Notes after the jump …

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I'm a little late getting started because of a speaking engagement. But will post as I replay the show, albeit with some skipping over chatter. …

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– Britney Spears was perfectly OK on "How I Met Your Mother." If we had not been watching BRITNEY SPEARS, then we'd probably have looked at her and thought, "that actress is kind of funny." The episode overall was so-so — good plotting, few big laughs — but not hurt by Spearsmania. In fact, it may help save the show, since it boasted some all-time high ratings in young demographics and a season high in viewers. The stats from CBS:

… first in adults 18-34 (3.6/10, the night's top program in this demo), second in households (6.3/10), viewers (10.62m), adults 25-54 (5.3/12) and adults 18-49 (4.5/12). Compared to the program's first-run return last Monday, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was up +9% in households (from 5.8/09), +6% in adults 25-54 (from 5.0/12), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 4.3/11) and added +1.01m viewers (from 9.61m, +11%).

– Watched "Dancing With the Stars" last night and it's clear they want to keep this from being a Kristi Yamaguchi runaway. To be sure, Jason Taylor is good and Mario impressive and Shannon Elizabeth was capable, especially considering I'm not really a fan of her otherwise. But when Bruno told Yamaguchi that he could not find any mistakes but still gave her a 9 instead of a 10, then someone is trying to keep the field close.

As for some of the rest, I feel terrible for the likely-to-go-tonight Monica Seles; here's someone who mastered tennis but can't quite figure out her latest task. Must be very difficult for someone so competitive. I know Penn Jillette won't win but I find him very likable on the dance floor; he needs to watch the talking back to judges. I think Priscilla Presley is getting some very gentle treatment from the judges. I could happily wave buh-bye to Adam Carolla tonight — and suspect Carrie Ann would do likewise.

– Also tuned to "The Bachelor" to keep tabs on former local gal Holly Durst, who survived another rose ceremony. But the show overall is dispiriting, especially when you look at how desperately Shayne wants not only love but attention. (And it's now very clear how easy it is to make this Bachelor uncomfortable.) She doesn't seem alone in that respect but it does say something about the romantic perspective some women bring to the show: As long as a handsome man is paying attention to them, they think it's a first step toward love. No wonder, then, that the romances often dissolve once the show is over; no man is going to be as attentive in the real world as he can be in the "Bachelor" pressure cooker.

– During my semi-day off yesterday, I spent a little time finally watching "Hot Fuzz," thanks to OnDemand TV. Funny funny movie, with a fabulous shootout at the end (although its fabulousness diminishes as it goes on too long). Also gives me a reason to revisit "Bad Boys II," which was not something I had considered doing. And now, my younger son tells me, I need to see "Shaun of the Dead," which he considers much better.

The wheels were really off this past season, but Fox is letting it keep going. Here's the official word:

FOX has picked up a fourth season of the hit drama PRISON BREAK, the action-packed series starring Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller as on-the-lam brothers Lincoln Burrows and Michael Scofield.

PRISON BREAK ranks No. 1 in its 8:00 PM time period among Adults 18-34 and No. 2 among other key demos. PRISON BREAK ranks in the Top 25 programs among Adults 18-34 (No. 21 tie), Men 18-49 (No. 22 tie) and Men 18-34 (No. 17).

I've spent the better part of today on some home obligations. Will resume posting in earnest sometime Tuesday.

Looks like a cold one here, but also a relaxed one.

I worked a metro shift yesterday. Last night, in preparation for the fourth Indiana Jones movie, began revisiting the first three. Saturday was "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (I know, Lucas renamed it with that "Indiana Jones and …" in front of it, but I resist. Much the way I prefer to think the Indians play at Jacobs Field, not Progressive Field.)

Have been thinking about posting as I go through them, opening discussion both of the old movies and of our collective anticipation of the new one. Any enthusiasm for that? Let me know when you've finished your Cadbury egg.

This is an oldie (with a bit of PG-13-ish content) but funny.

And since we're talking about Bowie, here's something else I love:

Here's the statement from CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler:

"The March 25th episode of Jericho will be the series finale. Without question, there are passionate viewers watching this program; we simply wish there were more. We thank an engaged and spirited fan base for keeping the show alive this long, and an outstanding team of producers, cast and crew that went through creative hoops to deliver a compelling, high quality second season. We have no regrets bringing the show back for a second try. We listened to our viewers, gave the series an opportunity to grow, and the producers put a great story on the screen. We're proud of everyone's efforts."

I have some thoughts about the finale in the post below.

Notes on "Lost," "Reaper" and "Jericho," after the jump …

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Malcolm X Abram and I discuss the Top 10!

Click To Play

Sorry about the fidgeting. We were having too much fun. (You should hear us before the camera's on.) Sorry, too, about the hair bump. Didn't know it was there.

After finishing my DVD column, I checked my e-mail — and had a link from the Flight of the Conchords' MySpace page to this video of "I'm Not Crying":

The song's funny enough — lasagna, indeed — but the video works, too.

I watched "Lost" last night and (finally) this week's "Jericho," so no cone of silence on those things. Still haven't caught last night's "Reaper." But I have had some other things to do, too, including a DVD column this morning, so I won't be posting again until somewhat later today.

(Photo from the Wired blog.)

In stores this week is "Bionic Woman: Volume One," consisting of the eight episodes to date of the updating of the '70s show. And why is that title optimistic? Because a "Volume Two" is not, apparently, going to happen. Here's a story declaring "BW" dead.

1963 photo, from the Times of London

The Oscar-winning actor has died. One British obituary is here. Interesting sidelight about Scofield's refusing a knighthood. The Associated Press has its take here. I liked the AP's inclusion of Richard Burton's comment: "Of the 10 greatest moments in the theater, eight are Scofield's."

As should be clear from both pieces, Scofield's screen work was very limited, as he was more of a man of the stage. I didn't remember him being in "Quiz Show" until I read the obits, but then remembered how frighteningly good he was in it. I saw a bit of "A Man for All Seasons" on TV not long ago, and was suitably impressed.

Of course, I had also been impressed long, long years ago when I saw that film in a theater. It was moviegoing as an occasion — I want to say it was tied to a school program, and I vaguely remember having to dress up for it — back when big prestige movies were sometimes presented as grand events as they toured the country. I don't think I knew a single actor in "Seasons," but the movie, its performances, its tale of politics and morality and betrayal have all stuck with me over the years. And a great deal of that had to do with Scofield's performance; here was a man of great decency and charm, but unbending in his commitment to his beliefs.

It might have been wonderful to have seen Scofield in more movies. No doubt he could have had some big paydays. But that might also have led to him taking commercial fare that was unremarkable, or giving performances that were beneath him. After all, it happened with Olivier and Brando, among others. This way, Scofield may have seemed elusive, but when he appeared it was significant. It made us pay more attention, to him and to the enterprise he had chosen.

Full announcement of the vote-out, the mentors and other things, after the jump …

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