LOST: A Perfect Ending to an Amazing Show

Well Lost ended last night with what was, in my opinion, the perfect ending.  It had it all.  It was sad, happy, funny, scary, very well written and well acted.  It was everything you could ask for from a series finale.

Now some people may not be satisfied with the resolution of the storyline.  I was. Regardless that this theory had been floating around since the beginning of the series, it didn't matter to me.  It was the way it was presented, and the way the story came to its end that I was happy with. 

The theory being that castaways were dead and in some sort of purgatory or limbo, and that our main character Jack, was the focal point.    He was the one that needed to complete his journey so he could move on.  He needed to "let go."  The Island world, we learned, absolutely mattered to the physical fate of the survivors. In my opinion, the events we saw on that island, actually happened to these characters.  And the Sideways world, an afterlife of some sort,  mattered because it was the culmination of the lives of the characters. It was a resolution to their spiritual existence, their souls.

Some fans will complain that the Sideways timeline was bogus, because the producers said long ago that Lost wasn't about Purgatory. In fact, this theory they refuted was that the Island was Purgatory, and it wasn't.   The Island events were real life, and the Sideways events were an afterlife in some way.  By doing it this way, the producers actually managed to find a way to discredit the purgatory theory, while still using it.  The Sideways events, was the purgatory that they themselves had created in order to find one another again, to reconnect one last time with the most important people in their lives before they could move on to the afterlife.

Not everyone is going to like how it ended.   If you watched this show for the characters, then you probably will love how it ended.  If you watched the show for the intricate plot, then you will probably not like the ending very much.  Many people will not like that some if not many questions went unanswered.  In my opinion, with a show like Lost, having unhappy people and unanswered questions at the end is unavoidable.   You are not going to please everyone, it's a fact.  Many of the BIG questions were answered, and many were left open to interpretation.

Certainly people have guessed that the series that began with Jack's eye opening would end with it closing. It made perfect sense that Jack, who was meant to die at the end of the original version of the Lost pilot, instead die at the end of the series. 

But here is where I think they made the perfect ending. As Jack staggered through the jungle, he eventually found himself laying in the very same spot where he awoke on the island in the pilot.  Vincent reappeared as he had in the pilot's first minutes as well.    Before Jack's eye closed for the final time, he saw a plane fly overhead with his friends safely on board.

The actors have to be given credit too.   All of their scenes of remembering the island in last nights finale were so well done.  I had said all through this series that it boasted the best acting on television and last night just enhanced my opinion of that.

As to things being left open to interpretation, that's fine with me.  If everything was answered and tied up in a neat little package, what would fans of the show talk and debate about?  Lost fans can talk and speculate and debate about this show for as long as they want now.  For Lost fans, thats a good thing.  It's a way that the show can live on.  If all answers were given, then the speculation and debate ends.  No one talks about the meaning of the end of MASH.  We all know what it meant.

Lost was about life, death, faith, and redemption.  It has always been theorized that the title of the show referred to characters souls and not them being physically lost.  Now we now that to be true.

What I am going to miss most about Lost is not the mythology or the many questions we got each week.  I'm going to miss these incredible characters and the journey they took to get to where they were in the finale.  Never has a show had such rich and well written characters.  That's what kept me tuning in every week.

LOST was an incredible experience for me as a TV viewer, and I'm so glad that I went along for the ride.

CBS cancels 7 shows including 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Old Christine'

CBS is moving aggressively to shake up its 2010-11 season, canceling 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' and six other series.

The crime procedurals 'Cold Case,' 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Numbers' will not be renewed for next season. Jerry Bruckheimer's drama 'Miami Medical' also is canceled, as is fellow freshman 'Accidentally on Purpose,' which mainly aired as part of a Monday night comedy block. 'Gary Unmarried' was also axed. 


The wholesale axings came as a surprise, given the respectable ratings earned by some of the shows and CBS' standing as the most-watched network.

2 of the cancellations were very surprising.  'Ghost Whisperer' in particular, consistently delivered promising numbers for a Friday, 8 p.m. spot, but the network still decided to pull the plug and keep a different mystery show, 'Medium,' starring Patricia Arquette. Another surprise was 'Christine,' which has been a stable if low-rated performer.

ABC almost immediately expressed interest in picking up both 'Whisperer' and 'Christine.'  'Whisperer' would make more sense for the network, which has improved its comedy offerings this season; the average rating for 'Christine' is low compared with ABC's current Wednesday comedy block.

As for 'Cold Case,' CBS was on the fence for months about the 7-year-old drama. Its ratings were admirably stable, if modest, on Sundays.

Sandra wins Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Sandra Diaz-Twine became the only 2 time winner in Survivor history on Sunday night when she was crowned the winner of 'Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.'


The 34-year-old bank teller from Fayetteville, N.C. beat Parvati Shallow and Russell Hantz to win the million dollar prize and also claiming the ultimate bragging right by becoming the only 2 time winner.  The final vote was 6 votes for Sandra, 3 votes for Parvati, and 0 for Russell.

"It makes me the queen," Diaz-Twine said of her two-time win.

Sandra also has the distinction of winning the game twice without EVER winning a single challenge.  "If she can win the game twice, there is a flaw in the game," a disgruntled Russell said.

Russell, who many (including me) thought should have won last season, did win an audience-voted prize worth $100,000 for the Player of the Season.

Now, i'm not quite ready to call Sandra the best Survivor ever.  I know she is the only 2 time winner.  But for my money, Parvati convinced me this season that she owns the title of best ever.    Russell was well on his way to being the best ever after last season, but he really let his ego get the best of him this season.   He alienated his fellow players, not really getting close to any of them.  His lack of a social gameplay strategy hurt him last season and it hurt him again this season.

I'm not a big fan of someone who plays the game by riding the coattails of other players.  Many people say that is a valid strategy, and it may be.  However it's not a strategy that I respect as a fan of the game.  Parvati made some real game changing, risky moves.  The moves paid off.  Sandra really made no "moves" in the game.  She really took no risks.  Yes she won.... AGAIN, and good for her.  Sandra seems like a great person, and of the 3 finalists this season, she is probably the nicest of them all.  But Survivor is not about being nice.    Much like last season, in my opinion, the jury made the wrong decision.  My vote would have gone to Parvati.

