How many times can "Lost" throw us in a single episode? A lot, apparently.

Kate's home exploding was an impressive opening, although the story behind it — her killing her stepfather, who was actually her biological father — didn't prove as impressive as the promos implied. We've pretty well known that, whatever her criminal past, she was a wounded bird; we just know more now about the depth of the wound.

But the missing filmstrip — and Eko's having it — had a thrill that made it feel like the discovery of the Maltese Falcon.

Although, as readers of Dashiell Hammett (or watchers of old movies) know, the Falcon proved to be less than expected. Perhaps the filmstrip is, too. Perhaps the quest on "Lost," like that for the Falcon, will be an unending journey; in "Falcon," Gutman and his colleagues start off for Constantinople but never manage to get there.

On a night like this, "Lost" looks as if it could keep us traveling as long as it wants to lead. Because, of course, after the filmstrip came the computer message to Michael, which may be from Walt. And what is Walt doing sending messages, and has he compromised Dharma by doing so? And I'm trying not to overthink the Guardian Horse.

So much fun. On to Constantinople, with bells on.

As was the case with Simon Cowell's rumored departure from "American Idol," talk about Fox moving around telecasts of "Idol" proved premature. Cowell is back, as is noted below, and "Idol" will remain a Tuesday/Wednesday fixture.

Fox planned changes in January because it is bringing back "Idol" and "24," and they eat up time slots. So changes are being made: "Bones" moves to Wednesday, "Killer Instinct" is done, "Prison Break" will return in March and reality gets yet another watch-stars-fall-down show with the premiere of "Skating With Celebrities."

Sorry, I needed a moment. That title always makes me giggle.

Anyway, here's the Fox lowdown for early 2006, first on a nightly basis, then show by show.

Mondays — "Skating With Celebrities" at 8 p.m. from Jan. 23 into March, when "Prison Break" returns. "24" will be at 9 p.m. as of Jan. 23 but will have a four-hour premiere before that.

Tuesdays — "American Idol" at 8 p.m. starting Jan. 17 (two-hour telecast), "House" remains in the 9 p.m. slot (except for that Jan. 17 pre-emption, obviously).

Wednesdays — "American Idol" audition episodes at 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 18. Special premiere of "Skating With Celebrities" follows on Jan. 18; "Bones" gets the 9 p.m. slot as of Jan. 25, for the weeks when "Idol" is still running hour-long audition shows on Wednesdays; when "Idol" goes to half-hour results shows, "Bones" will probably drop to 8 p.m., with "Idol" at 9 and something else at 9:30. (Fox still has some half-hour backup shows in the wings.)

Thursdays — "The O.C." at 8 p.m., with "Reunion" at 9 p.m. until its series finale on Feb. 2. (Fox is calling it a season finale, but it hasn't ordered more episodes of the show beyond its original 13.) The 9 p.m. hour will then probably go to specials during February sweeps, with "That '70s Show" and "Stacked" taking over 9 p.m. as of March 2.

Fridays — "Bernie Mac," "Malcolm in the Middle" and, as of Jan. 6, "Trading Spouses." "Killer Instinct" has its last telecast on Friday.

Saturdays — Still "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted."

Sundays — Comedy reruns at 7, followed by "King of the Hill," "The Simpsons," "The War at Home," "Family Guy" and "American Dad."

I know, a lot of that is confusing. I had to call a Fox rep to sort some of it out and fill in a few blanks. To make it clearer, here's a show-by-show breakdown of those making moves. ("House," "The O.C.," the early-Friday comedies and the Saturday and Sunday lineups stand pat.)

– "24" comes back with a four-hour premiere on Sunday, Jan. 15, and Monday, Jan.16, before settling into the 9 p.m. Monday slot on Jan. 23.

– "American Idol" has a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, followed by a new hour at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18. It will then settle in at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the audition shows. Once it goes to half-hour results shows on Wednesdays, those will probably move up to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

– "Bones" will move to 9 p.m. Wednesdays as of Jan. 25, as long as "American Idol" is doing one-hour telecasts at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. When "Idol" goes to half-hours, "Bones" will probably move to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

– "Killer Instinct" is done after this Friday's telecast.

