Gail: Hi, everybody -- especially all you David Caruso fans who freaked out at the suggestion (in a plug for this chat on the Entertainment page) that he might be going somewhere. Not to worry. But thanks for asking, and I'll get started.

jkplummer: Wats up with D.Carusso?

Gail: Nothing. Although he once, famously quit "NYPD Blue," he is staying put in his scenery-chewing role as Horatio Caine on "CSI: Miami." Horatio's life did appear to hang in the balance in the season finale, and I hear Caruso was so concerned that fans would think he was dead that he wanted publicists to call around and make sure TV critics all knew that wasn't the case.

Matt B: GP;

Is it happening again? You'd think the weekly meeting of Shelly Long, Noah Wyle, Anthony Edwards, David Caruso (circa 1995)...and others...would have sent William Peterson a letter telling him not to quit a hit TV series. What's going on there? Is there a demand for William Peterson to star in movies or is he really taking time off to "be with his family"?

While Cowboy Curtis, errr, I mean, Laurence Fishburne is a good actor, will people take to him on a weekly basis?

What other famous TV actors left the medium for the greener pastures of movie stardom only to fail?

Matt

Gail: Here, from Matt, is the question that created the mini-frenzy about David Caruso. It's actually a William Petersen question, and it refers to the fact that he'll leave "CSI" this season after helping to create the show and serving a producer. He'll depart as a regular at midseason, although he promises occasional returns. I think Petersen is probably established enough -- and, more to the point, rich enough -- not to really have to worry about his career path. He's a quirky guy, likes to do theater, and I'm sure he'll keep busy. I don't think there's a dark secret involved.
However, Grissom is really the key to "CSI" to me. I have drifted away anyway, and with him gone, I might just give it up. No reflection on Laurence Fishburne, who could be great.

garricks: Hey, Gail,

What happened to ’Til Death? I didn't see Kat Foster or Eddie Kaye Thomas anywhere in the premiere! Are they still attached to the show? (And don't judge me, there was nothing else original on and I had it on for noise while I did something else.

And regarding Do Not Disturb, please tell Jerry O'Connell to stop playing comedic cads...and Niecy Nash to go back to Reno 911. Do Not Disturb is DOA and should never have been made. Yikes.

Gail: "Til Death"? Seriously? I like Brad Garrett (in fact, I'm interviewing him next week for a comedy appearance here), but this show just doesn't do it for me. However, those people of whom you speak are still in the cast and are in next week's episode.
If you can believe it, the premiere of "Do Not Disturb," which wasn't the pilot, was actually about 50 percent better than the pilot. Yikes. Jerry O'Connell should really stick to drama. I didn't think Niecy Nash was that bad, in the grand scheme of bad.

DH: NBC.com has America's Got Talent on at 7:00 p.m. tonight. I already
have my DVD recorder set up to tape at 7:30 (based on the weekly Post
Dispatch's TV guide) so I have to remember to change the time.

Gail: The printed TV listings that come with (some) Sunday papers is printed at least 10 days in advance. Networks make very late schedule changes -- and that's why printed listings are a dinosaur. You're doing the right thing checking on the times for shows that really matter to you.

Mary Anne Wilson: I like fantasy and sci-fi programs so I was looking forward to Fringe. Unfortunately I only taped the 1st hour. Should I watch what I have and then catch the next episode or will just watching 2/3's of the pilot episode confuse me too much?

Gail: No, stop, don't watch just part; you'll be so confused you'll never recover. Luckily, Fox is repeating it in a two-hour time slot (with longer commercials, I assume) from 7-9 p.m. Sunday.

suzyjax: I'm a bit behind in my reading and just finished a past People Magazine issue. I didn't know Bonnie Hunt had a chat fest! Is it on locally? I love her!!!!

Gail: It started Monday; noon weekdays on KPLR (Channel 11). You're behind on reading me, too, aren't you? I had an interview with Bonnie on my Staying In page in last week's GO section.

Oryx @ work: Are there really that many David Caruso fans? Really?

Gail: I know!

Rams747 (Pam): I read your story about Bonnie Hunt's new talk show. Have you had a chance to check it out yet this week? I am anxious to see it sometime.

Gail: Well, thank you, Pam. Perhaps you could give Suzy a head's up in the future.
I've seen two of the first three "Bonnie Hunts." I thought the first was very tentative and not very funny. Everybody seemed really awkward. But the second was much more relaxed and enjoyable. I think she'll be fun to watch.

Brittney: What do you think of the new Bonnie Hunt show? I already watch a lot of daytime shows and am wondering whether to add this one. Also is Martha Stewart on anywhere in St. Louis?

Gail: I'd certainly try her out.
"Martha Stewart" has been on an independent channel but is moving to WRBU (Channel 46, 7 on Charter), the MyNetworkTV affiliate, formerly UPN. (Clearly, a station that needs a lot of explanation.) The time slot will be 11 a.m., which will allow you to watch straight through ("Regis & Kelly," "The View"/"Rachael Ray," "Martha," "Bonnie Hunt," "Ellen." Then, of course, "Dr. Phil" and "Oprah."

suzyjax: I was looking forward to Channel 4's new morning show as I love Carol Daniel. However, after reading your chat note last week that it will have many paid segments I don't think I can bear to watch it over The View.
Why imitate Show Me St Louis which is the most god-awul informercial pretending to be news/chat show ever created?

Gail: What I'm told is that "Great Day St. Louis" has the potential to have sponsored segments, with disclosure on screen. I agree that makes it "Show Me St. Louis Jr." You'll have to decide how much you like Carol Daniel.

Ann: Do you have any scoop on "The Closer" season finale next week?