But when it comes right down to it, you are supposed to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast everyone else in order to win the game.  Sandra certainly did that, and she did it for the 2nd time.

I will say that after 20 seasons, Survivor came through with it's best season ever.  It was an amazing season and I for one cannot wait until the fall when 'Survivor: Nicaragua' premieres.

'Law & Order' ends after 20 years

Crime drama 'Law & Order' will end its 20-year run later this month, NBC announced.

The network said that the show will be replaced next TV season with 'Law & Order:  Los Angeles.   The network said the new series would follow similar themes and stories as the New York-based original, albeit on a new coast.

In New York the series became a mini-industry, employing thousands of aspiring Broadway actors. Jerry Orbach achieved fame as Detective Lennie Briscoe, and the series helped to launch Chris Noth, who went on to further fame in 'Sex and the City' and now 'The Good Wife.'

It featured guest stars ranging from Julia Roberts to Philip Seymour Hoffman. It even helped to fuel a 2008 presidential bid by Fred Thompson, a former Republican senator who became a household name playing Manhattan district attorney Arthur Branch.

“Over the last 20 years, 'Law and Order' became a New York City institution,” Michael Bloomberg, the city’s Mayor, said. “It began filming in the city at a time when few series did, and it helped pave the way for the more than 150 television shows based here today.

“It also helped launch the careers of thousands of talented actors and featured many memorable performances, although my cameos are not among them.”

The 456th and final episode of 'Law and Order' will air on May 24, with a guest appearance by Lindsey Vonn, an Olympic gold-medal skier.

NBC makes it official. 'Heroes' cancelled.

NBC announced that they have decided not to renew 'Heroes' for a 5th season.

'Heroes' was a runaway hit and developed something of a cult following when it was first aired several seasons ago, but suffered a precipitous drop in ratings. Actors like Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli), Zachary Quinto (Sylar), Masi Oka (Hiro Nakamura) and Hayden Panettiere (Clair Bennet) got great exposure on the TV series.


The show never managed to recapture those stellar ratings from its critically-beloved first season, when it averaged a whopping 14.5 million. There has been talk that NBC may air a movie that allows the producers to wrap up the story, but nothing has been set in stone. NBC will announce its fall lineup to advertisers Monday in New York.

ABC gives V another season

A surprise announcement, in my opinion, coming from ABC.  The network has decided to give the sci-fi series 'V' another season.


Considered to be on the chopping block for the last several weeks, the show averaged 10 million viewers a week for ABC in its original Tuesday at 8 p.m. timeslot, but quickly fell to a 6 million per week at 10 p.m. following 'Lost,' losing huge chunks of that audience.  Dropping from a 6.7 in the key 18-49 demo to a 3.8.

Personally, I think 'FlashForward' was the show that ABC should have saved.  Much better writing, and a superior cast.   


No word yet on whether the renewal is for 13 episodes or a full 22 episode season.

ABC pulls the plug on 'FlashForward' and 3 other shows

ABC has decided not to renew 'FlashForward' for a 2nd season.

The series debuted in September and attracted a 4.0 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 12.47 million viewers. With a lot of buzz, it seemed like ABC had a hit. For week two, the ratings dropped to a still very respectable 3.7 and 10.73 million.

But then viewership just kept falling, hitting a low of a 2.1 in the key demo and just 7.1 million viewers. Then, ABC pulled the series for three months. The spin was that they would relaunch 'FlashForward' after the Olympics.

The network gave the return a significant amount of promotion but it didn’t help. 'FlashForward's ratings were even worse and they just kept dropping.

However, author Robert J. Sawyer confirmed in an interview that the producers of the show won't let 'FlashForward' be another show left with dangling plot. He promised that editing would be done to the finale — major, major editing — to close up most loose threads and to make the series finale more satisfying to fans.

This is a big disappointment.  I was really hoping ABC would give the show one more shot.  After a sluggish period in the middle of the season, the show has really picked up and gotten much better.

In other news from the alphabet network, it was also announced that the comedies 'Scrubs,' 'Better Off Ted,' and 'Romantically Challenged' were cancelled.  No big surprises there.  I thought 'Ted' might get another season, but 'Scrubs' should have ended last year and the Alyssa Milano vehicle 'Romantically Challenged' just didn't find an audience.

'Chuck' renewed for 4th season

Fear not 'Chuck' fans, the reluctant super-spy we all love will be returning for a 4th season.

NBC made the announcement yesterday.  The show, which has been on the bubble despite having a very loyal fanbase and big time critical acclaim, will return for 13 episodes.

'Chuck' has had steady ratings this season.  They haven't been great ratings, but they have been steady.  Considering the competition in that timeslot (House, Dancing With the Stars, and How I Met Your Mother) , the show has performed admirably.

While 13 episodes is the official order, NBC has the option of adding up to 9 more episodes.  Before Season Two, when the show had also been renewed for only 13 episodes, the network ordered a full season of the show before anything had aired after being impressed with the quality of the early episodes. A similar situation happened this season, when the network bumped the order from 13 episodes to 19 before anything had even aired.

'Human Target' & 'Lie To Me' Renewed by Fox

A bit of a surprise coming from Fox today.  Both 'Lie to Me' and 'Human Target' have been picked up for 13 episode seasons.

It was widely believed that Fox would choose one or the other from these 2 shows. In recent days it was rumored that they were leaning more toward 'Lie to Me' because it was less expensive to make.  

Thankfully they decided to save 'Human Target' as well. The critically acclaimed 'Target' is the far superior show.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against 'Lie to Me' but in this day and age of crime procedurals, TV needs something a little different.  'Target' is also the perfect replacement for fans of the outgoing '24.'

Survivor: Did Russell's bold move cost him the game?

Russell Hantz has continued to play Survivor unlike anyone has ever played before.  Finding hidden immunity idols, making big power moves, and building alliances. 

After Candice was voted out at the first of two tribal councils, Russell pulled a big bold move.  Russell feared Danielle and Parvati were getting too close and felt he needed to break them up.  A risky move since Russell already was in a pretty strong alliance with them.

Russell lied to Parvati and told her that Danielle wanted her out, but Parvati confronted Danielle with this information.  Danielle told her it wasn't true, telling Parvati that she felt Russell was trying to turn them against each other, which he was.  Meanwhile Russell was gathering the Heroes votes against Danielle and also convinced Jerri to vote his way.  In the end the votes came in 4 votes for Danielle and 3 for Rupert.  Danielle was going home.

