It's a good time to be thinking about American Idol because the season premiere is Jan. 13, a month away.

Jason Castro is playing Garland. The Dreadheads are in Rockwall.

Jason is still the big draw. But will he soon start playing second fiddle in his family. 

By that, the question is: Will he pass the torch on to his little brother, Michael? Michael reportedly made it through the first round in tryouts in Kansas City, Mo., the last stop on the audition tour.

Having been a fan of playground-sized shoulder pads, gigantic helmet hair & stenciled, shiny lips - I can relate. Having been amused at every whodunit, no-you-didn't & I thought they already died...I've been there. Young & impressionable.

And a fan of Dynasty, Dallas & my personal fav to save the day: Knot's Landing. (Smooches to you, Gary Ewing).

So my bourgeois meter went through the roof last season when Dirty Sexy Money arrived on ABC, much to my entertainment glee. Seriously, what show boasts a better cast then Peter Krause, Jill Clayburgh, Lucy Liu, Blair Underwood and Jack Bauer's daddy, Sir Donald Sutherland? (No he has not been knighted to my knowledge; he just strikes me as regal). I haven't even named the reminder of the cast, each stellar in his own right. Sure it's over the top. But if I didn't want escapism, I could watch my own life unfold. Which I do anyway.

So why, ABC are you canceling my show? There's no other show like this throwback to the 80's nighttime soaps. I love the Darling Family and you are nearly forcing me to watch reality wasteland that is NBC or even crime-must-be-fun-since-nearly-every-show-on-the-channel-is-about-it CBS now that Grey's is a mess, Eli Stone will be no more and Pushing Daisies is nearing it's demise (though I can't rant about that last one because I was busy watching Top Model).

Family shows, beware: The Powers That Be are after YOU. You have a target on your back.

What will I do with myself Wednesday nights?

Alas ~ there's always Top Chef.

So apparently ABC has decided to pass on renewing it's delightfully funny Monday night comedy "Pushing Daisies." It's too bad, too.

The show, which stars Lee Pace, is about Ned, a quiet piemaker with an uncanny ability to bring back the dead. Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook is one of the funniest primetime characters I've seen in a long time. Episodes consistently feature a wide range of cameos, too, including Missy Pyle, Paul Reubens, Fred Willard and Stephen Root (Milton in Office Space).

I can only hope some other network becomes the 'Ned' for this show...and brings it back to life!

It's been a year and a half since we last saw Jack Bauer standing alone on a pier looking sadly into the sea. Or to space. Or The Land Where Television Actors Stare Aimlessly Pondering the Lameness We Will Call Season 6. Writer's strike be darned, I now think the break was the best thing to happen to 24 - my favorite show that is not really my type of show.

With Redemption comes a kinder, softer side of Jack, aiding adorable kids in the fictional Sangala, where African troops seek to turn the tikes into monstrous killers. So much for niceties. It doesn't take long for Jack to commence opening that trusty can of Whuppin' and put it on the baddies, all while helping the kids flee to America. In the process Jack is taken into custody for the "illegal detention and torture" of prisoners over the last 5 seasons while under his tender loving care.

In the land of 24, Jack won't be jailed for long. There is a world to save, after all!

With the induction of the first female president (whose son is sure to be an unwitting target for the approaching "day"), imminent threat from the soldiers of Sangala and a super charged extended trailer of Season 7, it looks like Jack is back in full swing.

And he couldn't have arrived at a better time.

I leave you with this: what is your favorite show that is not your type of show?

January 11, 2009: The Premiere of 24. Set your clocks.

Well soft shoe angels, Cody Linley's bid for the elusive disco ball has come to a bittersweet yet hard fought end on Dancing With the Stars.

The local teenager matured before our eyes as he executed technically competent dance compositions with surprising chivalry & grace. Never quite rebounding from partner Julianne's surgery induced hiatus from the ballroom action, the Hannah Montana Star exited the competition with the utmost grace only he could deliver.

In a season bogged down with elderly antics, "dancers" who could not dance and questionable filler flubs, it was nice to have our hometown cutie as a breath of fresh air. Now as Tom Bergeron lamented, we are left to judge three remaining couples "not by the sparkle of their sequence, but the dazzle of their dance."

I couldn't put it any better.

Yep. Mmm-huh. Yup. Mmm-huh.

I realize this is old news, but I've been unable to gather myself lately. It all came about when I learned that "King of the Hill" was being dropped from the Fox lineup.

That means we'll hear nothing new from Strickland Propane (which has a wide assortment of propane accessories), Tom Landry Middle School (where Bobby Hill has spent the past 13 years), Luly's (where I take the family for buffet dining) and Mega-Lo Mart (where I plan on working as a greeter in my retirement years).

Hi there, Paso Dobles! 

What can I say? This season of Dancing With the Stars has not been as shiny as our pro dancers sequined garnished ensembles. After two weeks without his dance muse, Julianne, our Cody Linley barely escaped last night's elimination in a show packed with fluff & filler - much of which didn't make sense. (I'm talking to you Dr. Drew: he who should have counseled himself out of doinga guest spot as appetizing as drinking tepid cauliflower soup).

