Hein Sight

Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there. I hope you enjoy your special day with your families, and that goes for my dad as well.

So many dads have shown up on the small screen that a manageable list of the best is almost impossible to come up with. So I'm limiting this list of favorite pops to only those that I've seen first run (i.e. before syndication) in my lifetime.

So with apologies to Andy Taylor, Ward Cleaver, Steve Douglas, Ben Cartwright, Jim Anderson, Sr., and Fred Flintstone, here are my ten favorite patriarchs:

10) Noah Bennet (Heroes): The man in the horn-rimmed glasses will do anything, and I mean anything, to protect his Claire-bear. Sure he hasn't been the best husband and he tends to forget about his other child, but that's nothing a quick memory wipe couldn't fix.

9) Fred Sanford (Sanford and Son): Eventually, he ended up joining Elizabeth, but one of my favorite single parents has always been Fred G. Sanford. He affectionately refers to son Lamont as "Dummy", keeps the peace with Aunt Esther, and pals like Grady, Rollo, Bubba and Julio kept things lively in the junkyard. The two of them didn't always get along, but father and son were fiercely loyal to each other, and the sign above the junkyard is always there to show Fred's pride in his offspring.

8) Tony Soprano (The Sopranos): He's not the sweetest guy in the world, but Tony took care of two families: His work and his home. Tony wanted, and often provided, the best for his wife, son and daughter, and would go to any extreme to protect his family. He commanded respect at work and at home, and after all the tumultuous times, the family ends up with some onion rings in a diner courtesy of dear old dad.

7) Al Bundy (Married... with Children): Al didn't seem to care about anything except his past football glory, but he was suffered through selling shoes to support his wife, daughter and son who tried to spend him right out of the house. The Bundys were not sophisticated, but the family stuck together in spite of themselves — and grumpy Al was the reluctantly proud head of the house.

6) Jack Arnold (The Wonder Years): Kevin Arnold's dad typified many dads of the era The Wonder Years so beautifully depicts. Jack was quiet, a hard worker, and put aside his dreams to support his wife and three kids. Kevin struggled to impress his dad and spent countless hours trying to figure out just what made him tick, and I didn't want to miss a single minute of it.

5) Danny Tanner (Full House): That's right, I'm putting this San Francisco neat freak single father of three on the list. True, he had help from Uncles Jesse and Joey, but they spent most of their time on their singing and comedy careers. The Wake Up, San Francisco host was there when the music towards the end of an episode swelled up for Donna Jo, Stephanie and Michelle, and Dad always knew the right thing to say.

4) Cliff Huxtable (The Cosby Show): Dr. Huxtable was loved and admired by his wife, daughters, son, parents, in-laws, and anyone who came near his Brooklyn brownstone. His sweaters were offset by college tees and sweatshirts, and whether he was joking with Clair or teaching Rudy, Vanessa, Denise or Theo an important life lesson, he never lost his sense of humor, and was simply a great dad.

3) Homer Simpson (The Simpsons): If there's a cooler animated dad than Homer Simpson, I don't know who he is (honorable mention to Peter Griffin). Homer fails at most everything he does, but his heart is always in the right place. I'm not sure if his kids or wife look up to him, but Homer is a dad that we all can relate to whether we want to admit it or not.

2) Howard Cunningham (Happy Days): Who could run a successful hardware store, relate to the Fonz, and be the neighborhood dad that everyone wanted as their own? Howard Cunningham never failed to admit his mistakes, dealt with kids' friends ranging from Potsie to Jenny Piccolo, and simply always had the right words to say. When it comes to great dads, there's only one better than Mr. C.

1) Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch): The guy couldn't design his own house or have the greatest hair, but no one teaches a lesson better than Mike Brady. The Brady family doubles in size and he doesn't miss a beat. Mike is a successful architect, his wife Carol is always happy, his maid Alice is always happy, and the kids, you know their names, are mostly happy. But when problems occur, and in the Brady house they always do, one simple glance or explanation from Mike solves everything. He's the best dad I've ever seen on the small screen.

This year's Lost finale faced a problem that any other television series would love to have. Is it possible to match the sky-high expectations created by last year's flash-forward gem?

Well, last Thursday's episode wasn't as good as a year ago, but it wasn't half bad either. I wasn't wild about starting off with Kate slamming on the brakes and extending last year's pivotal scene with Jack at the airport, but things picked up from there.

Damon, Carlton and crew should be commended for keeping everyone on board with the Oceanic Six storyline throughout the season. But it wouldn't be Lost if a few points weren't still bugging me.

The Orchid
This Dharma station, or "a place for silly experiments" as Ben likes to call it, was a major disappointment. Ben throws every piece of metal to blow up a time travel portal, and then crawls through a path to someplace cold that has a big wheel you can spin to move an island. An air of mystery is fine, but can someone please explain what that deep, deep station was all about? Maybe the guy with four toes can clue me in.

The Boats
The freighter was doomed, and it hurt to see Michael and Jin go down with the ship. I didn't think Jack would leave anyone behind, but apparently he felt those two were expendable.