This was a big bold move for Russell.  One the one hand, he broke up a very powerful twosome in Danielle and Parvati, who most certainly would have voted him out instead of each other if it came down to it.  But on the other hand, did he cost himself 2 very key votes from possible jury members?  If Danielle and Parvati both get to the jury, this move most likely cost Russell their vote. 

Of course, if Parvati is one of the finalists, then he may have only lost Danielle's vote.  Danielle most likely would vote for Parvati in this situation anyway.  Russell still has time to get some other people on his side. 

One other thing that I'm not sure Russell thought through here is that he has now given the remaining Heroes of Rupert and Colby renewed life in the game.

There are 2 episodes left this season, and it's shaping up to be a great ending to an amazing season.

'Lost' finale gets extended by 30 minutes

ABC announced that it is extending the 'Lost' finale by 30 minutes, giving the producers two and a half hours in total, and delaying stations’ local newscasts on Sunday, May 23.

A total of seven and a half hours of 'Lost' are planned that weekend, according to ABC’s schedule.

First the network will re-run an enhanced pop-up version of the blockbuster two-hour pilot on Saturday, May 22, from 8 to 10 p.m. Then on Sunday, 'Lost' takes over the schedule, starting with a two-hour retrospective of the show at 7 p.m.

The finale, titled 'The End,' starts at 9 p.m., and the local news starts at 11:30 p.m.

At 12:05 a.m., it’s time for the post-game show, courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel. He’s hosting a special episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' titled “Aloha to ‘Lost,’” featuring alternative endings to the show.

FX renews 'Justified'

FX has ordered another season of its newest critically acclaimed drama series 'Justified,' picking up a 13 episode second season.

“We are very excited about the tremendous, widespread acclaim that Justified has received from both audiences and television critics,” said John Landgraf, President and General Manager of FX Networks. “Graham Yost, Tim Olyphant, Elmore Leonard and their talented partners have crafted a uniquely ambitious and entertaining series which is everything we aspired to when we developed the show.”


Developed for television by Graham Yost and starring Timothy Olyphant, 'Justified' is based on the popular Elmore Leonard character Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens from his short story 'Fire in the Hole' and some of his other novels.

Through seven weeks, first-run episodes of 'Justified' are averaging 3.4 million viewers and 1.7 million Adults 18-49. The weekly multi-run average viewership for the series is 7.5 million total viewers and 3.9 million Adults 18-49 (six episodes). ' Justified' is this year’s number-one rated new series on basic cable in delivery of Men 18-49 (1.1 million). 'Justified' was the most-watched series premiere in FX history, with 4.9 million total viewers, surpassing 'The Shield’s' 4.8 million total viewers (3/12/02). 

'Happy Town' fizzles for ABC in debut. 'Modern Family' shines.

ABC's much hyped mysterious show 'Happy Town' premiered to terrible ratings last night.

The show averaged a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen overnights, dropping 39 percent of lead-in 'Cougar Town's' 2.8 rating.

'Happy Town's' rating fell from a 1.9 in its first half hour to a 1.6 in its second. It finished 1.2 behind NBC's 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,' which won the timeslot with its highest-rated episode since March 31.

That capped an otherwise strong night for ABC, whose 'Modern Family' was the No. 2 show behind Fox's 'American Idol,' averaging a 4.1 rating, its best rating since January and second-highest of the season. It also marked its best-ever showing opposite "Idol."

Bottom line is don't get to attached to 'Happy Town.' If it continues with ratings like this, it won't be around too long.

TNT renews 'Southland'

TNT announced that it has renewed 'Southland' for a 3rd season.

Ten new episodes will be produced and will start airing in January. The show comes from executive producer John Wells.

TNT rescued the show set in Los Angeles after NBC dropped the show before it could start its second season.   This year, TNT repeated the seven episodes that originally aired on NBC in the show’s first season, then presented six new episodes.

TNT honcho Michael Wright explained the renewal in a statement: ” ‘Southland’ is a challenging, visceral show that engages viewers with its immersive style, provocative storylines and complex characters. These qualities have made ‘Southland’ a favorite among critics and appointment viewing for an extremely loyal audience.”

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' will return for an 8th season

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' will be back for another season, HBO announced today.

In a statement, Larry David said: “After much soul searching – and by the way, it was nowhere to be found – I have decided to do another season of ‘Curb.’ I look forward to the end of shooting, when I can once again resume the hunt for my elusive soul. I know it’s here somewhere or perhaps in the rugged mountainous regions of Pakistan.”

Production on the eighth season starts this summer; the 10 new episodes will debut next year.

In a statement, HBO honcho Michael Lombardo said: ”Larry always loves to paint himself into a corner, and after the incredibly wonderful seventh season of ‘Curb,’ you have to ask, ‘How does he ever top this?’ But he always finds a way. We can’t wait to see what he does in season eight.”

Returning with 'Seinfeld' co-creator David will be Cheryl Hines as David’s wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin as David’s manager Jeff and Susie Essman as Jeff’s wife Susie.

NBC renews 'Parenthood'

NBC announced today that it has renewed the freshman drama 'Parenthood' for a second season.

The show has benefited from its 'The Biggest Loser' lead-in, as well as NBC's promo blitz during the Winter Olympics. And it couldn't have come at a better time for the Peacock, which desperately needed new 10 p.m. fare to replace the 'Jay Leno Show' debacle.

'Parenthood' delivered, averaging a solid 3.2 rating and 9 share with adults 18-49 on Tuesdays at 10 p.m., as well as 7.8 million viewers. That performance has soothed cranky affiliates, which now have a stronger lead-in for their 11 p.m. newscasts on the night.

Whether or not 'Parenthood' stays at 10 p.m. remains to be seen; the show was originally slated in the fall for Wednesdays at 8 p.m -- until original star Maura Tierney had to drop out due to health issues.

Tim Daly leaving 'Private Practice?'

A blind item posted earlier this week by Michael Ausiello hinted at a major death on 'Private Practice' to end the season. Yet he didn't reveal which character would be leaving.

Well it looks like it will be Pete Wilder that will be getting killed off on the show.

Earlier today, Tim Daly tweeted on his Twitter page.... "It's been swell," then moments later, "Last Show 323." 323 most likely refers to Season 3, Episode 23 which would be the season finale.

