His interviewing style was often imitated and frequently parodied, but his show was the night-owl's edgier antidote to "The Tonight Show."

Check out the obit here

The controversial BET show "Hot Ghetto Mess," which premieres tomorrow night, has a last-minute name change. In the wake of serious protest from within the black community -- and dropped sponsorships from State Farm and Home Depot -- it's now "We Got to Do Better."

I'll admit, I was skeptical of tonight's CNN/YouTube Democratic debate, in which all questions arrived in the form of uploaded home videos. (The moderator was Anderson Cooper, America's Default Hipster Anchor. Four years ago, he hosted a CNN/MTV debate at Faneuil Hall.) I still associate homegrown YouTube content with Sanjaya-related hunger strikers, lip-synching nerds, and people who blow up Marshmallow Peeps in their microwaves. On the other hand, especially at this stage in the election cycle, I welcome anything that takes the candidates off their relentless sloganeering.

As it turned out, this was no Marshmallow Peep of a debate. The questions, selected by CNN, weren't any less substantive than they would have been if a straightlaced anchor had been asking. They just were delivered a little more cheekily. Which was good for entertainment and democracy -- it was nice to really see the vitriol over Iraq, or the frustration over No Child Left Behind. I also enjoyed the out-of-left-field-but-still-important queries, such as whether women should have to register for selective service (most candidates said "yes") and whether there might be too many Bushes and Clintons in office (Hillary handled it smoothly).

In the spirit of the medium, we were treated to a global warming question from a snowman. But that was about as radical as it got. As we drew to the end of the second hour, I found myself wishing for more of that crazy YouTube magic. Maybe they should have traded Anderson for that Ask a Ninja guy.

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:
Goods News, Not So Good News
Entertainment prez Dawn Ostroff revealed the ’07-’08 line-up on Friday and it's a decidedly mixed bag.

The fifth network has a pair of truly promising new shows in the Faust-ian "thrill-omedy" "Reaper" and the exchange student sitcom "Aliens in America," what will likely be a popular show in the dramatic adaptation of the rich-kids-gone-wild series "Gossip Girl" and a "7th Heaven" replacement in the fish-out-of-water family drama "Life Is Wild." "America’s Next Top Model" and "Beauty and the Geek" fans can expect two cycles of both of those “reality” series next year. "BATG" will also add a himbo/female geek team to spice up the proceedings.

Mid-season and beyond are looking a bit, shall we say, questionable however with another round of "The Pussycat Dolls" competition, this time forming an all new girl band called Girlicious--even though first season winner Asia decided to skip actually joining the PCD-- "Farmer Wants a Wife," in which city gals go all "Green Acres" for a Midwestern land nurturer and, most depressing, "Crowned" a mother-daughter beauty pageant that didn’t cover any of the women in the clip in glory.

Other CW tidbits:

"Life Is Wild" will shoot in South Africa and during the panel with the cast, who were via satellite from location, star D.W. Moffett held a lion cub in his lap and a cheetah wandered into the frame. Meow! Also, "Everwood" alert: Stephanie Niznik has been cast as the mom in this show about a family who moves from the big city to a South African game preserve.

Chris Rock will play a guidance counselor in the premiere of "Everybody Hates Chris." This will be the first time that Rock, who narrates this terrific comedy based on his life, will appear on camera.

Clark Kent gets a buddy in Super Girl--who can fly-- this season on "Smallville" played by Laura Vandervoort.

Two new shows, "CW Now" and "Online Nation" will explore trends and entertainment news and user-generated content on the Internet respectively in the net's continuing pursuit of 18-34 year old viewers.

Sean Hayes of "Will and Grace" fame is producing a new sitcom starring Mario Lopez and Christina Milian for mid-season.

Here's a list of CW premiere dates, new shows are in bold:

Tuesday, Sept. 18 "Beauty and the Geek" 8-10 p.m. (Two-Hour Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 19 "America’s Next Top Model" 8-10 p.m. (Two-Hour Premiere)

Friday, Sept. 21, "Friday Night Smackdown" 8-10 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 7-7:30 p.m. "CW Now"
7:30-8:00 p.m. "Online Nation"

Tuesday, Sept. 25, "Reaper" 9-10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 26, "Gossip Girl" 9-10 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 27, "Smallville," 8-9 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 1
"Everybody Hates Chris" 8-8:30 p.m.
"Aliens in America" 8:30-9 p.m.
"Girlfriends" 9-9:30 p.m.
"The Game" 9:30-10 p.m

Thursday, Oct. 4, "Supernatural" 9-10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 7, "Life is Wild" 8-9 p.m.

The Very Short list of the Not Short actors who came to the CW Party: Reggie Hayes of "Girlfriends," rocking a big 'fro and "The Game" star and Brockton native Pooch Hall stood head and shoulders above the crowd at the Pacific Design Center. And, for reasons unknown, the CW hired a couple on stilts to boogie around at the party and two women in white leotards frolicked inside large plastic bubbles in the fountain. Wild.

Choice Quotes:
"In truth, the only thing I found difficult to deal with coming to the States is the size of the portions of food. Really -- I mean, really, do we need portions that are that big? I mean, Africa doesn't need Bono. Africa doesn't need Geldof. Africa needs a
Denny's grand-slam breakfast." South African-born "Aliens in America" star Adhir Kalyan on adjusting to the U.S.

"Well, I guess you'd have to say Leland Palmer in 'Twin Peaks.'" Ray Wise, who plays the Devil with creepy charisma and twinkle in "Reaper," on his most evil role to date.

