My Picks for the Top Shows of the Decade

Since every other TV site is doing their list of the top TV shows of the decade. I figured I would weigh in with my choices. Here are my choices in no particular order...

Survivor - Survivor premiered in May of 2000 for a summer run and quickly became a television phenomenon. The concept of being stranded on a deserted island for 39 days, having to fend for yourself, competing to survive in the game, all while building relationships and a mini-society. Personalities such as Richard, Rudy, Susan, and host Jeff Probst helped make the show the success that it was. The finale, which aired on August 23, 2000, drew 51.7 million viewers. It remains only second to the 'Friends' finale in total viewership for the entire decade. The series, now in its 19th edition, continue to draw strong ratings. It changed the landscape of TV, and has become the gold standard in reality TV. The show by which all other reality shows are measured.

24 - This show, about a counter terrorist unit of the US goverment, premiered less than 2 months after the 9/11 attacks, and it defined the state of our nations national security for the decade. Pulse pounding storylines and the perfectly cast Keifer Sutherland as CTU Agent Jack Bauer along with it's real time concept propelled this show to the top of the TV's Best lists in the year it premiered. The concept of a show playing out in real time over a single day, with each episode representing an hour was and still is very unique to TV. It was also the first show to intentionally wait until midseason to premiere, in order to allow the season to run uninterrupted without reruns. Many shows have since followed suit. It has continued to provide top notch storylines and superb acting year after year.

House - In a time when medical dramas and mysteries were all the rage, this show combined the two. The show premiered November 16, 2004, and stars Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, a drug addicted, medical genius with many problems of his own. The character of House was modeled after Sherlock Holmes, both are forensic geniuses, musicians, drug users, and largely friendless. House and his diagnostic team tackle medical mysteries week after week. Laurie's performance is what solidifies this show. His character of House, along with 24's Jack Bauer are two of the iconic TV characters of the decade.

The Shield - Series creator Shawn Ryan shattered the mold for your conventional police drama with this show. Premiering on March 12, 2002, 'The Shield' was unlike any cop show before it and has been unlike any show since. Michael Chiklis played Vic Mackey, a sympathetic but corrupt Los Angeles cop who made up his own rules. From the moment Vic killed a fellow cop who was investigating him in the pilot episode and then framed a drug dealer for the crime, we were hooked. That incident would haunt Mackey and his "Strike Team" for the duration of the series. The show put FX on the map and changed the way cable dramas were perceived. 'The Shield' presented stories that were dark, hard to watch, but at the same time absolutely riveting and gave us 7 seasons of incredible television.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - Larry David, creator of 'Seinfeld,' brought this hilarious comedy series to us on October 15, 2000. This unscripted and largely improvised show follows Larry as a caricature of himself. The humor on this show can be so uncomfortable at times that you almost feel guilty laughing. Larry always says the politically incorrect things that everyone is thinking but afraid to say. Celebrity guest appearances have always been a staple of this show, and have generated some of the series funniest episodes. Whether you feel uncomfortable or not, you cannot get through an episode of 'Curb' without laughing.

The Sopranos - This series followed the life of Tony Soprano, played masterfully by James Gandolfini, a charismatic gangster who uses psychotherapy to help him balance his relationships with his wife and children, and to deal with the stress of his position as a powerful figure in the New Jersey mafia. From the moment it debuted on January 10, 1999, no other show generated more water cooler conversations. Beginning with Tony's musings about the ducks in his swimming pool in the series opening scene, and ending with a much talked about final scene, the 6 season of 'The Sopranos' unfolded brilliantly. Family members became traitors and series regulars were whacked without warning. Creator David Chase brilliantly melded the dark, violent world of an organized crime boss with life in middle class suburbia. One of the best casts ever to grace a TV screen.

The Wire - The Wire, which premiered on HBO on June 2nd, 2002. unfolded like a great novel. This series expert depiction of the Baltimore drug trade and the team of cops battling it required patience from the viewers and rewarded that patience like no other. Creator David Simon, who created another of the great cop shows of all time 'Homicide: Life on the Street,' worked for the Baltimore Sun for 12 years and knows the city like the back of his hand. He and his team of writers, which include crime novelists Dennis Lehane, and George Pelecanos, revealed how the corrupt acts of the people in power preyed on the city’s most defenseless residents.

The West Wing - TV's quintessential political drama began in September 1999 during the Clinton administration, and continued on through Bush and 9/11. The shows appeal was not only it's great cast but its behind the scenes look at a President and his staff and the daily struggles and crises of running a country. 'The West Wing' showed us not how the government was, but as it could be— a White House run by tireless, big-hearted public servants who believed in being decent and moral. Martin Sheen's President Josiah Bartlet would give any of his real-life counterparts a run for their money. John Spencer and Bradley Whitford have the roles of a lifetime. Whether you are conservative or liberal, if you enjoy politics, you will love this series. If you have not yet seen this series, do yourself a favor and buy or rent the DVD's, sit back and enjoy.

Damages - This legal drama, which premiered on July 24, 2007, stars Glenn Close as brilliant, but ruthless attorney Patty Hewes. A superb cast, brings to life some of the most intriguing and surprising plots ever conceived for TV. Who's a villain and who's a hero here? You never really know for sure. 'Damages,' like any good page turner, keeps you guessing until the very end of each storyline.

30 Rock - Created by and starring Tina Fey, this show about the behind the scenes of a late night sketch comedy show premiered on October 11, 2006. It was an immediate hit with critics, however fans came slowly and this show struggled in the ratings early on. 38 Emmy nominations and 10 wins including 3 consecutive wins for Best Comedy Series have catapulted this show to success. Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy and Tina Fey as Liz Lemon are fantastic and have also been awarded with multiple awards. From its hilarious approach to product placement to its grab-bag of crazy-good performances '30 Rock' is TV's best comedy hands down.

Entourage - 'Entourage' has boasted, in my opinion, the best comedic performance of the decade with Jeremy Piven's ruthless agent Ari Gold. The show debuted on July 18, 2004 to critical acclaim and over the years has been nominated for 24 Emmy awards, winning 4. 3 of the 4 wins were for Piven's amazing performance. The show chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase from a struggling actor to an A-list star, and his childhood friends who have come along for the ride. To the people who knock this show, just enjoy it, it's a fun show that is also very funny.

