SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Yeah, “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” still take top honors, but it’s nice to see that “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives” breaking into the top ranks this week.

ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy is back and better than ever. ELLEN POMPEO, KATHERINE HEIGL, SANDRA OH, T.R. KNIGHT, CHYLER LEIGH Photo by Vivian Zink

Here are the numbers, with viewer numbers and ratings. As Jason Bezis pointed out a few weeks ago, blockbusters like “American Idol” would have been canceled with those kinds of ratings a decade ago when top shows rated in the double-digits.

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 24740 8.6
2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 23200 8.1
3 DANCING WITH THE STARS 18040 6.3
4 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 17970 6.3
5 CSI 17020 5.9
6 GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM 16370 5.7
7 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 16350 5.7
8 CSI: MIAMI 14380 5.0
9 NCIS 14240 5.0
10 WITHOUT A TRACE 13470 4.7
11 TWO AND A HALF MEN 13360 4.7
12 SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA 12900 4.5
13 LAW AND ORDER 12750 4.5
14 LOST 12080 4.2
15 EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. 12070 4.2
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Oh, joy. “Ugly Betty” is back tonight, and everyone’s celebrating.

America Ferrera and Eric Mabius celebrated their birthdays on the set of “Ugly Betty” on April 18 with their fellow cast members and production crew. ©(ABC/CRAIG SJODIN

Last Friday really was America Ferrera’s birthday, with Eric Mabius’ b-day on April 22, so it’s only fitting that tonight’s episode is about Betty’s 24th birthday.

Betty’s plans to spend a romantic evening with Henry are sidelined when his Baby Mama Charlie (Jayma Mays) pops back into their lives. Gio (Freddy Rodriguez) comes to the rescue, and for the first time I thought, Betty, drop Charlie and go with Gio.

For “Project Runway” fans, you should note that one of the blouses designed by “Project Runway” winner Christian Siriano designed a blouse worn in the May 1 episode, which features Siriano. The blouse will be given to Clothes Off Our Backs to auction off for charity.

Don’t get me wrong. I have every faith in the writers of “CSI” and “Two and a Half Men,” but swapping writers for a May sweep stunt has me a little concerned.

Grissom (William Petersen) always had a little raunchy Charlie in him, but can Charlie and Alan really figure out a whodunit when they can’t even find their way through a stunted life? Should be interesting when we tun in on May 5 for “Two and a Half Men” to discover CSI investigating a murder at Charlie Harper’s Malibu home.

A CSI team investigates a mysterious death at Charlie’s (Charlie Sheen) and Alan’s (Jon Cryer) house on “Two and a Half Men” at 9 p.m. May 5 on CBS. Conchata Ferrell stars as Berta. Photo: Greg Gayne/Warner Bros.

And on the May 10 episode of “CSI,” Grissom and the team solve the mysterious death of a diva sitcom star.

Grissom (William Petersen, right) and David Phillips (David Berman, left) become involved in the world of Hollywood comedy when a diva sitcom star (Katey Sagal, on floor) meets an untimely demise with a rubber chicken while filming her show in Las Vegas, on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” at 9 p.m. May 8 on CBS. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS

The following are CBS’s May sweep season highlights and finales. Read the rest of this entry »

When last we saw the lovely Mick, he had become mortal and no longer feared the garlic.

Yep, our favorite (current) TV vamp can look at himself in the mirror and drink orange juice instead of a real Bloody Mary. But just how long will this last?

Oh, you know the answer. Really. You can’t have a vampire show with a used-to-be.

What’s this? Mick hanging out in the sun and eating a picnic lunch?
Mick (Alex O’Loughlin) enjoys what time he has left as a human with Beth (Sophia Myles), on “Moonlight” at 9 p.m. Friday April 25 on CBS. Photo: Adam Taylor/CBS

The episode is campy and over-the-top, so what wasn’t to love about it? We even get a vampire smack-down going at the end. If you want some backstage info, check out this CBS video:

I’m not sure why I even bother posting the first three highest rated shows for the week of April 14-20, 2008 because everyone knows their names.

But what is exciting is discovering that while some reports were saying the numbers for “Desperate Housewives” were disappointing when the series returned on April 13, you can see that the girls have made quite the comeback.

ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” – the girls are back and kicking ratings – ABC/DANNY FELD) FELICITY HUFFMAN, MARCIA CROSS, NICOLLETTE SHERIDAN, TERI HATCHER, EVA LONGORIA PARKER

And apparently people are interested in the presidential election – last week’s debate came in at an impressive No. 14. Check out where your favorite show comes up. Click (more) at the bottom to read the entire 98 list.

