Nikki Finke says the show is saved through a partnership with DirecTV that would put telecasts on both DirecTV and some part of the NBC universe. (NBC, as of Thursday afternoon, was not commenting.) We're seeing more of these cross-platform deals, like DirecTV's carrying the former NBC soap "Passions," or "Criminal Intent" airing on cable before going to broadcast. And, as long as I get to see shows I love, I'll take a deal.

If you liked the premiere of "New Amsterdam," you may be pleased with tonight's second episode. And if you were lukewarm about the premiere, you should give it a second chance tonight. …

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Last week I mentioned that promos for the unhappy-wife episode of "Moment of Truth" appeared to have misleading editing, with an answer to one question in the show being put with a different question.

This week, promoting another guest's appearance in what it called "the most powerful episode of the season," a much-televised promo declared, "This mother of four is overwhelmed by the pressure of the questions and suffers a nervous breakdown." No such thing happened on the air.

While that mother of four struggled with some questions, and gave a couple of answers that would probably lead to conversations with her husband, she weathered every storm on her way to $100,000 in winnings.

I know that promos are designed to heighten interest in a show. Still, there should be a limit to what they can get away with — using the drama in the programs they promote instead of creating their own.

In-progress post after the jump …

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The long awaited "Swingtown" goes to summer, "American Gladiators" back in May. I'm feeling the pain for "Swingtown's" Lana Parilla, who also did time in the series "Windfall," intended for a mid-season run on NBC only to be dispatched to summer 2006.

Detailed announcements after the jump. …

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Among the lines stuck in my head of late is this one:

“If you can't trust the faith-based assistant to the president, who can you trust?”

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I hope you voted before checking in here. Running account after the jump …

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If you're tired of Lindsay, television is going to let you see her mom, Dina, driving the career of another Lohan, 14-year-old Ali. Full release after the jump, but here are some of the lines worth pondering:

Dina has faced intense scrutiny over the past year due to daughter Lindsay's (21) highly publicized mishaps and her long-simmering divorce from her ex-husband. But the Lohan family has demonstrated great resiliency and, with Dina at the helm, they are moving on with their lives. Dina is determined to help each of her four kids fulfill their dreams and refuses to live in fear of what others may think, despite being under the paparazzi microscope. …

Having grown up in the shadow of her sister's stardom and much publicized lifestyle, Ali is determined to achieve her own brand of success. But Dina is more experienced this time around and will do everything she can to protect Ali from the pressures and temptations of young Hollywood.

Because, you know, when you're thinking of ways to protect your daughter, the first thing that comes to mind is being part of a reality show.

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The cable network will air the show, including seven episodes that didn't get on the air, beginning March 16. A DVD of the series, by the way, comes out on March 25.

The TV One announcement and the DVD announcement are after the jump. …

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CNN's Costello was in town yesterday, and I wrote up her speech — and a brief post-speech interview — in this story. But, as is so often the case, there was more to say than what I put in the story, including some talk about Linda Ellerbee, Bill Clinton, switching gears in broadcasting and would-be news people. …

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Over the weekend the bride and I picked up a Blu-ray DVD player. But that's not how I killed HD DVD. …

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As I have mentioned more than once, the Patrick Swayze movie "Road House" is one of those films I never get tired of. Well, that I never get tired of the first half, at least. And it's one of those things that the bride and I have bonded over. Sure, it's a bad movie in a lot of ways, but it has many good things, including the musical performances by Jeff Healey. Now word comes that Healey has died. That's a shame. He was a formidable musician and, as the obit notes, one who overcame a great deal along the way.

(A postscript: "Road House" star Patrick Swayze has five weeks to live, per the National Enquirer. The New York Post has a follow-up, with a Swayze rep more optimistic.)