TVSquad

Some say the most important job in the world is that of a teacher. And, really, we've all been placed under the tutelage of someone who was literally paid to provide education. But yet, so often, kids find themselves inspired by - and often in worship of - these individuals, young and old alike, who can play an integral role in shaping one's childhood and, some might argue, the rest of their lives.

Of course, that isn't always the case. Teachers can also be awful monsters whom we never forget for their ability to patronize, degrade, or humiliate us, often leaving one wondering if the man or woman in question took the job merely to torture students. This, naturally, can lead a kid to fantasize about how cool it would be to fall under the instruction of one of the following actors who, despite likely not possessing any type of teaching certification in real life, would probably be a blast to spend 40-or-so minutes on a daily basis.

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Marge: It took the children forty minutes to locate Canada on the map.

Homer: Marge, anyone can miss Canada, all tucked away down there.

More than anything, this episode shows just how poorly-lacking public schools are when it comes to funding. We begin with a bus ride taking place on a bus that really shouldn't even be in use. Bart and Milhouse watch as a hole in the bus floor becomes wider, forcing them to leap into the next seat while their old one is sucked under the bus. When it comes time to stop, the kids have to hold their coats out the windows like drag chutes.

When they arrive at the Civil War reenactment, it turns out it's no longer free. Since they have no money to get in, they watch from over the fence until one of the actors spots them and everyone chases after the kids for trying to learn without paying first.

Ahead of today's Upfronts, The Futon Critic is reporting that NBC is not renewing Conviction or Teachers for the fall. Neither of these cancelations comes as a surprise, really. The storytelling style on Conviction was so complicated that it was virtually impossible to feel anything for any of the characters (although, I'm going to miss Julianne Nicholson and Eric Balfour). And, Teachers? Why was that even on television?

Also, ABC had reportedly decided not to renew Invasion, Freddie and Hope & Faith. Also not major surprises-- and Invasion might end up on The CW. What will Kelly Ripa do with all her extra time?

Stick around... Bob will be covering NBC's Upfronts later today.

Ahead of next week's Upfronts, where the networks lay out their fall schedules, ABC has announced it's picking up a handful of new dramas and sitcoms for next fall. Also, NBC is expected to pick up Tina Fey's new comedy and put it on Thursday nights. Oh, and NBC canceled Teachers. Shocker.

Details, details, details on ABC's pick-ups:

• The Nine, a drama following the aftermath of hostages in a bank robbery;
  
• Six Degrees, a drama about six strangers brought together by mysterious circumstances (Identity meets Lost?);
  
• Day Break, a drama starring Taye Diggs as a cop who tries to figure out who tried to kill him;
  
• In Case of Emergency, a comedy starring David Arquette, Greg Germann and Jonathan Silverman as a group of high school buddies who reunite when their lives intersect in some sort of comedic way;
  
• Help Me Help You, a comedy starring Ted Danson as a troubled celebrity shrink;
  
• Notes from the Underbelly, a comedy about how the life of a couple changes as they're expecting their first child.

There is a lot more speculation about the fall schedules for all the networks here in The Hollywood Reporter.

While watching Scrubs last night, I saw a familiar face in a promo for the new NBC sitcom, Teachers. The guy on my television screen had his arms stuck in the window of a car and I had to pause my TiVo and stare at the TV because I swear I knew him from somewhere!

With Scrubs on hold, I went to NBC's webpage for Teachers and found out who the guy was. It's Deon Richmond, y'all! He played Rudy's friend Kenny ("but I call him 'Bud'") on The Cosby Show. Since then, he appeared in Eddie Murphy's Raw and Spike Lee's Mo Better Blues. He's also appeared on a string of sitcoms, including a recurring role on Sister, Sister.

It's great to see him, but I'm still not going to watch that show.

Courting Alex is on as I type this; how this show has managed to stay on the air is beyond me. Case in point is the following line, which just spilled out of Dabney Coleman's mouth in response to an accusation made by Jenna Elfman's character:

"Alex, what goes on at the corporate retreat stays at the corporate retreat!"

AUUUGGGHHHH! How many times since that Las Vegas ad campaign came out have we heard that idiotic "What happens in blah stays in blah" line in a sitcom or Jay Leno monologue somewhere? Don't sitcom writers realize how tired and stupid that line sounds?

It's the last week of March, and there are still a few more new shows for the networks to roll out. Most notably, is Thief, on F/X and starring Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street). Also, NBC is premiering a new sitcom that, if promos are any indication, will sink just as fast as Four Kings. And, WB is premiering a heavily censored version of The Bedford Diaries.

• Teachers, Tuesdays @ 9:30 pm on NBC (premieres March 28)
• A comedy about a rule-breaking teacher at a New Jersey middle school.

American Idol has always celebrated the most shallow aspects of the music industry, but music teachers say the show does have at least one redeeming quality, which is that it's making young kids more interested in singing than they were before. In some schools, teachers are using an American Idol-style curriculum and giving kids the chance to belt out a tune and let their peers judge them. While these teachers are quick to point out that a show like American Idol only covers limited singing styles, it's enough to get kids interested. I guess that's pretty cool?

Joey is making a surprise return to NBC, but it's getting moved to Tuesday nights. From March 7-21, Joey will air at 8 pm and then a Joey repeat will air at 8:30 pm. That means Fear Factor is being bumped off the NBC schedule until this summer. Scrubs will air at 9 pm, followed by a new comedy, Teachers, at 9:30. Don't worry. We'll get our back-to-back episodes of Scrubs starting on March 28, when it airs at 8:30 and 9:00 pm. Your TiVo will figure it out.

Also, NBC has figured out that The Office is good. Really good. The network has managed to work around Steve Carell's busy schedule to add one more episode to the schedule, a finale that will air on May 11. Originally, the season was going to end on March 30th but now NBC is going to play reruns through April and add that one new episode in May. I wonder if Jim will crash Pam's wedding?

Once NBC returns to regular programming following two weeks of Olympics (Feb. 10-26), the line-up is going to look a little different. It's moving around a few shows, including Law and Order and Las Vegas, and adding some new mid-season shows to the mix. Get 'yer TiVos ready, here are the changes:

• Deal or No Deal, nightly at 8 pm from Monday, February 27 to Friday, March 3
• The Apprentice, Mondays at 9 pm, starting February 27
  
• Conviction, Fridays at 10 pm, starting March 3
• Las Vegas, Fridays at 9 pm, starting March 3
• Teachers, Thursdays at 9:30 pm, starting April 6 (replacing The Office, which has a season finale on March 30)
• Law and Order, Wednesdays at 9 pm, starting March 22
• Heist, Wednesdays at 10 pm, starting March 22