"The Bachelorette," the return of "The Mole," more dancing, a reality show tied to "High School Musical" and other stuff. Details after the jump.

It's April 29. ABC also includes more plans re "Boston Legal" -- which returns to Tuesdays on April 8 but will get moved to a different time slot a few weeks later -- and a pre-emption for "MEN IN TREES." Details:

Yep, the TV series with Peter Facinelli, Bill Bellamy and Tiffani Thiessen. Because someone cares, right? Release datre is July 8. The Warner Home Video boilerplate is after the jump.

... but now I have a compelling reason not to. It's official that Kathie Lee Gifford -- "playwright, producer, singer, songwriter and actress," says NBC -- will co-host the fourth hour. Detailed announcement after the jump. ...

It's a wet and drab morning here, but I decline to let that depress me. Why? Two things. ...

Still missing the comic strip? Not seeing the series? Season two arrives June 10 and includes two episodes that did not air on U.S. television. Detailed announcement after the jump. Some language may bother people who have no idea what "Boondocks" is like. ...

Could Michael Ian Black be the show's salvation? Notes after the jump ...

Includes my heartfelt plea for no more Heart covers, and Malcolm on "God Bless the USA." Also, a reminder that "Every Breath You Take" is a stalker song, which led to an office discussion of a "stalker week" on "American Idol." I may have a longer post about that later. But for now, enjoy the podcast.

Rory Block, from her website

I have finally caught "Jericho" and hope to have a few words about that later. And I am sorting through my memories of Abby Mann, the writer for movies and TV, who has died.

Notes from Wednesday after the jump. I have also added the announcement about Dolly Parton next week.

That's Widmark in the middle, in his landmark "Kiss of Death"

The veteran actor was 93. An obit is here. List of credits here.

New theater for the show, too. Full announcement after the jump ...

Gus mentioned this in a comment on my Wednesday notebook. ...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had a speaking engagement last night, to the Tire Town chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, and I had an excellent time. I especially like the Q&A's, to hear what people are interested in, and to have more of a dialogue with them.

But it means that I caught "Idol" somewhat on the run (see the previous post), saw only the final moments on "Dancing With the Stars" and have not yet gotten to the finale of "Jericho." So let's have a Cone of Silence on that one, please. And with a night's sleep and the light of day I'm wondering if last night was an "Idol" watershed.

Notes after the jump ...

I'm a little late getting started because of a speaking engagement. But will post as I replay the show, albeit with some skipping over chatter. ...

-- Britney Spears was perfectly OK on "How I Met Your Mother." If we had not been watching BRITNEY SPEARS, then we'd probably have looked at her and thought, "that actress is kind of funny." The episode overall was so-so -- good plotting, few big laughs -- but not hurt by Spearsmania. In fact, it may help save the show, since it boasted some all-time high ratings in young demographics and a season high in viewers. The stats from CBS:

... first in adults 18-34 (3.6/10, the night's top program in this demo), second in households (6.3/10), viewers (10.62m), adults 25-54 (5.3/12) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). Compared to the program's first-run return last Monday, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was up +9% in households (from 5.8/09), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/12), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 4.3/11) and added +1.01m viewers (from 9.61m, +11%).

-- Watched "Dancing With the Stars" last night and it's clear they want to keep this from being a Kristi Yamaguchi runaway. To be sure, Jason Taylor is good and Mario impressive and Shannon Elizabeth was capable, especially considering I'm not really a fan of her otherwise. But when Bruno told Yamaguchi that he could not find any mistakes but still gave her a 9 instead of a 10, then someone is trying to keep the field close.

The wheels were really off this past season, but Fox is letting it keep going. Here's the official word:

FOX has picked up a fourth season of the hit drama PRISON BREAK, the action-packed series starring Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller as on-the-lam brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield.

I've spent the better part of today on some home obligations. Will resume posting in earnest sometime Tuesday.

Looks like a cold one here, but also a relaxed one.

I worked a metro shift yesterday. Last night, in preparation for the fourth Indiana Jones movie, began revisiting the first three. Saturday was "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (I know, Lucas renamed it with that "Indiana Jones and ..." in front of it, but I resist. Much the way I prefer to think the Indians play at Jacobs Field, not Progressive Field.)

This is an oldie (with a bit of PG-13-ish content) but funny.

Here's the statement from CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler:

"The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale. Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high quality second season. We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try. We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We're proud of everyone's efforts."

Notes on "Lost," "Reaper" and "Jericho," after the jump ...

Malcolm X Abram and I discuss the Top 10!