"Here's another clue for you all: the walrus was Paulie," "Sopranos" creator David Chase accepting the award for Best Drama at the Television Critics Association dinner Saturday night.

Random Celebrity Sightings Unrelated to TCA: Jane’s Addition/Panic Channel guitarist Dave Navarro taking in the Circus Diablo show at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip Friday night. Shiri Appleby of "Roswell" fame on the flight back to Boston.

Thus ends my adventure in TV land, thanks for watching and thanks again to Matthew and Joanna for their hospitality. See you on the big comfy couch this fall, remote in hand. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming and my normal timeslot over at "Sound Effects." Happy clicking!

SARAH RODMAN

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

RANDOM NOTES

No Dirty Deeds
Apparently there was a rumor going around that Bon Scott of Australian rock royals AC/DC was the father of Alex O'Loughlin, who some may remember from "The Shield," and who stars in the upcoming vampire drama "Moonlight." O'Loughlin decided to put those rumors to the rest during his panel, sort of. "I'm pretty sure he's not my dad," he said, jokingly, we think. Then went on to say his mum was no groupie and that his dad is "everyman," a teacher in Sydney.

British (and Aussie) Invasion II:
NBC hasn’t cornered the market on deft American accents by actors from across the pond and down under. Trying to curb their use of words like "loo" and "g’day" this season on the Eye network will be Aussie O’Loughlin, his Brit co-star Sophia (pronounced So-feye-a) Miles and "Viva Laughlin"'s London-born Lloyd Owen and boy from Oz Hugh Jackman.

Not Height Challenged, CBS Party Edition:
Held on the lovely grounds of the Wadsworth Theatre in Hollywood, the CBS fiesta--which included rum and cigars a la "Cane" and casino tables to represent "Viva Laughlin"--was lousy with statuesque actors if short on the network's biggest stars. (The MIA inlcuded "CSI"'s William Petersen, Gary Sinise and David Caruso and Anthony LaPaglia from "Without a Trace.")

D.B. Woodside, formerly President Palmer 2.0 on “24,” soon to be seen as the ethically challenged right hand man of a shady casino owner played by Jackman in “Viva Laughlin,” towering but friendly; Jason Dohring, sigh, bad boy Logan Echolls of “Veronica Mars” and currently prepping to play a 400 year old vampire hedge fund trader in “Moonlight” has a swimmer’s physique and posture to make mom proud; Marin Hinkle, the Boston native who plays Judith Harper, Jon Cryer’s ex, on “Two and a Half Men” is willowy and long of leg; Camryn Manheim, late of “The Practice” and now a regular on “The Ghost Whisperer,” voluptuous in both directions; And Shemar Moore, who we now know, thanks to those recently, um, revealing photos, is not challenged in any physical respect.

In fact, CBS may have had the best median average height of the three network parties I attended with Thomas Gibson of “Criminal Minds,” Judd Hirsch of “Numbers,” Alex O’Loughlin of “Moonlight,” Neil Patrick Harris of “How I Met Your Mother” and Woodside, Dohring, Moore and several others clearing six feet or better. I can hear the promos now, “CBS, number one in viewers and vertical inches!”

Choice Quotes:
"I hope we get all of the critical acclaim and three times the viewership," executive producer Jonathan Prince on how his Latino family drama "Cane" hopes to fill the void left by “The Sopranos.”

"It's exhausting. I'm, like, in the Emerald City and I'm the Wizard of Awesome." Neil Patrick Harris responding to a question during the "How I Met Your Mother" panel about how much pressure he feels in his daily life to be awesome, like his character Barney Stinson. (Swarley to all you big fans).

"Don't get me wrong. It's fun to be able to drive four minutes to the set, work with Jeri Ryan in unbelievable skintight clothes, have a great character to play, make tons of money -- or I could go to Canada and sit in a big (expletive) box and eat stale donuts for 14 weeks while some star misbehaves and does drugs. I go in and do a couple scenes where I’m the bad guy. I love that concept. What am I doing here? In fact, I (expletive) quit." The ever quotable James Woods during the "Shark" panel on the difference between television and film.

"That's very simple. First, you have to have a vampire. Then that vampire drinks your blood, and then you need to have drunk some of their blood before you sort of die for a moment and you come back to life." "Moonlight" executive producer David Greenwalt breaking down how a vampire is sired for the uninitiated.

"I highly recommend, you know, inserting the name of some sort of food product, some sort of mailable food product in the season finale." "Jericho" executive producer Carol Barbee’s advice to fellow tv producers on how to rebound from cancellation.

SARAH RODMAN

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

The home of the procedurals (“CSI”s of all flavors, “Cold Case,” “Criminal Minds” etc.) wants to be “daring” and “different” this year according to entertainment prez Nina Tassler (a BU alum). Hoping to zap its geriatric image the network is unveiling “Cane” a Latino family drama that has shades of “The Sopranos,” “The Godfather” and Shakespeare that is headed by Jimmy Smits; a controversial reality show that puts kids in charge of a town called “Kid Nation”; a family drama/crime show/musical hybrid called “Viva Laughlin”; a vampire private eye show that is not at all like “Angel” - except that it’s kind of like “Angel”- called “Moonlight”; a geek sitcom that differentiates itself from all other geek shows this year by having physicists for its geeks called “The Big Bang Theory”; and in mid-season a show about 70’s swingers called “Swingtown.” Take that “60 Minutes” fans.

In other CBS news, although the producers of “Cane” claimed to be more than willing to let Nestor Carbonell appear as ageless “Other” Richard on “Lost,” reports say Tassler isn’t so sure about letting the former “Tick” and “Suddenly Susan” star book a return ticket to the South Pacific.

