SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Even though we don’t get the season finale of “Lost” until tomorrow night, the TV season is pretty much over and out.

We know who gets off the island, and who doesn’t. Which sets up the final stretch of ABC’s “Lost” in the two-hour season finale on Thursday. The Oceanic Six, who get off the island, includes YUNJIN KIM, EVANGELINE LILLY, NAVEEN ANDREWS and baby Aaron. Also escaping are MATTHEW FOX, JORGE GARCIA (not show). Photo: ABC/MARIO PEREZ

It’s been a rocky one, with the WGA strike stalling new programs and perhaps allowing some on-the-bubble shows to survive. This fall seems like a rehash of last season, with most new fall shows getting a do-over.

Here’s a look at how the shows stacked up this season.

(000) RTG

—– —— —— ——

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 19 28800 10.1

2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 18 27810 9.7

3 DANCING W/THE STARS-MON 10 21670 7.6

4 DANCING WITH THE STARS 10 19630 6.9

5 DANCING W/STARS RESULT-TU 9 19560 6.8

6 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 9 18090 6.3

7 HOUSE 16 17640 6.2

8 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 18 17520 6.1

9 CSI 32 16620 5.8

10 GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM 22 15920 5.6

11 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL 13 15480 5.4

12 SURVIVOR: CHINA 11 15180 5.3

13 MOMENT OF TRUTH 9 14660 5.1

14 NCIS 32 14410 5.0

15 HOUSE-MON 9P 5 14380 5.0
Read the rest of this entry »

There’s nothing like a fresh batch of ratings to perk up the day. Here you go, get ’em while their hot.

And the No. 1…and 2…are:

Top 10. Pictured Clockwise from L: Ramiele Malubay, Jason Castro, Brooke White, Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook, Syesha Mercado, David Cook, David Archuleta (C) and Chickezie (bottom C). © Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Frank Micelotta/FOX

We understand “AI” taking the top two slots, but “Survivor” beating out “Lost”? Now that’s just insane.

