Must See? We'll See.

It wasn't a great season for NBC. CBS continued at #1 with its CSI shows, Survivor (I've never watched an episode, but it just keeps rolling on) and, the last big sitcoms, Everybody Loves Raymond (last season) and Two & A Half Men. ABC climbed out of the cellar with the hourlongs Desperate Housewives, Lost and Grey's Anatomy. Fox continues ever upward with the biggest show of all, American Idol, and a new hit to follow, House. But the Peacock Network has mostly disappointments--even hits like ER and The Apprentice are on a downward arc.

So with the new season about to start, you'd figure NBC would clean house. Not so. There are 22 hours in its prime time schedule, and NBC only has 5 and a half new hours of shows.

Amidst all the Law & Orders, NBC is also keeping the low-rated Office. It's keeping The Apprentice, of course, and adding a new Apprentice--with Martha Stewart. It's keeping the failing Joey and the ailing Will & Grace. It's keeping the tired West Wing.

It's adding only one sitcom, My Name Is Earl. I'd like to see a resurgence of this genre, but it remains to be seen if this is the show to do it.

Aside from a reality show where wishes are granted, the rest of the new shows are dramas. Surface seems to be yet another Lost knockoff (every network's got at least one), E-Ring a Jerry Bruckheimer production set in the Pentagon, Inconceivable a medical show about a fertility clinic.

In the 80s and 90s, NBC ruled TV with its powerhouse Thursday night lineup, featuring shows such as Cosby, Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends. It was "appointment" TV. How far away it all seems. I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't tune into NBC during prime time at all this season.

Columbus Guy says: Screen writer Mark Treitel asks for help. Never let it be said we at PajamaGuy are unresponsive to our readers. Besides, now I get to say I've given to a sperm donor, which, if you don't listen closely, probably leads you to conclude I'm a sperm donor. (And, possibly, that I don't have the facilities with the language, which is true enough.)

He'd like your vote for "Sperm Donor" at http://aol.com/situationcomedy