“Cold Case” continues its musical gets this season by having a show set in the grunge era scored by Nirvana.

“CSI” and “Without a Trace” will have its first crossover with Gil Grissom (William Petersen) teaming up with Jack Malone (Anthony La Paglia).

Mandy Patinkin will return to shoot an episode that wraps up his “Criminal Minds” character Jason Gideon. In one of the tour’s bigger laughs, when Tassler was asked why she cited “personal issues” in Patinkin’s decision to quit the hit show when he called it “creative differences” in a statement she said, “I think creative differences is a euphemism for personal issues.”

And proving that “Jericho” fans are everywhere Tassler reported that her local camera store clerk and her new doctor both confronted her about the beloved post-apocalyptic drama, which was cancelled and brought back thanks to its nutty viewership.

Here’s a look at the CBS premiere dates with new shows in bold:

Wednesday, Sept. 19
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION

Thursday, Sept. 20
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR: CHINA

Sunday, Sept. 23
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK

Monday, Sept. 24
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM CANE
Wednesday, Sept. 26
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Thursday, Sept. 27
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

Friday, Sept. 28
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

Thursday, Oct. 18
10:00-11:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN

SARAH RODMAN

A little fact-sheet from TV ratings company Nielsen came across my desk this week, and I thought I'd share some facts for weekend pondering. I found a few of them surprising.

Black and what?
111,400,000 households in the U.S. have TVs. (I know some people who don't have sets. And, sorry to say it, I think they're a little weird.)
Of those households:
99 percent have color TVs
82 percent have two or more sets
52 percent have three or more sets.
85 percent have a VCR
84 percent have a DVD player
64 percent have wired cable
32 percent have wired pay cable (such as HBO and Showtime)

Adults watch more TV than kids...
The average person in the U.S. watches 4 hours and 18 minutes of TV per day.
The average woman 18+ watches 5 hours and 1 minute of TV per day.
The average man 18+ watches 4 hours and 15 minutes of TV per day.
The average teen 12-17 watches 3 hours and 3 minutes of TV per day.
The average child 2-11 watches 3 hours and 6 minutes of TV per day.

Slow growth in mobile video...
In the first quarter of this year...
3 percent of people 12 and older used a mobile phone to view videos.
8 percent of teens 12-17 used a mobile phone to view videos.

Still the Hub (sort of)
The top 10 local TV markets in order, in terms of number of TV households, are:
New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Philadelphia
San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose
Dallas-Fort Worth
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Atlanta
Houston

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

The Peacock network wrapped up its portion of the press tour proceedings Tuesday night with its "All Star Party." The networks have these events so reporters can approach the creative teams and actors for one on one chats- or in some cases, like Masi Oka, fifty on one chats - and the stars can drink from the open bar to get through it.

Which stars were in attendance at said party, held on the somewhat less than swanky top floor of the Beverly Hilton parking garage?

Well there were a gaggle of "Heroes" including Hayden Panettierre (indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet), Jack Coleman (HRG/Noah Bennet), Greg Grunberg (mindreading cop Matt Parkman), an extremely bearded, for a movie role, Adrian Pasdar (flying senator Nathan Petrelli), Masi Oka (time bender Hiro Nakamura), Noah Gray-Cabey (techno whiz kid Micah Sanders), his on-screen mom Ali Larter (superstrong split personality Niki/Jessica), Zachary Quinto (evil genius Sylar) and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Dr. Mohinder Suresh). When not chatting with reporters they were happily chatting up each other.

"ER" was also well-represented under the hanging disco balls by a very stable John Stamos (hotshot doc Tony Gates, but still Blackie Parrish in our hearts), a brunette Linda Cardellini (nurse Sam Taggart) and Mekhi Phifer- who spilled that his character Dr. Greg Pratt is leaving after this season.

Host types like Carson Daly, Shaun Robinson of "Access Hollywood" and David Hasselhoff-- who was surrounded at all times by reporters and as far as I saw didn’t have any words with Stamos about his recent comments-- were also roaming about.

There were less well-known actors from the new shows like Zachary Levi of "Chuck"-- watch this kid, he’s going to be a big star someday-- and familiar faces joining old shows like Jeremy Sisto who has signed on to "Law and Order" original flavor.

A whole bunch of "The Office" gang was taking in the sights as well including B.J. Novak (newly promoted temp Ryan), Oscar Nunez (put upon gay accountant Oscar), Angela Kinsey (uptight Dwight crush Angela), Leslie David Baker (hangdog Stanley) and Creed Bratton (creepy-funny Creed).

Bizarre factoid alert: Bratton was in the rock band the Grass Roots ("Sooner or Later," "Live For Today") until 1970. When asked what he did between 1970 and the 2005 premiere of "The Office" he said "If you find out let me know because I don’t remember, there were a lot of drugs." (I’ll post more from Creed later, he was hilarious).

And the cast of "FNL" almost could’ve fielded a football team with Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Jesse Plemons, Scott Porter, Taylor Kitsch, Minka Kelly, Gaius Charles, Adrianne Palicki, Zach Gilford all in the huddle.

Joey Fatone hosted an impromptu version of "The Singing Bee" in which Porter, Levi and a reporter who shall remain nameless competed. (Not me.) Levi was the victor, successfully making his way through "Baby Got Back" among other tunes.

SARAH RODMAN

Globe columnist Joan Venocchi weighs in today on older women on the news - and compares Natalie Jacobson's graceful exit to Katie Couric's current press. It's worth a read.