Rescue Me - Denis Leary's amazing series about NYC Firefighters dealing with a post 9/11 world, debuted on July 21, 2004. It was an immediate hit with fans and critics alike. Leary is riveting as the highly flawed Tommy Gavin, an alcoholic firefighter that comes from a family of alcoholics. Tommy is frequently visited by dead relatives and the spirits of the victims of past fires. The show mixes humor with very dark storylines such as depression, alcoholism, homophobia, and the aftermath of 9/11. A terrific supporting cast rounds out the show nicely. The series hit a rough patch but rebounded very nicely with it's best season last year.

Arrested Development - It only lasted 3 seasons, but what a great 3 seasons it was. Premiering on November 2, 2003, this show from executive producer Ron Howard follows the dysfunctional Bluth family. The Bluths lose the family fortune in a banking scandal and hilarity ensues. Every time you watch an episode you find something new to laugh at. The show suffered from an ever changing time slot and never really caught on with viewers. It has obtained cult status over the years and loyal fans can take heart... a big screen continuation of the series is in the works.

The Office - Defying expectations that it would pale in comparison to it's British counterpart, NBC's 'The Office' has become its own show. It's no longer fair to compare it to its predecessor. Much like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' this show delivers cringe worthy humor that you don't know whether to laugh at or not. But you just can't help laughing. Steve Carrell's Michael Scott is so politically incorrect, that it produces some of TV's funniest moments week after week.

Scrubs - Probably the most underrated comedy on this list. Premiering in October 2001, this hospital based comedy was the funniest comedy on TV in its first few seasons. It filled the Seinfeld void very nicely for NBC. That isn't to say that it was as funny as Seinfeld. But that is an unfair comparison for any show. This show stands on its own and it's cast of characters are as good as any show on TV, then or now.

Six Feet Under - This show, premiering HBO on June 3rd, 2001, centered on the Fisher family, owners of the Fisher and Sons Funeral Home. The show was very unique in so many ways, each episode beginning with the death of the person who would be waked at Fisher and Sons, and then following the lives of the people that worked there. Peter Krause and Michael C. Hall's performances as brothers Nate and David Fisher carried this series week after week.In its last few episodes Nate dies of a brain hemorrhage and the Fishers themselves became the mourners, celebrating Nate's imperfect life and moving on. The show never failed to deliver touching stories and amazing performances, and ended with one of the greatest series finales ever.

Alias - Before 'Lost,' JJ Abrams gave us 'Alias.' 'Alias,' which premiered on September 30, 2001, followed sexy female spy Sidney Bristow played by Jennifer Garner. Week after week, the show delivered nail biting suspense and thrilling action scenes. While it was sometimes bogged down in its own mythology, the show always entertained and boasted great performances by Victor Garber as Jack, Sidney's spy-daddy, and Ron Rifkin as Arvin Sloane, Sidney's arch nemesis.

Lost - My personal pick for the best TV series of the decade. 'Lost' exploded onto the scene on September 22, 2004 and quickly became appointment viewing. JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffery Lieber created the series which follows the lives of a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious tropical island. Much like 'The Wire,' 'Lost' has counted on viewers being patient as the show’s creators have withheld information, killed characters, divided the cast and, in the ultimate potential deal-breaker, toyed with time travel. All of it has paid off beautifully for fans. 'Lost' unique and fascinating brand of storytelling, which uses flashbacks and flash-forwards routinely to fill in the stories of these amazing characters, is perfectly complimented by an incredible cast. 'Lost' is not for the casual TV viewer. Viewers of 'Lost' need to be invested in this show and appreciate the time that it takes to tell this story, savoring each episode. The best acting currently on television can be found on this show week after week. 'Lost' will come to an end in 2010 and TV will never be the same.

'Lost' Final Season Preview!

'Lost' returns to ABC on February 2nd for it's final season.

ABC has released a nice little trailer previewing whats to come.

Have a look.

Survivor : Worst Jury Vote EVER!

Let's make one thing perfectly clear. Like him or not, Russell Hantz played the best Survivor game in the history of the show.

He was in control of the game from the very beginning. Week after week, he manipulated the votes to go his way. He found hidden immunity idols with no clues whatsoever. He won the final and most important immunity challenge. He started out as one of the most hated players ever and soon became one that people rooted for because he was playing such an amazing game.

Natalie on the other hand did absolutely nothing. She didn't do a single thing to keep herself in the game. The only reason she continued to survive week after week was because the other players CHOSE not to vote her out.

You may not like Russell, but he ruled this game. I have nothing against Natalie at all. She won the million dollars, good luck to her. It's the 9 jury members who should be ashamed of themselves. They lost sight of what the game was about. You're not supposed to vote for who you like the most. This isn't high school. You are supposed to vote for who played the best game. You are supposed to set aside your personal feelings when you vote. Not a single member of that jury can make a valid argument that Natalie played a better game than Russell.

Jeff Probst did the best he could to tell the jury they screwed up with out actually coming out and saying it. He asked Natalie what her best move in the game was and when she couldn't answer he mentioned that maybe it was voting Erik out. Then when Russell won the fan vote for the Player of the Year, he basically asked the jury "What does that tell you?" They really had no answer for him.

I don't want to hear that he lied, backstabbed, and had no regard for other peoples feelings. That is how you play the game. There has never been a single player who has played Survivor that hasn't lied or backstabbed in this game. It's part of the game. Period. It's how you win.

There have been some other bad votes in Survivor history. Tina Wesson beating Colby Donaldson in Australia after Colby won immunity challenge after immunity challenge, and Amber Brkich beating out Rob Mariano in All-Stars, after Rob basically controlled the game from the beginning much like Russell did this time.

Whether Russell is one of the best to ever play or not is open to debate, but what is not open to debate is that Russell dominated this season and deserved to be crowned the winner. Anyone who thinks that the right person won has no clue how the game is supposed to be played.

Brittany Murphy dies at 32

Actress Brittany Murphy died today after going into full cardiac arrest and could not be revived. The cause of death is unknown at this time. She was 32 years old.

According to TMZ, a 911 call was made at 8 am from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack. She was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 10:04 am.

A source tells TMZ that Murphy's mother discovered her unconscious in the shower. When paramedics arrived, they determined that the actress was in full cardiac arrest, and they began to administer CPR. They continued their CPR attempts during the ambulance trip to the hospital, but Murphy was unresponsive.

Murphy starred in such films as "Clueless," "Just Married," "Sin City," "Happy Feet," "8 Mile," and "Don't Say a Word."

