But, yes, you're going to have to wait until March to find out just what will happen next to our favorite reptilian aliens and the human resistance movement, now that the ABC sci-fi series goes into hiatus following tonight's episode.

The fall finale, entitled "It's Only the Beginning," served as a perfect wrap-up of the first act of "V" and was just the thing to whet viewers' appetites for the nine remaining episodes of the first season of "V." In a perfect world, viewers would get the start of those episodes in January rather than March, but there's not much that can be done about that now, sadly.

The four episodes we've seen so far can therefore be looked at as an introduction to the narrative of "V," plus the writers gave us some payoffs to a number of plot threads while bringing in several new subplots to keep us turning over in our heads during the way-too-long hiatus.

This week's episode found the Fifth Column attempting to crack down on a potential biological threat against the humans as Tyler cuddled his way closer to Lisa while being ignored by his mother, Valerie sought salvation from her heartache at a Visitor healing center, Georgie got trigger happy, Father Jack showed off his right hook, Chad was faced with a dilemma once more, and Anna bestowed bliss upon her people.

In other words: Quite a lot happened this week.

R6. The resistance uncovered a Visitor plot to inject the humans with a strange chemical compound. Using Ryan's knowledge of Visitor scientists (a fact that immediately makes Erica suspicious), they are able to find Peter Combs, the only surviving Visitor scientist from an experiment that had been abandoned. But rather than take him alive so they can question him, Georgie (who previously announced his desire to skin a Visitor) shoots erratically at Peter, who returns fire and wounds Georgie. Ryan is able to save both Georgie and Erica by taking down Peter, but he's able to take a suicide capsule ... which renders him little more than ash. (So that's what happened to Cyrus last week.)

Warehouse. Mistakenly believing that the vitamin supplement that Anna announces on television is the likely target of Peter Combs' plot (it is said to fight cancer and even stave off aging), Erica, Jack and Ryan make a shocking discovery at a warehouse that is even more insidious. Uncovering evidence of experimentation on human subjects, they soon realize that the vitamin supplements are smokescreen to divert attention from the real threat: the flu vaccine. The warehouse is overflowing with vaccine that has been tampered with and is intended to be shipped the following day. Ryan is able to detonate a Visitor failsafe within the security system, but they encounter trouble from the Visitors ... and Father Jack is able to unleash his mighty right hook on one of them, whom we'll call Baldy.

Erica. I'm glad that the writers are choosing to make Erica Evans a deeply flawed individual, which makes for more interesting viewing. She's a great FBI counter-terrorism agent, and her naturally suspicious nature and inquisitiveness make her a valued member of the resistance force. However, she does appear to be a pretty lousy mother, and this week's episode plays this up for dramatic effect. Despite Tyler wanting to come clean to her about his girlfriend Lisa's true nature (after she caught the two of them nearly naked in his bedroom), Erica chooses to do some online sleuthing. When she finally sits down with Tyler, their tête-à-tête is interrupted by a phone call from Ryan ... and Tyler changes his mind about telling her. I like that Erica isn't perfect; she's canny enough to suspect Ryan of being a V but is so focused on saving the world that she doesn't notice her son is slipping away from her -- and (almost) sleeping with the enemy.

Father Jack. We learned this week that there's more to Father Jack Landry than meets the eye. As a former military chaplain who served two tours of duty in Iraq, Jack isn't quite the pacifist that he initially appears to be, and the writers give Joel Grestch a beautifully nuanced scene where has to decide between two possible paths: that of righteousness or that of vengeance. Does he choose to pick up that gun (secreted in a file cabinet with an American flag)? Nope... but then he quickly gets skewered by Baldy, the freaky Visitor whom the resistance ran into at the warehouse. But before Baldy can finish taking out Father Jack, he's interrupted (seems to be a theme tonight), and Jack's life is saved. Given Erica's insistence that they keep a low profile, this looks to be slightly more difficult now as the police likely will get involved ... plus a Visitor cell is aware of Jack's identity and, therefore, possibly the others'.

Joseph. Anna orders a thorough investigation into the murder of sleeper agent Dale Maddox, which was carried out by Fifth Column member Joseph at the end of last week's episode. And she shows her true colors here as she states emphatically that someone will be made to pay for Dale's murder, and if no one from the medical staff steps forward, she'll exact her punishment on someone at random to make an example of him or her. Joseph wants to come clean, but his friend (does he have a name?) sacrifices himself and takes the fall. Anna, ever the torturer, makes Joseph perform the punishment as he must skin his friend alive. Ouch.

Bliss. But though Anna takes, she also gives, as we see this week. The bliss scene, in which Anna provides each of the "connected" Vs with a sense of euphoria, is absolutely spellbinding. Although bliss seems to be a drug, it's also a spiritual sensation, something of an absolution as she washes away all sin, all wrongdoing and bad feelings. Very interesting... I can see now why a disconnected Visitor might long to return to this hive-mind and to the gift that only Anna can seem to bestow. Hmmm...

Valerie. Although Valerie has seemed more or less separate from the overarching plot this season, that changes this week as we learn that (A) she just happens to be Tyler's therapist, (B) the Visitors are watching their psychotherapy sessions (by way of embedded cameras in the peace-ambassador jackets), and (C) she's pregnant ... with a possible human-Visitor hybrid. The last fact is discovered when Valerie uses Tyler's Visitor connections to score a visit to a healing center, where she is told that the Visitors can cure her heart condition and that she's pregnant with Ryan's child. (One issue: If the Visitor technology is so advanced, wouldn't they be able to tell whether her unborn child is completely human?) So it looks like we might be seeing the beginning of the alien-human baby storyline from the original "V" unfold here ... and it's only a matter of time before Ryan has to come clean about his true identity.

Chad. Poor Chad Decker can't catch a break. Just as he begins a story about the Visitor healing centers (I was hoping he'd cross paths with Valerie), he is told that the scan the Visitors performed on him has turned up a potentially fatal brain aneurysm, one that would have remained undiagnosed until it was too late. The Visitors can cure his condition, but there's a catch: He'd be in their debt, perhaps forever. We're not told what Chad decides to do, but I can't help but think he'll agree to undergo treatment, even against his better judgment. Of course, there's no guarantee that he even has an aneurysm in the first place; tests can be faked, and the Visitors even go so far as to say that a second opinion won't help as his condition won't show up using conventional human diagnostics.