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

And the Aussies too!
Every year there are a few strange coincidences among the fall programming. For 2007 one is the preponderance of Brits and Aussies playing American in lead roles. At NBC alone doing the American accent thing are English comrades Michelle Ryan, the new "Bionic Woman," and Damian Lewis of cop drama "Life," Scot Kevin McKidd of the time traveling epic “Journeyman” and Aussie Yvonne Strzechowski the love interest on geek spy dramedy "Chuck." More are on the horizon at the other networks as well.

The Continuing Adventures of the Not Short
Comic and former MTV veejay Bill Bellamy of “Last Comic Standing”; The aforementioned Kevin McKidd; “FNL”’s Kyle Chandler; Not only is Zachary Levi of “Chuck” and formerly of “Less Than Perfect” not short he is Very Tall and can sing too; David Hasselhoff, also Very Tan; (Very Short? Unsurprisingly, Noah Gray-Cabey who plays Micah on “Heroes.” Of course he’s only 11.)

Choice Quotes
"We believe in second chances. We are not here to make judgments. You know, when somebody does something wrong and you have a systemic problem, the best way to change that problem is not by casting them outside of the system. It's by allowing them to make amends, allowing them to make reparations and to do the right thing. So rather than excommunicate someone, we felt that it was better to give him a second chance." "Bionic Woman" executive producer Jason Smilovic on the hiring of Isaiah Washington.

"They’re both tall and they’re both shapely." "Chuck" executive producer Josh Schwartz on the similarities between Mischa Barton, the star of his previous show "The O.C." and Zachary Levi, star of "Chuck."

"They’re both women. They both have brown hair." Zooey Deschanel on the similarities between her DG (Dorothy) character in the Sci-Fi Network’s "Wizard of Oz" update "Tin Man" and Janis Joplin, who’ll she’ll play in an upcoming biopic.

"I think Dorothy and the witch represent the good and the bad, the darkness and the light. And so actually, what would be a good thing would be to have a combo. A threesome." Alan Cumming on which babe- Dorothy or the wicked witch- is hotter in "Tin Man," in which he plays the scarecrow stand-in Glitch.

Random Celebrity Sightings Unrelated to TCA:
Brett from the HBO series "Flight of the Conchords" and someone who looked exactly like Ryan Gosling at the Crowded House show at the Troubadour Tuesday night.

SARAH RODMAN

(Apologies for the radio silence, I was having Internet connection problems yesterday.)

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

The cast and producers of "Friday Night Lights" expressed gratitude and joy on Tuesday about their renewal for a second, full, 22 episode season.

While emphasizing again that "FNL" is "not a football show," the tough ratings have not necessitated a shift in the distinctive tone or style said executive producer Jason Katims. The Dillon Panthers will, however "not play quite as many full out games as we did last year."

The season will pick up eight months after the finale with Tami (Connie Britton) and Coach Taylor living apart- she in Dillon he in Austin coaching at "TMU." The long distance relationship will be resolved by the sixth episode, however, and they won’t be apart for too long as Tami gives birth in the premiere.

Jason Street (Scott Porter) has become an assistant to the new coach in Dillon, continues to adjust to his paralysis and gets a glimmer of hope in that regard. Tyra’s assaulter will return and spur an event that will draw her closer to Landry. In a separate interview with Gaius Charles who plays star running back “Smash” Williams, I learned we have not seen the last of “Voodoo” Tatum and his offer to Smash to switch schools.

SARAH RODMAN

The Emmy nominations were announced today, and they are both pleasing ("30 Rock," Rainn Wilson) and irritating (NO "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS OR "DEXTER" in the major categories???) The full list is here. Check it out and join my noon TV chat to, uh, process your anger and your joy. The chat link is right here.

TCA Press Tour Notes:

Random Notes
In the course of the tour you see, hear and think things that don't really fit into any particular story or slot. Here are some of those things.

It’s the pictures that got small:
Invariably when meeting or seeing 'famous people" it’s still a surprise at how height challenged many of them are. Here’s a short list of the actors I’ve interviewed or seen so far who are officially "Not Short": Jesse Plemons who plays lovable geek Landry on "Friday Night Lights" easily looks like he could’ve played college football; Matthew Modine of "Weeds," a well-known beanpole but still remarkably tall; Adam Baldwin of the new geek spy dramedy "Chuck." Of course, to certain segments of the population he will always be either the taciturn bodyguard from the 1980 teen classic "My Bodyguard" or the gruff but sexy Jayne from "Firefly"/"Serenity" (six degrees alert, also Modine’s co-star in "Full Metal Jacket"); John Madden, not shocking at all I know but dude is a mountain!; Adrianne Palicki, who plays Tyra on "FNL" and who worked up a sweat on the treadmill in front of mine yesterday in the hotel gym; Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live," not short and very funny

I Spy
Random Celebrity Sighting Unrelated to TCA: Tony Kanal, bassist from No Doubt, out at dinner last night. He’s still rocking the blond hair. (For the record he’s Not Short, but Not Tall either)

Choice Quotes
Adam Arkin, who is starring in the new cop drama “Life,” was asked if he was surprised to hear that Mandy Patinkin was quitting a successful television show. "He’s done it before," Arkin replied drily. He knows whereof he speaks. He co-starred with Patinkin on the successful television show "Chicago Hope"…until Patinkin quit.

"I think this is the year 'Scrubs' really becomes a big hit. We had always kind of geared our plan towards peaking in the seventh year." "Scrubs" creator, Bill Lawrence, during the Thursday comedies panel.