We'll see if this turns out to be true. But the signs are there.

'Damages' most likely dead

Even though there has been talk recently about DirecTV sharing 'Damages' with FX to save the show, it appears as though that is unlikely to happen.  Insiders say it doesn't look as though the drama is a good fit for the satellite provider.

Monday's announcement by DirecTV that HBO's critically acclaimed drama 'The Wire' is arriving in July indicates that the service is continuing its mostly male-skewing lineup. Series on the air, or having just concluded, include 'Oz,' 'Deadwood,' 'Brotherhood,' 'Friday Night Lights' and Australian drama 'Underbelly.'

Sony, of course, wants to see 'Damages' continue, but the studio would have to take a substantial license-fee reduction. With what would be the fourth year of the show, and cast and crew expecting salary increases, it would likely be difficult -- though not impossible -- to cut costs.

If an arrangement could be made to continue 'Damages,' DirecTV would want to air original episodes first, and FX might have issues with that arrangement, according to sources. FX Prods. is co-producer of the series.

For all the success FX is having with its dramas -- Tim Olyphant starrer 'Justified' is off to a solid start, and 'Sons of Anarchy' is coming off a socko second season -- 'Damages' has always been ratings-challenged.  The season three premiere in January drew only 1.4 million viewers, down 17% from season two's debut. In the 18-49 demo, numbers were even more disheartening, tumbling 41% to 428,000 from 718,000 on Jan. 7, 2009.

FX showed plenty of faith in 'Damages' in 2007 when it renewed the series for two seasons at the end of season one, but ratings-wise it hasn't paid off.

I personally love 'Damages' so i'm hoping that some sort of deal gets worked out that allows the show to continue. 

Conan O'Brien signs deal with TBS

Conan O'Brien is headed to TBS to resume his comedic duties with a talk show expected to debut in November, the network says.

The program will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. Eastern, shifting TBS' 'Lopez Tonight,' starring George Lopez, to midnight.

Monday's surprise announcement hit the same day O'Brien starts a two-month, nationwide comedy tour in Eugene, Ore., amid persistent reports that he was likely to claim Fox as his new late-night home.

Barring Fox, syndication was widely considered O'Brien's most likely option. Few if anyone mentioned TBS as a plausible destination. O'Brien began serious talks with TBS just last week, the network said.

"In three months, I've gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I'm headed to basic cable," O'Brien said in a tongue-in-cheek-toned statement. "My plan is working perfectly."

Now, i'm not sure what anyone else thinks, but this is a huge loss for Fox and huge blunder for them too.  They, once again, have blown the chance to get into the late night scene.  This was finally their chance to snag a big name to head their own late night entry and the blew it.

'Designing Women' star Dixie Carter dies

Actress Dixie Carter, who played an outspoken liberal on the sitcom "Designing Women" and received an Emmy nomination for a guest role on 'Desperate Housewives' has died, according to 'Entertainment Tonight.' She was 70.

Details about the time, place and cause were not immediately known.

"This has been a terrible blow to our family," actor Hal Holbrook, Carter's husband since 1984, was quoted as telling ET "We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy."

'Designing Women,' which ran on CBS for seven seasons from 1986, revolved around the lives of four women and a man at an interior design firm in Atlanta. Carter's sharp-tongued character, Julia Sugarbaker, was an advocate of liberal causes and women's rights.

In 2007, Carter received an Emmy nomination for a stint as the devious mother-in-law of Marcia Cross' character, Bree Hodge, on 'Desperate Housewives.'

In addition to her 85-year-old husband, Carter is survived by her daughters from her first marriage, Mary Dixie and Ginna,

Twin Peaks - 20 Years Later

"She's dead, wrapped in plastic" and so began a magical experience.

20 years ago this month, America became captivated in a new TV series called 'Twin Peaks.' The show, which only ran for two seasons on ABC, remains unlike anything else produced before or since.

Twenty years after the influential cult television show began, David Lynch's sci-fi, absurdist murder-mystery soap opera continues to amaze legions of viewers who are experiencing it for the first time on DVD. Without it, there would probably not be shows like 'Lost' or 'The X-Files' or any of the countless serials that were labeled "quirky" or "weird."

Although it was mostly a whodunit about the murder of the homecoming queen in a small logging town in the Pacific Northwest, that was only part of the show's allure. The quirky, often bizarre characters that populated the town of Twin Peaks were also what made the show so incredibly fascinating.

When Laura Palmer's body is found washed up ashore wrapped in plastic, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, played masterfully by Kyle MacLachlan, is brought in to investigate a possible connection between Palmer's death and another recent murder. I won't give away any more for those who haven't yet seen this show and may plan on doing so on DVD.

The show premiered in April 1990 with a 2 hour pilot episode, which is widely considered to be 2 of the best hours TV has ever produced. It's interesting to note that the pilot is only available on the Gold Box Edition of the DVD box set of the series. The show ran for 2 seasons and 29 episodes. The first season of the series was a cultural phenomenon, 'Twin Peaks' became more than a show, it was a national discussion. For a while, the entire country had at least heard of the phrase "Who Killed Laura Palmer?", if not rabidly discussed the answer at work or school the next day. The show spawned a slew of T-shirts, lighters, trading cards and books -- which included an audiobook, 'Diane: The Twin Peaks Tapes,' read by MacLachlan as Agent Cooper, a travel guide to the town of Twin Peaks and 'The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer,' written by Lynch's daughter Jennifer. In 1992, a big screen prequel, 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' was released.

Midway through the second season, ABC foolishly forced Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost to reveal Laura's murderer, thus causing a steady decline in the ratings -- and quality -- of subsequent episodes.

One thing the show did, that changed the face of television, was prove that TV didn't have to be vastly inferior to movies. When a director like David Lynch did a TV show, it became OK for big time movie producers, directors, and stars to do television. Television became the much more respected and revered medium that it is today.

Looking back 20 years, it's hard to overstate just how different 'Twin Peaks' was than anything else on television. Lynch, whose films 'Eraserhead' and 'Blue Velvet' would both influence 'Peaks' with its eccentric characterizations and evils in a small town, didn't let TV dilute his vision. Instead, he saw TV as an extension, rather than a compromise, of his films; a forum that allowed him to make what was essentially a 30-hour soap opera noir. Visually, in comparison to the grainy, cheap quality of other 1990s shows, 'Twin Peaks' looks just as beautiful now as it did when it first premiered.