Murphy's family has released the following statement to US Magazine: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

Golden Globe Nominations announced

The nominations for the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards were announced this morning. Below are the TV nominations. A few surprises, a few snubs, as usual.

Best TV drama series: "Big Love," HBO; "Dexter," Showtime; "House," Fox; "Mad Men," AMC; "True Blood," HBO.

Best TV comedy or musical series: "30 Rock," NBC; "Entourage," HBO; "Glee," Fox; "Modern Family," ABC; "The Office," NBC.

Best actor in a TV drama: Simon Baker, "The Mentalist," CBS; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men," AMC; Michael C. Hall, "Dexter," Showtime; Hugh Laurie, "House," Fox; Bill Paxton, "Big Love," HBO.

Best actress in a TV drama: Glenn Close, "Damages," FX; January Jones, "Mad Men," AMC; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife," CBS; Anna Paquin, "True Blood," HBO; Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer," TNT.

Best actress in a TV comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock," Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Toni Collette, "The United States of Tara," Lea Michele, "Glee"; Courteney Cox, "Cougar Town."

Best actor in a TV comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock" Steve Carell, "The Office" David Duchovny, "Californication," Matthew Morrison, "Glee," Thomas Jane, "Hung."

Best actor in a supporting role: Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"; Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"; William Hurt, "Damages"; John Lithgow, "Dexter"; Michael Emerson, "Lost."

Best actress in a supporting role: Jane Lynch, "Glee"; Rose Byrne, "Damages"; Janet McTeer, "Into the Storm"; Jane Adams, "Hung"; Chloe Sevigny, "Big Love."

Best TV movie or miniseries: "George O'Keeffe," Lifetime; "Grey Gardens" HBO; "Into the Storm," HBO; "Little Dorrit," PBS; "Taking Chance," HBO.

Best actor in a miniseries or TV movie: Kevin Bacon, "Taking Chance," HBO; Kenneth Branagh, "Wallender," PBS; Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Endgame," PBS; Brendan Gleeson, "Into the Storm," HBO; Jeremy Irons, "Georgia O'Keeffe," Lifetime.

Best actress in a miniseries or made-for-TV movie: Joan Allen, "Georgia O'Keefe"; Drew Barrymore, "Grey Gardens"; Jessica Lange, "Grey Gardens"; Anna Paquin, "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler"; Sigourney Weaver, "Prayers for Bobby."

Let me just say that Jim Parsons being ignored for 'Big Bang Theory' is ridiculous. Him and Neil Patrick Harris are the two best comedic actors on network TV today and Parsons should have been recognized. In fact, the absence of any nods for 'Big Bang Theory' is a real head scratcher.

In the Drama categories, I'm real bummed that 'Rescue Me' didn't receive any nominations either. The FX drama had its best season this year and Denis Leary turned in an incredible performance.

On the other hand, real happy to see nominations for Jane Lynch for 'Glee,' and Michael Emerson for 'Lost.' Also a well deserved nomination for 'Modern Family' in the best comedy category, although some of the actors could have been recognized as well, namely Ed O'Neill.

So what do you think? Who got snubbed? Which nominations surprised you?

NBC announces mid-season lineup

NBC has announced it's midseason lineup today, including the premiere date for the long awaited 'Parenthood.'

Here are the highlights:

'Chuck' premieres on Sunday, January 10th, with 2 back-to-back episodes, then settles into it's normal timeslot of Mondays at 8pm beginning January 11th.

'Parenthood' premieres on March 1st after being delayed by Maura Tierney's illness. Tierney was replaced with Lauren Graham.

'The Biggest Loser' premieres January 5th.

'The Marriage Ref' from producer Jerry Seinfeld premieres on March 14th.

'The Celebrity Apprentice' premieres March 14th.

TNT Renews 'Dark Blue', has strong debut from 'Men'

TNT has renewed 'Dark Blue' for a 2nd season.

The network has ordered 10 more episodes of the Jerry Bruckheimer produced drama starring Dylan McDermott. 'Blue' joins the another TNT drama 'Hawthorne' with Jada Pinkett Smith, among the recently renewed shows for the network.

Both shows have performed respectably but have not become out-of-the gate hits like 'The Closer.'

'Dark Blue,' which will return next year, will be joined by another gritty cop drama, 'Southland,' which will make its debut on TNT in January after being cancelled by NBC.

This news comes on the heels of more good news for TNT. The debut of Ray Romano's dramedy 'Men of a Certain Age' drew 5.4 million viewers for it's premiere episode on Monday night. This made the show the highest rated series premiere on cable for 2009. Coupled with favorable reviews, the ratings suggest TNT might have a long-running, high-quality hit drama in the making.

'Big Bang Theory' continues to draw huge ratings

CBS 'Big Bang Theory' continues to bring in big ratings week after week. The show hits a series high in ratings on Monday night, drawing 14.7 million viewers and a 5.7 preliminary rating among adults 18-49. This was a 10% increase from its last new episode.

The "Big Bang" boost comes without Katee Sackhoff in a bathtub this time to bump the numbers. A Baltimore CBS affiliate that carried an NFL game might be distorting these early figures, but CBS expects the series-high record to hold up in the nationals.

There has been some speculation that CBS could award the coveted post-Super Bowl spot to 'Big Bang' and these ratings won't hurt its chances.

CBS Cancels 'As The World Turns'

CBS has cancelled 'As The World Turns' after 54 years.

The network announced that the show will not return for the 2010/2011 season and will end its run in September 2010.

"Throughout our history, 'As The World Turns' has remained dedicated to sharing compelling stories that have entertained fans for more than five decades," said Executive Producer Chris Goutman. "We are disappointed and saddened by the news that the show is not being renewed. It will certainly be a loss for all of us, and for the show's loyal audience."

'As The World Turns' has been a cornerstone of our business and a tremendous asset to the company," said Brian T. Cahill, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TeleNext Media, Inc. "We are proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of ATWT."

'Monk' series finale sets ratings record

'Monk,' USA Network's hit series about an OCD afflicted detective starring Tony Shalhoub, ended it's 8 season run last Friday. It was the highest rated episode of a cable drama in TV history.

The finale drew 9.4 million viewers for the USA network. It is the largest audience and demo turnout to date, not only for the show and for a USA scripted series but also for a drama series on basic cable, eclipsing the 9.2 million mark for TNT's 'The Closer.'

The show was also the highest rated program on all of TV on Friday night.

Following 'Monk' the fall finale of USA's freshman series 'White Collar' also hit series highs, averaging 5.55 million viewers, the cable network's best performance at 10 p.m. Friday in more than three years, since the series premiere of 'Psych.'