Tyler and Lisa. I'm liking Laura Vandervoort's Lisa more and more, especially since the reveal last week that she is the daughter of Morena Baccarin's Anna. I'm still not sold on Tyler, though. At all. It's still not entirely clear what Anna and Lisa's plans are for Tyler other than that he is "the one." Anna takes him on a behind-the-scenes tour of the mother ship, showing him their sophisticated propulsion system. Lisa gives him a kiss after she gets her dose of bliss. With Valerie about to become the unwitting mother of a hybrid baby, I don't see them using Tyler for some sort of procreative experiment. But just what they want from him remains a total mystery. Any thoughts?

And what did you make of the final shot of the episode, in which we see that the 29 Visitor ships floating above the Earth's cities aren't quite as alone as they want the humans to believe, given that there are about 100 other ships heading towards Earth? And what will happen when "V" comes back in March? Head to the comments section to discuss.

— Jace Lacob (follow my musings on television, food and more television on Twitter at @televisionary)

Related:
'V': Previewing tonight's fall finale
From the Others to the Visitors: Elizabeth Mitchell talks about battling the otherworldly on her new ABC series 'V'
Complete 'V' coverage on Showtracker

Photo: A worried Ryan (Morris Chestnut) embraces fiancée Valerie (Lourdes Benedicto) after receiving some potentially disturbing news on ABC's "V." Credit: Sergei Bachlakov  / ABC

This week's TV Movies

SERIES

Shadow Soldiers: In Kazakhstan, former British Special Forces agent Chris Ryan trains with the Sunkar, an elite SWAT team of 120 men equipped with military-style weaponry (6 and 9 p.m. National Geographic).

The New Adventures of Old Christine: Lindsay (Alex Kapp Horner) decides to leave her husband after Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) convinces her that being single leads to happiness, but Christine is less than ecstatic when Lindsay moves in with her in the new episode (8 p.m. CBS).

The Biggest Loser: More than 40 former contestants from the show's first seven seasons reveal how they look now and what they've been doing since they left the series on a new "Where Are They Now" episode (8 p.m. NBC).

Human Wrecking Balls: The brothers dismantle an entire gas station in this new episode (8 p.m. G4).

Lock 'n Load: The hidden camera series targets sales of concealed weapons in its season finale (8 p.m. Showtime).

Gary Unmarried: Gary (Jay Mohr) lets Louise (Kathryn Newton) attend a party and tries to keep it a secret in this new episode (8:30 p.m. CBS).

CSI: NY: After uncovering the murderer's dark lair, Mac (Gary Sinise) and the team race to save the fourth victim of the Compass Killer (Skeet Ulrich) in this new episode (10 p.m. CBS).

SPECIALS

The Beatles on Record: This new special charts the evolution of the Beatles as musicians and songwriters through recordings made at Abbey Road Studios starting in 1962. Narrated by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and producer Sir George Martin (10 p.m. History).

MOVIES

The Singing Nun: Debbie Reynolds is all sweetness and light in this charming 1966 portrait of a Belgian nun who earns international fame for her musical talent (and her chart hit "Dominique"). Greer Garson, Ricardo Montalban, Agnes Moorehead, Chad Everett and Katharine Ross costar (3 p.m. TCM).

Gracie: A teenage soccer wannabe (Carly Schroeder) competes against male players for the high-school team spot opened by her brother's death in this 2007 drama. Dermot Mulroney and Elisabeth Shue also star (8 p.m. KTLA).

SPORTS

College basketball: EA Sports Maui Invitational: Third-place game (1:30 p.m. ESPN2); Final 7 p.m. ESPN), from Maui, Hawaii. NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals (4 p.m. ESPN2 and 6:30 p.m. ESPN2).

Pro basketball: The Clippers visit the Indiana Pacers (4 p.m. FS Prime).

Hockey: The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Ducks (7 p.m. FS Prime).

Photo: Carin Baer / Fox

This week's TV Movies

The Early Show Robin Williams; chef Elizabeth Carmel. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Bon Jovi. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA

Good Morning America Chef Emeril Lagasse; "Dancing With the Stars" finalists. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Regis and Kelly Thomas Gibson ("Criminal Minds"); the cast of "The Beatles Love" by Cirque du Soleil; Regis and Joy Philbin perform. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Natalie Portman ("Brothers"); the winners of "Dancing With the Stars" perform. (N) 10 a.m. KABC

The Doctors Dr. Ruth Westheimer answers embarrassing questions about sexual topics. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL

The Dr. Oz Show Kitchen 911. 11 a.m. KTTV

The Martha Stewart Show Michael Anthony. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC

The Bonnie Hunt Show Jimmy Kimmel; Morgan Lily; Pioneer woman Ree Drummond; Jeffrey Ross. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Tyra Show Tyra poses as a man to find out how they talk and act when women are not around. 3 p.m. KTLA

Oprah Winfrey Vicki Kennedy discusses her relationship with Ted Kennedy and his book, "True Compass." (N) 3 p.m. KABC

Dr. Phil A woman says her husband lies all the time; using body language to pinpoint deception. (N) 4 p.m. KCBS

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side"). (N) 4 p.m. KNBC

The Tyra Show Authors Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt ("How to Be Famous"). (N) 4 p.m. KTLA

The Dr. Oz Show The top four dangerous medicine mistakes women make; Bob Harper; dizziness. (N) 5 p.m. KTTV

Larry King Live (N) 6 and 9 p.m. CNN

Dr. Phil Comments received on his show dealing with infidelity; a male perspective on infidelity. 7 p.m. KCAL

Tavis Smiley Dave Matthews. 7 and 11 p.m. KCET

The Jay Leno Show Paula Patton. (N) 10 p.m. KNBC

Lopez Tonight (N) 11 p.m. TBS

Charlie Rose Maziar Bahari, Newsweek. (N) 11:30 p.m. KCET

Late Show With David Letterman Natalie Portman ("Brothers"); Adam Lambert ("American Idol") performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Norm MacDonald; snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler; Dan Cummins. (N) 11:35 p.m. KNBC

Nightline (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

Jimmy Kimmel Live Sportscaster Charles Barkley; Peter Facinelli; Leona Lewis performs. (N) 12:06 a.m. KABC

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Robin Wright; chef Wolfgang Puck. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Seth Green; Tommy Lee; Mos Def and Talib Kweli perform. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Last Call With Carson Daly David Gray performs. (N) 1:36 a.m. KNBC

"American Idol" returns on Jan. 12 and will help launch "Our Little Genius," a new game show by Mark Burnett ("Survivor" and "The Apprentice") the following night. "Our Little Genius" then will shift to Tuesdays paired with "Idol" until April 13, when "Glee" returns for its remaining nine episodes at 9 p.m.