One thing is for sure, 'Twin Peaks' changed the face of television for the better.

Parenthood making a strong case for renewal

We're arriving at the time where TV executives will start deciding which shows deserve to be renewed and which do not.  NBC's 'Parenthood' has begun to make a good case for a 2nd season.

'Parenthood' beat 'The Good Wife' in the coveted 18-49 demographic Tuesday. It was the first time since 'Parenthood' premiered a month go that it beat a new episode of the CBS freshman drama head-to-head in that category. Last week, a new 'Parenthood' beat a repeat of 'The Good Wife.'

The ratings for 'Parenthood' have been all over the map since its March 2 premiere, but the last few weeks have seen some stabilization. Helped by heavy hype during NBC's Olympics coverage, the show launched  with 8.1 million viewers and a 3.1 rating in adults 18-49 (each rating point in that demo equals 1.3 million viewers). It dropped the following two weeks, hitting a low of 5.8 million viewers and a 2.3 in the demo on March 16. 

Some may have been ready to throw in the towel on 'Parenthood' at that point, but it rebounded on March 23 with 7 million viewers and a 2.7 in adults 18-49. Perhaps fans of 'The Good Wife,' which was in repeats that Tuesday, checked out 'Parenthood' and now some are starting to stick around. Although 'Parenthood' has not matched the numbers of two weeks ago, the show is performing at the same level as it was in week two and is doing particularly well with women.

NBC has some decisions to make with shows like 'Chuck' and 'Parenthood.'  Both are very good quality shows that struggle in the ratings.  But given the lack of quality programming at NBC, they would be wise to renew both shows.  Good shows like these do not come along too often.   

John Forsythe dead at 92

John Forsythe, the debonair actor best known as the disembodied voice of Charlie on 'Charlie's Angels' and as the scheming Blake Carrington on the primetime soap 'Dynasty' has died at age 92. He passed away yesterday in Santa Ynez, Calif. due to complications from pneumonia after a yearlong battle with cancer.

'Dynasty' co-star Joan Collins said, "He was one of the last of the true gentlemen of the acting profession," Collins said in a statement. "I enjoyed our nine years of feuding, fussing and fighting as the Carringtons."

Heather Locklear, another 'Dynasty' co-star, called him "a gentleman in every sense of the word," and a "gifted actor who knew the true meaning of being gracious and kind."

Forsythe was an important part of another hit Spelling series without being seen. From 1976 to 1981 he played the voice of Charlie, the boss who delivered assignments to his beautiful detectives, including Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd, via telephone in 'Charlie's Angels.'

"We were so happy when he agreed to be the voice of Charlie, and he always laughed about having to take a back seat to Farrah's hair," Spelling's widow Candy said in a statement.

Ladd, who lives near Forsythe, said she would miss him terribly. "I'm mourning with the rest of the world for the talented, gorgeous, funny, intelligent John Forsythe," she said in a statement.

Forsythe evidenced little of the ego drive that motivates many actors. He viewed himself with a self-effacing humor, considering himself "a vastly usable, not wildly talented actor."

"Thankfully, he died as he lived his life, with dignity and grace," his family said in a statement.

In lieu of flowers, Forsythe's family asked that donations be made to the American Cancer Society. The family said there will be no public service.

DWTS first elimination is a surprise

'Dancing With The Stars' first elimination of the season surprised pretty much everyone.  It was widely thought that Kate Gosselin and Buzz Aldrin would be the bottom 2 last ngiht.

Pam Anderson, who had the fifth highest judges' score, wound up in the bottom two.  Buzz Aldrin who had the lowest judges' score was safe from elimination, all because America voted.  This is what is so crazy about 'DWTS' results, someone who is a talented dancer but un-liked by America can get the boot, but someone who is a horrific dancer but loved by America can stay on.

Shannen Doherty, while not great, was certainly better than Buzz and Kate, yet she ended up in the bottom 2 along with Pam.

In the end, Shannen was the one to go.  I guess out of Pam and Shannen, Shannen should have gone.  However neither one should have been in the final two.  It appears as though this season could just turn into a popularity contest, and I guess that shouldn't be a big surprise.

'Castle' scores big ratings, gets renewed for 3rd season

ABC has renewed 'Castle' for a 3rd season, less than 24 hours after the show delivered it's best ratings of the season.  The renewal was for a full season of 22 episodes.

Castle himself, Nathan Fillion, tweeted about it thanking the fans, "Cheers to you all for making it happen.”

Monday night’s conclusion of ‘Castle’s two-parter guest-starring Dana Delany averaged 14.5 million total viewers, eclipsing last week’s all-time high by 12 percent.

It also marked the second straight week that the series topped the 10 o’clock hour in both total viewers and performance in the coveted 18-to-49 demo. Last time around, it even bested an original episode of time-slot powerhouse ‘CSI: Miami.’

Most remarkably, this week’s ‘Castle’ gave ABC its biggest audience in the Mondays-at-10 slot since, believe it or not, April 22, 1996.

Clock finally runs out for '24'

Following weeks of speculation, '24' showrunner Howard Gordon Friday confirmed that time's really up for Kiefer Sutherland's Jack Bauer -- at least on the small screen. The final two-hour episode will air May 24.

Gordon said that the producers just weren't up for another season. "If they said tomorrow that you have a ninth season, it's not something we'd be up for because we realize Jack's story in the real-time format has been told."

Gordon went on to say, "We entertained creatively what a ninth season would look like, and frankly we came to the conclusion that the story had run its course in the 24-hour, real-time framework,"

But, as has been reported, Jack may be back -- on the big screen. Gordon confirmed that a feature film -- "a more modest framework," he calls it -- is in development and that Sutherland is on board to star.

24 star Mary Lynn Rajskub announced the news via her Twitter page tweeting "Just found out we got the word officially. This is 24's last season."

Jon Cassar, the shows former executive producer, also announced on his twitter page, "News from the 24 set,the crew has been told that 24 has come to an end. There will b no season 9. Its been a great run, thanx all 4 watching."