"What a perfect way for 'Monk', our first tentpole success, to finish its run -- going out even stronger than it came in, and helping to launch another great show, 'White Collar'," said USA's president of original programming Jeff Wachtel.

Seagal has record breaking debut for A&E

Wednesday's premiere of 'Steven Seagal: Lawman' brought in an average of 3.5 million viewers for the 2 episodes that aired at 10 pm.

This makes the show the show the biggest debut ever for the A&E network. The series also broke A&E records across demos such as the adults 18-49, in which the show averaged 2 million viewers.

The show's strong opening comes two days after another A&E series, 'Hoarders' briefly won the title of best-ever series launch for the cable outlet among adults 18-49 and 25-54.

'Steven Seagal Lawman' follows the martial artist and action-movie star on his patrols as a deputy for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana (where he's moonlighted for the past 20 years).

'Sons of Anarchy' gets a 3rd Season

No big surprise here. FX has renewed 'Sons of Anarchy' for a 3rd season.

Fans left hanging after Tuesday's climatic Season 2 finale will have to wait a while however. FX's huge hit, about a California outlaw motorcycle gang, is not scheduled to return until September 2010 for a 13-episode run.

"The success of Sons of Anarchy is very gratifying and the show has become a bona-fide hit," said FX President and General Manager John Landgraf.

The renewal comes after the second season finale brought in the series' best ratings. The 90-minute episode was cable's No. 1 program Tuesday, nabbing 4.33 million viewers total and 2.99 million adults ages 18-to-49. The finale ranked No. 1 on television in the 10 p.m. hour with both men 18-to-34 and 18-to-49.

TNT Cancels 'Raising The Bar'

TNT has canceled the Steven Bochco legal drama "Raising the Bar," starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek.

The legal drama began strong, but the ratings in its second season were only half of what they were in the first. It premiered to 7.7 million viewers last fall, but the second-season premiere was down to 3.6 million, which was less than half the viewership of lead-in 'The Closer.'

A rep for the network says, "Everyone at TNT had a great experience working on 'Raising The Bar' with Steven Bochco and the rest of the show's terrific cast and crew. We're proud of the series and appreciate the efforts of all of the creative people who were involved. Unfortunately, ratings for 'Raising The Bar' second season did not reach the levels required for TNT to renew the series."

According to E! there are three unaired episodes of the series that TNT will air possibly in March 2010.

This marks another failed series for producer Steven Bochco who has not had a hit since 'NYPD Blue' went off the air in 2005.

This is a disappointment to me. I was a fan of the show and thought that it really hit its stride in season 2. I was hoping that TNT would give it another season.

Anyone else feel the same way I do? Or did you think this was the right move?

Fox announces mid-season schedule

Fox has announced it's mid-season schedule and fans of some shows will be waiting a long time for their shows to come back.

'Glee' and 'Fringe' will be taking long breaks before they resume in the spring.

Let's look at the breakdown of the schedule:

• 'American Idol' returns on Tuesday, January 12th and 13th with a 2 night premiere.
• A new series from Fox, 'Human Target' based on the DC comic will begin on January 20th at 9 pm.
• '24' returns with a 2 night, 4 hour premiere on January 17th and 18th.
• 'Glee' will be finishing it fall portion of its season on December 9th and then will not return until April 13th following American Idol.
• 'Fringe' will also be ending on February 4th, and will not return until April 1st.
  
• 'Past Life' will assume the 'Fringe' timeslot through February and March.
  
• 'Sons of Tucson' a new sitcom will air Sundays beginning in March, after 'The Simpsons' and before 'Family Guy'
• 'Lie to Me' has no timeslot or return date after next weeks episode. Don't worry fans, the show was picked up for a full season, so it will be returning.
• 'Til Death' will be returning, but Fox has not announce where and when.
• 'Dollhouse' will burn off their remaining episodes on Friday nights in January beginning on January 8th.

So what do you 'Glee' fans think of the long layoff? Is it going to hurt the show? Or is the show good enough to sustain this type of layoff? I can say one thing, it's return to a post 'Idol' timeslot can only help 'Glee.'

Is Russell Hantz the greatest 'Survivor' player ever?

If you're a fan of 'Survivor' then you have been treated to a great season so far this year.

Russell Hantz, the oil company owner from Texas, could be the greatest 'Survivor' player to ever play the game. This is a big compliment coming from me. After the first few episodes of this season, I couldn't wait for Russell to be voted out. His behavior early in the season was reprehensible. From telling everyone that he was a victim of Hurricane Katrina, to sabotaging things around camp (emptying out canteens, throwing peoples socks in the fire) he became a real difficult person to like.

However as the season has progressed, we have seen how he is playing the game. He has found 3, count 'em 3, hidden immunity idols. 2 of them with no clues whatsoever. Unlike some contestants in the past, he hasn't let them go to waste. He has played 2 so far, one of them saving him from being voted out, and no doubt will play the 3rd.

He assumed, and assumed correctly, that producers hide the hidden idols near landmarks around camp, such as a big tree or a bridge. This is how he was able to find the idols with no clues. Because he is a student of the game. He has watched and learned and because he has done so, he has a decided advantage over his fellow players.

Russell has won me over. He may still not be a very nice person, but as a fan of the game of 'Survivor' you can't help but appreciate him and how he is playing the game. I find myself rooting for him in each episode now. He has singled-handedly turned the game around. Turning his tribe from an outnumbered underdog to a tribe in control of the game. He has turned a season that was a little boring and uneventful for the first few weeks into one of the shows best.

He has to be considered one of the best, if not the best, 'Survivor' player ever, and while we're at it, let's not over look the show itself. It's really a testament to the producers that after 19 seasons the show can deliver a season this good. It's the reason the show is still a ratings winner, still consistently winning it's timeslot after 8+ years on the air. It's why 'Survivor' should be considered the best reality competition show ever.

So 'Survivor' fans, enjoy this season. You are being treated to watching a great player compete like no player ever has before. Rumor has it that you will get to enjoy him again next season. Russell is reportedly going to be a contestant on next seasons All Star edition to celebrate the shows 20th cycle.

Now i know alot of you are saying, lets wait to see how he does before we say he's one of the best. As we all know from watching this show, the best players do not always win. From what i've seen of him so far, win or lose, Russell will go down as one of the best 'Survivor' players ever.

