‘Yes, Dear’ somehow stays alive
You may have forgotten about “Yes, Dear” (9:30 p.m., CBS), but according to the network, it’s entering its fifth season tonight.
How does a comedy this mediocre survive? Does it mean we have four more years to look forward to “Listen Up” and “Still Standing”?
Seriously, doesn’t anything get canceled anymore? Viewers used to complain about shows being canceled too quickly. Now they live through entire seasons.
CBS has put only one show – “Center of the Universe” – out of its misery. There will be no second season for UPN’s “Second Time Around.”
The WB yanked the “The Mountain.” But did “Big Man on Campus” finish its season, or just disappear? Did anybody watch it at all?
NBC had a lot of deadwood to clear, so “LAX,” “Father of the Pride” and “Hawaii” were jettisoned. Fox fooled around with seasons so short you couldn’t tell if something was canceled or not.
ABC’s reluctance to deep-six “Complete Savages” probably says more about Mel Gibson’s clout both here and in the hereafter than the quality or success of his “Complete” atrocity.
Speaking of network miscalculations, what are they thinking over at UPN? “America’s Next Top Model” is the network’s most buzz-generating show. So why are they waiting until the end of sweeps month to start the fourth season?
It’s probably because they still have to get through “The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott” (8 p.m., UPN), a music-themed competition that has not gained much traction.
On tonight’s episode, pop idol, children’s-book author and British-accented Michigander Madonna arrives to offer pointers to the five remaining performers. Let’s hope she doesn’t start proselytizing for her celebrity-centric mystical cult.
Over on Bravo they have a talent competition that people do care about. “Project Runway” (9 p.m., Bravo) has become the cable network’s most popular show. It’s such a success they’ve decided to add a superfluous “clip” show and invite all of the eliminated designers to share their thoughts on their experiences on the show and their feelings about the chances of the final three, Jay, Wendy and Kara Saun.
“Runway” runs out of time next Wednesday.
If you think your high-definition television set is out of this world, don’t miss “Spirit of Exploration” (8 p.m., Discovery HD), produced by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, featuring images of Mars and Saturn’s rings as well as Titan, one of the planet’s 33 moons.
Other highlights
Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (8 p.m., CBS): the ongoing controversy over Jose Canseco’s allegations of widespread steroid use among baseball players.
A nightmare right out of a fairy tale on “Medium” (8 p.m., NBC).
A story, a mystery and a boar on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).
Sparks fly at the New Hampshire primary on “The West Wing” (9 p.m., NBC).
Hollywood competition continues on “American Idol” (9 p.m., Fox).
Heir-heads on “Alias” (9 p.m., ABC).
The four-hour documentary “Slavery and the Making of America” (9 p.m., KSPS) concludes.
A bride dies at the altar on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
An obnoxious fan runs afoul of a basketball player’s temper on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
The Partridge Family goes six feet under as an RV-driving wife trades places with a mortician’s main squeeze on “Wife Swap” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and Leslie Nielsen star in the 1956 sci-fi fantasy “Forbidden Planet” (7 p.m., Turner Classic Movies), based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and a clear inspiration for “Lost in Space.”
Series notes
Radio daze on “That ‘70s Show” (8 p.m., Fox) … A mutant mutt on “Smallville” (8 p.m., WB) … Interns out of control on “The Simple Life” (8:30 p.m., Fox).
A corny quote comes back to haunt Doug on “King of Queens” (9 p.m., CBS) … A war casualty’s parents take legal action on “Kevin Hill” (9 p.m., UPN) … Public displays of affection on “Jack & Bobby” (8 p.m., WB).