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 29880 10.4
2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 27130 9.5
3 SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA 13220 4.6
4 LOST 12080 4.2
5 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. 12050 4.2
6 LAW AND ORDER 11850 4.1
7 DEAL OR NO DEAL-MON 11820 4.1
TWO AND A HALF MEN 11820 4.1
9 60 MINUTES 11300 3.9
10 CSI 11230 3.9
11 MOMENT OF TRUTH 10580 3.7
12 CSI: MIAMI 10240 3.6
13 DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED 10190 3.6
14 WITHOUT A TRACE 9780 3.4
15 OPRAH’S BIG GIVE 9740 3.4
16 OLD CHRISTINE 9620 3.4
17 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 9520 3.3
18 SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER 9420 3.3
19 MEDIUM 9340 3.3
20 NEW AMSTERDAM 8830 3.1
21 DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS 8740 3.1
22 NCIS 8510 3.0
23 APPRENTICE 7 8240 2.9
24 PRICE IS RIGHT PRIMETIME 8140 2.8
25 COLD CASE 8100 2.8
DATELINE SUN-7PM 8100 2.8
27 LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT 7900 2.8
28 LAW AND ORDER:SVU-SUN 7880 2.8
29 CANTERBURY’S LAW 7720 2.7
30 BIGGEST LOSER 5 7660 2.7
31 PRIMETIME:WHAT WOULD U DO 7600 2.7
32 BACHELOR: WHERE ARE THEY 7570 2.6
33 CRIMINAL MINDS 7440 2.6
34 OLD CHRISTINE 8:30PM SP 7380 2.6
35 AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS 7310 2.6
36 LAW AND ORDER-SUN 7100 2.5
37 COPS 2 6980 2.4
38 ELI STONE 6920 2.4
39 MY DAD IS BETR THN YR DAD 6810 2.4
40 FAMILY GUY 6760 2.4
41 HERE COME THE NEWLYWEDS 6750 2.4
42 SIMPSONS 6630 2.3
43 DATELINE FRI 6520 2.3
44 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 6500 2.3
45 AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK 6470 2.3
46 DEXTER 6460 2.3
47 NUMB3RS 6380 2.2
48 CSI: NY 6350 2.2
49 BIG BROTHER 9-SUN 6280 2.2
50 48 HOURS MYSTERY 6260 2.2
51 LAW AND ORDER-SAT 6240 2.2
52 WIFE SWAP 6180 2.2
53 GHOST WHISPERER 6120 2.1
54 KING OF THE HILL 6030 2.1
55 SUPERNANNY 5940 2.1
56 BIG BROTHER 9-TUE 5870 2.1
57 COPS 5850 2.0
58 JERICHO 5840 2.0
59 MEN IN TREES 5670 2.0
60 HOUSE-FRI 9P 5610 2.0
61 20/20-FRI 5530 1.9
62 LIPSTICK JUNGLE 5370 1.9
63 LOST-THU 8PM 5330 1.9
64 BIG BROTHER 9-WED 5310 1.9
65 LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT 5030 1.8
66 ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 9PM 4960 1.7
67 ACCORDING TO JIM SP-3/11 4890 1.7
CRIMETIME SATURDAY 4890 1.7
69 OCTOBER ROAD 4680 1.6
70 20/20-9PM 4640 1.6
71 JUST FOR LAUGHS 4540 1.6
72 MY NAME IS EARL 3/13 4520 1.6
73 JUST FOR LAUGHS-TU 8PM 4470 1.6
74 LAW & ORDER:CI-SAT 4440 1.5
75 UNHITCHED 4430 1.5
76 AMNESIA 4420 1.5
77 FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN 4290 1.5
78 MY NAME IS EARL 4140 1.4
79 SMALLVILLE 3800 1.3
80 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-4 3650 1.3
81 GREY’S ANATOMY-FRI 8PM 3610 1.3
82 AMERICAN DAD-SUN 7:30P 3590 1.3
83 CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8PM 3570 1.2
84 KING OF THE HILL-SUN 7P 3290 1.2
85 RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES 3180 1.1
86 RETURN OF JEZ SP-3/14 8P 3130 1.1
87 HERE COME NEWLYWEDS SP 1 2670 .9
88 REAPER-THU 2520 .9
89 ONE TREE HILL 2500 .9
90 BACHELOR:WHERE ARE THEY-2 2410 .8
91 HERE COME NEWLYWEDS SP 2 2380 .8
92 BEAUTY AND THE GEEK-3 1920 .7
93 PUSSYCAT DOLLS:GIRLICIOUS 1670 .6
94 PUSSYCAT DOLLS:GIRL-ENC 1580 .6
95 EV HATES CHRIS-SUN2 1180 .4
GOSSIP GIRL-MON 1180 .4
97 AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-4-ENC 1130 .4
98 GAME, THE-SUN 930 .3
99 ALIENS IN AMERICA-SUN 910 .3
100 GIRLFRIENDS-SUN 870 .3

It’s not just because of the herniated disc in my neck that I look to Will Smith to write this week’s recap. It’s also because he’s been a devoted fan of the show and one of my first Unscripted commenters.

So take it away, Will:

Well it’s good to see you have come to recognize my immense talents….

5th Ghostbuster Found!

KEN LEUNG as the explosive Miles Straume, EVANGELINE LILLY, NAVEEN ANDREWS

This week’s episode of Lost revealed that Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson originally had a partner named Miles Straume. With the group split in to the “Jack’s” and the “Locke’s” we start by meeting Daniel Farady who is a bit jumpy for me and you can’t trust anyone who parachutes onto the island now can you?

Answer: no, no you can’t. As we were teased at the end of last week, they are here but they are not here to help our lovable band of island misfits. Getting back to flash back mode and away from the flash forward mode we meet the members of the “rescue team” who have been on the other end of the satellite phone.

We have the 5th Ghostbuster Miles, who is shown at some old lady’s house charging her $200 to vanquish the soul/ghost of her grandson. Instead Miles communicates with him to find a stash of cash in the wall.

Then there is the wily, unshaven and clearly Jimmy Buffet-esque pilot named Frank Lapidus. He is watching an old television that is showing some murky underwater wreckage of…drum roll please…OCEANIC FLIGHT 815!!!! Oh wait, the dead pilot still strapped in isn’t wearing his wedding band, that can’t be him, what craziness is this going on here??

NAVEEN ANDREWS (Sayid), REBECCA MADER (Charlotte), JEFF FAHEY as scruffy pilot Frank

Then fade to Tunisia where tough nosed Indiana Jane, err I mean Charlotte Lewis is paying off some Arabian archaeologist on site where she charges over to the bones of an ancient…ok well it’s a polar bear. With a handy collar that identifies it as a Dharma bear. She gets the creepy smile and wide eyed look that can really only work on TV or maybe a movie like Raptor Island (watch this movie, you won’t be sorry…for long).

