Robo-Post of the Day: Plead Thy Case

Well, to me, CW has no choice but to keep Veronica Mars....and it should. The show is fantastic, they secretly have one of the hottest, most talented actresses on the planet as their lead, and the show is highly critically acclaimed (something this network is desperate for). Put old episodes into syndication, and this show is likely to explode (kind of like Buffy did once episodes started airing on FX).

And I have to kill a show? If we're talking same network, it already was done...twice, with Gilmore Girls and 7th Heaven leaving (I'd also off One Tree Hill, just to be safe). On another network? I think we're all ready to say goodbye to ER, or Survivor.

Agreed - I want to see Veronica Mars back next season. I also want NBC NOT to cancel the Black Donnellys. My goodness. Actually, as long as the networks keep Bones, VM, TBD, Lost, Heroes, 24, Prison Break, The Office, Supernatural, and Ugly Betty, I will be totally happy. Let's get rid of The Apprentice. And I haven't watched ER in years, so that can be cut. . .

Veronica Mars was the best new show of the 2004 season and Friday Night Lights the best of the 2006 season. That neither of them have found a huge audience is no big shocker. Both of them can be quite intense. The best thing that could happen to FNL is a 13 eppy season on HBO. It is too good for network TV.

Personally, Sisters and Brothers is my pick to keep, because that's a fun show with some hilarious characters on it. And Heroes, so that when it goes to DVD I've got a nice long new series to watch all at once. Everything else I watch is already safely post-first season, so I'm less likely to be traumatized. (Although that's no guarantee, either--anyone remember The Sentinel? or Sports Night? [sigh])

I'm pretty sure that HIMYM and Scrubs are also in danger. Although Scrubs will (hopefully) end up on ABC if NBC doesn't chose it. It better, because I have high hopes for next year's final season.
I'm glad to hear that 30 Rock has already been renewed, even though it could have been considered a bubble show.
Oh, and I don't care about Studio 60. I don't hate that show, like some do, but it doesn't excite me, and I'm ok with it not being picked up again.

JERICHO! (It's gotten sooooo good lately!)

Kill anything with an SUV or CSI in the title.

Since James isn't here (and this place is a great source for Lost news), this is going out over the wires:

Lost to run three more seasons
ABC has ordered 48 more episodes of Lost, to run over three 16-episode seasons, with the series set to close in 2010. Executive producers/showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, who signed on to helm the final three seasons, have said in the past that they wanted the show to end after 100 episodes; the new deal ends the series after 120. The producers say they've already planned the end of the show's various storylines and praised ABC for giving them a concrete timeline to work with. ''What we didn't know was how long we had to play the story out,'' Cuse said. ''By defining the endpoint we can now really map out the rest of the series in confidence.'' This season's finale is set to air later this month, and ABC has hinted that the fourth season will not premiere until January or February 2008. (Hollywood Reporter)

I think this is a fantastic idea. 3 more seasons (actually more like 2 full seasons, since the seasons will be 16 episodes as opposed to a full 24) to wrap it all up without having to stretch out episodes too far.

If the past few weeks of Lost have taught us anything, it's that the show is still spectacular when it's answering some mysteries and advancing the characters...giving the show a firm end-date will ensure that Lost continues (and finishes) strongly. I'm very excited.

Friday Night Lights is a wonderful show and so on point for quality scripts and acting. It's a different story and one of the few Network shows I tivo if I can't watch it for some reason. The original Law and Order really lags behind the other two any more. It could go. ER is pretty old hat and dispensable. CSI NY and CSI Miami would not be missed by me.

Two shows that I don't miss are Lost and Friday Night Lights. Very different shows but underneath they are both about relationships. Would hate for FNL to be cancelled.

Jericho and Scrubs

The CSI series is a dud all around and needs to go, perhaps the single worst produced show that has never been believable. Veronica Mars is LONG past it's expiration date, and the Black Donnelly's was NBC's failed attempt to cash in on the Sopranos leaving the air. L&O is still a vibrant show that features some of the best acting I've ever seen. ER is another LONG past their 15 minutes of fame and flatlined years ago. The Amazing Race is a snore from start to finish, and you can clear up plenty of time for good shows by dumping assinine reality shows like anything with Paris Hilton, The Bachelor, Nanny 911 or anything even closely resembling these shows. House should be on a major network, Battlestar Galactica (stop snickering) is perhaps the best written show on TV, and Boston Legal should have 2 showings a week it's so good. Tell the American viewing deadheads...I mean viewers..to stop watching mindless tripe, their ratings will go south and we won't have to have these conversations.

ITA about The Black Donnellys. I just found out that there are new episodes showing online. I've really missed it on Mondays after it was replaced by a stupid sketch comedy show. And I also adore Brothers and Sisters. What could possibly be better than Sally Field, Balthazar Ghetty, and Calesta Flockhart all on the same show?! That's a great show! And as an orignal watcher of LOST, I'm thrilled to read that they will have another 3 seasons! I'm just hoping that the writters don't have too many "filler" episdodes in that time. I've also enjoyed October Road. It's nice to see something on TV besides "reality". Although I've never met anyone in my reality like the freaks they put on TV.

Save The Black Donnellys. What we DON'T need is another insipid game show. The Black Donnellys has excellent drama, some comedy and a compelling plot line.

NBC deserves its low ratings if it is going to replace quality with crap. Plus, any network that doesn't recognize Kate Mulgrew's track record for picking good stories is short-sighted.

Save the Black Donnellys!!! My god. Take away old shows like ER, which have well run their course, or new ones like Studio 60 that really just aren't that good. Give the Black Donnellys a real chance, it is probably the best new show (other than Heroes) that NBC has seen in a long time. I have no sympathy for NBC's stress over low ratings, because they are cancelling really good shows like TBD without giving them a chance. Give us back out good TV! And keep the Office too.

What happened to Men In Trees? Really started to like that show. Whoever handles scheduling at ABC must have ADD. They should give the shows a little bit more time before swapping in something else.

Love Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, Heroes, Lost, Grey's Anatomy. I also love Las Vegas! Hope that is coming back. Could do without ER, any Law & Order, any CSI...

Ed, I'm with you on the reality shows (terrible), Black Donnellys (really? There are people that enjoyed any of that), ER (hasn't been relevant since Julianna Margolis left), House (a reliably entertaining show), and Boston Legal (a show that does not get it's critical due).

But trashing CSI? I mean, the spinoffs may not be that great, but the original consistently brings it. And Veronica Mars is simply one of the 5 best written shows on non-pay television (with Lost, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, and Heroes/24 in a tie) with a fantastic cast and a female lead (Kristin Bell) who is arguably amongs the most talented actresses on television today.

And attacking those two to save Law and Order? A show that has lost its creative and intelligent verve and replaced it with derivative "ripped from the headlines" tripe? I mean, SVU is still very good, but the original and Criminal Minds have never looked more dated. With the surplus of episodes available in syndication, I'd be very comfortable losing some L&O time for some new blood (or Friday Night Lights, or Veronica Mars, or the triumphant return of Arrested Development...)

We all know Greys is already picked up for another season and I am glad, but I hope that it will be more fun again to watch next season. The NYT article was right the women are too whiny and dependend on men! We don´t need private practice though, it looked boring, no good chemistry between the otherwise great actors.

I'll miss the Black Donnelly's, but I can't say I enjoyed it so much as I was compelled to watch it. I'll definitely miss Studio 60, but they did fail to bring the funny, so I can't say I'm surprised. Heroes and Lost are required.

But if I am saving one show, make it The Dresden Files, on SciFi. They can dump the endless cheesy monster of the week movies. Or, move it to USA. Something.

People trashing ER are not watching it. It has been better than ever this year. Forest Whitacker (pls. forgive spelling!) should pick up an Emmy for his terrifying arc. I found Black Donnelly's disappointing. Wanted to love it. Brotherhood was much better. And love Brothers and Sisters (and The Unit).

Chaddogg, thx for jumping in with that Lost news. As I said to Keith in the post below, clearly the secret to a lively discussion here is for me to leave town more often. I hereby deputize you all honorary guest bloggers!

It seems like a good idea all around: ABC gets a few extra episodes, the Lost writers (and fans) get a set end date. I'm not so worried about their needing to pad the story out with a lot of filler: it's far better than an X-Files scenario where they have to pad incessantly, with no end in sight.

I'm hoping for Veronica Mars, but if I can save only one show this season, it has to be FNL.

I'll try to check in later in the week (and do a Lostwatch), but things are going well enough without me, maybe I shouldn't jinx it. [Tim Gunn voice:] Carry on!

Oh, and I'm also anxious for How I Met Your Mother, which is at the top of its form in its finale next week.

My first act as a deputized honorary guest blogger......ice cream for everybody.

James, my wife doesn't think that a family wedding gives you a justifiable exemption from your duties on SopranosWatch. She's usually right about these things.

James, I think we're all happy to jump in and do our part to fill in while you're out of town.

As for SopranosWatch - anyone want to post a recap? I personally thought it was another very strong episode (and certainly the best this year as far as the Tony-Dr. Melfi sessions, and Tony dealing with his "real" family). But I'm very worried about Christopher - this may not end well.

Also, what did everyone think about Tony playing informer on the "fundamentals" Muslim characters that used to hang out at the Bing? Is Tony thinking about going straight? Or just banking "goodwill" if he goes down soon?

Sorry Veronica, but unless you drop out of college, or go with the fast-forward-to-the-FBI approach, I'm ready to let go and have Friday Night Lights for another season. It's not necessarily Veronica Mars' fault for such a uneven season though, I don't think many shows can pull off college very well (heck, not even the glorious Buffy could stand it for more than a season) - except Felicity of course.

Meanwhile, Friday Night Lights has plenty of life left in it, along with heart, raw human emotion, and a universally excellent cast. I know that it will never be a true ratings hit, but could we at least have the benefit of two or more seasons worth of memories to gush over?