After Sawyer's leap and the helicopter crash, I was surprised that it was Penny's boat that rescued the Oceanic Six plus Two. Secretly, I was hoping the Others boat was shining that search light with the same crew that took Walt at the end of Season 1. And speaking of Walt, it's obvious that someone has hit puberty since the show began. Wish we had more of him chatting with Hurley.

The Ladies
When did Juliet become such a wimp? She's turning into Kate, who is a complete wuss compared to how she started off. In Season 1, Kate and Sayid were probably the toughest survivors of Oceanic 815. Now Kate is a crying step mom whose dad taught her how to track footprints. Juliet was tough as nails and almost as devious as Ben, no one knew if they could trust her. Now she's practically emotionless on the beach as Sawyer pops up from a nonchalant swim following his leap out of a helicopter. Rose is showing more fight than Juliet and Kate these days.

And I know Sun is pissed off about losing Jin (although we haven't seen a body), but I'm not crazy about badass Sun taking on her dad and Widmore. It doesn't seem to ring true to her character. I'll let this slide for now since she did such a good job screaming in the helicopter after the freighter exploded.

Jack's Dad
Is Dr. Christian Shepard dead or alive? He popped up to tell Michael he could go now. He's hanging out with his daughter Claire in Jacob's cabin and chatting with Locke. He visited Jack in the hospital. Should he be walking around with a black robe and a scythe?

The Coffin
"Who's in the coffin?" was a big question after last year's finale, but so much time has passed and so much else has happened that seeing Locke in the coffin proved to be anti-climactic. It was a good moment, but seeing Jeremy Bentham's body didn't approach bearded Jack screaming at Kate that they have to go back to the island.

Lost always answers a few questions, poses many more, and constantly keeps you guessing. Can't wait until Season 5 as Jack and Ben gather the rest of the Six, and Locke's body, for a quick trip back to the island... if they can find it.

The seventh season of American Idol came down to a battle between two Davids, and after Tuesday night's performances, David Archuleta seemed like the obvious winner.

He sang better. The screams were louder. And it seemed for weeks that everyone wanted "little David" to win.

But when the results were announced at 9:58pm on Wednesday night, the last name of the David still standing was Cook. Many were surprised — but not me.

Let's take a look back at my April 14th column when I attempted to predict how Idol would play out the rest of the way:

Seven to Six
My Prediction: Kristy Lee Cook
Actually Eliminated: Kristy Lee Cook

Kristy Lee was my original pick to win it all back in the audition rounds. I thought she had the looks and the voice. I was half right.

Six to Five
My Prediction: Jason Castro
Actually Eliminated: Carly Smithson

I stand by my prediction. If Carly didn't hold up that Simon t-shirt, she and her tattoo might have stuck around a little bit longer. America got this wrong, and so did I.

Five to Four
My Prediction: Syesha Mercado
Actually Eliminated: Brooke White

I underestimated Syesha, and Brooke's knack for screwing up simple songs. No one thought Syesha would be the last woman standing, but she peaked at the right time.

Four to Three
My Prediction: Carly Smithson
Actually Eliminated: Jason Castro

How did Jason Castro last this long? The ukulele was unique, his version of "Hallelujah" was memorable, and I guess he had that hair. But every other singer in the Top 12 is more talented... with the exception of Amanda Overmeyer who is the only performer who wants to be there less than Jason does.

Three to Two
My Prediction: Brooke White
Actually Eliminated: Syesha Mercado

I figured it would come down to David versus David, but I had the wrong lady going home. Syesha did a nice job, but the Davids are in another league.

Two to One
My Prediction (word for word): "David versus David. David Archuleta has ridden his rendition of "Imagine" to the finals, but the coolness of David Cook is too much for the Idol audience to resist. Your next American Idol — David Cook."
Actually Eliminated: David Archuleta

I'm proud of that original prediction. It makes me forget the four previous rounds where I had the wrong one going home.

David Archuleta sang better in the finals, but David Cook deserves to be the American Idol.

Go figure.

The network television advertising upfronts were going to be different this year. The writer's strike meant big changes were coming.

I'm still waiting.

This strike-ravaged television season has been flat, and the small screen needs a big boost in 2008-09. If fall schedules are any indication, I'm guessing this boost will be coming in the Spring, because I just don't see any hits here.

ABC
Only two new fall series from ABC as they give their existing series a chance to grow.

Opportunity Knocks (Tuesday 8pm)
This game show travels to your door to see how well you know your family. Experience the genius of Ashton Kutcher, if you dare.

Life on Mars (Thursday 10pm)
This David E. Kelley production is based on a BBC series where a detective gets into a car crash and transported back to 1973. My fingers are crossed that this is L.A. Law and not Girls Club.

CBS
CBS is offering the most new fall series, but quantity does not always produce quality.

Worst Week (Monday 9:30pm)
This magazine editor's comedic struggle to get his future in-laws to like him only has to hold the audience from Two and a Half Men to CSI: Miami. The title is not a good sign.

The Mentalist (Tuesday 9pm)
This new drama is Medium, with a male psychic instead of a female Arquette.

