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.