The shows star, Kiefer Sutherland, commented on the news as well today, saying, "We've done eight years we're very proud of, and we're very excited about going into the film world with this. It's very sad, the only thing tempering this from being all-out heartbreak is the fact that we have this sense of accomplishment. That's the only thing holding people up. Because, for me, and all these people who've been with us since the beginning, it's a very special thing and it's very sad to see it end."

Late today Sutherland released a statement saying, “This has been the role of a lifetime, and I will never be able to fully express my appreciation to everyone who made it possible. While the end of the series is bittersweet, we always wanted 24 to finish on a high note, so the decision to make the eighth season our last was one we all agreed upon. This feels like the culmination of all our efforts from the writers to the actors to our fantastic crew and everyone at Fox. Looking ahead to the future, Howard Gordon and I are excited about the opportunity to create the feature film version of 24. But when all is said and done, it is the loyal worldwide fan base that made it possible for me to have the experience of playing the role of Jack Bauer, and for that I am eternally grateful.”

Robert Culp dies at 79

Robert Culp, the actor who teamed with Bill Cosby in the racially groundbreaking TV series "I Spy" and was Bob in the critically acclaimed sex comedy "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," died Wednesday morning after a fall at his Hollywood home, authorities said. Culp was 79.

The actor was rushed to Queen of Angels hospital shortly after 11 a.m. after hitting his head while taking a walk outside his home in the 1800 block of El Cerrito Place, said LAPD Lt. Bob Binder. He was found by a jogger who called 911, and paramedics, patrol officers and detectives responded to the scene.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. A preliminary investigation found "that his death is accidental and there appears to be no sign of foul play," Binder said. An autopsy by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office is pending.

Culp broke into Hollywood in the late 1950s but catapulted to fame playing Kelly Robinson in the hourlong 1965-68 espionage series "I Spy," which was shot in exotic locales around the world. Besides its popularity, the show also broke the color barrier for dramatic television series as the first noncomedy series to star an African American actor, Bill Cosby.

In the 80's Culp played FBI Agent Bill Maxwell in the television series, 'The Greatest American Hero.' He later appeared opposite Bill Cosby again in a 1987 episode of “The Cosby Show,” playing Scott Kelly, an old friend of Dr. Cliff Huxtable’s, and, once again as Kelly Robinson, in a 1999 episode of “Cosby” that included a dream sequence of “I Spy.” They had also reunited in the television movie “I Spy Returns” in 1994. He also played Debra's father on 'Everybody Loves Raymond.'

Mr. Culp was married five times. He is survived by his daughters, Samantha, who lives in China, and Rachel, of San Francisco; and his sons, Joseph, Joshua and Jason, all of Los Angeles.

Zach Braff says 'Scrubs' is over

'Scrubs' star Zach Braff is saying that the show is not returning.

Braff told his Facebook friends, "Many of you have asked, so here it is," writes Zach, "it appears that 'New Scrubs', 'Scrubs 2.0', 'Scrubs with new kids', 'Scrubbier', 'Scrubs without JD' is no more. It was worth a try, but alas... it didn't work."

'Scrubs' creator Bill Lawrence officially said that the show "hasn't been canceled, we're all just assuming it's over."

ABC isn't commenting.

However, current star Donald Faison, who plays Turk, is working a new pilot for CBS called 'The Odds' a Vegas cop series in which Donald plays a lead homicide detective. It seems clear that the actors are moving on.

Fox cancels 'Til Death

Fox confirmed today that they have cancelled 'Til Death.'

Fox actually informed Sony and the show's cast and crew a few weeks ago that it wouldn't pick up any more episodes. Brad Garrett confirmed the news:

"The other night, we got an 0.8 [rating]," Garrett reports in his famously deep voice. "Once your mom stops watching, you're an 0.4. The network said, 'What do you suggest?' I said, 'If you give me one more month, I can take you to a zero.' And there was dead silence."

Garrett adds that others who were involved in "'Til Death" have moved on to other projects: "After year two, when you're getting beat by Telemundo, it's time to go home. I mean, even the show my housekeeper watches was beating the show that was paying her salary. I'd come in the room, and she'd quickly turn off Telemundo."

The show also underwent a producer change in its final season. Don Reo, Dean Lorey, Glenn Robbins, Doug Wald and Garrett exec produce for Sony Pictures TV. "'Til Death" was originally created by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa.

24 coming to an end?

There's been much talk recently about the fate of '24'. Will it be renewed or not? Will NBC decide to pick it up if Fox cancels it? Will it make the jump to the big screen?

Well the answer about it's renewal may already be known.

A casting call for the role of a U.N. secretary general on '24' went out to talent agencies this week and included an advisory: “These are the final episodes, so if some of your name people would like to do something on the show, this is the time for them to do it.”

So far this year, the drama is down 10 percent in viewers (11.7 million versus 12.9 million last year). Kind of surprising that Fox would be willing to cast aside a show that still averages almost 12 million viewers a week. Might be a good idea for NBC to pick it up, they can use all the viewers they can get.

Fess Parker, TV's Davy Crockett, dies

Actor Fess Parker, who played Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone died Thursday at his home in the Santa Ynez Valley of natural causes at age 85, his family announced.

The actor, whose classic roles also included the son-consoling dad in 'Old Yeller' and another frontiersman in NBC's 'Daniel Boone', had retired from showbiz in the 1970s and founded a hugely successful winery and resort in Santa Barbara.

On retiring from the big and small screen, Parker in the 1970s went into the real estate business in Santa Barbara, where he successfully opened three high-end mobile home parks and the 360-room Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in 1985.

In 1989, Parker and his family went into the wine business, founding the Fess Parker Winery, a highly regarded and popular destination on the Foxen Canyon wine trail in Los Olivos.

The family also owns a 300 acre vineyard in the Santa Ynez valley.

"Fess and his wife Marcella celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January of 2010," a family statement said.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, singer Marcella Rinehart Parker; two children; 11 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

'Justified' opens big for FX

FX's premiere of 'Justified' last night drew huge numbers for the network.

The show, which stars Timothy Olyphant as no-nonsense US Marshall Raylan Givens, drew 4.16 million viewers. The 2nd most watched premiere in the network's history.

Only 'The Shield' drew higher numbers (4.83 Million) in its premiere on March 12, 2002.

FX has another quality program on its hands. 'Justified' joins a long line of top notch drama on the channel including 'The Shield,' 'Rescue Me,' 'Damages,' and 'Sons of Anarchy.'