Project Gary (Wednesday 8:30pm)
McGinley-esque Jay Mohr and Paula Marshall co-star in this comedy. Do I really need to keep typing?

Eleventh Hour (Thursday 10pm)
Great post-CSI time slot for a Jerry Bruckheimer drama about a scientist who keeps those who abuse the latest tech discoveries in check. Watch this.

The Ex List (Friday 9pm)
A psychic tells a woman she needs to revisit her old relationships to find her soul mate. Note the date and time this is airing.

NBC
The peacock will be churning out new series all year long, and this fall's big bet is on Christian Slater.

My Own Worst Enemy (Monday 10pm)
Christian Slater is an efficiency expert by day, trained killer by night. Horatio Caine better keep an eye on this one.

Kath & Kim (Tuesday 9:30pm)
Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star as a wacky suburban dysfunctional mom and daughter. Possibly a hit in 1992.

Knight Rider (Wednesday 8pm)
KITT is a Ford Mustang, and we’ll see who's interested in sticking around for more than a TV movie.

Crusoe (Friday 8pm)
It's the tale of Robinson Crusoe. I'm not kidding.

FOX
While we wait for American Idol to return, FOX presents a JJ Abrams plane crash mystery and Jerry O'Connell running a NYC hotel.

Fringe (Tuesday 9pm)
This J.J. Abrams tale begins with a plane that actually makes it to an airport, but everyone aboard has died a nasty death.

Do Not Disturb (Wednesday 9:30pm)
My pal Jerry O'Connell runs The Inn, and you can expect lots of wacky hijinks in this hot, hip Manhattan hotel.

The CW
Creating a 90210 spin-off shows the state of a network that might be in its final year of existence.

90210 (Tuesday 8pm)
The Beverly Hills crew is all grown up as The CW tries to capitalize on the formerly hip FOX zip code. Next up, who's living at Melrose Place?

Surviving The Filthy Rich (Tuesday 9pm)
A 23-year-old Yale grad gets hired as a live-in tutor for ridiculously wealthy twins in Palm Beach and learns to live the fabulous life. Hoping for some Gossip Girl gold.

Stylista (Wednesday 9pm)
This version of The Devil Wears Prada follows Tyra's lead-in as fashion aficionados fight for a job at Elle magazine. Too little, too late.

Happy Mother's Day to all the great moms out there, and that includes the mother of my two daughters and the fantastic lady who brought me into this world.

Many moms have made their way across our small screens, but only a few truly stand the test of time. Here are the mothers I've seen in my TV lifetime who hold a special place in my heart.

10) Lily Munster (The Munsters): 1313 Mockingbird Lane was a tough house to take care of, but Lily kept Grandpa in line, unconditionally loved Herman, treated Marilyn as if she was just like everyone else, and got Eddie through some tough growing pains. And don't forget about Spot under the steps. Honorable mention to the sexy Morticia Adams who's a bit too creepy and kooky.

9) Jane Jetson (The Jetsons): Jane (his wife) was treated like a second class citizen in the credits, but she ran that space age house. Sure, Rosie helped out with the chores, but Elroy and Judy were a handful, and let's not get started with George. Jane was sexier than Wilma Flinstone, and that gives her the nod here.

8) Florida Evans (Good Times): Florida kept her entire family together through good times and bad. She survived the loss of James, dealt with Michael's rough childhood, Thelma's love life, and J.J.'s wacky dyn-o-mite. Florida struggled to keep the family going and always had a smile on her face.

7) Nancy Botwin (Weeds): Nancy isn't the best when is comes to raising kids, but a cooler mom has never graced our screens. After losing her husband, Nancy becomes a suburban pot dealer to support her family, which includes her two sons and crazy Uncle Andy. And she looks fantastic doing it.

6) Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show): Clair managed a successful career, a constantly growing family, and being married to a doctor who loved to wear college sweatshirts. Clair was never afraid to bring the hammer down on any of her five kids and brought stability to that vibrant brownstone.

5) Shirley Partridge (The Partridge Family): Shirley immediately gets bonus points for touring with her kids in that funky school bus and singing harmony while playing that organ. Any mom that had to deal with Keith, Danny and Ruben Kincaid automatically qualifies for this list.

4) Elise Keaton (Family Ties): What would we do baby, without Elise Keaton? This super liberal mom raised three kids who couldn't be any different, and then added a fourth when ratings started to slip. Ditzy Mallory, conservative Alex, growing Jennifer and baby Andrew kept everyone in the Ohio household on their toes, and Elise was the glue that held the Keatons together.

3) Marge Simpson (The Simpsons): If there's a cooler animated mom than Marge Simpson, I don't know who she is. Marge has to manage four immature kids, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Homer, and this Springfield mom always keeps things under control. She may not be the most beautiful mom in the world, but she's certainly one of the most special.

2) Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch): Here's the story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls, and was suddenly saddled with an architect, three growing boys, and a dog. Sure Alice was there to help out, but that poorly designed house was tough to run, and Carol always did it with a smile. And when the holidays came around, who else would you rather have sing "Silent Night?"