In a discussion during the "Sunday Night Football" panel about whether the NFL is doing enough to curb the off-field infractions of players, Cris Collinsworth commended the league's to-date efforts and promised that the show wouldn’t sugar coat the non-football headlines that may be generated during the season. And then newest "SNF" team player Keith Olbermann said “But we’re also opening a bail bonds company too.”

SARAH RODMAN

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

The stars and creators of NBC’s comedy block also convened yesterday to discuss the mechanics of making with the jokes. It was by far the liveliest and funniest panel so far.

Punchlines:

“My Name is Earl.” Earl (Jason Lee) ended up in jail at the end of last season and will stay in the clink for awhile. “We’re very fortunate that Earl has a past where he knows a lot of people in prison,” said creator Greg Garcia, who also noted that there will be another “Cops” episode this season that will be an hour long.

“30 Rock.” Alec Baldwin and Tracy Morgan will both be back regardless of the former’s musing on wanting to quit in the wake of his voicemail fiasco and the latter’s legal troubles. And, as previously reported, everyone’s excited to have Jerry Seinfeld appear as himself in the premiere, especially Tina Fey “because hopefully, then regular America might actually find out that we have a show and watch it maybe at least that one time.”

“Scrubs.” Creator Bill Lawrence joked that the season finale that seemed to point to J.D. (Zach Braff) and Elliott (Sarah Chalke) getting back together and throwing a wrench in their current romances came about because “we’ve been on seven years, we’re out of stories.” He added that they are aware of the fan battle lines that have been drawn over the upcoming seventh, and final season. Referencing the anger over the “Sopranos” finale he said, “We’re just going to try and, I don’t want to say give the people what they want--too trite-- but hopefully resolve the show in a way that people are satisfied if they want that couple together, and people are satisfied if they don’t want them to be together.”

“The Office.” John Krasinski reports that Jenna Fischer (Pam) is feeling better after the nasty spill that injured her back in May. In addition to several hour long episodes this year, executive producer Greg Daniels says the DVD of season three will be brimming with comedic goodies. And NBC promos notwithstanding he feels like the balance of “comedy to poignancy” regarding the Jim and Pam romance has been pretty consistent.

SARAH RODMAN

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

During a session yesterday afternoon for “Saturday Night Live,” most of the cast and executive producer Lorne Michaels felt last year was a strong one despite a cast downsizing. Head writer Seth Meyers singled out the work of hosts Peyton Manning, Alec Baldwin and Justin Timberlake.

Michaels, with a completely straight face, called the response to the Timberlake-Andy Samberg infamous um, “(Penis) in a Box” digital short, “huge” and observed that it “just exploded.”

When a reporter asked about the lack of diversity in the current cast, lone black member Kenan Thompson cracked, "Oh snap. I like that. Yeah, Lorne?" Michaels said that as usual if there are "really good people" at the annual additions "we'll add them."

MIA cast member Amy Poehler will definitely be back but apparently Maya Rudolph is on the fence. (If she leaves it would further deplete the minority faces on the show.)

In other news Christopher Walken will be back as a guest host, no word on whether he’s bringing his cowbell.

Unsurprisingly, Michaels revealed that NBC pitched him a few years back on turning the “SNL” auditions into a reality show. Luckily, he demurred. “Not everything has to be opened up to the public.”

The “best of” the 2006-2007 season will be available August 28 as a DVD next month for Starbucks customers. It will have the uncensored version of the Timberlake-Samberg musical short.

SARAH RODMAN

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

If you needed further proof that it's not just myself and Matthew Gilbert banging the drum for NBC family drama "Friday Night Lights", the heavy hitters of "NBC's Sunday Night Football" spent part of yesterday's panel promoting their gridiron showdowns to talk up the Kyle Chandler show.

Says Bob Costas, "I think it's one of the best shows on television, and I'm glad NBC stayed with it. I know it was on the bubble, and I think it has a character of its own while still being true to Buzz Bissinger's book. I think the television show was better than the movie, and the movie was pretty good. The TV show is one of the best things going, and I just hope it finds an audience."

Chairman of NBC Sports Dick Ebersol actually thinks it might have been a mistake to promote "FNL" on "SNF" last season as much as they did. "I happen to believe that 'Friday Night Lights' is the best show on television right now. I think it does a much better job than 'The O.C.' ever did in terms of revealing the realistic life of teenagers. It does very good, actually, on showing what it's like to be a married couple in America today. It may be our best soap opera. I think we were part of an early mistake of letting people think it was too much about football, which was not good for the show."

Amen. And to answer your question, Matthew, yes, "FNL" will be moving to an earlier timeslot in the reshuffled line-up that was revealed yesterday. It will air at 9:00 p.m. on Friday night between "Deal or No Deal" and "Las Vegas" (now with more Tom Selleck!). NBC entertainment co-chairmen Ben Silverman opined that this was a good "hammock" and perhaps the families who watch the Howie Mandel game show will make a deal with "FNL."

As for "Sunday Night Football" it kicks off September 9 with the Giants taking on the Cowboys.

And here's a list of the rest of NBC's premiere dates for those of you who like to plan ahead. (New shows are in bold).

SEPT. 11
"The Biggest Loser" (8-10 p.m.)

SEPT. 17
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.)

SEPT. 24
"Chuck" (8-9 p.m.)
"Heroes" (9-10 p.m.)
"Journeyman" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPT. 25
"The Singing Bee" (9:30-10 p.m.)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPT. 26
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.; marks Wednesday debut)
"Bionic Woman" (9-10 p.m.)
"Life" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPT. 27
"My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m.)
"The Office" (9-10 p.m.)
"ER" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPT. 28
"Deal or No Deal" (moves to new day, 8-9 p.m.)
"Las Vegas" (9-11 p.m.)

