Three words: Where is Alias? ...

Question: Three words: Where is Alias? Please tell me you have some insider information to give me that is more fulfilling than "the next episode has yet to be scheduled" comment on ABC's website. Perhaps I'm behind the times. Perhaps some more hard-core fans already know when the final episodes will be airing. But Matt, I just gotta know when we're going to be able to say hello to Sydney and the gang again — right before we have to say goodbye.
Answer: Man, I wish I knew. I figured while I was away, ABC would announce its spring mid-season schedule, but I never dreamed (along with several dozen, at least, of my correspondents) that Alias would be MIA. In fact, I figured Alias would return as soon as the Olympics were over. My most optimistic view of this perplexing situation is that mid-season schedules are notoriously unreliable and changeable, and should any of the elements of ABC's March-April lineup fall out — remember the instant exit of Emily's Reasons Why Not and Jake in Progress? — I'm betting Alias will be restored to the schedule pretty quickly. Downside: Last-minute changes don't get much promotion, but then, Alias fans will find the show, no matter what. It's just frustrating to see a show with this much history treated so shabbily. Bottom line: There's no reason to think ABC won't air all of the rest of Alias' final season, but it's looking to me like there's a chance some of those last episodes may play out into the early summer, depending on when it actually comes back. What a mess.