TVSquad

Thanks to everyone who commented on my Put Me Out of This Misery Award post. If there's one thing that people are passionate about, besides what their favorite shows are, are the shows that they don't want around anymore. Below are the five nominees for this award, the show that has overstayed its welcome and should be put down already, damn it! Also, after the jump, a poll for what you would choose for this award, what we're calling the Reader's Choice Award. Both awards will be announced next week.

The nominees, in alphabetical order...

This award is for the show that was renewed for this fall that, damn it, should just be canceled already!

I'm sure when everyone read that line the first show that snapped into their heads was ABC's According To Jim, so I'm sure that's definitely going to be one of the nominees. Other shows I can think of putting in this category are NBC's Law and Order (please, the "ripped from the headlines" is used so much now it's almost like a parody of itself), NBC's The Apprentice (whenever a reality show goes to celebrity editions you know it's time to hang it up), NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly (really, this has to be one of the "who cares" shows on TV right now), and ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos (how many times can we see a dad hit in the balls?). I also thought of putting ER on the list but, since this fall is definitely the last season, it's at the bottom of the list for possible contenders.

What primetime shows do you think should be nominated? Maybe one of the CSI shows? I'm sure SNL will get some votes, though I don't agree.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

This time we have The Real Housewives of NYC ,The Moment of Truth and other new shows.

A day hasn't gone by where we haven't received some sort of tip or email asking us, the TV Squad, how to get on [insert reality show here]. Unfortunately no, Simon Cowell does not work for us, and Donald Trump isn't my BFF, so we really can't help all that much.

The folks at RealityWanted.com often send us a list of new and existing reality shows that are looking for new, er, talent, and they've given us permission to make mention of them here. We'll try to make this a regular feature as often as we get a new list.

This time we have Big Brother, Trading Spaces, Over Your Head and other new shows.

A lot of people are worried that NBC has suddenly changed into a reality/game show channel. Not only has NBC had Deal Or No Deal, The Apprentice, 1 vs. 100, and The Biggest Loser on the schedule for a few seasons, they now also have American Gladiators, Nashville Star, a game show hosted by Dennis Miller called Amnesia, America's Favorite Mom, and My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad. And don't forget the Bernie Mac reality show Welcome to the Family. They aren't the only network to have reality/game shows, but they seem to be taking the lead in getting the most on the air (and canceling scripted shows).

Now NBC chief Ben Silverman tells The Los Angeles Times that he meant that this is just a temporary thing, because of the strike. They are still picking up scripted sitcoms and dramas and things will go back to normal after the strike is over.

Here are the weekly TV ratings, by number of viewers.

If aliens were to monitor our TV viewing and ratings, they might think that our entire civilization is structured around the game of football. Playoff games, bowl games, post-game coverage, even a "bridge" made the top 20 this week. Earth is a football-based society! NBC must be happy, not just about the football games that got on the list but the appearance of Celebrity Apprentice and the return of Law and Order.

1. NFL Playoff Game (NBC)

Guess which company had the most successful product placement on television in 2007? Nope, it's not Apple Computer, which would have been my first guess.

It's actually Tyson Foods. They got the top nod from IAG Research after donating thousands of pounds of meat to a family on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Their brand-opinion index rating was 394. This score represented the most effective integration on TV in 2007. (I have no idea how they accurately measure something like that.)

• Bill Rancic (the original Apprentice winner) got married this past weekend to an E! News anchor.
  
• Fox will be bringing us a new reality program. It's like Smile You're on Candid Camera only probably without the smiling, since people are getting arrested.
  
• Sanjaya's family is putting their house up for sale and "going Hollywood" which seems like a really really bad idea.
  

NBC has never seen a game show it didn't like.

The Peacock Network has bought a new game show from Survivor/Apprentice reality show guru Mark Burnett called Amnesia. Actually, it's spelled Amne$ia, with a $ in place of the S. Just so you remember it's a game show and not a medical program.

The show will feature contestants being asked questions about their own lives, to see how much they know and remember. Producers will research the background of each contestant by interviewing friends and family.

The only innovation (if you can even call this an "innovation") on NBC's Deal Or No Deal is that you never see or hear the Banker. He's just a mysterious man in shadow who calls up Howie Mandel several times during the show and offers money to the contestants. But now, for at least one episode, we're actually going to see and hear him.

Donald Trump will play the Banker in the season premiere of the hit game show. The episode will also feature another first: someone who plays at home will be guaranteed to win a million dollars. I guess this is good publicity for The Donald and makes sure he's still in the public eye until that celebrity edition of The Apprentice premieres. Judging by a photo on the set of the game show, he'll actually be on stage with Howie and the contestants for at least part of the game and not just in the booth above.

The episode airs on September 17.

• Good Morning America's Robin Roberts had surgery yesterday and is already home.
• Now Trump says he never offered Rosie money to be on Celebrity Apprentice. Whatever.
• A clip from an old IFC show called Split Screen, where Christopher Walken teaches you how to cook.
• Jerry Seinfeld's secret to productivity.
• Henry Rollins on freedom and the web.
• Brian Williams and Katie Couric blog about the Minneapolis bridge collapse.
• Matt Roush on the cancellation of The Dresden Files.