The new drama "Human Target," starring Mark Valley, premieres on Jan. 20 after "Idol."

As previously announced, "24" returns with a two-night premiere on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 and then settles into its regular Monday 9 p.m. slot after "House" on Jan. 25.

"Fringe," which has taken a ratings hit on its new night, will remain on Thursdays but will take a break beginning Feb. 11, when Fox launches the new drama "Past Life."  "Fringe" returns to the schedule on April 1.

As previously announced, "Dollhouse" will end on Jan. 22. "Kitchen Nightmares" will take over its Friday time slot the following week.

The new comedy "Sons of Tuscon," starring Tyler Labine, will premiere March 14 at 8:30 p.m. when "The Cleveland Show" moves to 9:30 p.m. and "American Dad" is off the schedule.

Fox also ordered a complete second season of "Lie To Me."

--Maria Elena Fernandez

Related:

Mark Valley stars in "Human Target"

Dollhouse is canceled

She’s also the former wife of Andy Warhol protégé Ronnie Cutrone, the mother of a young girl named Ava, and she used to run with Anthony Haden-Guest, the writer who would later be immortalized in “The Bonfire of the Vanities.” With such a packed autobiography already, what could have convinced her to take part in a reality show?

“I really thought a lot about it,” remembers Kelly Cutrone, who heads the PR and branding company People’s Revolution. “Then, I decided it was an interesting way to talk about what I wanted to talk about. Also, I thought it would be an interesting way to brand and work with my clients. And I think I was right.”

Cutrone, 44, has built her success from a series of similarly correct hunches. At 21, she moved to New York City from suburban Syracuse with $2,000 from her father, who according to Cutrone, said: “This is the only money I’ll ever give you if you want to move to that hellhole. Call me anytime to pick you up and bring you back home. Otherwise, you’re on your own.”

Evicted from her apartment after six months, because she couldn’t pay the rent, it was Hayden-Guest who suggested that she should become a publicist. Cutrone says that when she asked him what a publicist did, he answered, “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s what you do anyway. You just talk all day and introduce people to eachother.” That’s when Cutrone decided to go into publicity – another decision that has paid off for her.

And when the publishing company, HarperOne, called to offer her a book deal, she jumped on it. “If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You” (co-written with Meredith Bryan) will be out next February. The book contains her trademark “Kelly-isms,” as she calls them, on life and gaining success.

Recently, I got to speak with Cutrone about life in “The City” and her thoughts on her infamous interns and assistants: Whitney Port, Roxy Olin and, of course, Lauren Conrad.

Are you comfortable with how you’ve been portrayed in "The Hills" and “The City”?
Yeah, I am. When I started, I already knew myself and I already liked myself and I already didn’t care what people thought of me. So I was pretty thick-skinned. I wasn’t a young woman who was in the middle of trying to figure out what I was about. I was aware of the negativity that is placed on women who are seen as powerful. That doesn’t seem to actually apply to men, as much, and certainly not Caucasian men. I wasn’t aware of it to the extent that I actually went through it, but I think I did a really good job of not running away and sticking to the fact that almost everything I said was coming from a place of truth.

Have you always seen something in Whitney?

The thing that I always knew about Whitney was that she had a lot of depth. I knew she was a nice person. She always read as a non-liability. In the beginning, someone who could become a great publicist can also read as potential liability. They have a lot of energy. They like to talk. If you get five or 10 of those type of girls and they’re young and they’re trying to learn PR, that could be really annoying energetically all day.  So from the beginning, her energy was always very soothing and nice to be around. I knew she wasn’t going to do something that was going to hurt my business.

We have a very close relationship. Beyond the show, I really care for her and want her to do well.

Roxy has a lot more energy and a lot more ideas. She’s a good example of what I just said. When I met Whitney, I liked her instantly. I knew that there was no potential for her to be a liability for me. On the other hand, Roxy has a lot of energy and she’s very creative. That will be a huge asset for her, but you don’t want that energy popping up at the wrong time.  But I like her. She’s a Scorpio. I’m a Scorpio. There are a lot of similarities between us.

That’s what Roxy told me when I interviewed her. So you agree?
I think Roxy is very competent and smart. I do want to make that point. When you’re doing a show like this, it’s almost like every sentence you’re speaking is like a balloon that goes up in the air. Then when they sit down to edit, they pull down the balloons that they want. That’s how they make the show.

Roxy has done some amazing and some confident things. And she’s done some not-so-cool things just like me. You make mistakes.

So, while you’re watching the show, did you find some of the things Roxy said disrespectful?
A lot of the people who work at People’s Revolution are disrespectful. I’m sitting here with power-chicks or wannabee power-chicks. They try to run me out of the arena. I have to hold my own all the time over here. That’s why I have to be so strict, because otherwise there would be a coup d'état.

What did you think of Whitney’s fashion line?
I thought it was cute and I thought it was good, but I really thought that it needed work. Everybody wants a fashion line and I told her, “Listen, this is going to be harder for you. It would be easier for you to have a fashion line if people didn’t know who you were. There’s a ton of haters in the world and there will be people who want to see you make a fool of yourself.”

So her line had to be better than any other person her age who's starting one. That’s the beautiful truth and that’s the sad reality of where she was at. To be honest with you, the guidance I gave her and the stuff that we did together, I have to do for 90% of my clients, anyway, regardless of whether you’re in your 20s or you’re an older brand.