After finishing my DVD column, I checked my e-mail -- and had a link from the Flight of the Conchords' MySpace page to this video of "I'm Not Crying":

I watched "Lost" last night and (finally) this week's "Jericho," so no cone of silence on those things. Still haven't caught last night's "Reaper." But I have had some other things to do, too, including a DVD column this morning, so I won't be posting again until somewhat later today.

(Photo from the Wired blog.)

In stores this week is "Bionic Woman: Volume One," consisting of the eight episodes to date of the updating of the '70s show. And why is that title optimistic? Because a "Volume Two" is not, apparently, going to happen. Here's a story declaring "BW" dead.

1963 photo, from the Times of London

The Oscar-winning actor has died. One British obituary is here. Interesting sidelight about Scofield's refusing a knighthood. The Associated Press has its take here. I liked the AP's inclusion of Richard Burton's comment: "Of the 10 greatest moments in the theater, eight are Scofield's."

Full announcement of the vote-out, the mentors and other things, after the jump ...

In-progress notes after the jump ...

Ivan Dixon has died, and much note has been made of his work on "Hogan's Heroes," since that was his most famous role. But if you're really interested in seeing his chops, go find "Nothing But a Man," an independent film in which he gave a touching performance. There's an interesting review of the movie here.

The death of the writer-director had me remembering an interview I did with him and Brian Henson about 10 years ago. I've pasted the text of the column I wrote after the jump ...

Should have gone to sleep after "Dancing" but switched over to the Akron-Florida State game and stayed through overtime. So I'm fuzzy-minded this morning -- and another longish day looms. But there are always things to talk about ...

Notes from my recording, as it proceeds, after the jump. ...

(Photo from Idolstalker.com)

In-progress notes after the jump ...

Today I wrapped some writing tasks around two round trips to Cleveland. (For those of you who don't live around here, that means I spent about four hours in my car, as well as doing things in our neighbor to the north.) Got home from the second around 6:30 p.m. And tonight is loaded with extended telecasts -- two hours of "American Idol," 90 minutes of "Dancing With the Stars" -- which join "Jericho" on the DVR list. My tentative plan is to watch "Idol" in real time, then catch "Dancing" on DVR delay before going to sleep. "Jericho" will likely wait until tomorrow, and I may fade before "Dancing" is done. Just so you know.

BTW, I have my new Time Warner channel alignment (although it's still not complete; Channel 47 is still showing color bars instead of TV One). Will probably discuss this more as I begin to relearn all the channel numbers.

ABC tries out another sitcom, FX brings back its troubled Travelers, after the jump ...

A toast to your return, gentlemen!

I don't know if it was to make room for that "Tropic Thunder" trailer or what, but CBS and my DVR were not in sync last night ...

A few notes after the jump ...

Busy weekend with only a little TV, but some comments on "SNL," "Reaper," "The Bachelor" and the local digital-cable overhaul, after the jump ...

I have enjoyed the CBS campaign to remind people that their comedies will have new episodes on Monday. Not as much as I am enjoying the fact that those comedies will be back. Well, at least that "HIMYM" and "Two and a Half Men" are back. But it's still cute.

In fact, with "Dancing With the Stars" resuming Monday, as well as "The Bachelor" (which starts with some world-class bad behavior), it's feeling as if my DVRs' hibernation is about to end.

Malcolm X Abram and I gab about Lennon-McCartney Week 1, David Hernandez and other issues, with all the nonstop action you have come to expect from two guys talking.

My review of "The Return of Jezebel James" can be found here. I was not thrilled with the show, which may surprise those of you who remember what a rabid "Gilmore Girls" fan I was. But c'est la view, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell.

This is one of those nights when I think I am just too stupid for this show. ...

Notes and spoilers from tonight, after the jump. ...

Notes after the jump ...

Notes, including spoilers about last night's episode, after the jump ...

Warner Bros. Home Video has announced plans for a mega-re-release of "Dirty Harry" movies, including special editions of individual films. Details after the jump.

I am a "Dirty Harry" fan. I saw all the movies, three of them in theaters when they were released. I know that the original is a great piece of filmmaking and one that made me pay more attention not only to Eastwood but to Don Siegel. And even with all that familiarity, some of the descriptions of DVD extras after the jump have me wanting to dive into these new editions.

Malcolm Abram and I recorded this on Friday but circumstances beyond our control kept this from being posted. But if you want to see what we were thinking before we saw last night's show, here 'tis:

(Last night, when I left the blog, there was a complete post re "American Idol." Woke up this morning, and the last three contestants' notes were gone. No idea how that happened, except that I had problems several times last night when saving revisions. Am summarizing below this AM, although I can't be sure the grades will be the same.)

