Could we take a minute to talk about what a good actor Mark Harmon is?

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"American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" have been addressed in previous posts. Notes on these other shows after the jump. …

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I've got a fever, and the only cure is more Kober…

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Nice to see Lucy Davis again. Even better to see that she was still around at the end of the episode.

Trying to catch up on things I've missed. Am sampling the "Costas Now" town meeting, including the Bissinger rant/debate.(Good gosh, Braylon Edwards, what did you think you had walked into?) But here I'm going to talk a bit about some of the Monday/Tuesday dramas that I finally grabbed some time to watch today. After the jump. ….

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Could Michael Ian Black be the show's salvation? Notes after the jump …

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

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Busy weekend with only a little TV, but some comments on "SNL," "Reaper," "The Bachelor" and the local digital-cable overhaul, after the jump …

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This morning I scrambled to the office to write a movie review ("The Golden Compass," which I did not like much) then hit the road for Cleveland. Stop one was the Cedar Lee to see "Sweeney Todd" (which I liked a great deal). Then it was on through the snowflakes to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to talk to John C. Reilly and director Jake Kasdan about "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story," the comedy that hits theaters on Dec. 21. Reilly's doing a music tour to promote the movie, starting with tonight's show. Besides talking about the movie, we talked about the music tour and the rock hall, so I could have a story for tomorrow's Beacon Journal as well as movie material for use closer to the opening date. Then, once someone helped me figure out the wireless network at the hall, I wrote the story. Now I'm going to pass the time until a little later this evening, when I'll be at the red carpet for Reilly's performance, and then at the performance itself. This all makes for a long day, but a useful one. I hope to post later tonight or early tomorrow after Reilly's show.

Well, it's about an hour and a half later than the last time I posted here, and I am deeply into the just-hanging-out portion of the evening. It's another couple of hours before Reilly plays, but media are supposed to be here now, so there was no sense in my driving back to Akron only to turn around and head back to Cleveland.

So I had a bite to eat in the Rock Hall cafe (chicken wrap, chips, soda) and have roamed the hall. It's been quite a few years here, so there are new exhibits (the making of the Beatle's "Help," the history of the Doors) and even the older stuff feels fresh again. I've noted how much of stuff in here is in my record collection (yes, record) and how many people I've interviewed, seen at press conferences or gone to concerts by. I went and found Lowell George's guitar and overalls for reasons that will be clear in my story tomorrow. I have wandered through the souvenir-and-music shop, debit card locked safely away. I've checked my home and work e-mail, sent a note to Target Demo and in a few will call the bride.

So, anyone have any thoughts about last night's "Reaper"? I thought it had some amusing parts, as it usually does, but I don't know about the whole devil's-daughter thing. But hey, it was something new last night. Rerun season has kicked in in a big way, not only because of the strike but because December usually has a post-sweeps batch of reruns and pre-emptions for holiday specials.

My DVRs, at least, are breathing easier. From running three in a single night, I'm down to one, and not much on that. But that gives me some time — well, when I get home — to play with the new HD DVD player. Hello, technology.

Could you scare me just a little like you would on "The O.C."?

Pretty good episode Tuesday, but I have some thoughts about the casting …

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Although it's an up-and-down ride, "Reaper" was definitely up this week …

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If only I had an 8-track of "In Your Eyes" …

I expected more, as I will explain after the jump …

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I had bailed out on "Reaper" for the last couple of weeks because, after a promising start, it had fallen into the same plot week after week. I was recording it, but I didn't feel any great urge to watch. But this morning I checked out last night's episode, and it seemed somewhat better.

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If Howie had been a tad slower, Stephen Furst might be hosting "Deal or No Deal" now.

More disappointment from "30 Rock" and "Reaper," big fun with "Earl," after the jump. …

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Premieres tonight

I've mentioned my enthusiasm for The CW's "The Reaper" before. Akron's Ray Wise makes a jolly but utterly convincing devil, and the show understands that it can be silly and a little scary at the same time, without undercutting either quality.

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Tommy Gavin and his guys are in a state of confusion. I know the feeling …

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