The CW Network has announced a few “early” pick-ups (not that early, dozens of shows have already been renewed over on the other networks). Included in the mix are guilty pleasures 90210 (the pic to the left) and Gossip Girl, the long running cult series Supernatural, the romantic undead hit The Vampire Diaries, and the CW’s top (really? WTF) series, America’s Next Top Model.

Missing from the list is the young Superman series Smallville, which after being taken from the timeslot it made successful for years and placed into the Friday sci-fi kill slot, has actually lifted the CW to its best Friday numbers in years.  I hope the show continues for another year and gives Clark and the gang a proper send off. Also missing from early renewal is the CW revival of Melrose Place.  I actually liked the first couple of episodes, but haven’t seen an ep in a while. The same can be said for most shows I casually watch though.  I hope they give the series another season to find its barrings.  The cast is likable and with some fresh stories I can see it growing into a decent show.

What do you think? Are Smallville and Melrose Place going to make the cut for next year? What other CW shows do you watch?

In a bit of perfect TV casting news, William Shatner has landed the title role in the new CBS comedy, Sh*t My Dad Says, based off the popular Twitter feed. The Twitter account was started by a 29 year old man who moved back home with his parents, including his outspoken 74 year old father.  The comedy will be a multi-camera sitcom.

“I’m 29. I live with my 74-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says.” You can check out the Twitter here.

I feel like the current season of TV is flying by! Can you believe that we are 4 hours into the last 17 hours of Lost ever? And how great has the new season of Chuck been?  Who would have thought that both Brandon Routh and Kristen Kreuk would fit seamlessly into the cast? I want them both to join up full time (esp the ex-Superman).

So, have you been too busy? Miss some TV? Well, be thankful for the Internet, cause most of the good stuff is offered online for free viewing!

In the latest episode of Lost, we get a look at the life of John Locke in the “other world”, while Sawyer learns more about the island from the Smoke Monster.  I have to admit, the “other world” Locke has been the most interesting stuff about the character since season 1.  I haven’t been much of a fan of his, but I like where they are going with this and for the first time I’m interested to see where he will end up.

Over on Chuck, our favorite nerd herder is getting pretty damn good at the spy game.  “Chuck versus the Mask” sees Chuck and new (sorta almost) galpal Hannah (Kristin Kreuk) on a mission together, the only problem is that she isn’t a spy.

In the new episode of The Office, THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE! Manager that is. Who will keep the job? Michael or Jim? Is there really any question here?  I also have to add, I’ve really been enjoying Kathy Bates on the show. She’s a nice addition to the cast.

This next link is from Phasekitty, on the CW. The show is in the vein of old school WB shows (Dawson’s Creek anyone?).

What did you watch this week?

We’ve talked about Direct Satellite TV in the past, but every now and than it is good to have more Direct TV options.

My TV Options is a site that offers a pretty good Satellite Directv deal. You can get access to 150 channels (along with 35 HD channels and free Showtime for 3 months) for only $29.99/mo. That is as much as 50% off other offers.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a HUGE TV fan. I watch a wide variety of shows and whatever I can watch in HD, I prefer to watch in HD. My TV Options has two more deals, one that includes 45 HD channels and a third with 50 HD channels. You don’t realize what your missing by not watching shows in HD, until you begin to watch shows in HD.

Right now, on my plate of shows that I watch weekly are Lost, Chuck, Damages, How I Met Your Mother, Heroes, Gossip Girl (yeah… I know), Modern Family, Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Community, The Soup (funnest show on TV!), It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and countless others (I stopped myself before this article just becomes a list of shows I watch, heh).

So, how do you watch TV? Do you have satellite?

Sorry about the slow updates. There really hasn’t been much to talk about and I’ve been distracted by the returns to two of my favorite shows, Lost and Chuck. In fact, if you haven’t yet, you should really watch the first 6 (awesome) episodes of the new Chuck season! (Note: See the previous article for a link to the new Lost episodes)

• Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol? Sure, Stern has been in radio for as long as I can rememeber and is just as mean as Cowell, but would you call him a music genius? Or even an expert? He is not a record producer, he hasn’t ushered into countless talents. If they choose him, the show is becoming even more of a joke than when they announced Ellen replacing Paula. When will this show end? With X-Factor coming, is it really needed?

• The Super Bowl is on tonight, and that means there is another Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet! ABC brings us a Modern Family marathon (with reruns of Cougar Town and The Middle thrown into the mix). Fox has reruns of their usual Sunday toons. And CBS is following the big game with the new reality show, Undercover Boss.

• Over at Marvel Comics, the Avengers are changing things up again and relaunching with a new #1. Who has been revealed on the new team so far? We have Captain America (looks like it’s the Bucky version), Jessica Drew the Spider-Woman, Iron-Man, the recently revived Hawkeye, and the soon to be a big motion picture Thor! None of these guys are unexpected, but it shows that Marvel is getting away from the “Dark Marvel” age and bringing back the traditional “Hero” aspect of their universe.

• Looking for a fun online Hollywood simulation game? Give Hollywood the Game a try!

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 #32 hit stands earlier this week. This is part 1 of “Twilight”, the story that will finally reveal the identity of Season 8’s “big bad”.

Even Ben didn't know what the heck was going on during the first new episodes of Lost's final season.

But I loved every minute of it.  We finally get some answers (“I didn’t want you to see me like that”) and right when I thought I knew where they were going with the series, the rug was pulled out from under me.  Well done. There are a ton of places that you can go on the Internet to read what happened, but you should really just watch it for yourself. If you stopped watching the show at some point, buy the DVDs, watch it on Netflix, just catch up because this show is everything that a TV series should be.  After you watch the premiere, take a look at this awesome video comparing a scene in it with the pilot.