TVSquad

• TNT has NBA Playoffs all night.
• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by new episodes of Supernanny and Boston Legal.
• CBS has a new Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular at 8, then new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• FOX has new episodes of 'Til Death, Back To You, and American Idol.
• NBC has a new, two hour Deal Or No Deal at 8, followed by a new Law and Order.
• The CW has a new America's Next Top Model at 8, then a new Farmer Wants A Wife.
• There's a new Secrets of the Dead on PBS at 8.
• Also at 8: TCM has Frank Sinatra movies, including The Tender Trap and Marriage on the Rocks.
• At 10, Bravo has a new Top Chef.
• At 11, TV Land has a new Big 4-0.

Check your local TV listings for more.

First, the good news: each of the final three American Idol contestants are guaranteed record deals and a music career. The bad news? I have this awful feeling in my stomach, the way I sometimes feel after eating too many potato chips, that David Cook is going to win the whole thing. That would be a shame.

I know that there are a lot of Cook fans out there, but I'm wondering: have you noticed that he sings just like 88% of the bands you hear on the radio right now? I don't want to call him a poseur, but I'm curious if he has that voice and style because that's how other successful, current singers sing. Don't we already have a Chris Daughtry?*

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

Last week I mentioned that Lost wasn't in the top 20. Well, this week it returns. Not to the highs it was earlier this year, but hey, I wouldn't mind almost 11 million people watching what I do each week (I'm talking about writing, not going to the bathroom or eating a sandwich). Survivor's finale and regular episode both made the top 20, even though it was the lowest-rated finale in the history of the show.

1. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
2. American Idol - Tues (FOX)

• TNT has the NBA Playoffs all night.
• At 8, ABC has two new episodes of According To Jim, then new episodes of Dancing with the Stars and Women's Murder Club.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, followed by a new Shark.
• NBC has a new Most Outrageous Moments at 8.
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell's Kitchen.
• The CW has a new Beauty and the Geek at 8, then a new Reaper.
• There's a new Nova on PBS at 8, followed by a new Frontline.
• At 9, Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch.
• History Channel has a new Mega Disasters at 9.
• Also at 9: BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing.
• At 10, NBC has the season finale of Law and Order: SVU.
• Bravo has a new Work Out at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

(S03E14) "I am deceptively strong." Dr. Zach Addy
"I'm... deceived." Dr. Cameron Saroyan

This was a very lighthearted and playful episode, particularly after the gravitas of last week's trial. Not only was it a great send-up of FOX's sister show, American Idol, making light fun of the show and its contestants, but there was also a lot of joking around and funny moments, reminiscent of the best of Bones' first two seasons with the Squint Squad. It was nice to see them back in full force this episode. Simultaneously, there were plenty of clues from the beginning of the episode about what was going to happen. But I'll talk about that in a minute. Can we talk about Eric Millegan first? Did you know that he actually is a cabaret singer, and he has an act in LA, as well as a Broadway history pre-dating the show?

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

• American Idol - Season 6 Finale
• The Chase - Season 1
• Drawn Together - Season 3 Uncensored
• Galaxy Rangers - The Collection: Vol. 1
• Garfield and His Friends - A Cat and His Nerd
• The Incredible Hulk Returns and The Trial of The Incredible Hulk
• Lovejoy - Season 3
• The Magnificent Seven - Complete Series
• Mission: Impossible - Season 4
• The Rat Patrol - Complete Series
• Saturday Night Live - Season 3
• Sinatra (mini-series)
• Stargate: Infinity - Complete Series
• Two and a Half Men - Season 3

It seems we can't get through a season of American Idol without Paula doing something nutty. Whether it's dating a contestant or giving bad interviews or just being wacky. These events inevitably lead to an allegation that Paula has a drinking problem or is on drugs or something equally scandalous.

Some people seem to get very angry when these allegations start flying. These folks are fans of Paula and AI and therefore feel that they must defend her in any way they can. They make up excuses for her behavior which range from sleep deprivation to technical problems. Unfortunately none of them ever admit the truth:

Everyone dumps on reality shows (though everyone watches them), but did you know that they can actually boost your career? It's true!

OK, maybe it's just true over at this Fortune article. They list 7 ways that reality shows can help you in your work life. Everything from what not to say in interviews (don't be like Rock of Love's Daisy, who said "um" too many times) to how to make watercooler friends (it involves Simon Cowell, and I'm still not 100% sure I even understand this one).

They also use Donald Trump as an example, of course.

If you're a regular viewer of CNN's Larry King Live, you know that's not an Onion headline. Seacrest has filled in for Larry King several times over the past few years, usually on pop culture-oriented shows, and now it looks like Seacrest wants the gig permanently.

