Notes from the latest performance show -- songs that are popular downloads on iTunes -- after the jump.

I know, it was all over the news yesterday. But NBC released the official announcement today, and I have posted it after the jump. DirecTV again, two seasons, 13 episodes each. And while I am reluctant to look too closely at this gift horse, I have to think that (a) things are so lousy for NBC that it could afford to let one time slot go for a quality show that will never dominate in the ratings (the release doesn't even mention numbers), and (b) with five prime-time hours of Leno looming, the network had to save at least one acclaimed show to demonstrate that it hadn't completely given up on the idea of being, well, a real network. But I am glad it's coming back. And so to the jump.

Friday night it was sneezing and I figured it was just a blast of allergies. Saturday night it was a raspy throat and I figured it was just a bigger blast of allergies. Sunday was weary but functional. Sunday night, hacking and ... Well, by then I decided it was maybe just a little bit of a cold mixed in with allergies. Monday was only semi-functional. But I am determined to do some useful things today. And maybe to blog about the "Amazing Race" bummer, the renewal of "Friday Night Lights" (two seasons! yay!), last night's "DWTS" (very mixed), last night's "HIMYM" (very funny) and some other things. Maybe. I am, as they say, getting too old for ... well, to cope well with colds.

Links to stories on many things -- Richard Chamberlain, Chrissie Hynde, Roscoe Orman and more -- in today's Beacon Journal:

Roscoe Orman -- Gordon on "Sesame Street" -- was in town, and we chatted about his life and being a "Sesame Street" dad. Story here. Enjoyable time.

Just when I think I'm out, it pulls me back in ...

I'm hoping NBC will post Liz's ad in uninterrupted form. But until it does, here's the clip from the show. Many, many, laughs ...

The bride returned from a business trip tonight. Went out for dinner together, didn't rush home and I wasn't about to waste even 40 minutes going through all the build-up to the last five minutes of "Idol." But I did check those closing minutes, which were kind of funny. ...

You may have read about the famously awful "The Room" in this Entertainment Weekly feature. EW dubbed its maker "the Orson Welles of crap," which helped make it an even bigger phenomenon, prompting an EW followup here. And now it's coming to the Cleveland Cinematheque on April 13. Full announcement about it, and an added showing of "The Empire of Passion," after the jump. And here's a trailer for "The Room":

(Kelly Clarkson, Brenda Lee in 2008. From CMT.)

I am in the cone of silence on "Lost." But there are other things to talk about, like Kelly Clarkson and Brenda Lee. More about that in a bit.

I've spent a little time on other things, steeling myself for tonight and also getting far enough into the show to skip the boilerplate on playback. So here we go ...

Here's the announcement:

So last night I was watching "Reaper," which as fans know involved Edmund Fitzgerald, a shipping magnate. Which means, naturally, that I have had Gordon Lightfoot stuck in the back of my head ever since. (Should we start anticipating an homage to Van Dyke Parks*?) Have been trying to clear the musical sinuses -- I need to be livelier today than GL allows -- and here's one of the tunes I did it with:

"Rescue Me" fans know Sean Garrity. But I did not know that Steven Pasquale, who plays Garrity, is a singer. Still, he has a CD forming what he calls "an old-fashioned jazz record," which will be on iTunes on March 31 and in stores on April 21. The detailed announcement is after the jump.

New episodes begin April 9 on TLC. Complete announcement after the jump.

The show will air on TBS in November, Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. The full announcement is after the jump.

Since the bride is away on a business trip, I watched "Dancing With the Stars" solo tonight, which was not nearly the fun it is when you have someone to exchante comments with. Also, because of some earlier obligations and because I wanted to watch "HIMYM," I ended up speed-watching "DWTS," zipping through most of the judges comments but noting scores...

If you have seen tonight's new episode, which was mostly so-so, you know that Canada was once again highlighted. And if, like me, you go looking for any Web site mentioned in a scripted show, then you already know what is here. And that it is pretty funny.

Details after the jump (and sorry about the redundant headline earlier). ...

Warner Bros. has begun to offer what it eventually expects will be everything in its movie catalog as an on-demand service: You pay $20, you get a DVD. The system bypasses stores and does include a lot of movies that have not made it to DVD. You can start browsing here. I've already gone looking for some semi-obscure titles I will happily make shelf space for. A USA Today story about the system is here.

Any episode that has a contestant referring to "aggressivity" is going to get some amusement points with me. But overall, it was kind of blah ...