– "Nanny 911" does not have a time slot in the early '06 lineup but may pop up as filler on occasion, and will be available if another show falters.

– "Prison Break" will be back at 8 p.m. Mondays with a replay of the "fall finale" on March 13, followed by new episodes beginning March 20.

– "Reunion" will stay at 9 p.m. Thursdays until Feb. 2, when it will have its finale.

– "Skating With Celebrities" will have a special premiere at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, following "American Idol." It will then air at 8 p.m. Mondays beginning Jan. 23.

– "Stacked" takes a break from mid-January to March 2, when it returns at 9:30 p.m. Thursdays.

– "That '70s Show" takes a break from mid-January to March 2, when it returns at 9 p.m. Thursdays.

– "Trading Spouses" moves to Fridays at 9 p.m. as of Jan. 6.

I had a great time yesterday talking to a class at the University of Akron. The topic was Television & Politics, one I've spoken about before, but one that regularly offers new items for discussion. I went in with a handful of notes, tried to make the presentation more of a conversation than a lecture, found some students were willing to hold up their side of the conversation and realized that time was almost up when there was still plenty to talk about.

In fact, as time ran out, I found myself apologizing for not leaving more room for questions. And I later kicked myself when I went back through my notes and realized that I hadn't hit some planned points, including one I've made here more than once — that the changes in TV technology are going to create information gaps in the audience, because not everyone can afford to keep up with the new tech.

But, as much as I talk about television with people I know, it's always good to encounter a new and different group and to hear their thoughts, even if those thoughts are focused on a specific subject. Sometimes I get column ideas from those conversations, but more often I get a renewed sense of pleasure about television, and thinking about TV, and so feel good about doing what I do.

Odd but relieving to have a lighter than usual schedule (no "Earl/Office," no "Gilmore" and I had seen "House"). The DVR got less of a workout, and I could actually watch one show without wondering if I should be flipping over to something else.

There was disappointment nonetheless. About halfway through "The Amazing Race," it began to feel like a "to be continued," and sure enough, it was. Much maneuvering, yet another "production error" stalling a team (the Linzes this time), nastiness by and about the Weavers, who fought back into contention. But at the end, it was like one of those episodes where all the scrambling puts everyone at a location that doesn't open until the next morning; this time, it was the viewers who hurried just to wait.

"Bones" made a comment on the show's basic problem: Its main character comes off as chilly and a bit robotic. So the episode was about how she's really not chilly and a bit robotic — she has sex, she LIKES sex, she's emotionally vulnerable — even if almost everyone (including the audience) sees her that way. Does that mean people will like Brennan and the show more? I don't know. I have been getting tired of the Spock-as-anthropologist underpinning of a lot of the character moments (like the incomplete fist-bump). But I did laugh as the underlings pondered their new glimpse into Bones's character and past. Still, I keep thinking that the real Kathy Reichs and the "real" (that is, book version) Temperance Brennan are more interesting than their TV incarnation.

Recent printed speculation wondered if Simon Cowell would be back on "American Idol" for the new season in January since he and "Idol" mogul Simon Fuller were feuding in court; Cowell wanted to do a show of his own that Fuller claimed was too close in concept to "Idol."

Fear not. The two have reportedly settled their lawsuit out of court. And Fox announced this morning that the Great Grouch will be back for this season — and four more after that.

The announcement included statements from Cowell calling Fuller his "good friend" and from Fuller calling Cowell "a key component of the incredible success of 'American Idol.' " In other words, they knew that they could make a lot more money working together than they might obtain separately.

Well, that cold I mentioned is a persistent creature, and one I'm getting very tired of. It's been hanging on today, so after a brief stop at the office, I came home to work. Which proved more difficult since my cable was out for a couple of hours, not only knocking out the TV but also my Internet connection. I've missed chatting here.

Still, I caught up with last week's "House" and then watched a preview of tomorrow night's episode, which ends with one of those twists so good that I dare not reveal it to you here. But even before the episode gets to the twist, it's yet another "House" tour de force, moving back and forth in time, inserting characters into scenes in inventive ways, operating like an especially dizzying stage play — and on top of that, throwing in an emotional kicker that hit me especially hard. Plus a guest-starring role by Allison Smith, who seems to be everywhere lately.