We were never friends. She worked for me and now she doesn’t. Like most people who work for me, I don’t really stay in touch with her. But it’s not for any other reason than we were never BFFs, as the girls would say.

What message would you want viewers to take away from watching you?
One of the things I really like doing right now, and it’s come through TV and the book I’m about to put out, is to talk to young people who want to go after their dreams. There’s this whole thing that’s going on around the world that people are told their dreams aren’t real and they can’t have them. And that the world that I live in is not the “real world.” I want to help kids bust through that, so that they can stop being programmed. Even working in my office, I see these girls who think their parents raised them to be independent, but they just want them to get pregnant and have 2.5 kids by the time they’re 27.

– Jethro Nededog (follow me on Twitter @TheRealJethro)

Related:

Exclusive first look: Can Whitney trust Roxy on 'The City'?

‘The City’: You have to know your tribe

Full Show Tracker coverage of 'The City'

Photos: The many faces of Kelly Cutrone on "The City." Credit: MTV

USA renews "Psych": Season 5 coming your way next summer, says Variety. The second half of the current fourth season begins in January.

"Twilight" heads to FX: The cable network, home to such gritty male-skewing dramas as "Sons of Anarchy" and "Rescue Me," has just bought the rights to the four "Twilight" movies (including the unreleased sequels "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn.") Also included in the deal with "Twilight" producer Summit Entertainment are the movies "The Hurt Locker," "Knowing," and "Push." THR reports that the first of the vampire romance films will debut on the channel in 2011.

Susan Boyle gets profiled: TV Guide Network announced it would air "I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," on Dec. 13.

Adam Lambert draws record audiences: The singer's controversial performance helped boost ratings for Sunday's "American Music Awards." More than 14.2 million viewers watched his racy moves (and J.Lo fall on her butt). That's the show's biggest draw since 2002.

...he also drew complaints: Some 1,500 of them. No word on whether or not the Federal Communications Commission will take any action.

First 'Cougar Town,' now 'FlashForward': ABC has temporarily shut down production on the freshman sci-fi drama. Sources tell EW.com that the break was accounted for in production schedules. "FlashForward" has already been picked up for a full season. Elsewhere, People.com reports that "Cougar Town" goes back into production Nov. 30, at which point star Courteney Cox's "family matter" will have been resolved.

-- Denise Martin

“It’s not just pulling whatever the latest fashion page is and putting it on the screen, although that’s part of it. It’s also interpreting it for each of the characters, which is the main thing I do as a costume designer.” 

Click on the photo (above) to see a gallery of Helmer's most winning looks this season.

Before joining “90210,” Helmer made a name for himself styling popular teen films like “Epic Movie,” “D.E.B.S.,” and “Herbie Fully Loaded,” starring Lindsay Lohan. When he was presented with the challenge of applying his talents to TV and amping up the look of West Bev’s most popular students (especially in the face of comparisons to “Gossip Girl’s” edgy NYC style), Helmer jumped at it.

“We don’t want to be copying anybody else,” says Helmer.  “It’s so great to have that freedom to actually build these characters, both aesthetically and story-wise. I go out there. I’m out and about. I live on the Eastside. I work on the Westside. I base my looks on real girls, and that’s what’s really exciting about it. It is translating Southern California to the screen for the world to see. It’s super exciting.”

-- Jethro Nededog

Related:

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot hits '90210'

'90210': Telling the truth is in, but Navid is out

'90210': Jessica Stroup on Silver's mom, men, and being more than Naomi's minion

'90210': No more happy half-birthdays for Silver

Complete '90210' coverage on Showtracker

Photo credit: The CW

But rather than go the regular route of having each finalist perform two routines -- one standard and one freestyle -- the producers have tried to jazz up their own combination of choreography and entertainment by introducing something new into this program: the Megamix. Which, as it turns out, is neither an intrastate lottery nor a CD compilation of hair-metal music. No, the Megamix is a routine in which all couples dance the same dance back to back, in unison (this one just so happened to be choreographed by Seasons 2 and 3 pro Nick Kosovich). But instead of a groovy rendition worthy of a volume of "Now That’s What I Call Dance," the Megamix kind of turned out to be a mixed bag, no? It went so quickly and kind of clunkily from the Viennese waltz to the samba to the jive that it was hard to keep up. And I think Kelly still may be taking off her skirt in the transition.

Finals week is also the time when the dreaded and adored freestyle routine comes into play, and the stars and their pro partners pull out every trick in the book to light up the Rectagon dance floor and win those viewer votes. And clearly, it wasn’t enough that Tom and Samantha had mentioned that the treasured Mirrorball trophy had both been won and lost on this throw-caution-to-the-wind dance: We also had to get the stars themselves talking about it, as well as previous champs Brooke Burke, Helio Castroneves and Drew Lachey. We get it. It’s important!

Of course, Mya and Dmitry Chaplin dominated the judges’ scoreboard with their technical precision. And after their first two perfect-30 routines, it looked like nothing could put a chink in their dance armor. Self-proclaimed “grumpy judge” Len came to help the couple out in rehearsals and told Mya that she needed to move past her subdued state if she ever wanted to lay claim to the coveted disco orb. Hers and Dmitry’s resulting paso doble took a page out of Mel B and Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s “Free Your Mind” showstopper from a couple seasons back. This one was set to Queen’s “We Will Rock You," had Mya and Dmitry clad in black studs and flaunted some fancy skirt swinging and a flying leap in which Dmitry -- with the undereye makeup of a linebacker -- acted like a matador who was going for the kill with a bedazzling blade. “Fearless, flamboyant … amazing,” crowed Bruno. “The power of Mya unleashed for all to admiya!” Carrie Ann dubbed her the queen of the paso doble, and Len said this routine measured right up there with Mel B and Maks’. Not only that, but Mya and Dmitry also got the full 30 points being the Megamixiest Megamix dancers of them all.

Their freestyle, however, was not as celebrated. The rehearsal footage showed a difference of artistic vision between the star and her pro partner as they decided which avenue to take for their make-it-or-break-it dance. Dmitry wanted to go with a big Broadway number from “Hairspray,” because he thought having a familiar tune would connect more with the audience; Mya was afraid using the number would be playing it a little safe and wanted to go more in the direction of Sin City. They ended up going with the pro’s idea, though, in retrospect, maybe Mya was right. Their big Broadway number was, as Tom said, “a cardio routine and a half” and showed off a colorfully sparkly halter top and voluminous skirt that made for fun swishes. But it didn’t blow away expectations or give any wow moments. Would a Vegas number have been better? Perhaps. It just didn’t seem like this routine was necessarily tailored to Mya’s strengths and may not have served her as well as, say, a sultry Latin dance would have. We all knew that she was subdued, so, come to think of it, maybe an Adam Shankman dance that required wattage rivaling the Main Street Electrical Parade wasn’t the best idea. Carrie Ann called the dance “high energy, fun but not outstanding;” Len complained “there was a sameness about it all; it never went anywhere.” Even Bruno concurred: “At this stage, I was expecting something more spectacular.” Despite the wah-wah comments, the judges still awarded Mya three 9s for her efforts, leaving Mya and Dmitry with a final tally of 87 out of 90.

Which leaves the door open for Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson. Donny, as we know, is the consummate showman -- and has such a huge fan following that he sailed right along to the finals even after slumming at the bottom of the judges’ leader board for the last two weeks. Are people voting for him so that he’ll get farther than his sister Marie? It sure did seem like they were playing up that dramatic angle in the competition. Marie even showed up in a fog of smoke and was twirled by partner Jonathan Roberts during practice so that Donny wouldn’t get so riled up by her presence. Donny, as we all very well know by now, is very competitive. He would like nothing better than to take the Mirrorball trophy back to his home state of Utah. But it’s only now become clear why: “If you had a sister named Marie, and she was going to rub it in your face for the rest of your life, you’d want to win it too.”

Bruno made an appearance at Donny and Kym’s rehearsal segment, but there were no entreaties to come over to the dark side and no attempt to play up their bromance. Clearly, Bruno didn’t have a lot of time, and there would be no airy-fairy-ness going on during this hour! Mostly what he wanted Donny to do was to be technically sharp and “don’t look down!” And Donny didn’t, as far as I could see. Or maybe it was just because I was too mesmerized by Kym’s silver-tinsel Christmas-tree outfit during their cha cha cha to really notice. Oh, but there were those missed turns. Carrie Ann brought up the “misfortune with the hand connection” but whistled prettily about Donny’s newfound hip action. “Ding dong Donny,” said Len. “That was a cha cha cha.” Bruno did not say so much about the dance but went on and on and on about Donny’s professionalism, which may not win him the coveted Mirrorball trophy but did immediately make him a shoo-in for the next round of interviews for the less glitzy but also coveted Time Warner Cable manager position.

Luckily, Donny and Kym were able to end their night on a high note with their freestyle. And the routine, to Kym's credit, fit Donny’s larger-than-life showman personality like a well-tailored tuxedo T-shirt. Kym was smart to play up his performance elements, and I loved how they started up on top of the grand staircase and skedaddled their way down. And how happy was I to see the Woz’s old pink boa make its way out for an encore performance? The routine, performed to Stephen Sondheim’s “Back in Business” smartly had Donny in a tux and Kym in a casino-girl outfit and had steps that, as the song said, “let the good times roll.” Len commended Donny for “an absolute showstopper.” No. 1 fan Bruno called him “Mr. Show Business at his best.” And Carrie Ann inducted him into the freestyle hall of fame. And though I’m not sure I would have given Donny a perfect 30 for this routine, it was still an exuberant number. Plus, had he not been given that score, we wouldn’t have been treated to the succession of “oh!s” that followed. Donny and Kym got a 27 for their cha cha, and earned second place and 28 points for Donny doing his best impression of a professional during the Megamix, and a 30 for their freestyle, for a total of 85.

In third place were Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel. And though it’s pretty clear that Kelly doesn’t really come close to some of the other dancers technically, Monday night’s performances emphasized why the Princess of Darkness has made it this far in the competition: The girl’s a hoot and half to have around. Not only does her beaming face give the glaring lights of the Rectagon a run for their money, but the Osbourne heiress’ colorful, expletive-laden comments also give the program a nice touch of spice. Like when Louis wanted Kelly to try a handstand during the freestyle. “Are you out of your f---ing mind?” she responded. “I’m going to look like a beached whale.” 

There were no whales or beaches to be found anywhere during Kelly’s first number, an Argentine tango that had her sleek and sharp and dressed in black. Carrie Ann stopped by rehearsals to help Kelly achieve an emotional and sensual connection with her partner that bordered uncomfortably on TMI. And though it did seem like Kelly was able to imagine how soft Louis’ hands were and how he smelled (eau de Louis -- eesh), I thought her movement, though precise, was still a little timid and restrained. Carrie Ann said there was an intimacy and intensity that she hadn’t seen before, but Bruno pointed out her loosey-goosey free hand and said he wanted to see more “sensuality.”

Kelly and Louis’ freestyle was supposed to be her exclamation point on the reality star’s expletive-laden “DWTS” journey, but sadly, she was all but pooped out. The duo did a 180-degree turn from their all-black outfits to all white, and the song, set to Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” was supposed to show that: First she was afraid; she was petrified. But then she grew strong, and she learned how to carry on. And despite their dazzling outfits and an exuberant smile that looked like she was having the time of her life, there were a couple of clunky tumbles that kept her from “surviving” as resoundingly as she might have liked. “One of the lifts looked like Louis pooped me out!” she exclaimed good-naturedly. The judges saw no excrement in her routine, as their comments only served to bolster this season’s bad-girl-made-good. “You remind us of who we want to be when we’re faced with the same thing,” said Carrie Ann. “I thoroughly enjoyed watching you,” said Len. “You never looked more beautiful than tonight,” praised Bruno. “All the glitz and glamour of the disco era. And sometimes people fell on the floor.” Kelly and Louis received a 26 for their tango, a 26 for their third-place Mixalot finish and a 24 for their freestyle, for a total of 76.

What did you think, ballroom fans? Who got your vote after Monday night’s performances? Was the Megamix a mega success or mega mixed up? Will Donny’s perfect-30 freestyle give him the edge over Mya? Will Kelly upset the balance of the Mirrorball universe with a come-from-behind win? Post your comments below, and check back tomorrow for the results.