Gail: Yes, that it has a "24"-ish scenario in which Jack (er, Brenda) and the team have to race against the clock to prevent a terrorist attack.

Paul: Ms Pennington
I'm wondering if you can tell me when the final season of The Shield will be shown. I can't seem to find this info on their web site?

Gail: "The Shield" started its final season Sept. 8 on FX. Are you checking the right network's website?

majigail: Ok, now that we're closer to the start of most of the premieres, what's your favorite new show?

Gail: Thanks for giving me a chance to hype my big, big fall TV preview coming Sunday in A&E. That's where you'll find the full list of premiere and season premiere dates, plus the schedule grid that will show you what's opposite what. (Clip 'n' save.) Unfortunately, I've still only seen about half of the new shows, and some that look interesting (ABC's "Life on Mars," for example) still aren't available for review. I did get a pleasant surprise, though, from the CBS comedy "Worst Week." It made me laugh!

Rams747 (Pam): Hi Gail-
I always liked Jerry O'Connell and thought about checking out his new show "Do Not Disturb" premiering tonight but the reviews I have read have just been awful as was the last show he was in "Carpoolers". Have you had a chance to screen this yet and is this one of the worse shows that you have ever reviewed? Thanks!

Gail: You've missed the premiere of "Do Not Disturb," which makes you very lucky. However, it's not even close to the worst show I've ever reviewed. I did just screen two that are right up at the top of the "worst" list, though: "Valentine" and "Easy Money" on the CW Sundays this fall. The network farmed out Sundays to an independent production house, and these two shows are unbelievably horrible!

Cardsfan1027: Gail,
What are your thoughts on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"? Also, do you know anything about the upcoming season?

Gail: "It's Always Sunny" isn't a show I'm crazy about, but FX is: They've ordered more than 50 additional episodes, which will keep it running forever. The new season starts Sept. 18, a week from tonight.

jarda4: Just wondered what has happened with The Roloff's. Will they be back on the air anytime soon? I last saw them when it appeared Matt had gotten into financial difficulty with the addition to his house.
Thanks,
JLW

Gail: A new season of "Little People, Big World" is supposed to start this fall, but I don't see a debut date yet.

Marcus: I heard that the new Josh Whedon series Dollhouse had shut down production. Whats up with that?

Gail: The headline was alarming, but I wouldn't panic. By all accounts, creator Joss (not Josh) Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") shut down his new show, "Dollhouse," for two weeks to work on a script that was kind of a mess and to try to get ahead on the writing. "Dollhouse" isn't supposed to debut until January on Fox, so he has plenty of time to make it good.

majigail: 50 episodes! isn't that like 4 years in cableland!!

Gail: "Sunny" is cheap to make, so it may have more per season. I'm hearing 50 equalling two seasons. But remember, I went to journalism school because there was no math requirement.

jarda4: Has the show Little People big World been taken off the air?

Gail: I had three questions about that show this week. And you think David Caruso is popular!

stpeteguy: Hi Gail, Is Flash Gordon returning on SciFi?

Gail: "Flash Gordon" was canceled.

Jenny: Hi! I have 2 questions for you: What channel are the Paralympics on and do you know when the new season of "Little People Big World" starts? I enjoy your t.v. news!

Gail: I only see the Paralympics on their own Internet channel, www.paralympicsport.tv.

mindtrick12: Has there been any official viewership stats for Sarah Connor Chronicles or Fringe? I enjoyed both season premieres. Thought T:TSCC was very much improved over last season. Good story, action, and character development. I hope it does better this season.

Gail: In my office, "Fringe" was very popular, and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" fans all thought the season premiere was good. Looking at viewership based on those two episodes can be misleading, though. "Fringe" had so much buzz that it was expected to do really well, but didn't do as well, so is it a flop with 9 million viewers? In a couple of weeks, when everything has settled in and the other networks have originals, will be a better time to dissect the numbers.

suzyjax: The promos for "Worst Week" make me laugh--especially the recent Sex and the City satire. They don't seem to be promoting with clips of the best scenes, but the promos are funny enough to make me thing the writers might actually be good.

Gail: It's not sitcom-y, which is why I like it. The laughs come out of the situations, which are often physical but don't seem like slapstick for some reason. Good writing? Hmmm....

majigail: I was so happy that the boxer won greatest american dog! Any chance we'll see it again next summer?

Gail: I have a bone to pick with "Greatest American Dog." It's nice that cute Travis and his cute boxer pup, Presley, won -- but did you notice that the prize is a quarter of a million dollars? That's an awful lot of kibble to hand out based on badly thought-out challenges and eccentric judges' whimsical decisions. In the final three, was it fair to tell J.D. that his dog needed a bath, get little Andrew to interact with the judge's dog and ask Presley to learn a command from a strange trainer -- and then compare those, and use the results to eliminate J.D.? Bizarre. They really needed an audience-voting component or some voice of sanity if the prize was so big.
And no, I don't think they'll ever do it again. Ratings weren't that good. But you never know.

John: I watched the first episode of Entourage and I enjoyed it, I thought that episode and last season were not quite as good as some before. What do you think of Entourage? Also, I really like Always Sunny and was curious if there was a reason you were not wild about it. Thanks.

Gail: I didn't think the first two "Entourages" of this season were as good as the show's best. But all long-running shows have lulls. I don't disrespect "Sunny": it just doesn't make me laugh. Humor is very subjective. I don't laugh at "Two and a Half Men," either, and it's the most popular sitcom on TV.

Gail: That's all for today -- and to the person who just submitted the dirty words, just FYI, I can delete anything I want to. Have a nice day! And see the rest of you back here next week. Especially thanks for all the live comments this week; those are the best.