Gail: Hi, guys. Thanks for joining me today. Hope some more of you are lurking out there, because there aren't many questions/comments at this point. I'll get started anyway.

wgmartin: How can we see recent network programs we've missed? For example, I was
just describing "Castle" to my neighbors, who had taped it off their
cable for me while we were all at a neighborhood meeting that evening.
I get over-the-air TV and can't record anything on 30 because they are
now only digital. Anyway, they have full Charter cable with a DVR and
On Demand. They had never seen "Castle" and will now watch my taped
episode, but I think it would be better if they had a chance to watch
the first episode or pilot because it sets up the whole situation,
introduces the characters, & prepares the viewer for the subsequent
storyline. So is there a way that they can go to On Demand and find and
view that initial episode? Or is there a way to get it off the Internet?
(They do have Charter cable Internet, too.) What special hardware or setup
is needed to feed an Internet TV program to their big main TV so they
don't have to sit in front of their computer to see it?

Gail: There are lots of opportunities for watching network TV as streaming video online. Almost every network (including ABC) streams shows on its own website. NBC and Fox shows are also streamed on Hulu.com, which is co-owned by them. Tons of shows are streamed on Fancast.com. You can also pay to download shows ($1.99 per episode, for either an hour or a half-hour) on iTunes. I start with Hulu, which works well for me. You'll love the assortment of old shows it has, too.
Network shows are never, to my knowledge, available On Demand on cable. Cable shows are; every HBO subscriber can see all HBO series on demand, and quite a few basic cable shows can be watched on demand, too.
I'm worried that you're not fully prepared for the digital transition. In less than two months, all channels will be all digital. If you're going to record then, you'll need two converter boxes, you know. Not to shill for Charter, but there's also a "basic cable" service at about $12 a month that would solve all digital conversion problems.

david: I think I'm hooked on The Unusuals. Should I be worried about its future or does it seem to be doing alright?

Gail: I like "The Unusuals," too. Of all the new network shows that debuted last week, it's doing the least well. Last night, its second episode dropped off from the first week. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it lost 2.8 million viewers (almost a third) from "Lost" and had just over half the audience of "CSI: NY." With ABC's recent track record of scheduling and then canceling high-quality, quirky shows, I'd be worried.

Marty: I watched the pilot show of Harper's Island and it grossed me out. I had no idea it was going to be a "slasher" show. And they killed off Harry Hamlin already! What did you think, Gail?

Also, I'm miffed about Deanne Lane. KSDK sucks so much already with *** who has the worst delivery and ***. I also hate what they do with national sports when the Cardinals are on. And ***? Robot!

Gail: I described "Harper's Island" as TV's version of a teen slasher movie, so I agree. I thought it was fun, though; the bloody stuff tended to make me laugh. And the fact that Harry Hamlin's annoying uncle whoever was killed off in the first week was something I was rooting for -- he was definitely my pick to go. Not sure I'll watch this all the way through, but I enjoyed the opener.

You're missing something re. Deanne Lane. I liked her too, on air and whenever we met in passing. But asking why they didn't get rid of someone else isn't the point. (I eliminated the names you mentioned because the transcript of this chat is a permanent record and I don't want those kinds of comments in it.) The point is that these are terrible financial times for media, and the big companies that own newspapers and TV stations are slashing budgets. Someone with a big salary -- and I don't know how big Deanne Lane's salary was -- whose contract is up may wind up out.

Ed: What is the latest on Grey's Anatomy? Izzy and George apparently want off the show - and at least for Izzy they are setting her up for a possible exit. I have read blogs that say she is leaving, and some that say she isnt. Also, George wants to leave, but I don't really think he has the same star power as Izzy does, outside of Greys...

Gail: Shonda Rhimes, the creator of "Grey's Anatomy," is trying to keep you guessing. It's working, isn't it?
I haven't seen much of the show this season, because I opt for "The Office"/"30 Rock" and "CSI" in the 8 p.m. Thursday time slot. But I hear that Katherine Heigl is doing good work now that she's been diagnosed with the tumor. If T.R. Knight wants out, as we hear, it's because he was underused, not because (like Heigl) he thinks he'll be a Big Movie Star.