— Allyssa Lee

Related:

‘Dancing With the Stars’ results: The finalists revealed

‘Dancing With the Stars’: Semifinal smackdown

Complete ‘Dancing With the Stars’ coverage on Show Tracker

Photos, from top: Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson; Mya; Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel. Credit: Adam Larkey  / ABC

Exclusive first look: Olivia and Erin square off on ‘The City’

Complete Show Tracker coverage of ‘The City’

Photo: Whitney Port is working on her own fashion line in 'The City.' Credit: MTV

Video: Whitney Port and Kelly Cutrone on 'The City' Credit: MTV

I had the opportunity to watch tonight's electrifying episode of "V" over the weekend and have to say that the series, which started out a little shakily after its fantastic pilot, has definitely found its footing these last two episodes. This week's "V" is titled "It's Only the Beginning," and it's the perfect title for the end of the first pod of "V" episodes, which wraps up on a very high note.

If you've been on the fence at all about ABC's reimagining of "V," this is the episode to watch. Unfolding at a breakneck speed, there's a slew of neck-snapping plot twists, defining character moments and some enciting reveals designed to sate our appetite until "V" returns in the spring.

The first four episodes have seen the diverse characters of "V" very slowly come together, and this week several of the disparate plot threads begin to weave together into a single narrative tapestry. (Note: I'm following studio Warner Bros. Television's request not to reveal the extremely intriguing plot twists contained in tonight's "V," so there are only minor spoilers ahead.)

Many people assumed that, given the four-episode structure of these installments, that the first pod of "V" would function more or less like a miniseries. That's not entirely true. While there is a cliffhanger ending designed to get you to come back in March, these episodes haven't been structured in terms of a beginning, middle and an end. It's more of a prologue for what's to come when "V" returns with nine more episodes in the spring. The players are being moved into place, a bit more of the Visitor's plan becomes clear and the audience is given a look behind the scenes at the goings-on aboard the New York mothership.

Morena Baccarin once again brings the savvy and scary as the Vistors' high commander, Anna, and her performance alternates from seductress to concerned mother to draconian overlord. Given the extremes apparent in just this episode alone, it's down to Baccarin to make the fluid transformation subtle and compelling, and she manages to pull off the role with a flair that's astonishing to watch. 

Just what Anna's ultimate game plan is remains to be seen (though, as mentioned before, we're given another piece or two of the puzzle), but we do learn a bit more of the "bliss" that was mentioned in the third episode. As Cyrus noted in the third episode, there's a desire on the part of ousted Visitor traitors to become reconnected ... and that's all I'll say on that front.

Likewise, Elizabeth Mitchell once again dazzles with her front-and-center performance as the dogged FBI counter-terrorism agent Erica Evans. She's forced this week to make some decisions that might seem contrary to her role as a federal agent sworn to uphold the laws of this nation; however, Erica is the ultimate protector, and she's proving herself willing to do whatever it takes to keep her planet safe.  This week, Erica and the Fifth Column uncover a new threat against the planet that rather cannily uses a real-life situation affecting us at the moment.

Additionally there are some nice moments of frisson between Erica and Joel Gretsch's Father Jack Landry, the Catholic priest who has become Erica's de facto partner in the resistance movement ... and we learn a bit more about Father Jack this week, including an interesting revelation about his past that speaks volumes about the crisis of faith he's undergoing at the moment. Let's just say he's no stranger to some tense situations himself.

Meanwhile, Chad Decker (Scott Wolf) is faced with a moral dilemma of the highest order during his investigative piece on the Visitor's healing centers. Will he choose to remain independent and go with his instincts about the Visitors? Or will he make a decision that will forever place him in their debt? You'll have to find out.

The knowledge that Georgie (David Richmond-Peck) gained about Ryan's (Morris Chestnut) true nature comes to fruition this week as Georgie shows a side of himself that we hadn't seen before. Given the tenuousness of the alliances in the Fifth Column, some of these relationships will be pushed past their breaking point as well as reveal just how deeply Georgie's hatred of the Vs goes. 

Wondering just how Ryan's fiancee Valerie (Lourdes Benedicto) plays into all of this? Worry not, as she begins to move into the overarching plot this week as well as the focus shifts to include both her and Erica's teenage son, Tyler (Logan Huffman). Just what Anna wants with Tyler is still rather unclear, but it's apparent that she has some major plans for the greasy-haired would-be boyfriend of her daughter Lisa (Laura Vandervoort). Despite my disinterest in Tyler (and my outright frustration with the actor playing him), I have to say that I'm more than a little intrigued by where this plot is going.

All in all, tonight's sensational episode of "V" brings the drama in abundance and sets up several new stories that will keep the series' fans guessing until "V" returns in March. It's going to be a very long wait, indeed.

What have you thought of the first three episodes of "V" so far? What do you predict will unfold in the fall finale? Head to the comments section to discuss.

— Jace Lacob (follow my musings on television, food and more television on Twitter at @televisionary)

Related:
'V': Ignorance is bliss
From The Others to the Visitors: Elizabeth Mitchell talks about battling the otherworldly on her new ABC series 'V'
Complete 'V' coverage on Showtracker

Photo: Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) uncovers a biological threat to the human race on ABC's "V." Credit: Sergei Bachlakov  / ABC.

Meanwhile, Ted and Robin can't decide who should give Barney his gift. Robin says Ted should do it because he's come a long way from getting stood up at the aisle and losing his job. But he can't do it and gives it to Robin because a part of her must want to slap Barney after their breakup. I know I kind of wanted to after his blatant boasting right in front of her in “The Playbook.” Plus, Robin has “never slapped Barney ... above the waist.”

But she can't do it either. She offers to the slap to Mickey to welcome him to the family. You can see Barney's fear shoot up as the grown man approaches, but what do you know. He can't do it either and gives the slap to Lily to replace the wedding present he never gave her. As much as a slap from Mickey might have hurt, I think one from Lily would have been worse. She looks tiny, but I bet she's strong. We'll never know, though, because Barney is saved from Lily's powerful, little hands. She doesn't have it in her either.