OCT. 4
"30 Rock" (8:30-9 p.m.)

OCT. 5
"Friday Night Lights" (9-10 p.m.)

OCT. 25
"Scrubs" (9:30-10 p.m.)

SARAH RODMAN

I guess '80s nostalgia is the new '60s nostalgia. There's now other way to explain "The Two Coreys," a new A&E celebreality show that premieres July 29 at 10. How derivative is it going to be? I could try to come up with something snappy, but I think the press release that just hit my inbox says it all:

Corey Feldman is married to Susie, the love of his life. He’s a successful actor. He’s a total neat freak. Corey Haim is single but actively searching for the love of his life...He is sloppy, impulsive and unpredictable. Determined to jumpstart his acting career and find a stabilizing force, Haim’s moving in with the Feldmans to help get his life on course and to relaunch the "Two Coreys" brand. Can the two former heartthrobs share a house without driving each other crazy?

And will they still insist on wearing sunglasses at night? Oh, wait, that's a different Corey.

So Sarah.

Isaiah Washington is now hot in Hollywood because he's been acting like a maniac for a few months? So hot that NBC is creating a part for him on one of its most promising new shows, "The Bionic Woman"? (Long sigh.) I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

But here's my question for you, Press Tour Sarah, and of course it's about "Friday Night Lights," with which we are both crazy in love. (BTW: I believe the term is Light-heads.) Did Ben Silverman say anything about moving "FNL" from the planned Friday at 10 p.m. slot to something earlier and more reasonable? I just can't buck up about the show, because no amount of product placement is going to save it if no one is staying up to watch.

Now get back to the hotel chicken. Is it Marsala tonight? Or has it been stuffed into chimichangas? Or stuffed with ham and cheese, perhaps?

TCA Press Tour Notes:

Hold on to your wig- or your comb-over in this case - not only has NBC decided to resurrect Donald Trump’s “yooge” reality competition “The Apprentice” for midseason 2008 in a “celebrity edition” but this morning shiny, new NBC entertainment co-chairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff half-joked that they would “love” to have Trump’s sworn enemy Rosie O’Donnell compete for her favorite charity. (All the yet-to-be-cast celebs will be playing for their favorite organization, presumably not needing a job with the Donald). Undoubtedly Rosie will be responding on her blog momentarily.

That was just one of several announcements Silverman and Graboff made at their presentation at TCA’s summer press tour.

Other news:

We Can Rebuild Him
Isaiah Washington’s recent “I Was Wronged” media tour accusing fellow “Grey’s Anatomy” cast members, crew and ABC of racism and lying among other sins has not hindered his stock in Hollywood. NBC has hired him to play a recurring character in five of the first six episodes of its upcoming remake of “The Bionic Woman.”

Why? According to Silverman, “He’s a wonderful actor and a great performer and he became available.” (Which got a nice big laugh). According to the press release Washington will play a “mysterious person” who plays a role in the “enigmatic organization” that creates the bionics that helps Jamie Sommers get her crime fighting on. The network is also developing an action series, potentially for the 2008-2009 season, based on Washington’s own concept.

Buzz!
Jerry Seinfeld will return to the Thursday night comedy line-up… for one night. The comic, who you may recall made NBC a little bit of scratch back in the 90’s, will appear on the season premiere of “30 Rock” on October 4 at 8:30 as himself. (The show will also pimp his upcoming animated film “The Bee.” Not to be confused with NBC’s “The Singing Bee.”)

Good News, Bad News
Good News: Ben Silverman personally persuaded sitcom god Norman Lear (“All the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Maude” and my short-lived fave “The Hot L Baltimore”) to oversee the development of a new “battle of the sexes” one hour comedy. Bad News: Silverman was originally discussing a reality show idea with Lear. It’s a bummer to think that a whipsmart tv titan like Lear was thinking about reality tv, no?

Mindfreak and Spoon Bender
Criss Angel and Uri Geller are teaming up for a reality show searching for the “next great mindblower” called “Phenomenon,” based on an Israeli show called “Successor.”

"Friday Night Lights" Brought To You By "Your Company Here"
Buck up fellow "Lights"-fans (Light-ies? Light-ers?) Silverman says he's behind the show, it's relatively inexpensive to produce and NBC is in discussions with corporations (cars, soft drinks) to do product placement which will make it even more attractive to advertisers. So don't complain when Coach and Mrs. Coach start extolling the virtues of Pampers. Just be happy the "Lights" are still on.

SARAH RODMAN

TCA Press Tour Notes:

Invariably tv folks who are also in the movies get asked about their film projects at press tour and the Showtime sessions on Saturday were no exception.

In the panel for David Duchovny’s new series “Californication” (thanks Red Hot Chili Peppers!) both Duchovny and co-star Evan Handler were asked about the potential for spin-off films based on their most famous series.

Duchovny confirmed that the second "X-Files" movie is a go. “I really am expecting to see a script next week. And ("X-Files" creator) Chris (Carter) has written it with Frank Spotnitz, and Chris will direct it. And Gillian's on board and I'm on board, and that's all I can tell you. I'm looking forward to seeing what he did."

Handler could neither confirm nor deny if he had been approached to reprise his role as Harry, Charlotte’s husband, in the upcoming "Sex and the City" movie. "I know that if I had been approached I would have been asked not to say that I've been approached. I really couldn't say why I would be asked such a thing, but I know that I would have, and so I'll leave it at that, I guess." Handler later quipped that the "SATC" movie would probably open the same weekend as the "X-Files" sequel, to which Duchovny rejoindered "We're going to crush 'em."