This was in the e-mail from Nielsen:

More U.S. homes have prepared themselves for the Digital TV transition according to an update from The Nielsen Company. As of March 15, only 3.6 percent of all TV homes remain unready for the June transition to all-digital broadcasting compared to slightly less than 4% at the start of the month. Homes where the head of household is 35 or under showed the most notable demographic improvement, improving from 7.2% unready to 6.5%. This leaves roughly 4.1 million homes unprepared, an improvement of nearly 350,000 in the last two weeks.

My friends at "Sue Thomas, F.B. Eye," the 2002-06 Pax series, sent along this announcement:

“Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye”, inspired by the true story of the F.B.I’s first deaf surveillant and her hearing dog Levi—is coming to ANIMAL PLANET, beginning Monday, April 6, with a two-hour opener (8:00 – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Central and Mountain. Thereafter, it will be shown in its regular time slot, Mondays at 9:00 ET/PT and 8:00 p.m. Central and Mountain. ... “This is a call to action for ‘Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye,’ fans” says co-creator Gary Johnson. “It’s a chance to enjoy your favorite ‘Sue Thomas’ episodes. And if the show does well, Animal Planet is interested in making new episodes. So we’d encourage fans to let them know you’re out there by telling them how much you enjoy the show.”
And why on Animal Planet? In case you have forgotten, Sue had a dog. Here's a show synopsis:

First, a question: Anyone interested in those video recaps of "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" done here during previous seasons? The logistics are more complicated this year, so before plowing ahead I'd like some idea if it's worth it.

From today's print Beacon Journal:

Potentially very interesting show tonight. Alexis Grace is at the bottom of the Dialidol.com results, with Allison Iraheta and Megan Joy close by, and all three in the "too close to call" range. If Alexis, whom the judges and the show like, was the lowest vote-getter, would they have to use the "judges save" to protect her? Or would they let her go to protect the integrity of the show -- since Alexis was on that alleged "guaranteed final four" -- and to keep the "judges save" in case Danny or Adam, other show faves, get in trouble? Live notes. After. The. Jump.

(New York Times photo)

The actress has died. Story here. Another one here.
I can't say I have much of a memory of her as an actress -- and it appears that she was much more remarkable onstage than on screen. But no one should die so young, so unexpectedly. No child should lose a parent this way.

Oh, the things that end up in my e-mail. But if you want to nominate a "best restroom," you can do so at www.bestrestroom.com. Here's the note:

Less than two weeks remain to submit nominations for the coveted “America’s Best Restroom Award VIII,” presented by Cintas Facility Services. Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2009. Up to 10 finalists will be announced in June, at which time the Internet public will be asked to cast their votes. The winner will be announced in August and receive the coveted “America’s Best Restroom” plaque of recognition from Cintas. The top five vote-getters will secure their place in the “America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame” found at www.bestrestroom.com.

More than one writer has noted similarities between "Better Off Ted," the funny comedy premiering tonight on ABC, and "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," which was also from writer Victor Fresco and which -- blessed convenience -- is coming out on DVD soon. So I looked at "Better Off Ted" and then went back to the pilot of "Andy Richter" and found some interesting differences. ...

Extended renewals announced by CBS. Here's the word:

CBS Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television have reached a multi-year broadcast agreement for the hit comedy series TWO AND A HALF MEN and THE BIG BANG THEORY, it was announced by Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment, and Peter Roth, President, Warner Bros. Television.

I didn't get to last night's performance show until this evening. Below, after the jump, I'll have a few words about the performances and the results from tonight.

Notes about the show after the jump ...

(Photo from WKYC.com)

The WKYC personality has passed away at the age of 88, the station reports.
Details are here.

Local CBS affiliate WOIO (Channel 19) will also use its companion station, WUAB (Channel 43), to get in all the Northeast Ohio-related games during the NCAA tournament. Akron-Gonzaga and Ohio State-Siena will be on 19, while Cleveland State-Wake Forest will be on 43. Details from the stations' announcement after the jump.

"But, oh, what a wonderful feeling
Just to know that you are near,
Sets my a heart a-reeling
From my toes up to my ears."

Today, March 17, is our fifth wedding anniversary.

From FX today:

After the jump, ABC's announcement of when TV seasons will end for its shows, as well as the return date of "Ugly Betty" (May 7) and the kickoff of a new round of "The Bachelorette" (May 18).

Sci Fi Channel is changing its name to Syfy in July. It says the new and old names are "phonetically identical." More important in corporate terms, the new name is "a uniquely ownable trademark that is portable across all non-linear digital platforms and beyond." In other words, there's money in it. It also helps continue Sci Fi, or Syfy's, defection from its roots. Says the announcement: "The new brand broadens perceptions and embraces a wider and more diverse range of imagination-based entertainment including fantasy, paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure, as well as science fiction." Which is what the channel has been doing for some time anyway.