Marshall explains that the slap did what it was supposed to do, which was bring them all together, and then just as Barney gets up and relaxes, Marshall slaps him hard for the fourth time. And for that, I am thankful this Slapsgiving.

This week's TV Movies

SERIES

Explorer: This new episode imagines the aftermath of a 6-mile-wide asteroid slamming into the Earth -- which some scientists believe happened 66 million years ago -- paying particular attention to which organisms survived the impact (7 and 10 p.m. National Geographic).

NCIS: Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and his team are forced to put their Thanksgiving plans on hold after the horrific death of a Marine leads them to a government think tank that employs child prodigies, where a 12-year-old might be the killer's next target. Gabriel Olds, Lisa Sheridan and Madeline Carroll guest star (8 p.m. CBS).

The Biggest Loser: Suze Orman talks to the five remaining contestants about the connection between health and wealth and gives them tips on becoming fiscally fit. Then former pro football player Rod Woodson helps start an NFL challenge (8 p.m. NBC).

Dirty Jobs: Mike reflects on some of his more hazardous apprenticeships and makes a plea for job safety (9 p.m. Discovery).

How the Earth Was Made: This documentary series premieres with a look at how geology and the Colorado River shaped the Grand Canyon, which is about a mile deep and extends for nearly 200 miles across the Southwest (9 p.m. History).

Dancing With the Stars: The winners are announced in the season finale (9 p.m. ABC).

The Good Wife: Alicia (Julianna Margulies) must navigate carefully through the minefield of office politics when she's assigned to represent a partner in the firm on a DUI charge (10 p.m. CBS).

Dinner With the Band: This new series premieres with an evening of cooking and live music as master chef Sam Mason invites his favorite bands over (11 p.m. IFC).

SPECIALS

Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure: Two antlered workers at the North Pole Weather Center try to help Santa save Christmas in this new holiday special (7 p.m. ABC Family).

MOVIES

Hercules: Tate Donovan voices the title role in Disney's 1997 animated adaptation of the Greek myth. With the voices of Danny DeVito and James Woods. Charlton Heston narrates (8 p.m. ABC Family).

The Matrix: A computer programmer and hacker (Keanu Reeves) discovers that his entire reality is virtual in this 1999 sci-fi tale. Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantoliano also star in the action and effects-packed adventure (8 p.m. AMC).

Appaloosa: Ed Harris directed and starred, with Viggo Mortensen and Renée Zellweger, in this 2008 western (8 p.m. Cinemax).

SPORTS

College basketball: EA Sports Maui Invitational: consolation games: (10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. ESPN2); semifinals, (4 and 6:30 p.m. ESPN). O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic final (7 p.m. ESPN2).

College football: Ball State at Western Michigan (4 p.m. ESPN2).

UEFA Champions League Soccer: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (11:30 a.m. FSN).

Pro basketball: The New York Knicks visit the Lakers (7:30 p.m. FSN).

Photo: Glen Wilson / New Line Productions

This week's TV Movies

The Early Show (N) 7 a.m. KCBS

Today Alicia Keys; author Al Roker; Rhea Perlman and Lucy DeVito. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC

KTLA Morning News (N) 7 a.m. KTLA

Good Morning America Robin Williams ("Old Dogs"); Nadya Suleman. (N) 7 a.m. KABC

Good Day L.A. (N) 7 a.m. KTTV

Live With Regis and Kelly Jimmy Kimmel; Carrot Top. (N) 9 a.m. KABC

The View Robin Williams ("Old Dogs"); Matthew Rhys ("Brothers & Sisters"). (N) 10 a.m. KABC

The Doctors A cosmetic procedure adds a dimple to one's cheek; breast augmentation. (N) 11 a.m. KCAL

The Dr. Oz Show The controversial new mammogram guidelines. 11 a.m. KTTV

The Martha Stewart Show Thomas Keller; David Gregory. (N) 2 p.m. KNBC

The Bonnie Hunt Show Scott Wolf; the winner of "Project Runway"; the U.S. trampoline team. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC

The Tyra Show Judge Jeanine Pirro provides decisions for people who have recently ended relationships and want their belongings back. 3 p.m. KTLA

Oprah Winfrey A salute to 2009's most extraordinary people. (N) 3 p.m. KABC

Dr. Phil A woman tries to rebuild her reputation after stealing her neighbor's dog and abandoning it. (N) 4 p.m. KCBS

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Penélope Cruz; Kris Allen performs; "So You Think You Can Dance" castoffs. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC

The Tyra Show Dr. Drew Pinsky ("Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew") discusses sexual addiction. (N) 4 p.m. KTLA

The Dr. Oz Show Hidden dangers of airports and hotels around the country; Kitchen 911. (N) 5 p.m. KTTV

Dr. Phil People close to the case of a 15-year-old girl who was gang-raped and beaten while witnesses stood by without calling 911. 7 p.m. KCAL

Tavis Smiley Kris Kristofferson. 7 and 11 p.m. KCET

The Jay Leno Show Charles Barkley; the latest contestant eliminated from "The Biggest Loser." (N) 10 p.m. KNBC

Lopez Tonight Sandra Bullock; Derek Luke. (N) 11 p.m. TBS

Charlie Rose Brain series (Part 2). (N) 11:30 p.m. KCET

Late Show With David Letterman Zac Efron; Carrie Fisher; Rihanna performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien Jack McBrayer; Marisa Miller; Weezer performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KNBC

Nightline (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC

Jimmy Kimmel Live Charlize Theron; the winner of "Dancing With the Stars"; Regis Philbin. (N) 12:06 a.m. KABC

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson Maria Bello; Peter Capaldi; Ben Harper and Relentless7. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Claire Danes; Chad Ochocinco; the Pixies perform. (N) 12:37 a.m. KNBC

Last Call With Carson Daly OK Go performs. (N) 1:36 a.m. KNBC

Details about Peet's character have not yet been released. Her episode will air in January.

In an article posted Thursday on E! Online, “How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris said that he would like the actress to guest star on the series. The next day, CBS revealed on Twitter that Peet was slated to guest star on the show.