1) Marion Cunningham (Happy Days): I admit inherent bias in this decision, but show me a better mom than Mrs. C. No one ran a tighter house, she could charm Howard or The Fonz in one fell swoop, and was always there when anyone needed her. You can look all over the country for the best TV mom, but my favorite resides in Milwaukee with a biker living in her attic.

The recent uproar over the so-called racy Miley Cyrus photos taken by Annie Leibovitz is reminiscent of an unavoidable sure fire way to jump the shark…puberty.

Many child stars, and not just ones who are Disney property, have fallen victim to simply growing up. Just ask Robbie Rist or Tina Yothers.

It’s not hard to stay cute, it’s nearly impossible. So what’s a child star to do? I have two young daughters, and we’ve lived through a couple of these cycles. The writing on the wall for Miley isn’t pretty.

A decade ago, Lindsay Lohan got her start playing twins in Disney’s The Parent Trap. The adorable freckled red head was a talented actress, and as Lindsay grew up her roles kept pace with her maturation. She attempted a musical career following Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Freaky Friday, but failed to cross over. Mean Girls was the icing on Lindsay’s cake, and she was fully embraced in the teen community. But since then, her career has been nothing but disappointment.

Disney refined its approach and began to build its crossover stars at an earlier age and simply hope for the best. If they can’t make it in TV, at least they’ll have a recording career. But get them started early!

Next came Lizzie McGuire, a Disney Channel TV show that starred Hilary Duff. Lizzie was a smart, cute program, and my kids along with other pre-teens quickly became obsessed with it. Multiple airings on the cable channel helped reinforce everything Lizzie, and we all couldn’t get enough Hilary Duff.

After Lizzie established itself as a Disney franchise, an album featuring Hilary Duff soon followed, and my girls were instantly humming the catchy pop tunes and going to see her live. A Lizzie McGuire movie was up next and Hilary was ready to conquer the world.

There was just one problem. Hilary was aging, and naturally wanted to take on more “mature” roles. Her music lyrics got racier. Lizzie McGuire disappeared from TV. Hilary was growing up, but my girls and others like them moved on to the next Disney sensation, Hannah Montana.

By day, pop superstar Hannah Montana is a regular kid named Miley who goes to school and lives life like everyone else. At night, she’s Hannah, the dreamy rock and roll star. Her character is a good kid on and off the stage finding her way through life.

The brilliance of this Disney gem is how it naturally spawned off Miley Cyrus’ recording career. Hannah Montana hits led to Miley Cyrus hits, and a successful tour let kids get even closer to Hannah/Miley. The opening act on the tour? The Jonas Brothers, who are the next Disney pre-pubescent project.

Now just when Miley is at the top of her game, a controversy emerges over these pictures. The world will begin to drift out of Miley’s corner as she embarks on the most difficult part of her career, the transition from a tween sensation to contemporary artist.

Disney claims outrage at the photos, but they’re not worried one bit. They’ve got the High School Musical franchise, The Jonas Brothers, and a new show called Wizards of Waverly Place that stars Barney alumnus Selena Gomez. Expect Selena’s record to drop soon, as the vicious cycle starts again.

The child stars lose. The mouse wins. And it never ever ends.

Last week, it was a cameo by President Bush. This week, Darth Vader is the banker. Howie, this isn't the deal I signed up for.

I was a big fan of Deal or No Deal when Howie and the 26 ladies first came on the scene. The game is a simple one, in fact, you can't get much simpler. And, there's something oddly appealing as cases are eliminated and the contestants proudly proclaim "no deal."

The banker. The Lucky Case Game. The greed of the contestants as they ignore the advice of their caring families. Everything worked to perfection. I couldn't get enough of deciding if Anya, Leyla or Aubrie was hiding the million.

As the ladies continued to open their cases, NBC tried to capitalize on the mojo of this new hit. But they made the Who Wants to be a Millionaire mistake of airing it on too many nights in prime time.

Overexposure allowed people to notice that contestants were a bit too excited to be there. Special guest stars started to regularly appear on the big screen. But as long as the game stayed simple, the show remained entertaining.

I'd love to know what it is that tempts network execs to fix something that isn't broken. Deal or No Deal isn't Jeopardy!, and the beauty of the show is that it never pretends to be. The powers that be felt things on the show weren't simple enough, and that's when the shark started to circle.

Howie proceeded to make a noble, but fateful announcement... the million dollar mission. Every week someone failed to win the million, an additional million dollar choice was added to the big board until someone took home the big prize.

Odds were becoming more favorable for the contestant, and gamesmanship started to disappear. Once you begin to mess with an already ridiculously simple game, there's no turning back.

Girls have been eliminated from The Lucky Case Game, and now it's much easier to win. Themed episodes, which occurred once in a while, are now a regular fixture. There's a Deal Wheel that can triple your money. And the fact that we know Hayely’s case (#25) always has a lot of money simply doesn't matter any more.

