Why TV executives are dumb

Recently the major networks held their upfronts. This is when they announce new shows and officially cancel failed shows from the previous season. With the invention of Tivo/DVR and the rise of original cable programming the networks have been in bad shape lately, and you can bet that writer's strike didn't help.

Of course all the hits are sure things, "Heroes," "Grey's Anatomy" and the various CSIs all get immediate pickups.

New shows with breakout stars or big numbers are also in. Shows like "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money," are also in.

There were a few high profile flops this season, among them "Bionic Woman" and "Cane." Upon first glance these shows seemed like sure things. They had casts full of big name talent and their respective networks were throwing tons of cash into them. Unfortunately, money can't buy success and they're both gone.

The most nerve wracking part of upfronts week is the wait to see whether your favorite show on the bubble will be renewed.

Because of the strike there was a lack of material and it was said that networks would be kinder to bubble shows. For fans of "Moonlight," "New Amsterdam" and "Jericho" this wasn't quite true.

Fox decided to axe "New Amsterdam" to make room for the future classic "The Moment of Truth." I suppose they have a one cult sci-fi show per season rule over there and this year "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" got the nod.

CBS canceled "Moonlight" and "Jericho" but kept "The Big Bang Theory." Are the inmates running the asylum over there? Oh and two more "Survivors" I can hardly wait. It's not like they've done the same show 16 times already. We get it they're in the jungle and there's backstabbing.

In a truly confounding move ABC is renewing "According to Jim." Has anyone ever heard another person say hey did you see "According to Jim" last night? I didn't think so. That makes me wonder who on this planet could possibly be watching that show. I don't think Jim Belushi is even watching.

NBC is trying to be different and claim that they have new programming all summer long. What they're really saying is that they're loading up on reality shows for three months until they can bring back "Heroes" and "The Office."

Another revelation discovered at the upfronts is that American TV producers have run out of ideas. Almost every network has at least one or two British shows being developed for America. British shows are great, BBC America is a fantastic channel. However, if I've already seen the original "Life on Mars" why do I need to watch ABC's copy.

The upfronts aren't all bad news. Some the new shows sound really interesting. FOX has the latest Joss Whedon project titled "Dollhouse." They also have J.J. Abrams's new show called "Fringe." The CW has already announced the return of a a little show called "90210."

The lesson of all this is to not get too attached because next year we may be talking about the failure of "90210," or how FOX pulled "Dollhouse" without airing the final six episodes.

I guess we could always turn off the TV and read a book, not likely though.

Huzzah!

I did it; I finally watched the entire second season of "Torchwood."

Unlike Stephanie I'm a Tivo junkie and spent the better part of my spring break catching up on Torchwood.

Things got a lot darker the second time around. But this doesn't mean they were all great ("Out of the rain")