Full announcement after the jump.

"How can I miss you when you won't go away?
Keep telling you day after day
But you won't listen, you always stay and stay
How can I miss you when you won't go away?"
-- Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks

The actor has died, the New York Post reports. The obit in the link focuses mostly on Silver's politics, which turned Republican after 9/11, but I'd rather remember him as a fine and charismatic actor. He was one of those guys who, regardless of who else was in the scene, could draw your attention. Something about the intensity in the eyes.

Bunch of things in today's print edition of the Beacon Journal. They include:

A story based on a delightful chat I had with Hal Holbrook is here. Holbrook is bringing his Mark Twain show back to Cleveland. We talked for close to an hour, and I could have listened to him for hours more.

"I am just a microwave
I am just a microwave
I am just a microwave
I am just a microwave ...
And there's a lot of us." -- The Softlightes

"Who can take a sunrise,
Sprinkle it with dew?
Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two ...

Lots of TV last night but I have, so far, seen only "30 Rock" and "The Office." Both funny. More later. I missed another five hours of shows (please respect the vast cone of silence)  because I was at a screening of "I Love You, Man," the new Paul Rudd-Jason Segel comedy. Which is quite funny, and even made some raunch-comedy staples laughable again. More about that later, too, since I have to write a couple of columns this AM.

You'd think that young men could remember a simple message like "zip it, wrap it or snip it." Apparently not. From an ESPN release:

Sunday’s Outside the Lines (9 a.m. ET, ESPN; noon ESPNEWS) will examine athletes having children out of wedlock, and the unique circumstances and temptations that contribute to the trend. Among the athletes Steve Delsohn reports on are former NFL running back Travis Henry, who has 11 children with 10 different women and is currently in jail because he owes back child support (payments stand at $17,000 a month), and former NBA player Jason Caffey, who has fathered 10 children with eight women, and despite earning more than $28 million during his NBA career, was issued an arrest warrant earlier this year because he owes more than $200,000 in child support. While there are no statistics regarding athletes' proclivity to father children without being married, government numbers show 40% of the children in America are born out of wedlock.OTL requested interviews with more than 20 athletes who have at least one child outside of marriage, including Tom Brady, Matt Leinart and Oscar De La Hoya. Except for Henry, all others either declined, or did not respond to the request.

From the official "Idol" press release, here's the explanation of the save system:

Well, the twist is called a "judges save," and it means the judges can overrule the viewer vote once ...

Playing veejay: So this morning on the way to work I was listening to the second "Sopranos" soundtrack, aka "Peppers and Eggs," including the remix of the "Peter Gunn" theme with the Police's "Every Breath You Take." And eventually that led me to this first video, which seems especially ripe for enjoyment since "Lost" is a rerun tonight (probably to avoid putting a new episode against the first big "American Idol" results show). Anyway, here's a compilation of "Lost" action scenes to the music mix:

Live notes after the jump. Big show, because they're eliminating two contestants this week.

A little late watching because I had a class tonight. Notes from viewing after the jump.

This is from "SNL" on Saturday. Another generally blah show (although "The Rock Obama" sketch had possibilities, they went unrealized) until Weekend Update, with a fair Michael Steele sketch and the above piece. I was about to fast-forward past more of Andy Samberg's "Cathy" bit but am glad I didn't: JT appears about 1:36 in, and don't miss Jessica Biel. Forgive the red line in it; I had a different version posted but there was an issue with the name of the YouTube poster.

I feel as if I have been unsuccessfully stacking wood all weekend, taking care of various chores, thinking about blogging but never quite getting around to it. I've got a backlog of Thursday shows in my head, went to the movie "Taken" last night, watched a fair amount of Akron-Kent State basketball on TV and, of course, caught "Amazing Race" tonight. So let's go to the jump. ...

I was at a basketball game tonight so I caught up to the results late. I'd have put 'Noop through in a heartbeat, and the judges did, along with Jasmine Murray, Megan Joy Corkrey (who had to endure being paired with Tatiana for still more pointless melodrama) and Matt Giraud for a Top 13 instead of a Top 12. If that's what it takes to get Anoop in, then fine. The gender imbalance is 8-5, but considering what we've heard collectively from the men and the women, that actually seems a little kind to the women. And I wonder how they'll work the eliminations, picking off two one week or just stretching the season some way.

11 p.m. addendum: I managed to watch "Survivor" tonight but it's a little late for more TV thoughts. Will be back on the block tomorrow.