This is a show that has become so sure of itself, it is absolutely fearless. Last week's episode, with Cameron trying out meth, was one example. (This week, it's Chase at the center of the pinwheel.) It wasn't the main plot, but it forced you to look at a character in a different way, while not going so far that you found her actions unbelievable. And the show is just nervy. A reader had already e-mailed me to take a look at the address of House's home, and there it was, 221B. Same as Sherlock Holmes.

Besides "House," I finally got around to last week's "Veronica Mars," if only to be ready for the stunt telecast this week. Once again, the show juggled an incredible number of stories, character expansions and even social issues in a single hour, without feeling overstuffed. I'm not sure about it all — Logan's turning hero, Duncan's nightmares — and I am really missing Wallace, who's important in terms of how we see Veronica. And I missed several bits of dialogue thanks to Channel 43's kicking off the sound during its superfluous weather alerts. (By Wednesday night, everyone of at least modest intelligence knew the weather was getting tricky.) But I still really like it and am glad I waited to watch. "Veronica" just isn't a show to watch while fighting sleep or allowing distractions.

While I was watching those things, though, the lack of cable/Internet connections kept me feeling isolated. Yes, technological breakdowns can force us to consider things from different perspectives. Thanks to a previous cable TKO on Sunday, I listened to the first part of the Browns game on the radio — but they didn't sound any better than they looked once the TV was back. But it was just weird not having the usual access to things. It's another reminder about one of my pet themes, that the advances in technology create gaps for the people who can't afford to keep up. And if you feel behind for a day, how will it feel if you're behind every day?

The networks, of course, are rushing forward so fast that they're already creating gaps in the interest of profit. That exclusive "CSI: Miami" scene available only on the Internet, for instance. (A scene, by the way, that was also a huge promotion for a car company.) Or the plan to make some new "Lost" content available only through a cell-phone company and then on the "Lost" second-season DVD. And that's just what's happening in entertainment.

But, as I've said, I have ranted about that before. And will again, probably tomorrow, when I give a talk at the University of Akron. So I'll give it (and me) a rest now, except to say that it's good to be back.

Well, aside from the trouble I'm having activating an XM radio (with that "it only takes one phone call" on the promo channel mocking me) and the cold I picked up somewhere in the last couple of days, it has been a pretty good holiday weekend so far.

We left for western Pennsylvania early Thursday morning, fighting snow and icy roads much of the way. Still, we got there in a reasonable amount of time, and would have been there sooner if not for some confusing Mapquest directions. Then came a day of eating, relaxing, talking, playing Uno and Buzz Word and watching a lot of the Dallas-Denver game. Needless to say, there was also some dozing in there. And some of the chat came around to TV. Various family likes: "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost," "NCIS," "Nip/Tuck," "Kitchen Confidential," "Arrested Development." It was a really good day.

We stayed in a Comfort Inn nearby and got there in time to watch most of "Survivor." But we didn't. Had set the DVR for it at home, and that way we could watch it from the beginning. CBS obviously knew a lot of people would miss it, since they set up a streaming-video replay on www.cbs.com. Instead watched a bit of the West Virginia-Pittsburgh game, dozing off by halftime.

Up early for the ride back. Even though it was about 10 degrees out, it didn't feel as cold as the day before, when there was a whip of a wind. Also, the sun was out, the highways were mostly plowed, and we were home before noon. And THAT would have been sooner if we hadn't stopped at an understaffed, and seemingly unmotivated, McDonald's along the way.

Home again meant beginning the planning for Christmas shopping and decorations and such. Ventured forth in the early evening, when the madness had subsided a bit, and had a generally successful trip. The drawback: My steadily decreasing energy, which I blamed on short sleep but which by evening was obviously a severe cold. Hello, meds. Hello, tissues. Hello, pushing fluids.

