Since I've noted some underwhelming "tributes" by GSN, it's only fair to acknowledge a real tribute to Reilly, after the jump ...

After a long weekend of anticipation, starting with Nikki Finke's reports, the network has announced a change in top entertainment management. Putting on interesting shows, in the end, was not as valuable as improving the ratings. Full release after the jump ...

The Ohio-born actor has said he's through with acting, according to this report.

NBC began burning off the remaining episodes last night. Pretty painful spectacle. I'll expand on that thought later.

The ABC News report, after the jump ...

For some reason, I keep thinking "Don't raise the bridge. Lower the river." ...

The season's final "American Idol" podcast with me and Malcolm X Abram is here:

http://www.ohiomm.com/podcasts/american_idol/20070523.mp3

I've been watching the pre-finale show on Fox (Teri Hatcher's on the red carpet right now) and both Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson have pretty much declared Jordin the winner. ...

From CBS:

Emmy Award winner Bob Barker's final original daytime episode of THE PRICE IS RIGHT will be broadcast Friday, June 15 (11:00 AM-12:00 Noon, ET; 10:00-11:00 AM, PT) on the CBS Television Network. The episode will then be rebroadcast the same evening (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), leading directly into the airing of "The 34th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards (9:00-11:00 PM, live ET/ delayed PT), from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

As the Byrds once sang, funny how a circle is a wheel.

... except that it made me laugh. After the jump ...

Starting with a parade of all this season's contestants ...

Notes apres le jump ...

The official announcement, after the jump ...

Here's an excerpt from a Richard Schickel piece for the LA Times:

Criticism — and its humble cousin, reviewing — is not a democratic activity. It is, or should be, an elite enterprise, ideally undertaken by individuals who bring something to the party beyond their hasty, instinctive opinions of a book (or any other cultural object). It is work that requires disciplined taste, historical and theoretical knowledge and a fairly deep sense of the author's (or filmmaker's or painter's) entire body of work, among other qualities.

Mark Cuban has a few thoughts here. I have a couple of reactions, after the jump ...

From TV Guide, after the jump ...

Some notes after the jump ...

From today's Beacon Journal, my thoughts about:
-- John Wayne at 100.
-- Tom Selleck's latest Jesse Stone movie.
-- Today's DVD column, with some questions to consider before you buy.

One more sign that I'm getting old: I have trouble sleeping late in the morning ...

A disappointing season finale, discussed after the jump ...

My buddy Sepinwall called this morning and it was a conversation filled with laughter, since we were talking about "The Office." (Spoilers, and some questions, after the jump)

After I finish up some projects, I want to talk more about how good "The Office" was (the look on Pam's face at the end, Jan in Michael's car, Ryan to Kelly ... ) and what a drag "Grey's Anatomy" was (except any time James Pickens Jr. and Loretta Devine were working). But until I have time to elaborate, you can check out my review of "Shrek the Third" and a tale of the tape for the "American Idol" final two, where you can find a link to my latest podcast with Malcolm X Abram. (And hear what I sound like with a cold.) Also some reminders of the people "Idol" left behind -- until, that is, the tour starts.

As a change of pace from the broadcast announcements, with season premiere dates for "4400," "Psych," "Dead Zone," other stuff...

Raw feed, after the jump ...

Details and more details, after the jump ...

In which I think of Lucy and the football, after the jump ...

Live stuff after the jump ...

I know there are two hours left to the season. Still...

The raw feed, hot off the e-mail, after the jump ...

Thoughts after the jump ...

This from Fox today:

As the clock ticks toward the climactic final two hours of 24’s Season Six on Monday, May 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), FOX has extended the Emmy Award-winning series for two additional seasons through 2008-2009.

After the jump ...

The televangelist has died. (Story here.) A few thoughts after the jump ...

Announcement after the jump ...

Full announcement after the jump ...

A few thoughts, after the jump ...

Notes after the jump ...

The mothership and "SVU" stay on NBC, "Criminal Intent" goes to USA, with the announcement after the jump ...

There's a lot of talk that this will be the last season for "Law & Order" on NBC -- and almost as much talk that new episodes will air on TNT after the NBC run. I've been looking at the season finale, which airs on May 18, and it sure looks like a farewell of sorts.

All after the jump ...

Lots of reports flying yesterday that "Friday Night Lights" has been picked up for a full second season. (Thanks again, Fred, for the heads-up.) I hope to have a formal announcement from NBC for posting later today.