This week, Deal or No Deal travels to a galaxy far, far away... Star Wars night. 26 beauties dressed as Princess Leia. R2D2 and Chewie help out the contestant. Darth Vader takes over for the banker.

Don't be surprised if you see Jar Jar Binks laughing as the show sails over the shark.

The Cosby Show. Family Ties. Cheers. Night Court.

Since 1984, my TV has found its way to NBC on Thursday nights at 8pm. Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy just aren't my cup of tea, and Survivor and CSI are permanent fixtures on my TiVo. But what I really need is a live fix of half hour comedies courtesy of the peacock.

The blend of '84 comedies will never be equaled by any network, but NBC is doing its best with some critically acclaimed gems this spring:

My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs.

These are four solid shows, some clearly better than others, but NBC is not doing comedy night just right. Let’s tackle these programs individually.

8:00pm My Name Is Earl

Earl worked well when karma drove him to cross things off his list. It's tough to do that in prison or in a coma. It's still a quirky comedy worth watching, but its shortcomings are starting to show.

Earl: He's a great character, but coming up with wacky situations for Jason Lee to tackle week after week can get stale if the supporting cast isn't used correctly.

Randy: Good second banana, but you can't have too much Randy. Putting a supporting character out there for too much time is a major problem for all of these comedies.

Joy: See Randy times ten. I know she won an Emmy, but this has become the Jamie Pressly show. Cut back on the Joy. Please.

Darnell: The crab man's suspicious government background works for me, and his screen time is just about right. More crab man.

Catalina: She's great to look at, but there is absolutely no point of her being on the show anymore. And everyone knows it.

Solution: Get Earl back on the streets. Use the other characters in the right amounts, and keep those other crazy friends of Earl's coming.

8:30pm 30 Rock

30 Rock is a funny, funny show, but it's slowly becoming a victim of its own hype. The Office went through this during its second season. This isn't an 8:30pm show and should air at either 9:00pm or 9:30pm. Let's break things down.

Liz Lemon: Tina Fey is very funny, very talented, and very pretty, but she's not that hot. Stop shoving her down our throats as a hot leading lady.

Jack Donaghy: This is, and will always be, Alec Baldwin's show. But he can't be on for the entire half hour. Use him in spots, and use him wisely.

Jenna: Jane Krakowski plays this part perfectly. Well done.

Tracy Jordan: Whatever they're doing with Tracy Morgan, its working. Let him roll.

Kenneth the Page: Another supporting character that's getting too much time. Like all the other pages at NBC, let's take our Kenneth in small doses.

Pete: This is the guy whose arm was stuck in the vending machine. There's nothing left for this character. He should run off to Mexico with Catalina from My Name Is Earl.

Solution: Push the start time back, visit the writer's room (but don't spend too much time there), and have the not-so-hot Liz bring us into the lives of Tracy and Jack each week.

9:00pm The Office

The Office has taken its lumps and is the funniest show of the night. It's in dangerous shark jumping territory with the Jim and Pam romance, but there's enough wackiness in Scranton to keep the fin at bay.

Michael Scott: The show works best when there's the right amount of Michael on screen. Too much Steve Carrell does not mean a great episode. He's a great character, but he needs the others to make him better.

Jim & Pam: Good office romance. For now.

Dwight Schrute: My favorite character on Thursday nights. There should never be a Dwight-centric episode. Just let him raise hell on all others at Dunder Mifflin.

Angela: Why are we paying so much attention to her? She's angry and straight. We get it. It's boring.

Kevin, Phyllis, Stanley, Toby: Never too much, never too little. Just right.

Solution: Remember this is The Office and not The Michael Scott Show. Keep it in the workplace, and good things will happen.

9:30pm Scrubs

The folks at Sacred Heart are always an afterthought when it comes to NBC comedies, but this is the most consistent show of the bunch. A perfect combination of wackiness and good plotlines always keep things interesting and funny.

JD: He's maturing, but thankfully still having those immature daydreams. Don't ever let him grow up.

Turk: See JD.

Elliot: Sarah Chalke is getting hotter every season. That being said, her character has taken the most interesting path as well.

Carla: She needs to get in Cox's and Kelso's face more like she used to. I'm not wild about her maternal struggles, but she clicks with JD and Turk.

Doctor Cox: Stay mean. Please, stay mean.

Janitor: See Dr. Cox.

Kelso: Don't, don't, don't sap it up with him turning 65. Bob Kelso is at his best as an evil man. Let's keep him that way.

Solution: Avoid the "very special" storylines, stay goofy, and maybe NBC will notice how good of a show this is one day.

Idol has given back, so now it's time to get down and dirty and predict who will be your next American Idol.

Every season, the Top 12 is touted as the most talented bunch Simon and crew have ever seen. This year's group might live up to that hype, but they have the least amount of personality, and that's a problem for those of us keeping score at home.

Last week, Ryan Seacrest teased Michael Johns about how no one got sent home after Idol's charity event last season, but this year business is business, and the Aussie Freddie Mercury/Steven Tyler wannabe was sent packing.

