Gail: Hi, everybody. Wow, what a busy week in TV land! The networks have been very efficient about getting their fall schedules out, except for a few glitches, such as CBS inviting us all to watch the upfront on a live stream, only to have the whole thing take place without audio. I'd have liked to hear Craig Ferguson's routine, too. But now that Fox has made its announcement, I can sit back, relax and chat with you. I'm home on my couch, by the way, and outside, Ameren contractors are digging a 7-foot trench in my front lawn. It's noisy!

St. Louis Mom: When will "Chuck" come back? It was a great show and it's sorely missed in our household.

Gail: "Chuck" is one of the first-year shows that was cut short by the writers strike but got early renewal for fall. It will be relaunched then. It's cute, but I didn't find that it wore well with me. I wanted ... more.

garricks: So Gail, whatever happened to Boston Rob's show "Tontine?" The Web site doesn't look like it's been updated since September, and I haven't heard any more about it. Reality writers weren't part of the writers' strike, so filming wouldn't have been affected, right? And the production was to have lasted 100 days, so they've had plenty of time for post. I thought it was going to air in April?

Gail: I hadn't thought about this since August, but when you asked, I poked around but couldn't find out anything. I did see one reference to fall, but it isn't on any "major network" (as Rob promised) for fall. I did find the video of Rob punching/being punched by a would-be contestant during the audition process, when the guy found out the winner's $10 million prize would be financed by the losers' life savings.

Karin Meyerotto: I found out earlier today on a fan website that Moonlight has been cancelled
This show has not faired badly in ratings. It won The People's Choice and
Alex O'loughlin was TV Guide's Sexiest Star;big fan base so on. I even
heard it was not expensive to produce. So Gail, WHY? We fans would like some
answers. Maybe you can shed some light. Talk about "nuts"!

Gail: I can't shed light except to say that ratings were marginal, and that the most recent new episodes didn't do well. I've also heard about turmoil behind the scenes. CBS had a lot to choose from for fall and must have decided "Moonlight" wasn't going to build a bigger audience than it already had.

Rams747: Hi Gail-

A few weeks ago in TV Guide and your listing of show highlights for the evening, there was supposed to be a new episode of The Office that said something about Pam makes a discovery about Jim's home life. The episode has never aired and I looked at nbc.com and there is no mention of it. Do you have any idea why it never aired? Thanks!

Gail: All highlights (except rarely when I get to see an episode in advance) are based on what the networks put out. In this case, I guess they were talking about her not having her contact lens solution and having to wear her glasses. Not a major plot point, I'd say.

T.J.: Hi, Gail.

What is Steven Bochco up to these days? I enjoyed Blind Justice a few years back (altough the realism was pretty shaky).

Related to this, why in the heck hasn't L.A. Law been released on DVD? And why did Hill Street Blues stall after two seasons were released? These are huge parts of TV history. Booooooo...

Gail: I love Steven Bochco, but he hasn't had great success lately. "Over There," on FX, was great but failed. He was the last executive producer on "Commander in Chief" and either couldn't save it or contributed to killing it. He's always working on something; I think he had a pilot this year but haven't heard it was picked up.
When TV series don't come out on DVD, it's almost always because rights issues can't be worked out.
I'd like to see Bochco's "Bay City Blues" on DVD!

Amanda: Will KidNation be returning?

Gail: No; I think CBS didn't feel that the ratings (which weren't bad) outweighed the controversy. I thought it was a cute show.

Pat: Why don't you like Two and a Half Men? Granted, sometimes it gets a little "raw" but I figure at my age of 69 that it won't corrupt me. I wouldn't let a child or young teenager watch it. Sometimes it is hilarious.

Gail: I don't like "Two and a Half Men" because it's loud and jokey and, yes, crude. It doesn't make me laugh. But a lot of people think it's hilarious, so enjoy. As I've said before, sense of humor is very subjective.

John H.: GP:

More of a comment. DWTS - some of the male hoofers claimed they lost copious amounts of weight during the show and training for the show. Wonder why this never happened for Marissa (yes, I can hear everyone booing me).

Also, in your opinion, of which reality shows that the tv viewers can influence (ie: DWTS, AI) has the most transparent/fair voting system?