Lastly we get a little flash that shows the all business black guy from Hurley’s flash forward asylum shot and he is talking to the bodyguard military trained and yet only dead member of the team, Naomi. So there we have it, Daniel, Charlotte, Miles, Frank and Naomi have left the freighter but what are they after if not rescue?

Meanwhile Locke et al are trapsing through the jungle and just when we think Locke is gifted he gets duped by Ben yet again.

See a theme here?? Sawyer/James has about had it and wants to beat Ben up some more. This reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer goes into boxing and wins all his bouts by letting the other guy exhaust himself hitting Homer’s stomach. Ben can take more abuse than any other human…must be a cage fighter.

They stumble on to Charlotte who tells them to hang tight, Locke says no way. They head off to find Jacob’s cabin, Ben is angered by this but just shoots his rat eyes around at anyone and everyone. You just know something bad is going to happen with Ben.

Jack and Kate go with Daniel using the sat phone to track down Miles. We see him on a rock by the ocean and he looks unconscious, except the first shot of him shows his hand behind his back and I immediately think to myself, he is going to jump them…he does. He demands to be taken to Naomi’s body so he can talk to her spirit to find out how she died.

She said to tell Miles “tell my sister I love her” That dirty dog; that’s the code for being captured and having a gun trained on her! So he knows something went wrong. They find Naomi’s body, her spirit tells Miles that Locke stuck her in the back with a knife confirming what Jack and Kate said so they decide to track down Frank using the sat phone.

Jack says not so fast my friend. Then pulling a move straight from the season two playbook he tells Miles that he has guns pointed at him and Miles and Daniel need to drop their guns. Turns out it’s true. Sayid and Juliet to the rescue! Finally Jack and Kate don’t get their butts kicked, wow.

We find Frank clamoring up a steep incline to come face to face with a bull. What’s the significance? None other than to say when the bull turns to walk away there is NO question it is a bull! Turns out he landed the helicopter while everyone else bailed out; atta boy! Juliet tends to him and they pick up Charlotte’s GPS signal on the sat phone.

NAVEEN ANDREWS, KEN LEUNG, MATTHEW FOX, JEREMY DAVIES, MARSHA THOMASON, EVANGELINE LILLY get back to the helicopter on “Lost: Confirmed Dead.”

Also Miles calls the frieghter but whoever he wants to talk to isn’t talking back, he’s busy so Miles will have to call back later. Jack tells him it’s about time to tell everyone why they are really here.

Back at the Locke’s, Ben has snuck the gun away from Carl.

Remember him? He was getting the Clockwork Orange treatment on the “other” island and Kate and Sawyer set him free. Kid’s lost his mind and is a bit skittish. We knew something bad was going to happen and just as Frank shoots his flare, Ben shoots Charlotte!

Like OMG can you believe it?? Well lucky for us, the storyline (the writers God bless ’em) and everyone on the island Charlotte had a bullet proof vest on. Sawyer decides Ben has to go and I mean go like kill him off.

Locke says he stands corrected and Sawyer was right but that he will kill Ben. He then asks Ben what the monster (black smoke) is but Ben won’t give up the goods saying “I don’t know”.

Ben (Michael Emerson) takes yet another lickin’ and keeps on tickin’

Locke is about to shoot him when Ben says he knows everything about Charlotte, Miles, Daniel and Frank. Turns out Ben has a guy on the frieghter! My guess is either Desmond (we see him in the preview for next week) or Patchy the Russian mad bomber. Then the climax comes…

WHY ARE THEY HERE!!! Oh turns out they are there for one reason: Ben.

Stay tuned as we still have six more episodes of fresh material before the Soprano’s like hiatus starts. With news of the WGA strike ending very soon we might even get the other 8 episodes in time for May. Based on the first two episodes it is definitely worth the wait!

Will

Thanks Will. And if you want an interesting recap of the Freighter People, including how the character names link back to certain historic figures, check out this blog by Remote Access.

Of course, we all knew that the Super Bowl would trounce the competition, but who knew that the schlocky reality show “Moment of Truth” would edge out the return of “Lost” ?