Cody is getting better with each week;here's hoping he'll get some of his dance machine moves under house arrest before he's shown the door.

It's finally time for the next round of shows to premiere, and with that round comes one of my favorites, 30 Rock, tonight...or today...if you watch it online at nbc.com ahead of time apparently. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to watch shows online after the fact in case you miss them. But, I'm not sure I like that you can now go online and watch shows early. It kind of takes some of the "thrill" out of premiere night. Plus, it's too much of a temptation to stray from your work duties. At least the early viewing is open to everyone...unlike with Friday Night Lights.

Hello, Turtledoves! We've reached that sparkling point of our favorite cheesy dancefest when the weaves drink Miracle Grow, the Lift Police chilax a bit, the costumes emerge in a special kind of gaudy  & the silver disco ball needs a spit shine. It's the halfway mark of Dancing With the Stars!

In an otherwise uninspired season (save for the kicky glitter-grafitti'd hair & make up) last night's eppy introduced four new dances never performed on the DWTS stage: The Hustle, The Jitterbug, Salsa, & West Coast Swing. Ok, now we're steppin!

The Hustle - Susan Lucci & Tony, Warren Sapp & Kym

Seriously, who does Ms. Lucci's partner treat her like an unwrapped First Edition Barbie? This is by no means an endorsement, but if Cloris Leachman can get flung, stretched & borderline elderly abused on the dance-floor, by golly Ms. Kan-I mean, Lucci can get some fire underneath that gold fringe. Warren Sapp was truly made for this style of dance. Both parties integrated technique that was on the mark for this disco-inspired funky treat, but I preferred Team Sapp's faster version rather than La Lucci's slow homage to Studio 54.

Salsa - Maurice Green & Cheryl, Cloris Leachman & Corky

Really now? America has let Ms. Leachman actually stick around long enough to pull out some decent dance moves & climb to the middle of the pack. Her grandmotherly hotness however is still creepy. That is all. Maurice & Cheryl's behind the scenes smackdown (in which she called our Olympian lazy) was a highlight for me because in the end he rocked the house, earning his highest scores. Tough love. Mean Cheryl. Both teams infused fun & likeability into the routines so I give them props for not forcing me to channel surf.

West Coast Swing - Lance Bass & Lacey, Toni Braxton & Alec

Note to Lacey: You were called out on So You Think You Can Dance for the exact same show boating over your partner that the judges checked you on tonight so don't play that "I'm the new kid" card with us, missy! That said, Lacey is a West Coast Swing Champ which in all fairness does tend to lean toward spinning & throwing ladies here & about. Though she's precise bomb that she is, Lance was more of her tool this evening. I mean that in a nice way. And the always gorgeous Ms. Braxton is breaking my heart because her dancing is coming off like an almost clean wipe off board. I'm afraid she's in trouble this week. Not to mention clueless Alec gave her nothing that really resembled the style to me.

The Jitterbug - Brooke Burke & Derek, Cody Linley & Julianne

OMG: I am so a fan of this style after tonite! Never have I been a fan of this (unless of course I am watching Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed kick it up in "It's A Wonderful Life.") But the Hough siblings both pulled out some fancy moves that had me smiling. What got me was both were so unfamiliar with this style that Derek had to print out directions from the Internet (which was such a set up because why wouldn't he just watch a You Tube clip? And what was up with the half pony tail in practice? I digress). The technique was spot on, the tricks were plenty. Even though Team Burke scored higher points, our hometown dance king Linley had much more charm, charisma & laughs as Ricky & Lucy - whom happen to be this dancer's favorite TV couple of all time.

Dallas: Cody has broken out to the top of the pack!!!! Here's hoping he stays there.

What do you think, bangle bracelets? Does Cody have what it takes to go all the way? Are you scared Cloris has done well enough to stick around ANOTHER week? Who won the Jitterbug dance off for real? Wasn't it a trip to see the pros off their games with styles foreign to them?

And finally....who's already prepared for Christmas & can you help a sister out?

Good gravy, Texas Toast-muffins.....Cloris Leachman is STILL in the Dancing With the Stars Ballroom.

Oh blessed TV Producers that be: why must thou forsake us?

After an hour of being subjected to much filler, cheesy fodder and shirtless faux Riverdance wonderments, the good news is that Texas' Cody Linley is hanging tough & gaining ground each week. His interview packages reflect a kid straight out of high school PE, but when he leads his partner Julianne Hough on the dance floor, he is a poised picture of confidence, growing dance skill and charm. (It was good to see his high school principal put him in check for too much horseplay. Where's there's sequins, there's seriousness!)

He's a true gentleman.

But back to Cloris.

I am by no means a gammy-hater. I have two of them. But Brooke Burke (seemingly poised for the big win this season) is so skilled & adept at ballroom body speak, it just seems pointless to have our fair Mrs. Garret's Unnecessary Replacement in the mix. You know it's a lackluster week of competition when Ms. Leachman posted some of the highest scores in the bunch. (I know, right?!)

Next week, one word: The Hustle. Ok - that would be two words.

One of three new styles being introduced in ballroom leaves me to wonder if So You Think You Can Dance is missing a page in their playbook.

I am stoked.