Let me free up some of your Tuesday and Wednesday nights as the weather continues to warm up. Here's how I see things going the rest of the way:

Seven to Six
Next week is Mariah Carey week, which plays to the remaining divas strength and leaves Kristy Lee Cook and Jason Castro hung out to dry.
Bottom three: Brooke White, Jason, Kristy Lee
Gone: Kristy Lee Cook
She's gorgeous, but she's on borrowed time.

Six to Five
I don't know what special musical guests will be showing up moving forward, so I'm going with my gut the rest of the way.
Bottom three: Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson, Jason
Gone: Jason Castro
The same act in the dreads week after week finally wears down.

Five to Four
As we move towards the Final Four, the ladies are going to be in major trouble.
Bottom three: Syesha, Brooke, Carly
Gone: Syesha Mercado
She's been in the bottom three too many times to make it any further than this.

Four to Three
We’re down to Brooke, Carly, David Cook, and David Archuleta. Decisions, decisions.
Bottom three: Brooke, Carly, David Archuleta
Gone: Carly Smithson
"Tattoo" might work for Jordin Sparks, but Carly's right arm will be her undoing. Traditionally, this is the week when the most talented singer in the bunch goes home.

Three to Two
Two guys, a girl, but no pizza place. Brooke White is sweet, but the Idol audience loves their boys. The singer/songwriter could benefit from the split vote, but the guys are too solid for the nanny to survive.
Gone: Brooke White

Two to One
David versus David. David Archuleta has ridden his rendition of "Imagine" to the finals, but the coolness of David Cook is too much for the Idol audience to resist.

Your next American Idol: David Cook.

Now let's see how America votes.

Traditionally, this is the time of the year when the networks roll out their best programming. However, this past television season has been anything but traditional.

Someone asked me what I'm watching these days. I feel obligated to add the following disclaimers before listing my viewing schedule below.

1) I watch a lot of TV with my wife and two young daughters.

2) Sports air in HD, and baseball season and the hockey playoffs are starting up.

That being said, here's what you'll find on the TVs in the Hein house these days:

Monday

8pm/ET: Little People, Big World (TLC)
Don't knock the Roloff family until you've tried watching this show. If I hadn't already seen every episode of House, I'd watch the re-runs. Dancing with the Stars doesn't do it for me anymore.

9pm/ET House (FOX)
The doctor with the limp has moved from Tuesdays to Mondays. Great acting, quality storytelling, and "13" is must-see TV. Until the doctor is in, the combo of Two and a Half Men and Samantha Who? will tide you over. Or stay on TLC and watch Jon & Kate Plus 8.

10pm/ET CSI: Miami (CBS)
I'm not big on Caruso, but this is the best of the 10pm offerings. If you're a reality fan, you can try The Bachelor or run to The Hills, but both jumped the shark long ago.

Tuesday

8pm/ET American Idol (FOX)
I admit it. I'm hooked with the rest of my family. The Biggest Loser picks up Ryan, Randy, Paula and Simon's slack.

9pm/ET Hell's Kitchen (FOX)
Gordon Ramsay whips these would be chefs into shape in a most entertaining way. DWTS and Big Brother fans are missing the best reality show of the hour.

10pm/ET The Riches (FX)
I can't stand Eddie Izzard or Minnie Driver, but this show blows away anything on the networks at ten.

Wednesday

8pm/ET America's Next Top Model (CW)
My daughters love it, and I love to make fun of Tyra and crew. Deal or No Deal has jumped the shark by begging contestants to win the million and oversimplifying an already simple game.

9pm/ET American Idol (FOX)
An hour is too long for this results show, but Seacrest is a master at creating tension. That's sarcastic, folks.

10pm/ET South Park (Comedy Central)
Matt and Trey are getting better with age. God bless that Guitar Hero episode.

Thursday

8pm/ET My Name Is Earl/30 Rock (NBC)
I'm recording Survivor, but it's "Comedy night done right," for me on Thursdays. Earl is fading as 30 Rock is rising.

9pm/ET The Office/Scrubs (NBC)
Lost repeats, the eighth season of CSI and sappy Grey's Anatomy do not entice me; NBC Thursday night comedies do.

10pm/ET Lost (ABC)
Ah, those sweet three little words at the top of the hour..."Previously, on Lost."

Friday

8pm/ET Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
It's only a matter of time when networks start to mail it in on Friday as they now do on Saturdays. Call me immature, but Jennifer Love Hewitt talking to ghosts still peaks my interest.

9pm/ET Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
The best way to prepare for an all-new episode of the best drama on TV is to watch last week's episode to get in the mood. Yes, I'm a geek.

10pm/ET Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
The best frakkin' show on television.

Saturday

The networks have given up on Saturdays. So have I.

Sunday

7pm/ET 60 Minutes (CBS)
Every week, I'm fascinated how Andy Rooney keeps hanging on. That stopwatch just keeps on ticking.

8pm/ET The Simpsons/King of the Hill (FOX)
This is where you'll find the two longest running comedies on television. You'll also find me there.

9pm/ET Family Guy/American Dad (FOX)
There's a reason Peter and Lois were brought back from DVD land. Funny, funny stuff. American Dad tries really hard, but the second half of Desperate Housewives can unintentionally provide as many laughs on the right night.