In the session for the pot dramedy "Weeds", newest cast member Matthew Modine was asked about a photo diary he released chronicling his time working on Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed Vietnam film "Full Metal Jacket." He talked at length about the type of camera he used and concluded by saying "I thank you for mentioning the book, and I hope you all go out and buy it. It’s a really good book." (For my money the war film in which Modine really shone brightest was "Birdy.")

SARAH RODMAN

So, that CBS procedural series? Starring Mandy Patinkin? The one that got the prime spot after the Super Bowl last year? Well, it's no longer starring Patinkin, who has apparently been asked to be released from his contract due to "creative differences."

I hardly think it's fatal, but this isn't a great day karmically for CBS. Because those criminal minds at "The Onion" have decided to do a little skewering of my very favorite show on the network, "How I Met Your Mother." And much as I hate to admit it, it's pretty funny.

Sarah Rodman here saying hello from not so sunny at the moment California.

I’m taking a break from my usual home at "Sound Effects" to be a guest blogger here at "Viewer Discretion" to report on the semi-annual Television Critics Association summer press tour in Los Angeles, where the television networks parade out actors, writers, producers and executives to talk up what you’ll be seeing on the tube this fall.

I arrived on Saturday and already have a whole bunch of tidbits to send your way about everyone from David Duchovny-- who says a new “X-Files” movie is in the offing-- to Star Jones--who looks even tinier in person.

I’ll be firing off dispatches throughout the next six days and nights about who I see and talk to and what everybody is buzzing about here at the snazzy Beverly Hilton.

Expect a full report on this past weekend’s activities --including presentations from Showtime and BET--in a few hours but now I’m off to the NBC executive session to hear why the network has decided to hire controversy-swamped "Grey’s Anatomy" actor Isaiah Washington to appear on their update of "The Bionic Woman."

Oh and a quick programming note, Matthew was right on the money below. Showtime will be pairing "Brotherhood" with "Dexter" this fall, with both premiering September 30.

And a quick thanks to Matthew and Joanna for allowing me into their home. I promise not to put my feet up on the furniture.

This Thursday, the Emmy nominations will be announced. And one show that will undoubtedly not get any nominations is Showtime's "Brotherhood." The series, set in Providence and modeled after the Bulger brothers, got good reviews, but very few viewers. I'm not sure why it never caught on, but I'm pleased Showtime will be giving it a second chance this fall.

Jason Clarke was extraordinary in the show, in a quiet, but tortured, way. Of all the castmembers, he's the one who deserves some kind of Emmy love. Clarke showed his state rep, Tommy Caffee, in a moral corner, trying to stay out of crooked politics but then having to sell his soul to protect his family. He was a good guy tainted by all the secrecy around him, including that of his drug-addicted wife (alas, played with a horrible local accent by Annabeth Gish).

The Globe's Sarah Rodman is out at TV Press Tour,and she filed this amusing item from the Showtime session. Perhaps Showtime will pair "Brotherhood" up with its best series, "Dexter," this fall? That would be quite a nice little programming block.

So the TV writers gathered in California for the Interminable Summer Press Tour have gotten their own Jane Austen dolls. (Our own Sarah Rodman will be there soon to collect.) PBS, it turns out, is not immune to the lure of publicity swag. I've spent my spare time today sorting through the assorted loot that is collecting in my office, trying to see if I can top the underpants USA sent to promote "Starter Wife."

Runner-up: the ginormous pair of scrubs TNT sent last month to promote "Heartland." (Side note: the word from Springfield's Merriam-Webster is that "ginormous" is now officially a word. As is "smackdown.")

And the winner so far: the package from AMC, promoting its ad-agency series, "Mad Men." (The premiere is Thursday, July 19 at 10. Sigh.) It's a men's white oxford shirt (neck 15, sleeve 32/33) with a lipstick print on the collar. What on dear Earth is anyone going to do with that?

First off, a note about my story today about the rebranding of "Masterpiece Theatre:" due to incorrect numbers provided to the Globe, some of the ratings for last season's "Masterpiece" programs were quite dramatically understated in the paper version of the story. The online version is now correct, but I also want to correct the record here:

"Bleak House" averaged 3.1 million viewers per episode, not 500,000.

"Jane Eyre" averaged 5.1 million viewers per episode, not 2.5 million.

"Prime Suspect VII" averaged 4.8 million viewers per episode, not 2.4 million.

What was correct: this season to date, "Masterpiece" has averaged 3.8 million unduplicated viewers per week.

That's still a fair amount shy of top-rated shows on broadcast networks, which is why "Masterpiece," which is produced in town by WGBH, wants to do better. So, as I wrote, the series is seeking to rebrand itself with a new host -- all we know for sure is that it won't be Prince Charles, Prince William, or Prince Harry -- a new opening, new graphics, and a new division into three segments, "Masterpiece Classics," "Masterpiece Contemporary," and the tentatively-titled "Masterpiece Mystery." The programming itself won't change. First on tap: a Jane Austen festival in January. (And yes, as WGBH vice president for national programming Margaret Drain told me, there is a Jane Austen action doll.)

I've already heard from one reader - a Milton High School teacher - who suggests that Austen is a perfect draw for the younger viewers that PBS clearly covets. Last year, she said, her 12th grade students printed t-shirts that said "Looking for Mr. Darcy." Even the boys bought them, she said, thinking they might get noticed by fellow college freshmen. Wonder if Austen herself ever thought her character would turn into a "brand ambassador..."