'Chuck' returning earlier than expected

NBC has announced that 'Chuck' will return on Sunday, Jan. 10 with two back-to-back episodes before moving into its regular Monday-8 pm time-slot on Jan. 11. The show was originally scheduled to return in March.

All of the regulars will be returning with the exception of Julia Ling who plays Anna Wu.

According to co-creator Chris Fedak, production is underway on the 10th episode of 'Chuck's' third season. He also said that the first 13 episodes of Season 3 will function as one unit, and then the set of six additional episodes that NBC ordered will sort of be like another mini-season (he called it "Season 3 2.0").

"We broke a very tight 13 episodes" after NBC ordered a third season, Fedak said. "But we had started production early, so [when NBC ordered six more episodes for a total of 19,] we had lead time to kind of sit back and think about what the next phase of the story would be. We're very excited about extending the season out and having more fun with our characters and deepening the world that is 'Chuck.'"

In addition, "Chuck" returns with guest stars galore in its third season. These include: Angie Harmon (NBC’s “Law & Order”), who will play Sydney, an enemy operative; Brandon Routh (“Superman Returns”), who is set to play CIA Agent Daniel Shaw; Robert Patrick (“Terminator 2: Judgment Day”) will play Colonel Keller, a soldier and spy from Casey’s past; Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville”), who will portray Hannah -- a potential love interest for Chuck; Armand Assante (“Judge Dredd”) as dictator Premier Goya, who is the target of an assassin; Steve Austin (“WWE Smackdown!”) will portray Hugo Panzer, who becomes entangled in Chuck’s first solo mission; and Vinnie Jones (“Snatch”) will play Carl Stromberg, an arms dealer.

You can watch a preview of Season 3 below.

ABC sets return date for Lost

ABC has announced that 'Lost' will return Tuesday, February 2nd at 9 pm.

The show's final season will launch there with a two hour episode, dubbed "LA X," preceded by a one-hour clip special at 8 p.m.

The following week, on Feb. 9, "Lost" settles into its regular time slot, Tuesdays at 9.

This is a new night for the show. 'Lost' has been bounced around the schedule, appearing on Wednesdays at 9, and Thursdays at 10.

ABC also revealed the roster of this season's regular stars: Naveen Andrews, Nestor Carbonell, Emile de Ravin, Michael Emerson, Jeff Fahey, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Ken Leung, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn and Zuleikha Robinson.

Oprah to end her show in 2011

Oprah Winfrey is expected to announce on her show on Friday that she will be ending her syndicated talk show in 2011.

Although Oprah has been quiet about what her plans are, insiders say that Winfrey, 55, will finally start the long rumored OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). The network is expected to begin in 2011 to 75 million homes, and Oprah will most likely have a new show on the channel.

Although Winfrey could not be reached for comment, Tim Bennett, the president of Winfrey's Chicago-based production company, Harpo Inc., confirmed in an e-mail Thursday to station partners that she would end the existing program Sept. 9, 2011.

"Oprah's personal comments about this on tomorrow's live show will mark an historic television moment that we will all be talking about for years to come," Bennett wrote.

Edward Woodward, 'The Equalizer' dead at 79.

Edward Woodward, best known as the star of the 80's series 'The Equalizer' has died at the age of 79.

'The Equalizer' ran from 1985-1989 and had 88 episodes. Woodward won a Golden Globe award for his role, and was nominated for an Emmy award 5 times.

The show featured Woodward as an ex-spy who helped regular people even the odds against anyone with whom they had a problem.

His agent, Janet Glass, said he had been ill for several months and died in a hospital in Truro, England, with family members around him.

He told The Associated Press in 1987 he had appeared in "over 2,000, could be 3,000 now, television productions." He added: "I love television. To me it's the most exciting medium."

Woodward had three children with first wife Venetia. After they divorced, he wed actress Michele Dotrice, and they had a daughter. Survivors include his children and Dotrice.

Ken Ober dies at 52

Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show 'Remote Control,' was found dead on Sunday in his home in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 52.

The cause was not immediately known.

The actor and former game show host was best known for his presenting duties on MTV show 'Remote Control' from 1987 to 1990.

The game show launched the careers of Adam Sandler and Denis Leary, and they have been quick to pay tribute to their friend.

Sandler says, "Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met. He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much."

And Leary echoed his pal's sentiments, adding, "Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room. As the star and host of Remote Control, he was a welcoming ringmaster who helped to kickstart the careers of numerous talents, including Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and myself."

"He will be remembered always by each of his friends not only for his massive talent but for his true, deep and enduring friendship."

Ober is survived by his mother, father, stepmother and a brother.

'The Prisoner' opens strong for AMC

AMC's remake of the 60's cult classic 'The Prisoner' opened strong for the cable network.

The show drew 2.2 million viewers in it's Sunday night timeslot. This matches the ratings that 'Mad Men' normally gets in that same period.

AMC is hoping this show will be a nice off-season replacement for 'Mad Men.' The network is trying to compete with the original dramas of other cable networks such as FX, USA, and TNT.

ABC pulls plug on 'Hank'

ABC has cancelled the freshman comedy 'Hank' starring Kelsey Grammer. The show is filming episode 10 and will stop production after wrapping that episode.

The network has aired five half-hours of the show and has no immediate plans to run the remaining five segments.

'Dollhouse' cancelled

FOX has cancelled 'Dollhouse.'

The network has informed Joss Whedon that it will not be ordering additional episodes of the show. However they also said that they will air all 13 episodes that have already been ordered. They will begin airing the remaining episodes in December.

'Dollhouse' has been averaging 3 million viewers this season, down from a 4.7 million average last season.

I think everyone will agree that this show was lucky to see a second season at all. Fans shouldn't feel so bad, at least they got 13 extra episodes of the series.

What shows do you miss?

Did a favorite show of yours get cancelled before its time? Or just decide to end after a long run?
Do you miss sitting down to that show after a long day at work? The show that you looked forward to all week long?

For me that show is 'NYPD Blue.' I looked forward to this show every Tuesday night for 12 seasons. Part of what makes me miss it even more is that it is only partially available on DVD. Still waiting for seasons 5-12 to be released.

From Dennis Franz' amazing performances each and every season to the rotating cast of characters that never ceased to surprise me. I remember laughing when I heard Ricky Schroeder would be taking over for Jimmy Smits, and then laughing again when Mark Paul Gosselaar was joining that case. But each of those 2 child stars became top notch dramatic actors on this show.

So what show is it for you?

ABC cancels one show, orders more episodes of another

ABC has made some news today by cancelling one of their shows, but giving an additional episode order to another.

'Eastwick' was the show that got the axe. The show, based on the 1987 film 'The Witches of Eastwick', failed to draw an audience. That's saying something for this show since 'The Jay Leno Show' was one of it timeslot competitors.

The network is expected to air all 13 of the originally planned episodes.

On the bright side, the Christian Slater vehicle 'The Forgotten' has been given an order of 5 more episodes.

'V' debuts big for ABC

ABC's sci-fi remake 'V' debuted to big numbers for the alphabet network on Tuesday night.

The show snagged a 5 rating in the 18-49 age group, the best numbers for any comedy or drama series introduced this fall.

In total viewership, the show attracted 14 million viewers, which was below the 18.7 million that the CBS drama 'NCIS LA' attracted for its premiere. But that show, a spinoff, benefited from following its parent show, 'NCIS,' on Tuesday nights. The 'V' performance was more impressive because as an 8 p.m. show it pulled in the audience all on its own.

'24' Season 8 trailer premieres

Fox has released the trailer for the 8th season of '24'

The Jack Bauer Power Hour returns January 17th with a 2 night 4 hour premiere on Fox.

'Trauma" cancelled by NBC. Good news for 'Chuck' fans.

NBC has cancelled the emergency services drama, 'Trauma'. The network announced that the series would end after the 13 episodes that have been filmed.

The latest episode of 'Trauma' aired Monday and scored 5.8 million total viewers and a 1.9 rating/4 share among adults 18 to 49 (a big drop in the demo from lead-in "Heroes," which posted a 2.5/7.)

In what appears to be a related move, the network also ordered 6 additional episodes of fan favorite 'Chuck', bringing their season total to 19 episodes. This means that the show is now likely to return in January instead of the originally proposed March date.

Legendary comedian Soupy Sales, dead at 83

Soupy Sales, the rubber-faced comedian whose anything-for-a-chuckle career was built on 20,000 pies to the face and 5,000 live TV appearances across a half-century of laughs, has died. He was 83.

Sales gained early fame in the 1950s as the host of a daytime children's TV show in Detroit and always had a strong following among young people, who appreciated his groaning puns, silly dances and runaway train of thought.

The entertainer's former manager, Dave Usher, said he died in a hospice in New York City from multiple health problems.

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Trudy Carson Sales, and two sons from his first marriage.

For more on the amazing life and career of Soupy Sales, you can read TIME's story here.

Eric Braeden returning to 'Young and the Restless'

Eric Braeden has agreen to take a pay cut and return to his role as Victor Newman on the popular CBS daytime drama 'The Young and the Restless.'

The actor, 68, had been expected to leave the show following its Nov. 2 episode. Young and the Restless' entire cast and crew were asked to take pay cuts earlier this year, but Braeden refused to take the reduction and walked off the show's set in September.

TV Guide confirmed that Braeden will not be leaving 'Y&R' after all; the actor will take a pay cut, as the rest of the cast had already agreed to do.

The timing of his return is still being worked out.

Braeden's last episode was to have been Nov. 2. News of his return comes days after reports that Sony had been considering hiring a well-known actor to fill the gap left by Braeden's departure.

Report: TNT to pick up 'Southland'

Cancelled cop drama 'Southland' is reportedly close to getting a new lease on life.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, TNT is close to completing a deal to resurrect the series. Cast and crew of the show have been told to prepare for a November 2nd date to resume shooting.

If the deal is completed, TNT will air the series from the beginning.

NBC gives full seasons to 3 shows

NBC has given full season pickups to 3 of its shows. 'Community,' 'Parks and Recreation,' and 'Mercy'.

Nine more episodes have been ordered for each series, bringing the total to 22 episodes.

Pickups were announced by NBC/Universal Media Studios primetime entertainment prexy Angela Bromstad, who gave kudos to 'Community' for "delivering a first-rate, quality show that is very promising as the newest of NBC's first-rate Thursday night comedies."

Fall to date, 'Community' has averaged a 2.6 rating and 5 share with adults 18-49, as well as 5.7 million viewers. Net also touted the show's heavy concentration of upscale viewers.

'Mercy,' meanwhile, has posted a 2.1 rating and 5 share with adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers. And 'Parks and Rec' is averaging a 2.1/5 with adults 18-49 and 4.8 million viewers.

'Castle' gets full season

ABC has given the Nathan Fillion drama 'Castle' a full 22 episode season pickup. The show has performed admirably in it's tough Monday night timeslot.

"Castle" is the fifth ABC show to get a full-season order this fall. The other four -- "FlashForward," "The Middle," "Modern Family" and "Cougar Town" -- are all newcomers.

The show has drawn steady ratings, averaging about 10.2 million viewers per week.

'Celebrity Apprentice 3' cast revealed

The cast of the third round of 'The Celebrity Apprentice' has been revealed. It includes an ex baseball player, an ex governor, a couple of pro wrestlers, comedians and rock stars among others.

Here is the cast:

Holly Robinson Peete - Actress best known for her role on 'Hangin with Mr. Cooper'

Carol Leifer - Comedian and Writer. Probably best known for being one of the writers on Seinfeld. The character of Elaine is based on her.

Curtis Stone - Australian celebrity chef.

Darryl Strawberry - former major league baseball player with troubled past much like last season's contestant Dennis Rodman.

Summer Sanders - gold medal winning Olympic swimmer and NBC sportscaster.

Bret Michaels - Poison front man and star of VH1's 'Rock of Love.'

Rod Blagojevich - disgraced former Illinois Governor.

Maria Kanellis - one of two wrestlers appearing on this season.

Bill Goldberg - the other wrestler appearing this year.

Cyndi Lauper - probably the most famous person on the show this season. A very successful singer who made her name in the 80's but has had continued success through the years.

Sharon Osbourne - best known as Ozzy's better half and as an 'America's Got Talent' judge. Celebrity Apprentice Winner Piers Morgan is also an AGT judge.

Sinbad - well known comedian and actor.


So there you have it. Who do you think has the best shot at winning? Who are you rooting for?

Celebrity Apprentice will return to NBC in the spring.

ABC pre-empts 'Hank' for Charlie Brown

ABC has decided to air 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' on back to back nights later this month rather than air the Kelsey Grammer sitcom 'Hank.'

The expanded hour long edition of 'Charlie Brown' will air on October 27 at 8 pm and then air again the following night, October 28 at 8 pm.

ABC schedulers apparently think the Peanuts gang could make a better lead-in for 'The Middle' than 'Hank.'

For now, this is a one-time only pre-emption. Still no word on whether ABC will stick with 'Hank' during the November sweeps, or possibly replace it with comedy repeats. However as we all know, this is never a good sign for a show. We believe 'Hank's days are numbered.

'Flash Forward' gets full season

As previously predicted here, ABC has given 'Flash Forward' a full season order of 25 episodes.

The show has performed solidly in its Thursday at 8 pm timeslot, even topping CBS powerhouse 'Survivor' once this season.

DVR research is also showing that the show gains almost a full rating point from DVR playback, going from 4.1 to a 4.9 rating.

The show has been averaging between 12 and 14 million viewers weekly.

ABC is banking on this show becoming the next big phenomenon. Hoping that it will fill the void when 'Lost' ends after this year.

Lauren Graham joins 'Parenthood'

Lauren Graham has joined the NBC series 'Parenthood'. She'll be filling the void left by actress Maura Tierney, who left the series to deal with breast cancer treatment

Graham was slated to appear in some mid-season ABC comedy called 'Let it Go,' but she may have been released from that commitment by mutual consent simply because ABC's Wednesday comedy block is now locked in for a full season run.

The NBC series, based on the 1989 Steve Martin film, was set to debut this fall, but needed to be pushed back due to the recasting of Tierney's role. The show will now premiere after NBC's Winter Olympic coverage ends.

Struggling NBC looks to bring back 'Chuck' sooner

Good news for 'Chuck' fans. You may not have to wait until March to see the show after all.

Due to NBC's well publicized struggles with their new shows and some of their returning shows, 'Chuck' may return much sooner than it's planned March premiere.

Rumor has it that NBC is considering bringing the show back as early as late October. This also means that if the show returns that early, then it's original plan of 13 episodes will likely be extended.

Eric Braeden quits 'Young & the Restless'

One of daytime TV's biggest stars, Eric Braeden (Victor Newman on 'Young and the Restless') has quit the show in a salary dispute.

Braeden walked off the show after refusing to have his pay cut.

Braeden told the NY Post that he signed a 3-year contract, and he expects CBS to honor it.

But producers CBS and Sony invoked a little-used clause giving them the right to review his salary every 26 weeks (and the right to cut that salary). "You expect to be talked to in a sensitive way, not suddenly hit over the head by invoking a clause that was never invoked before and to say 'What the f*** happened?' ," Braeden says.

He adds that there's a certain "hierarchy" among daytime soap stars, which he feels should have spared him from a salary cut.

"Let's call a spade a spade. Management always gives the impression that all [soap] actors are the same, but it's bulls**t to claim that. They aren't," he says.

Braeden could still return to "Y&R" if a new deal can be worked out. His last scene, taped Sept. 23, airs Nov. 2.

'Good Wife,' 'NCIS: Los Angeles' get full seasons

CBS, thrilled with the performance of two freshman dramas, 'The Good Wife' and 'NCIS:Los Angeles', have picked up the shows for full seasons.

Both shows have had solid ratings for the Eye network, and have regularly been winning their timeslots.

'NCIS: LA' and 'Wife' are the most watched new drama on TV and the 2nd most watched drama respectively.

The 'NCIS' spinoff that focuses on undercover work in Los Angeles is currently averaging 17.5 million viewers, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and has won its time slot among viewers and adults 25-54 over the last three weeks.

'The Good Wife,' is currently averaging 13.7 million viewers.

CBS says yes to 'Hawaii Five-O' revival

CBS has given a pilot commitment to a new version of 'Hawaii Five-O.'

'Star Trek' and 'Transformers' writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci teaming with Peter Lenkov (CSI: NY) to reinvent the crime classic.

CBS Television Studios is behind the project, which started coming to life at the studio more than a year ago. Ed Bernero (Criminal Minds) was originally recruited to oversee the project; that version of the remake didn't come together.

But CBS TV Studios President David Stapf and his counterparts at CBS didn't give up on the notion. Kurtzman, Orci and Lenkov came up with a new take on how to revive 'Five-O' and pitched it to CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler.

Tassler liked what she saw and quickly ordered a pilot for the show.

Now comes the big question. Who plays McGarrett? Any suggestions? Josh Holloway? Carlos Bernard?

ABC gives full seasons to 3 comedies

ABC has given full season orders to 3 freshman comedies, 'CougarTown,' 'Modern Family,' and 'The Middle.'

All 3 shows have performed pretty well in the ratings

ABC is also expected to announce a full season pickup for the sci-fi drama 'Flash Forward' shortly.

NBC cancels 'Southland'

In a surprising move, NBC has cancelled 'Southland' before its 2nd season premiere. This comes after the network renewed it after its 1st season.

Insiders are blaming the "Jay Leno factor" for the cancellation. With 'The Jay Leno Show' airing every weeknight at 10 pm, it leave a lot less room for prime time shows on NBC's schedule.

Production was already completed on 6 episodes for the upcoming season before being shut down. It is not clear when or where those 6 episodes will air. The show is going to be shopped to other broadcast and cable networks.

"I'm disappointed that NBC no longer has the time periods available to support the kind of critically-acclaimed series that was for so many years, a hallmark of their success," Executive Producer John Wells said. "We remain extremely proud of 'Southland' and are actively looking for another home for the series."

While 'Southland' enjoyed support among NBC brass last season, after screening the finished episodes from the upcoming second season, the show's content was deemed too dark and gritty for broadcast TV, especially for 9 p.m. Additionally, a high-end drama like 'Southland' is certainly far more expensive than newsmagazine 'Dateline' for low-trafficked Friday night.

The cancellation of 'Southland' ends (for now) a long relationship between NBC and Wells, who has been behind some of NBC's biggest series, including "ER" and "The West Wing," for the past 15 years.

NBC dramas have been off to a rocky start this season. Freshman shows like 'Mercy' and 'Trauma' are struggling in the ratings. The same goes for veteran dramas like 'Heroes' and 'Law and Order: SVU.'

Has 'Heroes' lost its powers?

With the new TV season 2 weeks old, one thing is obvious. One time fan favorite 'Heroes' has continued to bleed viewers and it's prospects of a 5th season seem unlikely at this point.

'Heroes' earned a 3.6 rating/5 share, according to Fast National ratings from The Nielsen Co., staying even with its young season average so far.