10pm/ET Dexter (CBS)
If you can't wait for new episodes of America's favorite serial killer on Showtime, watching these edited repeats is the next best thing.

So tell me, what shows am I missing this spring?

Battlestar Galactica is finally back, and there is much rejoicing.

My excitement about the upcoming season has been met with reaction that I expected to get, mostly ranging from "Get a life" to "You're a geek."

Dwight Schrute from The Office put it best in dealing with those who don’t watch BSG.

Dwight: “Do you watch Battlestar Galactica?”
Stuffy Guy at Party: “No.”
Dwight: “Then you are an idiot.”

Now that The Wire has come to a close, the new best drama on television is Battlestar Galactica. The writing is top- notch, the acting is superb, the effects look great, the cast oozes sensuality, and the storylines parallel the military and religious issues that are happening in today's world. The show doesn't preach, it just tells one hell of a story.

If you've been avoiding BSG, the first hurdle any newcomer needs to clear is forgetting about the original series from the late 1970's. The character names haven't changed all that much since then, but practically everything else has. Next, dismiss the geek factor. It's preferred, but not required to enjoy all of the drama that takes place. It's not hard to root against a robotic race that annihilates the world that their human creators formerly occupied.

It would be tough for newbies to jump right in at this point, but it's doable. The Sci-Fi Channel is running Season 1, 2 and 3 marathons this week, and all previous seasons are available on DVD. It's well worth your TV time.

Last season ended with the previously assumed-dead Starbuck appearing in a Viper next to Apollo claiming she knows the way to Earth. Four more regulars, Tigh, Chief, Anders and Tory, learned that not only were they Hendrix fans, but they just happen to be Cylons as well.

This season picks up right where things left off. Commander Adama and the Galactica crew deal with Starbuck’s surprising return, the Hendrix fans try to come to grips with being four of the final five Cylons, a hot cult of religious women take in the recently found innocent Baltar, and Roslin has a slew of problems to deal with, including the return of her cancer.

To top it all off, this will be the final season of BSG. Do yourself a favor and tune in. Don’t be a frakkin’ idiot.

Can someone please explain what's going on with Lost? I'm still hooked, but the show didn’t exactly go into its month off with a bang. Actually, it did, but it wasn't the one I was looking for.

Here's what I'm reasonably sure of:

The Oceanic 6: The six are Jack, Kate, Hurley, Sayid, Sun, and Claire's baby Aaron. That means Jin, Juliet, Sawyer, and Aaron's mom are staying put with Locke. Maybe Desmond ends up on a romantic cruise with Penny, and Rose and Bernard find wedded bliss in cancer-free paradise. Ben wasn't on Flight 815, but apparently he (and the other Others) can come and go from the island as they please.

Going Crazy: In the near future, Hurley goes back to a mental institution to speak with people who aren't there, and Jack is ready to jump off a bridge. Back on the island, Locke (and previously Hurley) can't find Jacob's movable house.

Suicide: Charlie drowned himself so the phones would work on the island. Michael has repeatedly tried to off himself with no luck. Future Jack is about to jump off a bridge before a car accident distracts him. Tom explained to Michael (and Kevin Johnson) that the island will not allow him to commit suicide. Huh?

Kids: Kate ends up with Claire's son (Jack's nephew) off the island. Sun has her baby, but Jin won't be there to see it. Juliet cries because she can't keep anyone pregnant on the island. Walt is stuck in his grandma's NYC attic.

Honesty: Future Jack and Kate lie on the stand. Sayid lies to his future clients and ends up working for Ben. Sawyer, Locke, and anyone else stuck in that camp have lost track of all the lies. The rescuers have lied since they've landed. The freighter is filled with liars. Ben continues to lie about everything, his latest being about The Temple which gets Rousseau and their daughter's boyfriend Carl killed... we think.

Here are my unqualified assumptions:

The Coffin: Michael is in that coffin. The only other funeral that no one would attend would be Ben's or Juliet's, but everyone hates Michael. It's gotta be him. Right?

Time Travel: Time is altered in some way and is also apparently 31 minutes off on the island. Desmond is Daniel Faraday's constant. That's all I've got on this front, but you know there's more time bending coming.

Sacrificial Lambs: Claire sacrifices herself for her baby. Sawyer gives up himself for Kate. Jin makes sure that Sun and his future baby daughter survive. I'm not saying these characters will die. I think they'll stay on the island with Locke, which is how I predict this season will end and leads me to...

The Return: In the series final season, the Oceanic 6 will find their way back to the island to rescue Locke and crew.

I'll be tuning in and praying that most of these questions finally get answered. As for the polar bears, smoke monster, four-toed statue, the Black Rock, whispers, Jack's dad and the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23 and 42, your guess is as good as mine.

Some things just aren't meant for prime time: Saturday morning cartoons, playoff baseball games and daytime game shows— especially The Price Is Right.