Mark Walberg hosts “Moment of Truth,” the game show that uses a lie-detector test to determine whether or not contestants are willing to tell the truth for a chance to win half a million dollars

Here’s the rundown of prime time Nielsen ratings for the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3

1 FOX SUPER BOWL XLII 34.0
2 FOX SUPER BOWL POST GAME 22.3
3 HOUSE SP-2/3 10.1
4 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 9.9
5 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 8.9
6 HOUSE 7.9
7 MOMENT OF TRUTH 6.2
8 LOST 5.6
9 LOST-Recap 4.6
10 NCIS 4.1
11 CSI 4.1
12 ELI STONE 3.9
13 LAW AND ORDER 3.9
14 SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER 3.7
15 WITHOUT A TRACE 3.6
16 DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS 3.5
17 DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED 3.4
18 TWO AND A HALF MEN 830- 3.4
19 DANCE WAR:BRUNO/CARRIEANN 3.3
20 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 3.2
21 LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT 3.1
22 CRIMINAL MINDS 3.1
23 CSI: NY THURSDAY SPCL 3.0
24 AMERICAN GLADIATORS 3.0
25 LOST SP-1/30 3.0
26 BIGGEST LOSER 5 2.9
27 HOUSE-FRI 9P 2.8
28 1 VS 100 2.7
48 HOURS MYSTERY TUESDAY 2.7
30 APPRENTICE 7 2.7
31 HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 2.6
32 GHOST WHISPERER 2.6
CSI: NY 2.5
34 CBS EVENING NEWS 2.5
35 NUMB3RS 2.5
36 LAS VEGAS 2.4
37 UNIT, THE 2.4
38 COPS 2 2.4
39 20/20-FRI 2.4
40 LAW AND ORDER-SAT 2.3
41 AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK 2.2
42 COLD CASE 10PM SPECIAL 2.1
43 TERMINATOR:SCC SP-1/28 8P 2.1
44 COPS 2.1
45 WIFE SWAP 2.0
46 MOONLIGHT 2.0
47 ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 9PM 2.0
48 FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS 2.0
49 ABC SAT MOVIE OF THE WEEK 2.0
50 LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT 1.9
51 BONES-FRI 8P 1.9
52 MY NAME IS EARL 1.8
53 BOSTON LEGAL 1.8
54 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT-SP 1.8
55 60 MINUTES – 8PM SPECIAL 1.8
56 JUST FOR LAUGHS-TU 8PM 1.8
57 OLD CHRISTINE-WED SPECIAL 1.7
58 OLD CHRISTINE-WED SPCL 1.7
59 JUST FOR LAUGHS 1.6
48 HOURS MYSTERY 9PM 1.6
61 FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN 1.6
62 OFFICE 1.6
63 AMER FUNN HM VIDEOS-2/3 1.5
64 CRIMETIME SATURDAY 8PM 1.4
65 SHARK – 9PM SPECIAL 1.4
66 ABC SUN MOVIE OF WK-2/3 1.4
67 GREY’S ANATOMY-FRI 8PM 1.4
68 CARPOOLERS 1.3
69 SMALLVILLE 1.3
70 SAMANTHA WHO SP-1/28 1.3
71 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES-FRI 1.3
72 OFFICE 1/28 1.3
73 AMERICAN GLADIATORS 2/2 1.2
74 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED- 1.2
75 CBS REPORTS:FATHER,SON&BR 1.1
76 BIGGEST LOSER 5 9P 2/3 1.0
77 SUPERNATURAL 1.0
78 ONE TREE HILL 1.0
79 BIGGEST LOSER 5 7P 2/3 .7
80 GOSSIP GIRL-MON .6
81 ALIENS IN AMERICA-1/28 .6
82 REAPER-TUE .5
83 CROWNED .5
84 ONE TREE HILL-WED .3
85 LIFE IS WILD .3
86 CROWNED-ENC .3
87 ALIENS IN AMERICA-SUN .2
88 CW NOW .1

This week on “Lost,” Locke’s hostage (Ken Leung) may be the key to getting off the island, so Sayid (Naveen Andrews) and Kate (Evangeline Lilly) go in search of their fellow castaway in an attempt to negotiate a peaceful deal.

I couldn’t wait to watch the first episode of “Lost” – and when you are a TV critic, that means you get the DVD screener before it airs.

Now, ABC offers critics an even faster way to see the show, via the not-for-public-viewing Web site. And I can tell you, this first episode doesn’t disappoint. It’s non-stop action from start to finish, leaving you aching for more.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen our “Lost” pals, and ABC has whipped up a great 8 minute and 15 second recap.