Gail: Maybe Marissa didn't lose much weight because she was already so active and fit that the exercise wasn't that much for her. Did you see the muscles in her legs and arms? Now tell me again why Hurley has never lost weight on "Lost."
In general, I think "Dancing With the Stars" has a fairer voting system because the judges' votes count. Anything with a call-in is going to get some level of ballot box stuffing. The FTC governs everything with a monetary prize, but that wouldn't apply to "DWTS" and its big, ugly trophy.

Tom: Can you tell me is Dexter, season 2, out on DVD yet? Also, I can't believe they cancelled Shark!

Gail: I think they canceled "Shark" because James Woods had already chewed up all the scenery and they couldn't afford more.
The "Dexter" DVD is due out soon; you can preorder now on Amazon. That's where I get all my DVD info.

garricks: I do have a question but first: a small rant.

American Idol must get rid of the screaming Amber (and Ashley, Blair, and Vanessa) Waves of Tweens at the front of the Idol stage for next season. They even managed to irritate Simon so much Tuesday evening that he reprimanded them!

Question: Do you think FOX will do it?

Signed,
Going Deaf in South St. Louis :)

Gail: I agree; we must be getting old.
But no, I don't think Fox will alienate the "Idol" tween fan base.
For true performance evaluation, I don't think there should be a live audience, a band or backup singers. Sometimes you can't hear the performer for the backup singers. Not that that's always a bad thing.

jlake: Hi Gail,
Thanks for the schedule listings. Do you know anything about the shows on ABC Family? I love Greek, Kyle XY and Wildfire. Are they coming back next year? Also, what happened to Dirt on FX?
Thanks.
Jil

Gail: "Dirt" was canceled.
"Greek" is a big hit.
"Kyle XY" returns in June.
Not sure about "Wildfire."

Tamara: REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER!
REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER!
REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER!
REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER!
REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER! REAPER!

I think you get the idea… :D

I’m sooo glad it’s coming back, I will take mid-season replacement…

Have you watched the show lately? The quality has improved dramatically
from the beginning of the season. LOTS of character development,
intricate plot lines, and more hilarity from Ray Wise (BEAUTIFUL as the Devil)and the whole cast is really gelled.

Please check it out if you haven’t. And maybe write an article (even
tiny?) on what a great show it is…

If you haven’t seen it in a while, I am anxious to know what you think.
I know a while back on one of the chats you had said it was not keeping
you interested enough to continue watching.

It is INTERESTING now, believe me!

And please give Reaper a mention! A good one! I really would like to know
if you’ve seen it since it’s improved!

I am ape over this show, if you can’t tell…I can’t tell you a favorite character or plot line .As mentioned Ray Wise is BRILLIANT, he sucks me in every week…then…he is a smiling evil DEVIL… The guy who plays Sock is great, Sam of course…they are even involving Ted, the manager of The Work Bench and giving him a bit more depth as a total doofus

Evidently most of these actors have been on previous shows, from what I have read, but I have never heard of them -except Ray Wise-until now

I will try to curb my enthusiasm–just the best show I’ve seen in a long time, this is the reason I watch baseball and hockey games, and the cable news channels all the time

Gail: Tamara, you are clearly a big "Reaper" fan. I promise, if it's ever repeated, I'll sample it again; I never disliked it, just lost interest. And it was opposite other stuff I watched.

Rams747: Tell Oliver to claw John H. for his Marissa comment. :)

Gail: Well, we all know and love John H. by now, so let's give him a pass.
By the way, plus-size Whitney wins "America's Next Top Model"!

punky: Gail, tell us what you think of the new website design and please be truthful, I won't tell the bosses.

Gail: I like some of it. I think the moving "modules" on the front page are cool, and I love the way Tube Talk (have you visited my blog, Tube Talk?) looks now?
But I do think the new design has a lot of problems that (hopefully) are being worked out.
Do you hate it?

suzyjax: No. That wasn't an earthquake! It was me doing the 'happy dance' that "Old Christine" was renewed. Any news on whether that will be for a full season? Did they say anything at the upfronts on when season 2 or 3 will be on DVD?

Gail: Yes, "Christine" got a full season, maybe because ABC was breathing down CBS' neck to pick it up.
Networks never talk about DVDs. The studios are in charge of them. But as I mentioned, I keep up with DVDs via Amazon.com. They always know release dates.

garricks: "the guy found out the winner's $10 million prize would be financed by the losers' life savings."

Whoa! Seriously? Maybe not enough people signed up for the show, then. I know that would make ME back out!

