Pivotal episodes in store
The television season winds down during May sweeps, the ratings period that starts Thursday night and ends May 24.
There will be many goodbyes. Some are just for the summer, others forever. Two networks – UPN and the WB – unveil their final major offerings before going out of business and making way for the merged CW this fall. Here’s a look at some marquee events and their dates (which can change at the last minute):
Season finales
• “Gilmore Girls,” WB, May 9: Lorelai (Lauren Graham) delivers an ultimatum to Luke (Scott Patterson).
• “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, May 14-15: Chris O’Donnell appears in part one. Part two runs two hours the next night.
• “Prison Break,” Fox, May 15: The really big episode happens May 8; the May 15 show sets up the second season.
• “The Unit,” CBS, May 16: Two episodes air back to back; in the second, a Bosnian general seeks revenge on the team.
• “Boston Legal,” ABC, May 16: The two-hour episode features Robert Wagner, Jeri Ryan and Parker Posey.
• “CSI,” CBS, May 18: As the sixth season ends, so, too, could a character’s life.
• “ER,” NBC, May 18: Ernie Hudson and Sheryl Lee Ralph appear in the 12th season finale.
• “Without a Trace,” CBS, May 18: Jason Priestley guest-stars as the FBI agents look for a missing assistant district attorney.
• “Desperate Housewives,” ABC, May 21: A two-hour episode explains how the women arrived on Wisteria Lane.
• “24,” Fox, May 22: Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) calls it another day. Are we ready for the showdown between Bauer and the president (Gregory Itzin)?
• “Two and a Half Men,” CBS, May 22: Charlie (Charlie Sheen) could marry as season three ends. Or he might not, which seems more likely.
• “House,” Fox, May 23: Hugh Laurie can celebrate because his medical drama has grown into a big, fat hit.
• “Lost,” ABC, May 24: The island adventure ties up season two with a two-hour episode (with the first hour up against the “American Idol” finale).
Series finales
• “7th Heaven,” WB, May 8: Barry Watson and Jessica Biel appear as the Camden family completes a 10-year run.
• “The West Wing,” NBC, May 14: The Bartlet administration looks back at seven years on the air.
• “Malcolm in the Middle,” Fox, May 14: It seems like only yesterday that Frankie Muniz started as Malcolm, but it was seven seasons ago.
• “Will & Grace,” NBC, May 18: Harry Connick Jr. and Kevin Bacon appear in the one-hour episode that completes the show’s eight-year run.
• “That ‘70s Show,” Fox, May 18: Ashton Kutcher will return for the one-hour episode; Fox isn’t saying anything about Topher Grace. A retrospective on the eight-year run airs May 11.
• “Alias,” ABC, May 22: In a two-hour farewell, Jennifer Garner stops running after five seasons.
Reality wrap-ups
• “Unan1mous,” Fox, May 10: The winner collects the cash prize – if there’s any left.
• “Survivor: Panama – Exile Island,” CBS, May 14: You know the routine: two-hour finale, one-hour reunion show.
• “The Amazing Race,” CBS, May 17: This global adventure rushes to the finish line with a two-hour episode.
• “American Idol,” Fox, May 23-24: The two finalists perform in a one-hour show. The next night, the winner is announced in a two-hour extravaganza.
Specials
• “Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise,” CBS, April 30: Tom Selleck plays the New England police chief for the third time.
• “Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar,” CBS, May 2: John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins recall the popular 1980s soap.
• “Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America,” ABC, May 9: Joely Richardson heads the cast of this drama, which ABC says is “meticulously researched.”
• “Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball,” ABC, May 15: The talk-show queen gives an inside look at a swank celebration she hosted.
• “10.5: Apocalypse,” NBC, May 21, 23: Kim Delaney and Beau Bridges return for this sequel, another miniseries that devastates the United States.
• “Stephen King’s Desperation,” ABC, May 23: Tom Skerritt and Steven Weber battle an evil force in a Nevada town.
• “Academy of Country Music Awards,” CBS, May 23: Performers include Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and two “American Idol” victors: Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. The first hour airs against this year’s “Idol” finale.