In-progress notes after the jump ...

I should feel terrible about "The Wire" but I can't shake some exhilaration, since the finale was so good and so right. But hasn't "The Wire" always been about grand art made from despair? ...

Can't say I'm excited about this one, especially when "Square Pegs" looms. But it's out on April 1, and the official word is after the jump ...

It's coming May 20. It has extras, although some look to be archival material. (Merritt Butrick, listed among those interviewed, died in 1989.) But I cannot contain my delight. Official announcement after the jump ...

Ran the snowblower last night. Woke up to see that everything I had plowed was filled in again. Ran the snowblower this morning. Cleared a path to get to the (snowy) street, then drove to the gas station for more gas and oil for the snowblower. Am now waiting for more snow.

This comes, of course, after the white-knuckling drives of yesterday. But during one of those drives, I had the radio on for an Indians preseason game. They didn't win, and I didn't really want to know that it was 86 degrees where they were playing. But it still made me think of spring. Even when it's snowing, hearing Tom Hamilton brings hope of balmy days ahead.

A co-worker passed along a link to a photo gallery in which people used Peeps to make various scenes. The "Wizard of Oz" homage, above, is one example. Here are a couple of others:

Couple of good scenes, but not my favorite episode ...

Comments with spoilers after the jump ...

In-progress post during the show. ...

The "I Don't Want To Go To School" album arrives April 15 in three different packages. A single is due on March 18. Details after the jump. ...

Nikki Finke says the show is saved through a partnership with DirecTV that would put telecasts on both DirecTV and some part of the NBC universe. (NBC, as of Thursday afternoon, was not commenting.) We're seeing more of these cross-platform deals, like DirecTV's carrying the former NBC soap "Passions," or "Criminal Intent" airing on cable before going to broadcast. And, as long as I get to see shows I love, I'll take a deal.

If you liked the premiere of "New Amsterdam," you may be pleased with tonight's second episode. And if you were lukewarm about the premiere, you should give it a second chance tonight. ...

Last week I mentioned that promos for the unhappy-wife episode of "Moment of Truth" appeared to have misleading editing, with an answer to one question in the show being put with a different question.

This week, promoting another guest's appearance in what it called "the most powerful episode of the season," a much-televised promo declared, "This mother of four is overwhelmed by the pressure of the questions and suffers a nervous breakdown." No such thing happened on the air.

In-progress post after the jump ...

The long awaited "Swingtown" goes to summer, "American Gladiators" back in May. I'm feeling the pain for "Swingtown's" Lana Parilla, who also did time in the series "Windfall," intended for a mid-season run on NBC only to be dispatched to summer 2006.

Detailed announcements after the jump. ...

Among the lines stuck in my head of late is this one:

“If you can't trust the faith-based assistant to the president, who can you trust?”

I hope you voted before checking in here. Running account after the jump ...

If you're tired of Lindsay, television is going to let you see her mom, Dina, driving the career of another Lohan, 14-year-old Ali. Full release after the jump, but here are some of the lines worth pondering:

Dina has faced intense scrutiny over the past year due to daughter Lindsay's (21) highly publicized mishaps and her long-simmering divorce from her ex-husband. But the Lohan family has demonstrated great resiliency and, with Dina at the helm, they are moving on with their lives. Dina is determined to help each of her four kids fulfill their dreams and refuses to live in fear of what others may think, despite being under the paparazzi microscope. ...

The cable network will air the show, including seven episodes that didn't get on the air, beginning March 16. A DVD of the series, by the way, comes out on March 25.

The TV One announcement and the DVD announcement are after the jump. ...

CNN's Costello was in town yesterday, and I wrote up her speech -- and a brief post-speech interview -- in this story. But, as is so often the case, there was more to say than what I put in the story, including some talk about Linda Ellerbee, Bill Clinton, switching gears in broadcasting and would-be news people. ...

Over the weekend the bride and I picked up a Blu-ray DVD player. But that's not how I killed HD DVD. ...

As I have mentioned more than once, the Patrick Swayze movie "Road House" is one of those films I never get tired of. Well, that I never get tired of the first half, at least. And it's one of those things that the bride and I have bonded over. Sure, it's a bad movie in a lot of ways, but it has many good things, including the musical performances by Jeff Healey. Now word comes that Healey has died. That's a shame. He was a formidable musician and, as the obit notes, one who overcame a great deal along the way.