Every week, senior editors Matt Webb Mitovich, Mickey O'Connor and Tim Molloy satisfy your need for TV scoop. Please send all questions to mega_scoop@tvguide.com.
I know you guys have some hints about Lost's finale. Don't hold out. — Joseph
TIM: ABC's promos spoil that Sawyer, Kate and Juliet return to the island, so we asked Patrick Fischler (aka the Dharma Initiative's Phil) what could possibly turn the sub around. "Let me see, how do I put this? Sawyer," he said. Fischler says Phil plays an "interesting part" in a season finale that answers lots of questions, but ends with a game-changing cliff-hanger. Might Phil face the music for belting Juliet last week? "I think Sawyer may have to have a little payback," says Fischler. Look for our full Q&A with the actor, whose credits also include Southland and Mad Men, next week.
What can you spill about the Grey's Anatomy season finale? Are we definitely saying goodbye to George and T.R. Knight? — Kellie
MATT: Yes, there are rumors swirling that the finale not only paves the way for George's departure ...
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Can ABC's Better Off Ted produce laughs as well as far-out inventions? Is Parks and Recreation worthy of Amy Poehler's talents? Does Harper's Island slay us? Now that TV's new spring shows have had a few weeks to strut their stuff, TVGuide.com's senior editors gauge their areas of excellence — and how they can improve.
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No less than 45 scripted shows await word on renewal as the networks prepare to reveal their plans for the 2009-10 season. Many of those shows are safe — would NBC really pull Law & Order? — but others may be endangered by low ratings, high production costs, or just being on the Peacock network, where Jay Leno takes over five hours of prime time in the fall.
The senior editors of TVGuide.com hope the following shows will live. We chose them because we consider them the best of the shows that are in the worst danger. Make the jump to review our picks, then follow TV Guide on Twitter for updates on saved shows.
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Last we saw Lost 's Michael Dawson, he appeared to perish in the freighter explosion (though perishing is a relative concept on this show). But the actor who plays Michael, Harold Perrineau, has been keeping busy since that untimely death with a new series: ABC's The Unusuals.
TV Guide Network caught up with Perrineau to learn more about The Unusuals, an unorthodox cop drama, and his neurotic character, Det. Leo Banks, who, among other idiosyncrasies, sleeps in his bulletproof vest. Plus: Will Perrineau be returning to Lost? See what he has to say after the jump.
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Wednesday's ratings rundown:
8 pm/ET
Lie to Me topped the hour with an audience of 8.42 million total viewers, down 560K week-to-week. CBS' Old Christine and Gary Unmarried combined for second, both delivering 7.3 mil.
ABC's sitcoms, meanwhile, lagged behind a Law & Order repeat, with Scrubs managing 4.67 mil (down 335K) and Better Off Ted drawing 4.2 mil (down 500 thou). Top Model tallied 3.7 mil, dipping 250K.
9 pm
American Idol ruled with 22.43 million viewers, slipping 5 percent week-to-week. Criminal Minds followed with 13.25 mil, dropping 750 thou. Lost lost 12 percent of its last audience, hitting 8.3 mil.
NBC's Life wrapped up its sophomore run with an audience of 4.5 mil, plunging 19 percent. Will Life go on? Although it might seem unlikely, there is talk of struggling NBC picking up "mini" seasons of a few on-the-bubble series. Stay tuned.
10 pm
CSI: NY was No. 1 with 12.5 mil, followed by the premiere of ABC's The Unusuals, which copped 6.84 million viewers. As a benchmark of sorts, Life on Mars' first après-Lost outing grabbed 300K fewer heads than that.
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