But this morning we did get to "Survivor," which is just entertaining enough. My wife in particular was waiting for Gary to drop a "Big Fat Liar!" on Judd about the immunity idol, and finally he did. Too bad he had waited until Tribal Council, when votes are pretty much locked in. Although, since every vote was for Gary except Gary's, the Judd revelation probably wouldn't have saved him. I'm getting increasingly annoyed with Stephenie, though. Although she was one of my favorites during her previous "Survivor," she seems to be enjoying her new, strong-alliance status too much; she's forgetting that when it comes to council, she's still just one vote — and the others can turn on her without warning. Gary sure didn't see a wipeout as big as the one that hit him.

And how about that Lydia? Quiet for so long, and now so bitter and snarky! Much more fun this way, of course.

Anyway, the tree is now in the living room (although it needs some sprucing up before decoration). I am hoping that my umpteenth call to XM has finally gotten results. My cold feels under control enough that I may go outdoors, at least briefly. Or, by tomorrow, will be able to put up the outside decorations.

And I hope your holiday was at least as good as mine.

(Postscript: The XM is working!)

About a month ago I wrote a post titled "Bad News for 'Over There' fans," about the cancellation of the FX series. It may have had a small audience, but it unquestionably had a passionate one. Comments are still coming in about the show. Go the post, and you can read them.

"Lost" is one of those shows that I watch several different ways, and sometimes I forget that I'm doing it. Tonight I sat, a little uncomfortably, through most of the episode in my move-the-mystery-along mode. There really wasn't a lot of that. And even the promised reunion of the two survivor groups (I keep wanting to call them tribes) did not happen until the final minutes, after a lot of dilly-dallying and flashbacks to determine what Ana Lucia would do to Sayid.

But there is this other way of watching the show, which is the emotional journey of the people, the way they were all in various ways "lost" before they ever boarded the plane. This episode showed us how Ana Lucia and Sayid felt very, very lost — to the point that they felt dead, which is about as lost as you can get. But they're not really alone in their misery, not in this group. And as long as they aren't really dead, they have a chance for something — joy, redemption, emotional rescue.

Song lyrics ponged in my head during that reunion sequence: musta got lost, lost in the ozone, I was lost but now I'm found. The last one especially, since Rose and Bernard finally found each other on the beach, and embraced, and we should have felt a little hope.

Not a bad feeling the night before Thanksgiving, when we may look at all the losses in our own lives — and still find those things to give thanks for. Like surviving a plane crash and getting another chance to hold onto someone you love.

I doubt this is my last Wednesday post, but I thought I would go ahead and send along the holiday greetings. It already feels like a long day.

I went into the office early this morning to finish up some things so I could take care of some pre-Thanksgiving errands. Naturally, things were so slick, I couldn't get up the outdoor ramp to my parking area (the top, uncovered area of the deck). After three tries, I just pulled into a space and went inside; found out later whom to call about the slick ramp, got it taken care of and was able to move to my usual spot.

Before and during that, I wrote a column for Monday, a short piece for the cover of Channels, a recap of coming TV shows on DVD, and goofed around some. My office is like a lot of places — people are scrambling to get things done before a holiday, but they're also feeling good because an extra day or two off is around the corner. Those good feelings remind me how much I like the people I work with, and how hard they work. A couple of them had planned for this to be a day off, and were in the office finishing things anyway.

I managed to get my business done by about midday and then headed off on errands, starting with a pie pickup at Hartville Kitchen. Amazing to see the stacks and rows of pies, all ordered in advance, and the crowd of people waiting to get theirs. The best thing about it, of course, will be eating pie tomorrow.

Then there was a run to the storage facility for Christmas decorations, so they can start getting spread around on the weekend. Haircut. Quick trip to my son's workplace, to pick up his weekend schedule. Putting the final touch on the new storm door: the extender along the bottom. Snow off and on through all of it.

You begin to see why the day has felt long?

After those chores were done, I did manage to sneak in some relaxation. Watched Tuesday's "My Name Is Earl" (not their best) and "The Office" (ditto). Finally sat down with last weekend's telecast of "Subterranean" on MTV2, which I had recorded because the Black Keys were guests. Hilarious guys, playing the show-biz naifs, forcing the host to work a lot harder than he probably expected.

More TV tonight, I expect. Also more preparing for the holiday. So here's hoping yours will be good, whether or not it includes TV.