We should have gotten a full ride of all 16 episodes, but darn that strike (yes, we are still behind you), we’ll only be getting eight episodes and perhaps not getting the next ones until almost summer time if then.

“Lost” is a series that ends after 48 episodes. Fans expected 16 episodes a year until 2010, when the series would finish. If the strike ends by mid-February, there’s still a chance that “Lost” could produce the other eight episodes in time to finish airing in May.

After watching “The Beginning of the End,” I’m back on board the “Lost” train. The producers now have an end game and the energy level is back with the actors and the writing.

There’s a list of things ABC doesn’t want us to reveal to viewers, so I’ll just say that we get to jump into the future where some of the castaways have left the island – and are conflicted about it. And we see some of the things that happened on the island.

Oh, and one person comes back from the dead.

We can also tell you that Locke wants the survivors to stay on the island after Charlie’s last message saying that they aren’t from Penny’s boat, while Jack says it’s time to get off the island.

Who will stay and who will go?

m>In the season premiere episode, “The Beginning of the End,” feeling that their rescue is close at hand, the survivors don’t know whether to believe Charlie’s final message that the people claiming to liberate them are not who they seem to be. (ABC/MARIO PEREZ) EMILIE de RAVIN

Damon Lindelof always said that “Lost” was about redemption. Perhaps some left the islad a bit too early to be redeemed.

Come back here after the show airs on Thursday and, as Heidi Klum says, we’ll have a little chat.

Those wacky “Lost” publicists are back at it again, sending out press releases for phony companies associated with the ABC series.

On Friday, they sent out a press release saying today Oceanic Airlines is back in business. If only the TV networks were back in business and the Writers strike was over. But that’s just my own personal New Year’s wish.

Instead we get funky press releases like this one:

December 28, 2007

OCEANIC AIRLINES ANNOUNCES ITS RETURN TO THE AIRWAYS
“TAKING YOU PLACES YOU NEVER IMAGINED”

Flights Begin December 31 To Nine Markets

Oceanic Airlines announced today their return to the airways. Beginning December 31, operations and flights to nine markets will resume, “Taking You Places You Never Imagined.” Destinations include:

Los Angeles, CA
Tustin, CA
Ames, IA
Miami, FL
New York, NY
Portland, OR
Knoxville, TN
Seoul, South Korea
Sydney, Australia

“We are very eager to resume flying and apologize for any inconvenience our temporary closure may have caused our loyal customers,” said Michael Orteig, President, Oceanic Airlines. “Oceanic Airlines is proud to be a top tier flight provider and looks forward to providing travelers with many more years of unparalleled service.”

About Oceanic Airlines
In business for over 25 years, Oceanic Airlines is a major airline carrier and offers the highest caliber of service for international and domestic flights. Destinations include Los Angeles, London, Sydney and South Korea.

###

Oceanic Airlines Contact:
Georgia Cavanagh (818) 460-5520

If you call, Georgia tells you to leave a message. Let me know if they get back to you. Also, you get an address to go to the Oceanic Airlines site There’s not much there, but then that would also be the same for the series.

Viewers were promised 16 episodes this season, with no interruption. Only eight were completed with a quasi-cliff hanger at the end that insiders say will make viewers more angry than enticed. Because of the strike, there simply aren’t any more episodes shot.

Ben, don’t make Danielle mad. You know you don’t like it when Danielle gets angry…(ABC/MARIO PEREZ) MICHAEL EMERSON, MIRA FURLAN in the Jan. 31 season premiere of “Lost”.

But you can spend the better part of the day getting caught up with previews, recaps, webisodes and even full episodes on the official “Lost” Web site. The hilarious video recap is worth the trip to the site.

The show swaps to Thursday nights beginning Jan. 31 with an episode titled “Beginning of the End.”

On the season premiere of “Lost” at 9 p.m. Jan. 31 on ABC, everyone looks happy except Claire (Emilie de Ravin). (ABC/MARIO PEREZ)

The producers said they didn’t want to do it. But ABC has opted to plunge ahead and show the first eight episodes completed of “Lost” beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday on Jan. 31. The deal was “Lost” would run for 16 episodes straight, but only eight were produced before the writers strike.

“It will feel a little like reading half a Harry Potter novel, then having to put it down,” executive producer Carlton Cuse told TV Guide. “There is a mini-cliff-hanger at the end of Episode 8, but it’s like the end of an exciting book chapter, it’s not the end of the novel.”

Fans of “Lost” eagerly await the new season after an ending that showed Jack and Kate back at home without the rest of the “Lost” band.

FRANCES O`CONNOR, JULIAN OVENDEN, LUCY LIU, BONNIE SOMERVILLE, MIRANDA OTTO, PETER HERMANN
“Cashmere Mafia’’ stars Lucy Liu, Frances O’Connor, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville as four gal pals fighting the glass ceiling in the Big City. The series comes from “Sex and the City’’ producer Darren Star.

At least two new scripted series, the disappointing “Cashmere Mafia” which tries too hard to be “Sex & the City” and the promising “Eli Stone” have also been added to the winter line-up. Trying to plump out the bill are two reality programs: “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” and “Oprah’s Big Give.”

“Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” premieres with a special two-hour episode on Monday, January 7, followed by 90-minute episodes through January. “Notes from the Underbelly” and “October Road” will continue to air at 9:30 and 10:00 p.m., respectively. “Samantha Who?” will return with original episodes in February at 9:00 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Bachelor” start new seasons on Monday, March 17.

“Just for Laughs” returns Tuesday, January 1, at 8:30 p.m., following the Rose Bowl, and will air back-to-back episodes Tuesday nights (8:00 and 8:30 p.m.), beginning January 8. “According to Jim” will also return January 1, with two episodes at 9:00 and 9:30 p.m. The series will regularly air at 9:00 p.m., followed by “Carpoolers” (9:30 p.m.) as of January 8. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show” will return at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. “Boston Legal” will continue airing Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m.

“Wife Swap” will premiere at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, and “Supernanny” returns with special back-to-back episodes at 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. that same night. The new drama series “Cashmere Mafia” premieres in its regular timeslot at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, following a special premiere on Thursday, January 3. Beginning February 27, “MEN IN TREES” will air Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m.

On Thursday nights in January, “Ugly Betty” will continue to air at 8:00 p.m., followed by “Grey’s Anatomy” at 9:00 p.m. and “Big Shots” at 10:00 p.m. “Lost” will premiere on January 31 at 9:00 p.m., followed by the premiere of “Eli Stone” at 10:00 p.m.

On Sunday nights, “Oprah’s Big Give” will premiere on Sunday, March 2 at 9:00 p.m.

ABC’s midseason primetime schedule is as follows:

MONDAY (JAN)

8 p.m. “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann”
9:30 p.m. “Notes from the Underbelly”
10 p.m. “October Road”

MONDAY (FEB)

8 p.m. “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann”
9 p.m. “Samantha Who?”
9:30 p.m. “Notes from the Underbelly”
10 p.m. “October Road”

MONDAY (MAR)

8 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars”
9:30 p.m. “Samantha Who?”
10 p.m. “The Bachelor”

TUESDAY
8 p.m. “Just for Laughs”
8 p.m. “Just for Laughs”
9 p.m. “According to Jim”
9 p.m. “Carpoolers”
10 p.m. “Boston Legal”

TUESDAY (MAR)
8 p.m. “Just for Laughs”
8 p.m. “Just for Laughs”
9 p.m. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show”
10 p.m. “Boston Legal”

WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. “Wife Swap”
9 p.m. “Supernanny”
10 p.m. “Cashmere Mafia” (“MEN IN TREES” beginning Feb 27)

THURSDAY (JAN)
8 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9 p.m. “Grey’s Anatomy”
10 p.m. “Big Shots” (after special premiere of “Cashmere Mafia” on Jan 3)

THURSDAY (FEB)
8 p.m. “Ugly Betty”
9 p.m. “Lost”
10 p.m. “Eli Stone”

FRIDAY
8 p.m. Drama encores
9 p.m. Drama encores
10 p.m. “20/20”

SUNDAY (MAR)
7 p.m. “America’s Funniest Home Videos”
8 p.m. “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
9 p.m. “Oprah’s Big Give”
10 p.m. “Desperate Housewives”

Honest, it was just a question about “Lost” and suddenly, the wrath of ABC entertainment president Stephen McPherson and “Lost” creator Damon Lindelof is upon me.

All the online people were all twittering about some big announcements that were going to be made at Comic Con on Thursday during the “Lost” session.

STEPHEN MCPHERSON, trying to act like he wanted to be at press tour

Since I was committed to sticking it out for the final days of press tour with ABC bringing up the tail end, it seemed only natural that Steve should share what was going to be announced. Otherwise, why were we even hanging out here?

So it went like this:

Me, all being polite and stuff: “Mr. McPherson, on your left. Can I go back to
a “Lost” question? There’s been talk that there are major announcements that they are going to be announcing at Comic-Con tomorrow. Would you like to tell us today
what that might be? ”

STEPHEN McPHERSON, getting snarky right off the bat: “Yeah. Let me give those
announcements now. Of course I don’t. ”

Me trying to sweet talk him: “Oh, come on.”

STEPHEN McPHERSON, just tweaking me now: “They do have some announcements that they are going to be making that I think everyone will be pretty excited about.”

Me, again playing fair: “Well, can you tell us?”

STEPHEN McPHERSON, getting defensive: “No.”

Me, starting to get snippy: “Do you want us to go to Comic-Con tomorrow instead of the sessions? ”

STEPHEN McPHERSON, getting real sarcastic: “Let’s go now. Do you want to go? ”

Me, who didn’t get a budget for a rental car: “Sure.”

STEPHEN McPHERSON, really getting testy now: “You and me, we’ll just go on a little
road trip down to Comic-Con.”

Me, who is hoping we might bond and stop by In and Out Burger on the way down: “Okay.”

Later, other reporters at the press conference jumped into the fray.

Rick Kushman of the Sacramento Bee told Steve Mc. “I don’t think my editor is going to be very happy when she reads on a blog later this afternoon that Steve McPherson promised that the biggest news regarding one of the highest-rated shows in the network would be coming at a fan convention the next day.”

Later, a publicist skittered across the stage and whispered to McPherson that Lindelof had given his permission to give out the biggest news: Harold Perrineau is returning to the show.

Now, really Steve, was it all that hard?

To add to the problem, it has been reported that Damon was upset that we found out before the fans. But, really, it was less than 24 hours before he made the announcement, so the fans at the convention thought they were getting it first and the newspapers thought they were getting it first.

It was a win-win, right Damon?
Damon?

“Lost” producer Damon Lindelof will be making a major announcement at ComicCon tomorrow in San Diego.

At the end of last season’s “Lost,” we discovered that everything we’ve been watching up until this point was all in the past.

We were tipped to this early when we saw an episode with Jack watching the 2004 World Series game won by the Boston Red Sox that Ben, the leader of the Others, showed him during his during his confinement.

While we’d love to know if this season will be told in flashback or flash forward, ABC says the announcement is that Harold Perrineau, who played dad Michael Dawson, will be returning this season which starts in early 2008.

UPDATE: At ComicCon, Harold told fans that he thinks he’s the one in the coffin shown in the season ender.

Could it be? How could it happen?

All we know is that John Locke was last seen gasping for air after Ben shot him dead in the chest and sent him tumbling into a mass grave for all those dead Dharma guys.

Oh, and we also know through Eonline gossip goddess Kristin Veitch that Terry O’Quinn, who plays Locke, recently sold his home in Hawaii…not good.

We did learn a lot about Ben. Mom Emily (which was also Locke’s mom’s name) died in childbirth outside Portland. Dad Roger holds it against Ben. Dad’s also the guy who became dead Roger Work Man in the VW van that Hurley found a few episodes back.

After years of dad ignoring Ben’s birthday, on this particular birthday Dad decides it’s time to take the boy out for a beer in the jungle. Too late, daddy dearest. Ben kills daddy.

These father issues just don’t quit on this show.

And we finally got a glimpse of the mysterious Jacob, who is apparently one of the “whisperers” on the island. He whispers to Locke “Help Me” when Ben brings Locke to the old cabin where the mostly invisible Jacob lives.

Locke better hope Jacob can help him out. Otherwise it’s hasta la Locke.

And we’ve also seen that Ricard hasn’t aged at all in the decades he has known Ben.

Who are these “Others” anyway? We know they whacked the Dharma people, with the help of Ben. We know they steal women and children. And we know that they can’t reproduce.

And if you really want to get your head spinning, check out Jacob.

And why did Ben kill all the Dharma people, including, it would seem, his sweet little girlfriend. Or maybe she was one of the children carried off by “The Others.”

We don’t know much, but we know there’s going to be a big showdown soon. It’s going to set up quite a new season. Next week, we get a catch-up special where the “Lost” producers get us up to speed on anything we might have missed. Then just two more episodes before the mind-blasting finale.

Now talk amongst yourselves about the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland references.