Sisters,” won’t return until April 20th with only four episodes…

“Ugly Betty” and “Grey’s Anatomy” will be back with five episodes beginning April 24th. Also on that night, “Lost” will return after a short absence and move to 10 p.m. with its last five episodes…

“Pushing Daisies,” “Private Practice,” and “Dirty Sexy Money” will not return until next season…