All of the networks are wrapping up for the holiday season with their new fangled Fall Finales.   Now is as good a time as any to recap a few things…

• Heroes – is as good a show as there is on TV.   Ten episodes in and it hasn’t lost steam and I realize that it’s pacing is similar to that of   24 – you can’t come up for a breath.   Even last week’s show which was told in flashback (maybe my least favorite storytelling device) was amazing.   I can’t wait until Mondays are 24 and Heroes – the only question is which one gets watched live and which on on DVR?
• The most heartbreaking moment of the year came on Veronica Mars last week when Logan (Jason Dohring) calls Veronica from across the crowded cafeteria – she finds her phone, looks at the caller-id, and then puts the phone away and goes about her business.   The music (Tim Easton), the look on his face…classic!   Veronica has been a tad annoying this year – using her super powers for evil.   The mini-mystery was simply ok – for as serious a crime as rape, you’d think that the police might be investigating a bit more aggressively, but what do I know.   That and the fact that the victims weren’t very likable (is shrill likable?)     Can’t wait for the new mystery but SPOILER ALERT – will miss Dean O’dell (Ed Begley).
• Comeback of the year: ER.   The last few years just blew under the weight of Carter’s (Noah Wyle) and Gallant’s (Sharif Atkins) stories.   This year there are still too many Emmy plays (Forrest Whitaker please go back to movies) and too many sweep stunts (Abby (Maura Tierney) needs a little more luck in her life – kidnapped, alcoholic, premie baby, stalked, has to save a women from a bus that seconds later falls off a cliff), but the addition of John Stamos as well as a better all-round cast makes the show watchable again.   I do miss the theme song and opening credits though.
• Disappointment of the year: I’m going to give this to Studio 60.   I wanted so much to like this show – but like West Wing, it’s preachy.   Unlike West Wing, it isn’t good – so the combination doesn’t work for it.   I have a backlog of 6 episodes on DVR.   Me thinks that I’ll probably never make it past John Goodman guest starring.
• I’m not going to pass judgment on Lost yet – when it comes back in February, it had better start telling better, more compelling stories.

That’s enough for tonight.   Part 2 tomorrow.