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 23650 8.3

2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 23340 8.2

3 DANCING WITH THE STARS 17200 6.0

4 DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES 15750 5.5

5 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 15420 5.4

6 NCIS 15130 5.3

7 TWO AND A HALF MEN 13940 4.9

8 CSI: NY 13430 4.7

9 LAW AND ORDER:SVU 13270 4.6

10 CRIMINAL MINDS 12980 4.5
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Last week I had to call a CBS publicist about another show and discovered she was hanging out at the beach – with the cast of “How I Met Your Mother” taping a music video featuring Robin Sparkles.

Check out legen-wait-for-it-dary IGN TV writer Eric Goldman for a great article on the taping.Looks like we have something fun in store on Monday when Robin Sparkles returns. And her old boyfriend is played by Mr. Dawson’s Creek himself, James van der Beek.

If you don’t who Robin Sparkles is, she’s Robin’s (Cobie Smulders) alter ego from her Debbie Gibson youth, when Robin had a brief career as a poppy Canadian mall singer. Here’s the original video:

OK all you wannabe Disney stars, we’ve finally got news on the open casting calls for the new realty show “HSM: Summer Session.”

The West Coast auditions will be taking place on Sunday, April 27 at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA. The East Coast casting call will be held on Wednesday, May 7, at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The exact location is the Champion Stadium at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex.

Both of these open auditions will form part of the early episodes of the series. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 22 is welcome to give it a shot at the open calls (if you are under 18, you must bring your parent or legal guardian) and can download an application and view eligibility requirements here.

The series debuts at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 20 on ABC, and runs Sundays and Mondays for three weeks, then continues Mondays through mid-September. The producers welcome anyone and everyone aged 16-22 who has dreamed of being center stage.

The finalists will ultimately participate in a summer music program to hone their skills, and one talented newcomer will receive the opportunity to become part of the “High School Musical” family.

Picture you here with “High School Musical” stars Corbin Bleu(Chad Danforth), Ashley Tisdale (Sharpay Evans), Monique Coleman (Taylor McKessie), Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella Montez), Lucas Grabeel (Ryan Evans) and Zac Efron (Troy Bolton).

If you are interested in work as an extra on the next “High School Musical,” I found this site which gives information on various Disney auditions.

Let’s face it, without Howie Mandel, “Deal or No Deal” is just a lot of models with suitcases.

“Deal or No Deal” host Howie Mandel with Briefcase Models
and Storm Troopers — NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

What makes the show is Howie’s sense of humor and timing, which should serve him well in his new unscripted comedy series “Howie Do It” (that’s the working title, but we kind of like it.)

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be in business with NBC once again,” said Mandel. “Working with them on ‘Deal or No Deal’ continues to be a phenomenal experience.”

Let’s not forget that Howie first wowed us as a doctor on the Emmy Award-winning “St. Elsewhere.” Howie begin his career on a dare when he came down to Los Angeles from Canada with some friends in 1979.

He was at the Comedy Store on amateur night and was coaxed by his friends to get up and try his luck. A producer who was in the audience hired him to appear on a comedy game show called “Make me Laugh.” Howie then started appearing on talk shows and eventually landed a gig as Diana Ross’ opening act.

That led to his role as Dr. Wayne Fiscus for six seasons on the NBC drama “St. Elsewhere.” If you haven’t seen the show, check it out for free on Hulu.

Howie’s got a great Web site, with video blogs.

Yeah, no one is surprised to see “American Idol” dominating again. But who would have thought “CSI” would sneak into No. 3 ahead of “Dancing with the Stars”?

Where does your favorite show rank this week?

1 AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY 26120 9.1
2 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 24840 8.7
3 CSI 20580 7.2
4 DANCING WITH THE STARS 20560 7.2
5 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 17280 6.0
6 CSI: MIAMI 15650 5.5
7 WITHOUT A TRACE 15200 5.3
8 TWO AND A HALF MEN 14500 5.1
9 CBS NCAA BSKBL CHAMP SA-2 14440 5.0
10 CSI: MIAMI – TUESDAY SP 14230 5.0
11 SURVIVOR: MICRONESIA 12870 4.5
12 CSI: NY 12850 4.5
13 CRIMINAL MINDS 12810 4.5
14 OLD CHRISTINE 12570 4.4
15 COLD CASE 11930 4.2
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NBC’s new schedule family-friendly in the first hour? Are you joking me?

The Parents Television Council issued a press release on Friday commending NBC for announcing its commitment to the “Family Hour,” an hour of television from 8 to 9 p.m.

Obviously, the PTC simply read a press release about NBC’s fall strategy and failed to actually look at what the network was scheduling in that hour. In fact, “My Name is Earl” has been singled out by the PTC for raunchy content.

With a picture like this, need we say more about “My Name is Earl” perhaps not fitting the family-friendly label? (l-r) John Farley as Annie, Jason Lee as Earl — NBC Photo: Justin Lubin
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