SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

As regular blog readers already know, ABC is bringing back “Pushing Daisies,” but no more new episodes until this fall, and “Desperate Housewives,” which will be rushing back into production to bring you a few more episodes this May and June.

On Tuesday, ABC Entertainment announced pickups for nine of its most popular shows, returning broadcast television’s most successful fall series. “Men in Trees” and “October Road” were among the shows not mentioned and may be “on the bubble” for renewal.

“Desperate Housewives” stars Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, and Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt. (ABC/ANDREW ECCLES)

ABC Entertainment ordered episodes of “Brothers & Sisters,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Lost,” “Private Practice,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Samantha Who?” and “Ugly Betty.”

“Big Shots,” the show starring Bay Area’s own Christopher Titus, has not yet gotten a pick-up and one is not expected. When Titus performed at Tommy T’s in Pleasanton for a New Year’s Eve show, he was hopeful the show would return, but indications from the network suggest otherwise.

“Big Shots” Christopher Titus and Michael Vartan, Photo: ADAM TAYLOR/ABC

Other ABC shows that aren’t expected to make an appearance on the new fall schedule are “Cavemen” and “Carpoolers.” And if ABC asks me, and I’m sure they won’t, I’d put that awful “Cashmere Mafia” on the endangered list too.

Let’s get this straight. “Women’s Murder Club,” an improbable series about a D.A., a cop, a medical examiner and a reporter _ all women working in San Francisco, won’t win any awards for writing or acting.

But it’s not bad for a show to fold laundry by. After all, you don’t want anything too taxing on a Friday night.

Beside, my two favorite shows air on Fridays: The aptly named “Friday Night Lights” and “Numb3rs.” I’ll slip in “Men in Trees”, but “Women’s Murder Club” won’t be making it to the TiVo.

Still, in my review, I just wanted to acknowledge that sometimes you just want a show that doesn’t make your brain ache.

Since my Thursday column is tied to the vodcast, thank goodness columnist Candace Murphy stepped in at the last minute for the latest edition of SueTube.

The plan was to have a woman in law enforcement, or in a non-traditional job like a paramedic come in to talk about work conditions. A nice guy at the Alameda County Sheriff’s department gave me the name of a cop with a black belt in karate. Perfect.

I called and we had a nice conversation until she said, “Well, I’ve got to go. We’re in the middle of an operation at a massage parlor.”

Ah, I can understand why you’d have to go. In fact, a day later I read about the Richmond bust that she was taking part in as we chatted. Now, there’s a woman who can multi-task.

Too bad she was a little to busy to SueTube.