Peet, who currently appears on the big screen in the film “2012,” costars alongside “Mother's” Jason Segel in the upcoming film “Gulliver's Travels.”

– Vlada Gelman (follow my TV musings on Twitter at @stayingin)

Related:

'HIMYM's Jason Segel crashes L.A. Swell Season concert, offers himself up for a date

'How I Met Your Mother': Going to the smoon

Complete 'How I Met Your Mother' coverage on Showtracker

Photo credit: AP

Cleveland is excited for his first Thanksgiving with his new family, especially since his mom, Cookie, is joining them. Unfortunately his father, Freight Train, has returned from running away with a waffle house waitress for the second time and comes for the holiday as well. Freight Train spends his time putting down Cleveland and Cookie, and in turn Cookie spends her time putting down Donna. It’s just like a real family!

Then Auntie Momma arrives. Donna’s outrageous aunt lightens everyone’s mood. That is until Cleveland finds out she’s pulling a Tyler Perry. Guess her name should be Uncle Daddy, though that sounds incredibly creepy.

Then on “Family Guy,” Peter and the boys still lament over losing their fourth (and only black) friend. Even to the point of mistaking a lamp for Cleveland. They end up recruiting newcomer Jerome into the group, though things get complicated when Peter finds out that Jerome and Lois dated before she met Peter. The story seemed kind of short, mostly due to the extended cutaways. Some that worked (like the results of biting into a Peppermint Patty) and some that didn’t as much (like the English Gentlemen’s club).

The part of “Family Guy” that people will probably be talking about this week, though, is the side story of Brian trying to figure out why Quagmire doesn’t like him. After accidentally offending Quagmire about his domestically abused sister, deaf brother, and long-lost love, Brian gets the rundown of everything Quagmire dislikes about him. Basically a list of all of Brian’s flaws from his constant hitting on Lois to his fake liberalism and going to the bathroom in Peter’s lawn. It’s like a gift to the long-term fans.

Rounding out the night on “American Dad,” Stan becomes obsessed with the band “My Morning Jacket.” It’s a cornucopia of guest stars. Not only do we get all the members of the band, but Zach Galifianakis also pops up in a surprisingly short cameo as Norman the bootlegger.

The episode was a bit of a letdown, though that might be due to how much I enjoyed last week’s “Shallow Vows.” Though there were lots of fun details: Stan checking out girls at the concert while he has earplugs in, Johnny 5 enjoying the show and all the havoc Stan causes while listening to his music. In the end, we get an “American Dad” happy ending with Francine cracking out all her groupie skills (the girls and ma’am) to get Stan backstage only for him to find he should be sharing his soul with his wife, not some random singer.

I might have liked the episode more if I was more familiar with “My Morning Jacket.” Though I’m more interested in Maureen Jacket and why Stan hides the fact that he’s still talking to her.

Most obscure reference – I’m going to call it a tie between Jerome and Quagmire’s moment quoting jive from the movie “Airplane” and Auntie Momma saying she was going to turn into a Blumpkin. I won’t even try to explain that one.

Most possibly offensive moment – “The Cleveland Show” spent most of the night on the edge with all the innuendo, but you can’t top “Family Guy” when they’re dealing with race/religion/nearly anything. You’ve got Peter dressed up as a “fire carrying ghost” and Stewie waking up to see Jerome and assuming they’re being robbed. Though I think the majority of offense might come to Quagmire’s sister’s boyfriend beating on her, only to stop and yell at Brian.

Through line – Farting. It’s a cornerstone of comedy. Right up there with distinguished people falling down and puns. We got three uses of comedic flatulence. “The Cleveland Show” used farting as a running gag. Auntie Momma was a steady stream of gas until her final burst thrust her into the sunset (“I’m outrageous!”). “Family Guy” used farting as a button. In the dark at the end of the episode, Brian farted while sleeping in Stewie’s room as one last reminder that he’s kind of a jerk. And “American Dad” had a marathon fart joke. The bootleg of Jim James gurgling had an extended serious of Zack Galifianakis vapors.

Yep. A whole evening of fart jokes. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

-Andrew Hanson

RELATED:

"Family Guy": A blow-up doll, clones and wedding vows

Microsoft is shocked to find racy content in 'Family Guy' special

PHOTOS: Fox Television

-- Speaking of exits, I keep hoping for Sue Collini to say “Collini … out” … for good. But I may be in the minority here. The other day I went to my local bar and, when a conversation about “Californication” broke out, the bartender asked, “Don’t you just love Sue Collini!?” I reached for my drink.

-- The title of Sunday's episode was "Mr. Bad Example," which is a title of a Warren Zevon song about a con man who steals -- "I like to have a good time and I don't care who gets hurt" -- but who at the end of the song sings, "I'm thinking of retiring from all my dirty deals."

— Josh Gajewski

RELATED:

David Duchovny talks literarily

Last week's romp of an episode

Madeleine Martin feature

Photo: Madeleine Martin as Becca in "Californication." Credit: Showtime.

Speaking of Oprah... The talk show host's former personal chef Art Smith (more recently of "Top Chef Masters") has signed a deal to star in his own show on TLC. The series, according to the Hollywood Reporter, "Craving Comfort," will follow Smith as he travels the country exploring different takes on classic dishes, such as fried chicken and apple pie. Variety reports that TLC also has ordered the reality series "Mall Cops: Mall of America" (thanks to the many of you who made "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" a hit) and "Ghost Intervention."

"Cougar Town" shuts down: A rep for ABC told US Weekly, "We can confirm production of 'Cougar Town' has been temporarily shut down in order for [star Courteney Cox] to deal with a private family matter." No word on when production is expected to resume.

David Tennant's end draws near: BBC America has announced the actor's final two "Doctor Who" specials: "Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part 1" and "Doctor Who: The End of Time, Part 2." The first will air Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. Break out the Kleenex!

"Fringe" executive producers plan for ... Season 6? According to Digital Spy, during a conference call with reporters, executive producer Jeff Pinker said, "If we're lucky enough, we have six seasons that we're really excited about." Might have to get those ratings up first, no?

Tune-in reminder: "Battlestar Galactica" fans! Katee Sackhoff guest stars in tonight's "Big Bang Theory" on CBS.

-- Denise Martin