Gail: Maybe the "major network" was so upset that the evil twist was revealed prematurely, they dropped the show altogether. And punched Rob.

Ed H: Hey Gail - My wife and I like (liked) Back to You. I heard the show was not renewed by Fox however I also read that CBS was interested in picking the show up. Last night was the season finale and it was setup in a way that they could be 'fired' from the station - which leads me to believe that if the show did get picked up by cbs, it would be re-tooled with them working at a new station. Do you think this could be the case - it seems as if the writers knew the axe was falling and they wanted to setup the story line for any major changes. If this is true, do you think the rest of the shows charactures would move too? I like them all - although I can't remember any of their names off hand...

Gail: Kelsey Grammer has been suggesting that another network might pick up "Back to You." It would really be a better fit on any network other than Fox. But all the schedules are now out, so it would have to be for midseason.

Corey: Gail,
Any word on when "Psych" will return?
Thanks.

Gail: As soon as I get the networks out of the way, I'll do a roundup of cable shows and when they'll return. I'd guess July for "Psych," but as I say, that's a guess.

John H.: GP;

I know nothing about a TV show called the Hills but everyone else does. Is this a reality show, a scripted show? Are the people playing characters or are they the real people? It comes across as a single camera/improv from an outline type of drama, but the actors are terrible and can't pull it off which is why it strikes me as a reality show.

Like Gene and/or Rev Run Simmons' show, It's scripted reality in the sense the cameras follow them around but the situations seemed to planned and convoluted.

Gail: "The Hills" is hugely popular with young women, which you aren't. The people are real (in a fake way). Supposedly, the dialogue is unscripted, but scenes are directed and reshot, and situations are set up. You say you "know nothing about" it, yet you seem to have, er, watched it.

Rams747: I loved the Survivor Fan vs. Favorites finale and now feel lost since it won't be on Thursdays until next season. Weren't you expecting a Ozzy-Amanda engagement at the Reunion (ala Boston Rob and Amber)?

Gail: "Fans vs. Favorites" was my favorite season in a long time. But I hadn't kept up with the romance angle and was actually surprised Ozzy and Amanda were a real item. You have to update me more.

Karin Meyerotto: Gail,just wanted to let fans of "moonlight" know that they can go to
moonlight-detective.com click on the first heading and find out the latest
on trying to get a "pickup" from the CW. I hope that show can stay on.

Gail: OK; best of luck with that.

Kevin: Hi Gail - I was sad to see Women's Murder Club canceled on ABC. Is there any chance of some other network picking this show up, a la Scrubs moving to ABC? And if so, giving this show a consistent time slot in which to succeed? The writing and stories were great (I admit, never read the books it was based on) and this show lost out because of the strike, in my opinion, but has all the right potential to succeed!

Thanks!

Gail: Here's the thing: Every show on TV -- every single show -- is somebody's favorite show. And nobody cares if somebody else's favorite show is canceled, as long as yours survives. (This isn't about you, Kevin; just general comments.) Networks can't keep every single show on and still put new shows on. They have to weigh a lot of factors, including ratings; demograpics; how a show does opposite other shows in its time slot; cost; ownership; production schedules and behind-the-scenes difficulties, including difficulties with actors; and trajectory -- is a show growing or declining? They also weigh what else they have and how well the new shows might fit with returning shows. It's a big chess game. I know some fans of various shows are mad about cancellation and say they'll never watch a show again until it's renewed for a second season. But network programmers are in a tough place trying to keep advertisers and viewers (and critics) satisfied.

As for "Women's Murder Club," I didn't think it was great and am really not surprised it was canceled. But as I said, every show is somebody's favorite show.

Steve: FYI... In regards to the earlier Psych question, I belive it returns to USA on July 18

Gail: Thanks. USA doesn't have a date up on its press site yet, and "Psych" is one of those series with split seasons, so it's hard to keep up.

Rams747: I saw on the web today that The Amazing Race is filming it's final leg. (Where are they? I will not spoil it and reveal). When will it be airing and have you heard any buzz of what the teams will be comprised of this season? Any new twists?

Gail: I don't want to know this stuff in advance, so I never look for spoilers. Just wish we'd get a "Race" this summer instead of waiting till fall. Oh well; at least we'll have "The Mole"!

Gail: That's it for today. Now, if I can just figure out how to "toggle off." I thought they might fix that since last week, but no....