Jewel and Nancy O'Dell have dropped out because of injuries. Looks as if they will announce their replacements on Monday's season premiere. Full announcement after the jump.

An obit for the playwright and screenwriter is here. If you're wondering why this matters, I should only have to tell you that he wrote the screenplays for "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Tender Mercies," left, two of my favorite films, and both ones where the terrific main performances -- Gregory Peck and Robert Duvall respectively -- are aided considerably by Foote's knack not only for dialogue but for selective, spare use of it. Sometimes I think Duvall, who won an Oscar for "Tender Mercies" and had a small but important role in "Mockingbird," didn't say two words in "Mercies." But he's all the more effective for the silences.

Notes after the jump.

My complete review is now online here.

On a thoroughly unrelated note, I am watching "Party Down," also known as "Rob Thomas Calls Everyone Who Ever Worked on 'Veronica Mars.' " It is very funny, and premieres March 20 on Starz.

As you know, I was at the movies last night so I am playing catch-up on "American Idol." Which means a speedy run through the performances, and minimal filler/judging banter. After the jump ...

Haven't seen "Idol" because I was at a screening of "Watchmen." If any movie was likely to have me cast all critical considerations aside and just be a fanboy, this was it. Then again, so was "Indiana Jones 4." "Watchmen" is much better than that but still good but not great. And, judging from the audience reaction tonight, a fair number of people will come out hating it because they're expecting "Iron Man" or "The Dark Knight" and this retains Moore's much more pessimistic, downbeat sensibility -- as well as gore and violence that in a more sensible world would have led to an NC-17. Jackie Earle Haley is great, as is Dead Denny. Many scenes are right out of the comic books down to the way they are framed. But greatness eludes it, in part because the writing is at one remove from Alan Moore, and a movie is at one remove from a comic book. I'll have more to say about this later -- and I will catch up to "Idol" -- because there are many more things to say, including the way "Watchmen" here serves even more as a meditation on the '60s. But it's late, and I need to think and sleep.

The announcement is for a 2010 Disney Channel movie with "a new cast of characters." I don't entirely believe that, since "HSM 3" introduced a couple of new characters and left room for Sharpay to return for a fourth film. In any case, a new movie is coming, with currents of "Romeo & Juliet." And I am already thinking of it in terms of the fourth "Star Wars" movie (the fourth one made, not the fourth one in the chronology). Details after the jump. ...

So many things in my head. "Watchmen" in about nine hours. "How I Met Your Mother" and "Two and a Half Men" from last night, both funny, but I'll have more to say about them later. And Van Morrison. I fast-forwarded through most of Jimmy Fallon's late-night debut this morning, pausing here and there (Justin Timberlake's John Mayer impression, fabulous) but mostly looking for Van, who closed the show with an "Astral Weeks" selection. Not my favorite LP of his, and I am at times alarmed by his age and obesity -- not to mention hands that look like "Teen Wolf" leftovers. But I've had Van in my head since. "Full Force Gale" and "Bright Side of the Road" in the car. And, from YouTube, this nice Billy Bragg blending of "Tupelo Honey" with "People Get Ready":

When checking in with TV Tattle, I came across a column by the New York Times's Alessandra Stanley about late-night TV, which among other things complained that "there is even less diversity in late-night network comedy than there was 20 years ago when Arsenio Hall had a syndicated show." There was plenty in the piece to take issue with, but let's look at just that comment a little more closely. ...

UPDATE: Much online discussion of last night's show, but I wanted to point especially to Chris Harrison's blog, which has his account of the timing of everything. And Trista Sutter has weighed in here.

I didn't expect to be blogging about "The Bachelor." But, after an entire blasted season of hearing what a wonderful, caring guy Jason is ...

This and that, after the jump, including recent telecasts of "The Closer" and "CSI"; episodes of "House" and "Private Practice" with something in common, and a "Brothers and Sisters" spoiler if you haven't seen last night's telecast. ...

Here are the highlights of the release:

Everyone’s favorite redneck is back again when The Jeff Foxworthy Show: The Complete Second Season debuts on DVD May 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Foxworthy is joined in the series about a quirky southern family by co-stars Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), Ann Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank), Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire) and Kathryn Zaremba (TV’s “Toothless”). All 23 episodes will be available on two discs for $19.94.

There are a couple of different ways you can wreck yourself on "The Amazing Race." One is the calculated risk that does not pan out. The other is the stupid move, especially when it is compounded by stubbornness. ...

A few things you may or may not have seen over at Ohio.com:

-- An attempt to explain "Watchmen," both what it is and why it is important, as the premiere of the movie looms.