TVSquad

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have said that when Lost ends, there won't be a spinoff, a sequel, or even a feature film based on the show. When it's done, it's done.

ABC never got that memo.

The network says that they want to keep the show going in some way, and besides special DVDs and movies, there might also be a spinoff TV show that features new characters and a new plot. [Insert heavy sigh here.] Haven't they ever seen AfterMASH or The Golden Palace?

While it's true that a spinoff can be good and successful (we talked about that yesterday), most are ill-conceived and just a way for a network to keep a franchise going for ratings and $$$$$$. These seems like one of those situations.

I am very frustrated with NBC this fall because I think the executives are wimpy. The network had an awesome schedule last May during the upfronts but then the powers-that-be balked when they saw the other networks' schedules and they changed everything around so that nothing made sense. This week, NBC finally did something right when it reorganized its Thursday night line-up. But the rest of the week still sucks.

As I was putting together my make-believe NBC schedule, I discovered a few problems with NBC programming. First, there are way too many franchises of Law & Order. They're hard to place in decent time slots, especially since Sunday nights are occupied by football. I also discovered that it's very hard, yet very necessary, to split up 30 Rock and Studio 60. I assumed 20 Good Years is cancelled, and I said to hell with what the other networks are doing, I'm making a line-up that makes sense.

Check out my NBC schedule after the jump, and tell me how you'd do it:

According to Dylan Stableford over at FishbowlNY, Rachael Ray announced to a magazine conference in Phoenix that she is going to open a "burger joint" in New York, where she will create a rotating menu based on 190 different burger recipies she's devised over the years. She won't just be making hamburgers, though; she'll put anything that can be made into a burger onto the menu, from turkey to swordfish. She also plans to make a fast-food version of the restaurant, which I'm sure will be franchised throughout the country.

So... she's got a magazine. Three Food TV shows. Cookbooks. A syndicated talk show. A soundtrack album. And now she's going to be a fast-food mogul. I think I know why I tune into her talk show every so often... I'm waiting to see her head explode.

Related:
Rachael Ray: Most likable TV host
Rachael Ray is exhausting
The Five: Odd things Larry King and Rachael Ray said