I've loved The Price Is Right since I was a kid, including the cheesy t-shirts, "Come on down", one dollar bids, botox spokesmodels, the yodeler... the list goes on and on.

I feel for Drew Carey. Replacing Bob Barker on The Price Is Right is like replacing Howard Stern on terrestrial radio. It's an impossible task.

Drew is a funny guy who I like a lot, but he can't host the show like Bob Barker did. No one could. But his lack of expertise with TPIR staples like Plinko, The Range Game, Three Strikes and other classics frustrates long-time geeky viewers like me.

Drew shines when contestants spin the wheel to determine who gets in to the Showcase Showdown (and never over $1.00), and that's been the worst part of the show since that big wheel was first introduced.

But Drew does the best that he can, and I admire him for making the most of a great gig. My issue is the 8pm time slot that CBS has penciled the show in on Friday nights. It doesn't work.

Now I'm the type of guy who can't eat breakfast foods after noon, and I freely admit that I prefer things in their "proper" place. I'm not against all game shows in primetime; Deal or No Deal succeeds, but I don't think it could make it as a daytime game show. Every show has its place.

The Price Is Right should air when the sun is up.

My suspicions were raised the first time I saw the legendary game show in primetime this year. Drew was in a tux and things seemed out of whack all throughout the program, but the million-dollar showcase at the end is what really opened my eyes.

Long time TPIR fans know that if you come within less than $1,000 of your showcase's actual price, you win both showcases (assuming your opponent doesn't do a better job). As an added prime time bonus, Drew and crew are giving away one million dollars for those who accomplish this feat in addition to the two showcases. Winning both showcases used to be as likely as the Red Sox, uh, the Cubs winning the World Series.

This impossible million has been won not once, not twice, but three times in prime time. Either contestants have become geniuses when it comes to pricing RVs and trips to Acapulco, or some kind of luck is smiling on Television City.

Bob isn't coming back, and Drew has to make due with what he's got. Those wonderful older women should keep "Coming on down" and wearing those cheesy t-shirts. Just air the show when they're awake to see it.

The Wire has finally come to an end, and I keep asking myself the same question...is this the best HBO show of all time?

To narrow down the list, I've eliminated any series that are still in first run. Curb Your Enthusiasm will crack this list when Larry calls it quits. I think Big Love has a good chance as well. Rome is out since there might be a third season (I hope), and if Entourage stops morphing into "The Wacky Adventures of Turtle & Drama," those boys might have a shot someday.

Without further adieu, here’s my HBO Top 12:

12) Arli$$: It was far from perfect and Robert Wuhl never had a shot at an acting Emmy or a Cable Ace award, but the shows were mostly funny, the supporting cast was excellent, you could count on some gratuitous nudity, and the sports star cameos never let you down.

11) Tales From The Crypt: The crypt keeper still gives me the chills. That counts for something.

10) Inside The NFL: The can't-miss combo of NFL Films highlights with commentary from Nick and Len makes this an all-time HBO great.

9) Da Ali G Show: We never got enough episodes, but at least we got the Borat movie.

8) Dream On: The life of Martin Tupper had all the ingredients to succeed on HBO and was edgy for its time. Old movie clip memories, good writing and acting, lots of cursing and plenty of nudity.

7) Six Feet Under: The guy who wrote American Beauty creates a drama about a family-run mortuary in L.A. Good creepy stuff.

6) Sex and the City: Carrie writes a column for a New York paper, and her three best friends talk fashion, romance and sex. It's memorable enough to return to the big screen this year.

5) Deadwood: Three seasons wasn't enough for this David Milch western. Swearengen got most of the glory, but Bullock, Hearst, E.B. and Wu are only a few that we won't forget anytime soon.

4) Oz: The first one-hour drama ever produced by HBO was one of its most memorable. Life in the Oswald State Correctional Facility was no fun for anyone, and Augustus Hill will mesmerize you from the moment you see him in his wheelchair.

3) The Sopranos: Tony and crew ended their run only last year, but the blackout finale keeps this excellent drama from climbing to the top of this list.

2) The Larry Sanders Show: Garry Shandling created two of the finest shows to ever air on cable. It's Garry Shandling’s Show was a brilliant Showtime comedy. The Larry Sanders Show was one of TV's best talk shows in spite of being fake. Hey now!

1. The Wire: Simply the best. Better than all the rest.

My apologies to all Not Necessarily The News, Fraggle Rock, The Hitchhiker and 1st & Ten fans out there.

The best drama on television is coming to a close on Sunday. It's the best program that ever aired on HBO. It's not Deadwood. It's not The Sopranos. It's The Wire.

I enjoyed talking to Tristan Wilds, who portrays Michael on my favorite Baltimore drama. From his memorable entrance with three other school kids at the beginning of Season 4, Tristan has become an integral part of The Wire. Not only is he a nice guy, but he's clearly a huge fan of the show.

We spoke about everything leading up to this Sunday's finale, including the tough decisions Michael has had to make, who the smartest character on the show is, and what it's like shooting on the streets of Baltimore. The complete Q&A can be found in Interviews & Features. Give it a read, and let me know what you think.