And that's great news. Just hope the show has a second season in it that's as good as the first one was.

Apparently NBC neglected to let DVR services know the exact running time of "The Office" last night. Sat down this morning with my DVR and it cut out as Pam was heading toward the water. Caught an extra line in the two-minute replay on NBC.com (where there are tons of comments from other distraught show-recorders), but it still feels as if something was missing. Anyone want to fill in the gap?

Details from Fox about the show Ryan Seacrest was hyping on Wednesday's "Idol" ...

OK, Reality Check. Discussion after the jump ...

Some thoughts on Tuesday's telecasts, after the jump ...

Podcast links over at www.ohio.com. Live posting, after the jump ..

A day late, and almost entirely based on the performances alone, but here we go ...

After the jump ...

I will be at a movie screening, so it will probably be late before I post this evening. It's a tough evening to be out -- "Idol," "Dancing," "Gilmore," "Veronica" -- but they've yet to figure out a way to send new movies to my house or DVR.

FX has now moved "Rescue Me" from its planned Tuesday telecasts to Wednesday, with the fourth season beginning June 13. "Damages," the new Glenn Close drama, begins July 24. "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" will be back in September. "Dirt" and "The Riches" have been picked up for another year.

Detailed announcement after the jump ...

ABC has renewed "Lost" through 2009-10 but declared that's the end of it. So the guys have 48 episodes to explain everything. Fortunately for the writers -- and unfortunately for us -- those 48 episodes are spread across three seasons. So they have more time to figure out what they're talking about, and we have to wait longer for resolution.

The formal announcement is after the jump.

Waiting to see if it was all inevitable, after the jump ...

Thoughts after the jump, in case you haven't watched yet. ...

First impression, with the show in progress: There's always been a strain of David E. Kelley in Shonda Rhimes's work. In the Addison story, it's unrestrained. And I don't like it. Too much forced comedy, for one thing; did not believe for a second that Addison would say what she did in the elevator early in the episode.

More after the jump ...

The CW confirms that the May 15 episode of "Gilmore Girls" will be the last. While I recognize the flaws in the show the last couple of years, I am still bummed. More later.

OK, here's a little more. I've been thinking that, now that it's done, the Emmys can finally show some love for this show, which has been unjustly overlooked for years. Give it one of those career-achievement-ish awards that are really for the body of work even though it's assigned to this year.

June 12 is the date. The release is after the jump. (Update: Don't read anything into the omission of many returning cast members' names from the release. An FX rep says "everybody" is back.)

Ryan sounded as if the theme was "boogie music" on Wednesday's show. He must have meant "Bee Gee music" based on this "Idol" announcement:

Next week, television’s most popular show heats up when the Top 4 finalists (Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks) compete head-to-head again on Tuesday, May 8 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Barry Gibb will mentor the contestants as they prepare to sing songs he made famous with the Bee Gees. Tune in the following night to see Gibb perform, and find out who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who must go home on the live results show Wednesday, May 9 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

... check out David Mills's blog Undercover Black Man.

A little Dylan in consideration of last night's "Lost," after the jump ...

We've got podcast with me and Malcolm X Abram this week:

Listen - http://www.ohiomm.com/podcasts/american_idol/20070502.mp3

This arrived from Discovery today:

Discovery Channel’s epic series PLANET EARTH has gone down in the record books as cable’s highest-rated natural history program of all time, the most watched cable event* of all time, and the most watched cable event of the season (excluding sports, ranked on P18+, AA (000)). With over 65 million viewers (cume, all dayparts, 1-min. qualifier, including the two-hour “Filmmakers’ Story” special), PLANET EARTH averaged a 3.3 household rating, with each of the series’ 11 episodes premiering to a 3.0 household rating or above.

It's been too long without you ...

Overstatement? See after the jump ...

"High School Musical 2" airs on Aug. 17. Full announcement after the jump ...

Just sat through a decent "American Idol," so I'm wondering how much of a "Dancing" results show I can stand. My notes may be brief. ...

Jon Bon Jovi and other things, after the jump ...

The veteran funnyman is dead. (Find an obit here.) I lament because Poston could make me laugh so much, especially when working with Bob Newhart. Although he had a long tenure on "Newhart," when I think of Poston I mainly remember one of his guest-starring turns on "The Bob Newhart Show" where his love of silliness and his verve made a terrific contrast to Newhart's more deadpan style. Poston brought Newhart over to the silly side, too.

If only for last night's "Top 10 Signs Your Newspaper Is In Trouble"":