Rebranding, it turns out, is going around. Today, the Network Almost Formerly Known as Court TV announced its official new identity: Come January, it will be "truTV." And guess who gets an afternoon talk show? Star Jones! Granted, she's no Jane Austen, but maybe it will work.

Also today: Fox announced the long-anticipated debut of its new cable business channel. The Fox Business Network will debut on Oct. 15.

I like Chloe Sevigny a lot, and I love her tonight on "Big Love," when her Nicki slaps younger sister-wife Margie. Its the kind of bottled-up explosion that Sevigny does so well, and so comically, on this show. I was glad to learn that a number of readers agree with my passion for Chloe, in the emails that I got in reaction to yesterday's Chloe story in the Globe.

One of the best things about "Big Love" is watching the sister-wives deal with one another as sisters, with Barb as the oldest and Margie as the youngest. Yes, they're wives and mothers, but their sisterly dynamics can get pretty intense. If you've missed this series so far this summer, by the way, it's available on demand. Or check out season one on DVD.

"John From Cincinnati" is becoming of perverse interest to me. It is just so awful. I forced myself to watch the fourth episode this week, after seeing the first three for review, and I was as irked by it as ever. It gave me a headache. Seriously, this show may be the most bombastic, nonsensical drama I've ever seen on TV.

The characters aren’t characters so much as instruments for David Milch to make some tired points about commercialism and selfhood. None of the actors comes off well, as they all natter on about nothing and project the self-importance that Milch has shoveled onto them. Poor Rebecca De Mornay is now forced to be all angry and rageful against the heavens, about what it's not clear. And Ed O’Neill seems particularly ridiculous as Bill the bird owner, who delivers Milch’s words as if they were Shakespeare. "John" is as awful as "Deadwood" was great.

Scooter Libby doesn't have to worry about jail anymore, but "Survivor" winner Richard Hatch is still there. I still hear from him via e-mail from time to time since interviewing him last year, and wasn't at all surprised to get one from him this morning, with the subject line "Wow:"

"What a country! Excessive sentence! Where's my pardon/commutation?

If Bush believes the judge in Scooter Libby's case sentenced Libby too harshly, perhaps Bush should closely examine what bigoted and otherwise biased judges are doing every day all over the country. Our system, with its judges (simple, flawed human beings) appointed for life and virtually without oversight, is destroying lives. I suggest we begin in Rhode Island with Ernest Torres."

Torres is the judge who presided over Hatch's 2006 tax evasion trial, and sentenced him to 51 months in prison for tax evasion. Hatch is serving them out now at a minimum-security facility in Morgantown, West Virginia, and awaiting the results of his appeal to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston. He spends a a lot of his time writing, about both his case and his increasingly bitter feelings about the U.S. legal system and the Bush administration; the tentative title, he told me, is "Naked for a Reason: Exposing Americans' Ignorance and Apathy." (In the e-mail, he punctuated the title with an emoticon: ":-)." Even when he's angry, Hatch is always good-natured.)

He also recently sent out a long e-mail treatise titled "Burn, Hatch, Burn," in which he compares himself to a Salem witch. It's a recap of the arguments he's offered to anyone who's asked about his post-"Survivor" legal woes: that the judicial system has treated him unfairly ever since his "Survivor" exposure began; that his tax liability was complex, partly because of a promise made by producers caught cheating on the Borneo beach; that he always intended to pay taxes on his $1 million winnings," but was waiting for the IRS to name the price. Hatch has a lot to say; the question is who will listen.

"So far, nobody has expressed much interest in most of what has occurred or is true in my case," he writes. "I am absolutely innocent and I find such apathy personally sad but nonetheless fascinating."

Yes, the car is charred, and the fire is out. But I've got the news channels on mute today, and boy, if you didn't know better, you'd think that airport in Glasgow was burning to the ground RIGHT NOW. Gotta love stock footage. Then again, at least they aren't talking about Paris Hilton anymore.

Another pet peeve: on the Fox News Channel today, I spied a report about a young person killed. Much of the story didn't register at the time, because it was on mute, but I did see the headline: "Convicted killer charged in strangling death of intern." This, I suppose, is the Chandra Levy legacy: if you are an intern at the time of your death, that's what you'll be remembered for.

I'll leave you with a couple of news channel programming listings. Tonight at 9 on CNN, Larry King interviews Isaiah Washington, who has been tireless on the publicity circuit since getting fired from "Grey's Anatomy." Note to Isaiah: I'm not entirely sure this will help your career. Also, Fox News announces an "O'Reilly Factor" marathon on July 4. No Paris or Isaiah here. It's all about Bill, plus the likes of John Ratzenberger.

Yesterday's Concert for Diana may have been a rockin' day 'o music, but you'd never have known that if you watched the condensed version of it last night on NBC. The hour culled from the concert was really poorly put together, I thought. It was a model of how NOT to present live music on TV. The hour was whatever the opposite of intimate is -- distant, cold, strange.

The camerawork made Wembley Stadium feel hollow and only emphasized the fact that the show was not sold out. The cameras kept cutting away from the stage to sweep across the audience, which looked sort of underwhelmed. The seats seemed oddly far apart from one another, which was particularly clear when the camera panned the princes, who seemed stiff even when they were swaying to songs. And then the stage came off as far too big, as if none of the performers could really fill it with their presence or their music. Elton John, Rod Stewart, Nelly Furtado, and Joss Stone and Tom Jones together -- none of them quite registered.

Grumble, grumble.

P.S. The worst sin? Denying us a clip of Tom Jones singing a cover of the Arctic Monkeys' "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor."