SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Well, you knew it had to happen. First Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien announce they’re coming back Jan. 2 whether or not the WGA strike is over, and now Jimmy Kimmel has followed suit.

Jimmy Kimmel with Nicole Richie on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

New episodes of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” pick up at 12:05 a.m. on Jan. 2, but not without Kimmel issuing an under-pressure press release:

“Though it makes me sick to do so without my writers, there are more than a hundred people whose financial well-being depends on our show. It is time to go back to work. I support my colleagues and friends in the WGA completely and hope this ends both fairly and soon.”

Kimmel has, without fanfare, been paying staffers out of his own pocket during the strike to cushion the blow. Even though Leno, O’Brien and Kimmel have given in to the networks about coming back – and we do think they have an honest concern about the financial well-being of the staffers – when the strong lines start breaking down, it could result in a much longer strike.

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”

Our own sweet Sheena has made it into the final four.

Which means next week we get a chance to see how bachelor Brad fared in Walnut Creek with Sheena’s parents. From the previews, it looks like Sheena’s mom is quite a beauty, and a bit more outspoken than her kinda shy daughter.

JENNI, DeANNA, BETTINA, SHEENA , the Final Four

We honestly think it’s between DeAnna and Sheena for the final rose, with Bettina the b-dog getting unmasked by Brad next week. We could have told you about the B weeks ago, Brad. Jenni’s sweet, but we don’t see any sparks flying.

But first, we must talk Hillary and her monumental breakdown at the end of tonight’s show. Didn’t she catch a single vibe Brad was giving out during the four-girl pool party? He obviously looked at her like she was just a pal, and she read all the wrong signals.

Call the wahmbulance. Come on, girl. You’re a nurse. Get it together. Show of hands of anyone who would want her by your bedside after this little meltdown.

HILLARY and BRAD (Photo Craig Sjodin/ABC)

But back to our Sheena. The previews to this episode just loved showing her doing the banana peel slide down the stairs, but actually it wasn’t that bad. She did look fabulous in her diamond earrings Brad gave her. We got all Pretty Woman with that scene. Then when they danced outside with the orchestra playing, I mean gosh golly gee whiz, it doesn’t get any more romantic than that, does it?

I just wish he would stop saying how much his twin brother was smitten with Sheena. It’s almost like he’s trying to talk himself into liking her.

Hey, maybe if things don’t work out with Brad, Sheena can test drive the other twin.

Whatever happened to that sweet, trailer-park baby momma who took her modeling bucks and turned it into a medical degree?

Yeah, we’re talking about you, Izzie. When “Grey’s Anatomy” started out, Izzie was a good-natured girl unbowed by the blows she’d taken in her short life. We learned how she went from unwed mom to a pin-up girl to a dedicated intern.

We loved Izzie.

Does anyone remember when she couldn’t believe that someone could actually fall in love with goofy old George? Who could forget that line, when she realized how much Callie loved George, and she said, basically, “Oh my god. He’s her McDreamy!”

Seriously. I mean, seriously. How could Izzie then turn around a couple of years later and do the deed with George. George, who married his adoring Callie. What a weasel he’s turned out to be.

KATHERINE HEIGL, T.R. KNIGHT. Yeah, Gizzie. Feel the pain.

There are people out there who think that Gizzie is great. We disagree. Izzie never thought of George as anything more than her stuffed puppy pal until it looked like he might actually be hooked up with a woman who loved him.

And I guess that’s the real story on “Grey’s.” Love stinks.

Tonight, Richard’s wife turned on him because he thought of the care and comfort of his dying niece first above the selfish wishes of his estranged wife.

(And speaking of niece Camille, did anyone notice that she’s now being played by Camille Winbush formerly of “The Bernie Mac Show”? Tessa Thompson (“Veronica Mars”), who wasn’t available for the episode, originated the role.)

CAMILLE WINBUSH, JAMES PICKENS, JR., LORETTA DEVINE

And a man makes his girlfriend lose a dangerous amount of weight before he’ll move in with her.

And Karev’s crushed that Izzie decided to sleep with George after she told him she needed some time to get over Denny. A little time and a heapin’ helpin’ of George.

And finally McDreamy pours out his heart to Meredith, only to have her physically recoil. No wonder he might have some feelings for her sister Lexie, who doesn’t seem to suffer from too-close-itish.

Obviously, we’re back on the “Grey” train and just can’t stop thinking about those complex docs.

Walnut Creek’s Sheena got another rose tonight, and things look rosy indeed for our local girl.

SHEENA gets a rose from BRAD

In a touching moment with bachelor Brad Womack, he said that she was “straightforward with her emotions tonight, and I like to see that.” He also mentioned how his twin brother, who tried the old switcheroo with the girls in an earlier episode, “opened his eyes” to what Sheena was all about.

Sheena was one of the bachelorettes who wasn’t fooled by the twin.

The herd is getting thinned pretty quickly now. Brad pared down the group from nine to six women tonight.

The final six are JENNI, KRISTY, BETTINA, BRAD WOMACK, HILLARY, SHEENA, DeANNA Photo by Karen Neal/ABC

Next week’s previews look pretty provocative. We see Sheena looking fabulous as she walks down the stairs for her one-on-one date with Brad. As the narrator says it is the most romantic date ever, we see poor Sheena slip on the stairs.

But the big fall next week seems to be Hillary. The previews mention a “dramatic departure.” Hopefully that means our Sheena is safe.

SHEENA may slip next week, but it’s HILLARY who takes the big fall

Wayne Newton? Really. That’s what you could come up with as a stellar draw to the new season of “Dancing with the Stars”’?

The new crop of stars, which includes Marie Osmond, Jane Seymour, Mark Cuban and Helio Castroneves sounds closer to “Whatever Happened To” and “Who the heck is that?”

Still, it’s nice to see that Scary Spice can still kick up her heels.

In a “Dancing” first, there will be 12, count ’em, 12 celebrities attempting to tango their way into your hearts when the hit series returns at 8 p.m. Sept. 24 on ABC.

Here’s a rundown of the celebs ready to put on their dancing shoes:

MELANIE BROWN
“Mel B.,” a.k.a. “Scary Spice,” is best known as a member of the Spice Girls, which begins a world tour this December. Brown is also Eddie Murphy’s baby mama.
She is partnered with MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, who returns for his fourth season.

SABRINA BRYAN
You know her as one of “The Cheetah Girls.”
Sabrina is partnered with newcomer MARK BALLAS.

HELIO CASTRONEVES
The two-time Indianapolis 500 champion began the celebratory tradition of climbing the racetrack fence in 2001, racing for Team Penske. The Brazilian native should be able to dance. Castroneves teams with reigning champ JULIANNE HOUGH, who returns for her sophomore season.

MARK CUBAN
Shameless hype man Cuban owns the Dallas Mavericks NBA basketball team. He also founded HDNet, Broadcast.com and MicroSolutions. Cuban has a good sense of humor, so he should be fun.
He is partnered with KYM JOHNSON, who returns for her third season.

JENNIE GARTH
We first saw her on “Beverly Hills: 90210,” then she starred in the little seen WB sitcom “What I Like About You” for four seasons. She’s kept busying starring in several made-for-TV movies.
Garth’s partner is newcomer DEREK HOUGH, brother of Season Four winner Julianne Hough.

JOSIE MARAN
You probably know model/actress Josie Maran from her Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue or maybe you became a fan after she appeared in “The Aviator” or “Van Helsing.” She’s now hawking her eco-chic cosmetic line, Josie Maran Cosmetics.
Maran is paired with Season One winner ALEC MAZO, who makes his third appearance.

CAMERON MATHISON
Mathison joined the cast of “All My Children” in January 1989 as Ryan Lavery.
Mathison’s partner is EDYTA SLIWINSKA, the only professional dancer to appear in all five seasons.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather is a six-time world champion in five different weight classes and the current RING and World Boxing Council Welterweight Champion of the World.
He teams with KARINA SMIRNOFF, who returns for her third season.

WAYNE NEWTON
Mr. Las Vegas himself.
He is partnered with two-time champ CHERYL BURKE.

MARIE OSMOND
Our little Marie has grown up before our eyes.
Osmond will be led by JONATHAN ROBERTS, who returns for his fourth season.

ALBERT REED
Abercrombie & Fitch, Diesel Clothing, Arrow Clothing, Rayban and Reebok…need we say more about this model boy?
He teams up with ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, who returns for her second season.

JANE SEYMOUR
Actress/artist/author/activist/designer and Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning British born Bond girl who became America’s sweetheart on “Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman.”
Seymour is paired with TONY DOVOLANI, who returns for his fourth season.

The competition begins with a three-night event on Sept. 24 with the six women performing either the Foxtrot or the Cha Cha Cha. The men will then showcase their routines on Sept. 25, performing the same dances as the women.

The team with the lowest combined judges’ scores and public votes from Monday and Tuesday night will be eliminated from the competition on the first results show on Sept. 26.

Dolly Parton hits the stage on Sept. 26, performing “Better Get to Livin’” from her latest album, “Backwoods Barbie,” and the classic hit, “9 to 5,” accompanied by the professional dancers.

Other singers set to perform on the show are Avril Lavigne and Gloria Estefan.

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?

Just about a week after Berkeley’s Rebecca Romijn (“Ugly Betty’’) and Jerry O’Connell (“Carpoolers’’), the two were chatting with critics about their respective TV series.

“Carpoolers’’ is on the ABC fall schedule.

THE HAPPY COUPLE

“I love the Bay Area. I’m addicted to Zach’s pizza, I only drink Peet’s coffee in the morning, and I’m now officially a member of the Raider Nation,’’ says Jerry, still giddy about his recent nuptials. “My in-laws live in the Bay Area, so we go up there a lot. We just visited my sister-in-law, who lives in Richmond. And I’m still trying to eat at Chez Panisse, which they said was booked until October when I called for a reservation. I drive a Prius and get angry if people don’t recycle. The little lady has got me living the Bay Area lifestyle.’’

Later, when asked to confirm his conversion to Green, the impossibly beautiful Rebecca laughed.

“Yeah, he’s driving MY Prius,’’ Romijn says. “Hey, at least he’s driving a Prius. My mom bought us a purified water system for our wedding president and Jerry decided to put solar panels in. I didn’t turn Jerry Green, but I think I might have started the fire under his butt. ’’

Rebecca says they haven’t stopped enjoying their life since they’ve been together.

“We took our honeymoon in June before the wedding and I highly recommend it,’’ says Rebecca. “I got married relaxed and with a tan.’’

Fans of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’’ know that creator Aaron Sorkin tapped into real Hollywood people for the drama and exploited his own stormy relationship with Kristen Chenoweth thought the characters of Matt and Harriet.

KRISTIN CHENOWETH on the TCA panel for “Pushing Daisies.” (ABC/CRAIG SJODIN)

Like Matt and Harriet, Aaron and Kristen have had their share of spats, including a huge blow-up over Christian Kristen appearing on the “700 Club.” That formed the basis of the break-up between Matt and Harriet on “Studio 60.”

Kristen turned up at the ABC party Thursday night wearing a pretty white dress and a large diamond cross. She says she got more upset about things Aaron wrote about her on the show that were fictional, like her stand on stem cell research, than the things that were true.

“Did you watch the season finale?” asks Kristen about the episode in which Matt and Harriet get engaged. “We were broken up at the time.”

The affable star was eager to talk about her relationship with Aaron.

“We are together,’’ Kristen says, adding with a little punch, “This week.’’

Earlier that day when she was shooting her new series “Pushing Daisies,’’ Aaron popped over to the studio and ran around toilet papering her car.

“He says it’s a good luck tradition, but I don’t know,’’ says the chipper Chenoweth. “He’s really great. This week.’’

“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.