Katherine Heigl gone from Grey's Anatomy

Although Katherine Heigl was scheduled to return to the 'Grey's Anatomy' set March 1 after three months of maternity leave, "she was not there," a source has told People magazine.

Sources also told Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello that 'Anatomy' creator Shonda Rhimes has agreed to release Heigl from her contract. ABC Studios and Heigl's reps will then hash out a final exit agreement.

According to one EW source, Heigl "was at home and ready to return to work." Heigl had been home taking care of her new baby, Naleigh, whom she and husband Josh Kelley adopted from South Korea. The special-needs child "was actually born the day before me in November, which I thought was really serendipitous and just kind of like a sign," Heigl, 30, said when announcing the news of her adoption on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' back in September.

But another source adds that "talks between Heigl and ABC have been going on for months and last week both sides mutually decided that the best solution would be to part ways now as opposed to at the end of the season."

As a result, Heigl is not expected to return to the 'Grey's' set, which means her final episode as Izzie has already aired.

Actor Corey Haim dead at 38

Troubled Actor Corey Haim, star of the 80's teen classics 'The Lost Boys' and 'Lucas' has died at the age of 38 from an apparent drug overdose.

According to local television reports out of Los Angeles, Haim was found unresponsive in his apartment near Burbank. He was taken to Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of his death appears to be a drug overdose, which may have been accidental. Police say that they were called to the hospital at around 4am PT to investigate.

Haim was a teen heartthrob and known for roles in movies including 'Lucas,' 'The Lost Boys,' 'License to Drive' and 'Dream a Little Dream.' Most notably he collaborated numerous times with actor Corey Feldman, and the pair was dubbed 'The Two Coreys.' Haim and Feldman starred in the A&E reality show 'The Two Coreys,' which aired from 2007 to 2008.

ABC renews Brothers and Sisters

ABC announced today that it has renewed the Sunday night drama 'Brothers and Sisters' for a 5th season.

While the ratings this season are down from last year, the decrease isn’t dramatic (unlike most everything on the show). Last season, 'Brothers and Sisters' averaged a 3.4 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 9.87 million viewers. So far, the ABC drama’s averaged a 3.0 in the demo and 9.23 million viewers.

No word on how many installments ABC will order but a full season of 22-24 episodes is expected.

However many episodes there are, they will likely be full of changes. Rob Lowe is leaving the series later this season and Calista Flockhart is supposedly going to be cutting back the number of episodes she’ll do. In addition, Gilles Marini, who plays the boyfriend of Sarah Walker (Rachel Griffiths), may become a series regular next season.

Fringe renewed for 3rd season

Fox has renewed the sci-fi cult series 'Fringe' for a third season.

A renewal for the series was expected even though it's slipped a bit in the ratings it's still given Fox a strong position on Thursdays, which have been very competitive this year.

In its second season, 'Fringe' is averaging just 7.6 million viewers. Although the number is high for a major network, it is still considerably low compared to other FOX shows such as its Thursday partner 'Bones' and '24'. However, since it was paired with 'Bones', 'Fringe' has proven to be a solid Thursday night line-up for the network.

The series was created by J.J. Abrams and Alex Kurtzman.

Changes in store for Desperate Housewives

There are some changes coming for the women of Wisteria Lane.

Actress Drea de Matteo will be leaving the 'Desperate Housewives' at the end of this season. Producers are saying that this was a planned exit. de Matteo's role was only intended to be a one year role. Series creator Marc Cherry said, “Part of the deal when we hired Drea was she was only interested in doing one season,” he explains. “She has a baby and is eager to get back to her life in New York."

In other news for the ABC dramedy, Dana Delany is in talks to headline the ABC drama 'Body of Evidence.' 'Evidence' will also star Jeri Ryan. The project centers on a brilliant, tenacious medical examiner -- the part Delany is in talks for -- whose background as a neurosurgeon gives her a unique and refreshing crime-solving perspective but puts her at odds with nearly everyone.

If Delany decides to take the role, this would certainly mean the end of her stint on 'Housewives.'

NBC Renews 30 Rock, Community, and The Office

NBC's Thursday night comedy lineup will remain intact next season. The network announced that 'Community,' '30 Rock,' and 'The Office' were all renewed for next season. 'Parks and Recreation,' the other Thursday night comedy was already renewed earlier this TV season.

No big surprise here, all of these shows do very well for the network. 'Community' could have been considered "On the Bubble" but still not much of a surprise that it was renewed.

Dancing With The Stars pairs revealed

ABC has revealed the cast for the upcoming season of 'Dancing With The Stars,' and it's a real interesting cast this time around. Here they are along with the dancers they are paired up with...

• Actress Shannen Doherty: Mark Ballas
• Olympian Evan Lysacek: Anna Trebunskaya
• NFL Star Chad Ochocinco: Cheryl Burke
• TV Host Niecy Nash: Louis Van Amstel
• ’The Bachelor’ Jake Pavelka: Chelsie Hightower
• Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger: Derek Hough
• Soap Star Aiden Turner: Edyta Sliwinska
• Actress Pamela Anderson: new pro Damian Whitewood
• ESPN reporter Erin Andrews: Maksim Chmerkovskiy
• Astronaut Buzz Aldrin: returning pro Ashly Costa (formerly DelGrosso)
• Reality star Kate Gosselin: Tony Dovolani

So based on these pairings, who do you think has the edge???

Rockford and Hawaii Five-O remakes get their leading men

2 upcoming TV remakes have named their leading men.

NBC's 'Rockford Files' has announced that actor Dermot Mulroney has been cast in the role of Private Eye Jim Rockford. The pilot was written by 'House' creator David Shore.

The original 'Rockford Files' was an NBC staple from 1974-1980. It won star James Garner an Emmy for his work as James Rockford, con-turned-gumshoe. The beloved series also helped launch writer-producer Stephen J. Cannell's career.

Meanwhile over at CBS, Alex O'Louglin has been cast as Detective Steve McGarrett in the network's 'Hawaii Five-O' remake. The 'Moonlight' and 'Three Rivers' star will take the lead role, which will be his third project at CBS in the past four seasons. He joins 'Lost's' Daniel Dae Kim, who will play fellow Detective Chin Ho Kelly, in the cast.

Neil Patrick Harris to appear on Glee

'How I Met Your Mother' star Neil Patrick Harris has signed a deal to guest star in an episode of this hit Fox show 'Glee.'

