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).

The first season of "Prison Break" comes out on DVD tomorrow, and the second season starts on Aug. 21. Maybe somewhere in there is an explanation of when the show is supposed to take place.

In the last episode of the first season, Patricia Wettig's character is sworn in as president of the United States — specifically as the 46th president.

George W. Bush is the 43rd. The president as "Prison Break" begins is 45th — since Wettig is 46th — so there's at least one more president in between. That could mean a lot of years. Even if the "Prison Break" universe has seen a series of presidential disasters, we're at least a couple of years in the future.

And I'm wondering who that 44th president is. Dick Cheney? David Palmer?

Let me begin by recommending the "Prison Break" episode scheduled to air on April 3. It's a flashback, showing us a lot about the background of the characters, about why Michael is so devoted to his brother, and about the way that several characters ended up in prison. And, if that prison break ever actually happens, the April 3 show gives us some insight into what the convicts might do once they get out.

That said, there are two episodes before then, including one airing tonight, and there's a lot more plot-stretching in them than a viewer should reasonably allow.

I know, "reasonably" is not a word that should easily apply to show about a guy who breaks into prison to free his wrongly convicted brother from death row, where secrets lie in elaborate tattoos, where all sorts of schemes and plots swirl around and where the convicts seem capable of just about anything in prison EXCEPT escaping. (While looking at the new episodes, I was more than once reminded how much "Prison Break" is in the tradition of "Hogan's Heroes." Only Hogan's gang wasn't trying to escape.)

In fact, Fox has built a belief-suspending block on Monday nights, since "Prison Break" is being paired with "24," another show I have trouble staying with, because its plots are so outrageously, uh, outrageous.

"Prison Break," though, has run into a problem by being so successful. When the current TV season began, "Prison Break" was looking at a half-season run, building its melodrama in the fall before "24" came back on the schedule in January. But when "Prison Break" gained a following, Fox wanted more episodes, so now the show has to keep its basic narrative going, just not too far or too fast.

Which means that, tonight and next week, the show is going to stretch. And stretch. And throw in a  plot turn that will make viewers wonder if they have everything figured out. (That's a sad trick straight out of "The X-FIles.") It's not alone in doing that, of course; "The West Wing" on Sunday night rather desperately tried to keep some suspense in its presidential-campaign story with a new turn of events. But in both cases, the need to keep the serialized story going works against the need to satisfy viewers.

But as frustrated as I was,  I didn't hate "Prison Break" either. When a "Prison Break" DVD comes out, I'll probably eat it up, since full-season DVDs are the best way to watch ludicrous serials like this and "24." At least then you can fast-forward through the dull parts, and know that you'll have some kind of resolution on the last disc.

Still, I didn't buy into "Prison Break." There are some horribly slow stretches, for one thing. And, without giving away any story specifics, I am pretty sure that your patience will be tested by tonight's show and next week's.

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.