MSNBC "The Scoop" column is reporting that the American Idol host is in secret negotiations to take over for King, and the change could take place as early as the end of this year. Of course, this goes against the recent news that King had signed a contract extension through 2011, but that contract doesn't necessarily guarantee him the 9 pm slot, just that he'll stick with CNN in general.

• TNT has NBA Playoffs all night.
• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, followed by a new Supernanny and a new special about Barbara Walters new memoir, Audition.
• CBS has a new Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular at 8, then new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• NBC has a new, two hour Deal Or No Deal at 8, then a new Law and Order.
• FOX has new episodes of 'Til Death, Back to You, and American Idol.
• There's a new America's Next Top Model at 8 on The CW, followed by a new Farmer Wants A Wife.
• PBS has a new Secrets of the Dead at 8, then a new American Experience.
• Also at 8: TCM has From Here To Eternity.
• At 10, Bravo has a new Top Chef.
• MTV has a new episode of The Real World at 10.
• Spike has a new Ultimate Fighter at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

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

Last week I mentioned that Lost had dropped a lot in the ratings. This week they're not even in the top 20.

Looking over this list, it becomes apparent what it takes to get on it. If you're FOX, keep pumping out reality shows and reality competitions shows. If you're ABC, it's dancing and doctors. And if you're CBS, the answer is clear: create another police procedural show. It doesn't matter who's in it or where it's set, just make sure it's about a team of investigators who investigate something that needs investigation.

1. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
2. American Idol - Weds (FOX)

• TNT has NBA Playoffs all night.
• CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News have North Carolina/Indiana Primary coverage all night.
• At 8, ABC has two new episodes of Dancing with the Stars (a "best of" episode and the regular episode), then a new Women's Murder Club.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, followed by a new Shark.
• NBC has a new Most Outrageous Moments at 8.
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell's Kitchen.
• The CW has a new Beauty and the Geek, followed by a new Reaper.
• AMC has The Great Escape at 8.
• At 9, PBS has a new American Experience.
• Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9.
• Also at 9: BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing.
• At 10, NBC has a new Law and Order: SVU.
• There's a new Work Out on Bravo at 10.
• MTV has a new A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

• TLC has a Little People, Big World marathon all night.
• TNT has the NBA Playoffs all night.
• At 8, ABC has a new Wife Swap, then new episodes of Supernanny and Boston Legal.
• CBS has a new Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular at 8, followed by new episodes of Criminal Minds and CSI: NY.
• NBC has a new, two hour Deal Or No Deal at 8, then a new Law and Order.
• FOX has new episodes of 'Til Death, Back to You, and American Idol.
• The CW has a new America's Next Top Model at 8, then the series premiere of Farmer Wants A Wife.
• PBS has a new Secrets of the Dead at 8, followed by a new installment of Carrier.
• At 9, Rachael Ray guests on a new Larry King Live, on CNN.
• Sci-Fi has a new Ghost Hunters at 9.
• Also at 9: Oxygen has the new movie Husband For Hire.
• At 10, Bravo has a new Top Chef.
• Food Network has a new Dinner: Impossible at 10.
• There's a new Real World on MTV at 10.

Check your local TV listings for more.

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

OK, can someone explain to me why Lost, which returned after several weeks away with an important (and great) episode, only came in #15 in viewers this week? This season it has been showing up in the top 10 a lot, sometimes even in the top 5 or 6, and now it slips to 15? Gah.

In other news, I finally watched Rules of Engagement this week. It's actually a funny show.

1. American Idol - Tues (FOX)
2. American Idol - Weds (FOX)
3. Dancing with the Stars - Mon (ABC)
4. Dancing with the Stars - Tues (ABC)

• TNT has NBA Playoffs all night.
• At 8, ABC has a new According To Jim.
• CBS has a new NCIS at 8, followed by a new Shark.
• FOX has new episodes of American Idol and Hell's Kitchen.
• There's a new Beauty and the Geek on The CW at 8, then a new Reaper.
• At 9, ABC has a new Dancing with the Stars, then a new Women's Murder Club.
• PBS has a new installment of Carrier at 9.
• Discovery has a new Deadliest Catch at 9.
• Hallmark has the new movie The Good Witch at 9.
• BBC America has a new Last Restaurant Standing at 9.
• At 10, NBC has a new Law and Order: SVU.
• FX has a new episode of The Riches at 10.
• Sci-Fi has a new ECW at 10.
• HBO has a new Costas Now at 10.
• Also at 10: MTV has a new A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila.

Check your local TV listings for more.