Aside from the CW network, 'Heroes' was the lowest rated show in the 8pm timeslot on Monday night. It was beat by rating's powerhouses 'Dancing with the Stars' on ABC, and 'House' on Fox. CBS's comedy block also handily beat 'Heroes.'

'Heroes' ratings in it's first season were as high as 16 million viewers, and were as high as 10 million viewer at it's high point last season.

The show cannot continue at this pace, and if the ratings do not improve over the course of this season, it will likely not return for a 5th season.

Charlie Sheen to quit 'Men?'

Charlie Sheen has been dropping hints that this season may be his last on the CBS hit series 'Two and A Half Men.'

"I've got five kids, I've got an amazing wife. There is life outside of show business. It's been a great run. This is my last contract year," Sheen is reported as saying.

This could all be a ploy to get more money from CBS with a new contract extension.

Sheen is already the highest paid actor on TV, with a reported $825,000 per episode. With syndication deals, Sheen could easily never work again.

Despite regular ratings success on the show, Sheen insists he could walk away when his current contract expires.

CBS to spin-off 'Criminal Minds'

CBS is planning a spinoff to it's hit procedural crime drama 'Criminal Minds.' The show will be created by the show's executive producers Ed Bernero and Chris Mundy.

Mundy will be penning the pilot, which will air as an episode of 'Criminal Minds' in the spring.

The show will feature a new set of FBI agents and not any of the current characters.

A 'Criminal Minds' spinoff has been discussed for more than year, but CBS decided to go with an NCIS spinoff instead. NCIS:Los Angeles debuted last week as the seasons highest rated new drama with 18.7 million viewers.

'Criminal Minds' has also gotten off to a strong start this season, debuting with 15.8 million viewers.

Jennifer Morrison leaving 'House'

Michael Ausiello from Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Jennifer Morrison has left 'House' and that the decision was not hers.

Morrison, the first of the show’s original cast members to depart, shot her last scene earlier this week and her final episode will air in November. Producers are calling this a "creative decision."

Last week, the show had a premiere screening in Hollywood and Morrison was conspicuously absent. This did raise suspicions, which apparently are now proving correct.

Producers insist that her character, Cameron, will not be killed off and they have left the door open for her to make a guest appearance later on this season. Her on screen love interest, played by Jesse Spencer, is not leaving the show.

Shocking news to say the least for 'House' fans. The show has gotten off to a fast start with a great premiere. Hopefully this news will not hurt the show.

'Damages' adds some big names for Season 3

FX announced that the show has added 4 big names to the cast for Season 3.

Martin Short, and Campbell Scott have been added to cast as regulars, while Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine are joining as guest stars.

The show premiered in 2008 to great ratings for the FX network and continues to perform well. Glenn Close has won an Emmy for her performance as ruthless attorney Patty Hewes for 2 straight years.

'Damages' has become one my favorite shows and this news has me looking forward to another great season. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of seeing this show, do yourself a favor and rent the DVD's to catch up. You will not be disappointed.

The show will begin filming it's 3rd season this week, and is scheduled to return in January.

Heather Locklear is returning to Melrose Place

The CW network announced Tuesday that Heather Locklear, 47, will be reprising her role as Amanda Woodward on the new CW version of the show. Her first appearance on the show will be November 17th.

"We're ecstatic to have the chance to bring Amanda Woodward back to Melrose Place," executive producers Todd Slavkin & Darren Swimmer said in a statement. "Heather's involvement in the show is something we've been working on for some time as we couldn't imagine creating and producing this show without the iconic character's inclusion."

Before 'Melrose,' Locklear had been a regular on the cop show 'T.J. Hooker' and the glamorous melodrama 'Dynasty.' She later co-starred with Michael J. Fox on the sitcom 'Spin City.'

She will now be joining original 'Melrose' castmates Laura Leighton, Thomas Calabro, Josie Bisset and Daphne Zuniga in the CW's updated version.

'Glee' gets full season order

Fox has given a full season order to the freshman series 'Glee.' This really comes as no surprise. The show has done well for the network and has been a critical darling ever since it's pilot episode premiered last spring.

'Glee' is the first show of the new season to get a full season order. Series creator Ryan Murphy said, "It's fantastic to be the first show picked up, and that this underdog series, like its characters, will get the chance to keep singing. There are so many more stories to tell."

'Glee' premiered to Fox's highest numbers for a new scripted show in three years. The first episode drew 7.3 million viewers, which won its Wednesday time slot in the adults 18-49 demographic, and notched an impressing 3.5 rating.

Jordan Lloyd wins Big Brother 11

Jordan Lloyd, the 22 year old waitress from Matthews, NC overcame huge odds and took home the $500,000 prize on Big Brother 11.

This season saw it's share of controversy and drama. None more so then when houseguest Chima Siomone was expelled from the house for breaking the rules. That event alone skewed the balance of power in the house and changed the outcome of the game.

The final part of the head of household was your standard "finish this statement made by a juror" with two answer choices. This came down to a tiebreaker, which was won by Jordan.

Moments later, Jordan chose to evict Kevin and take Natalie with her to the final 2. This was the right move for Jordan. Kevin played a very good game and most likely would have won the majority of votes from the jury.

Here is the breakdown of the voting:

• America's Vote - Jordan
• Jessie - Jordan
• Lydia - Jordan
• Russell - Natalie
• Jeff - Jordan
• Michele - Jordan
• Kevin - Natalie

One other note from the evening, Jeff won the $25,000 prize from being voted America's Favorite Houseguest.

All in all, a pretty good season. Had some good drama, and overall a pretty good group of players. Looking forward to Big Brother 12!

Leno debuts to big ratings

NBC's much hyped and much maligned 'Jay Leno Show' premiered to big ratings last night.

The show debuted to nearly 18 million viewers. That's more than 3 times the number of people who used to watch the 'Tonight' show on a daily basis.

Leno was undoubtedly helped by the appearance of Kanye West, who made headlines the day before at the MTV Video Music Awards.

For NBC the other good news was how broad the interest was in Mr Leno’s return. He scored a hit rating of 5.1 in the age group NBC most prizes - viewers between 18 and 49 (about 6.7 million viewers) - but he was even bigger with older groups, hitting a 6.2 rating among viewers 25 to 54 and a huge 10.8 rating among viewers over 50.

Leno's numbers will inevitably decline over the coming months as the competition heats up with new shows on the other networks, but his premiere numbers are impressive considering he was up against a ratings juggernaut in Monday Night Football.