Details of his role and when he'll appear have not been released, but his reps have said that he will be in only one episode.

It has been rumored that the episode he will appear in will be directed by Joss Whedon, and will be during May sweeps, but that has not yet been confirmed.

Body found, may be missing actor Andrew Koenig

Vancouver Police believe that a body found earlier today is the body of missing 'Growing Pains' actor Andrew Koenig.

A press conference will be held this evening by Vancouver police, and Koenig's parents will be in attendance.

Koenig, 42, best known for playing "Boner" on 'Growing Pains,' went missing in Vancouver a week ago. He was last seen on Feb. 14 and missed his flight out of the Olympic host city two days later

His mother, Judy Levitt Koenig, said recently that she hoped the public's concern brings him home. "He is much loved and beloved in this world and I just hope he gets that feeling," she says.

Andrew's father Walter Koenig played Chekov in the 'Star Trek' TV series and films.

V will return March 30th in new time slot

When the sci-fi series 'V' returns on March 30th, it will be paired up with 'Lost' on the schedule.

'V' will begin airing the remaining episodes of its first season on March 30th at 10 pm immediately following 'Lost.'

ABC is hoping that since the shows have similar demographics, that 'Lost' will provide a good lead-in to the struggling sci-fi series.

Jeff Probst will return to Survivor

Jeff Probst announced via his Twitter page that he has signed a deal with CBS to return for 2 more editions of 'Survivor.'

"Survivor fans: I'm jazzed and wanted to share with you guys first," Probst tweeted, no doubt from a secret jungle hideaway. "I'll be back snuffing torches for two more seasons (21&22) of Survivor."

"What has kept me interested in 'Survivor' for 20 seasons is the study of human nature," Probst told EW. "How we justify our ethics, and watching what happens to people when they are put in situations of extreme conflict. Sometimes it's hard to watch, and sometimes it's enjoyable to watch, but it is always interesting to watch."

It is worth noting that Probst only re-signed for one year (two seasons) rather than the usual two-year, four-season agreements he has signed in the past. Still, if nothing else, the arrangement gives the network more time to plan for the previously unthinkable: 'Survivor" without Jeff Probst. Not that the host is worried about that either.

"I have always said that my belief is that the star of 'Survivor' is 'Survivor,'" he told Entertainment Weekly. "It is the format. So yes, if there came a point where I decided I was leaving 'Survivor,' I absolutely believe someone else could take over."

Super Bowl becomes most watched TV event in history

The Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of 'M-A-S-H' to become the most-watched program in television history.

The Nielsen Co. estimated today that 106.5 million people watched the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts. That beats the 'M-A-S-H' finale, which had 105.97 million viewers in an era when there were fewer television sets and the US population was about 75 million less than it was now.

The weather played a big part in this record. 56% of all homes in Washington DC were watching the game while they were housebound in the midst of a blizzard. Only New Orleans itself had a higher viewership at 56.6%. Indianapolis was 3rd with 54%.

The snowstorm prevented Super Bowl parties in the affected areas, which enhanced the number of sets tuned to game.

Last years game between the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers drew 98.7 million viewers.

'American Idol' producers want Howard Stern to replace Simon

The NY Post is reporting today that 'American Idol' producers have said that legendary radio personality Howard Stern is their top choice to replace Simon Cowell.

“I was approached by a major TV network to take over a TV show and leave here and do that next year — and I did turn it down,” Stern said recently.

The Post is apparently pretty certain that the TV show in question was ‘Idol,’ which will have a vacancy at the judges’ table once Cowell leaves to work on the American version of his singing competition ‘The X Factor,’ which will debut on Fox in fall 2011.

“American Idol is one of the few shows that could compete with Stern’s $100 million-a-year Sirius contract, and ‘Idol’ bosses think he’d be even nastier than Simon,” one source told the Post. “They know he would be great TV and would clash with the other judges such as Ellen DeGeneres and the contestants. ‘Idol’ will do what it takes to sign him.”

However, there are insiders that believe that this could be just a negotiating ploy on Stern's part since his Sirius contract runs out at the end of 2010.

With the show's ratings on the decline one thing is for sure, love Howard or hate him, he will get people to watch, and that's what it's all about.

Personally I love this idea. This would breathe some real life into a show that is becoming stale with each passing season.

What do you think?

'Castle' getting Sunday night audience

ABC is giving 'Castle' the benefit of a Sunday night audience and the powerhouse lead-in of 'Desperate Housewives' on March 21.

Instead of being paired with the reality show 'The Bachelor,' the detective drama will get a lead-in from a successful fellow scripted drama. The move tests 'Castle' in the 'Brothers & Sisters' slot and should help the show pick up some additional sampling. 'Castle' struggled with modest numbers last year but has recently surged in the ratings.

The March 21st episode will also be the first part of a 2 part episode, the night after, 'Castle' will air in its regular time period with the conclusion of the 2 part episode.

Dana Delany will guest star in the episodes as Federal Agent Jordan Shaw, "an insightful and accomplished federal investigator who teams with Richard Castle and Detective Beckett to hunt down a cunning and elusive serial killer," ABC said in a release.

HBO Renews 'Big Love'

With ratings up from last season, HBO has decided to give an early renewal to 'Big Love.'

Despite facing the NFC Championship and the Grammys the past two Sundays, the modestly rated series is tracking 13% higher than last season.

HBO has picked up 10 episodes for Season 5 (as opposed to Season 4's nine episodes), with a premiere date set for sometime next winter.

The show's awards profile is also on the rise. 'Big Love' was nominated for an Emmy for best drama series last year and took home its first Golden Globe award in January — for best supporting actress winner Chloe Sevigny.

'Lost' Final Season premieres to higher ratings

The final season of 'Lost' grew in ratings over last years season premiere by 12%.

The show premiered last night with very strong numbers. Last night's two-hour debut was seen by 12.1 million viewers and generated a 5.6 preliminary rating among adults 18-49.

It seems the big-event buzz surrounding the show's final season, combined with ABC's marketing efforts, has paid off. Even the 'Lost' clip show special surprised, pulling 9.9 million viewers and a 4.1 rating.

'Lost' easily beat NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' (9.5 million, 3.7), which had a last-minute time period change that moved the reality show directly against the ABC drama.