[Televisionary]

One of the perks of working in the television business is that you occasionally (or during the summer months frequently) get to see pilots before they air on television... in most cases, many months before they premiere. So yesterday I was therefore fortunate to view the pilot for Showtime's new drama series, Dexter , based on the novels by Jeff Lindsay. Dexter stars Michael C. Hall , whom most viewers will remember from Six Feet Under . Here, Hall portrays the title character who is vastly different from David Fisher, the character he played for several years on Six Feet Under ...well, except for the connection to death. For one thing, Dexter is a forensic investigator--his specialty is blood splatter--and for another, he's a serial killer. But before you get all uptight about it, he's a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. Gruesomely. Brutally. He stalks them, captures them, and kills them, chopping up their bodies and disposing of them while holding onto a

Dear Jackie, I can admit when I've made a mistake. It's difficult for me to say this, but I may have misjudged you. And, yes, I did make a snide comment about you in yesterday's What I'll Be Watching section, but what can I say? You've definitely grown on me since your initial appearance on Veronica Mars . I used to think that you were a callous, uptight, spoiled little brat who loved to torment Veronica and twist her BFF Wallace around your little finger. You thought you owned Neptune High. But hard times can change the best of people and you've changed since your baseball legend dad Terrence Cook was (wrongfully) arrested for the mass murder of a dozen people in the bus crash. In fact, it's been wonderful to see you acting downright human for once. Could it be that you've grown a conscience? Okay, that was a little harsh. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't have a conscience before, but maybe it was buried under all your posturing. Like the

This week on a new episode of Lost , the writers keep the momentum building from last week in an episode that focuses on the nature of reality, seen through the eyes of the island's big kahuna, Hurley. I must say that the past few episodes have been superb and have been tracking as strong as the show's first season. In last night's episode ("Dave"), Hurley makes an unnecessary sacrifice but finds an old friend, Locke takes a step backwards, Sayid nearly goes off the deep end, and Libby might not be all she's claimed to be. Hurley and Libby get closer while exercising together, leading Hurley to share with Libby his secret: that he's been hoarding food from the hatch in the jungle. It's a sickness but Hurley wants to change and the two end up destroying his entire stash in an act of catharsis. Just as Libby is going to kiss Hurley, Jin and Sun burst through the trees saying that they've found something. That something turns out to be the supply drop

Looks like we might get to the bottom of the numbers mystery after all. The Hollywood Reporter is, er, reporting today that Lost executive producers and co-showrunners Damon Lindelof (left) and Carlton Cuse have both signed seven-figure deals to stay on board the hit ABC castaway drama through the 2006-2007 season. Lindelof co-wrote the pilot for Lost with J.J. Abrams, for which he was nominated for an Emmy. He has so far written or co-written 15 episodes of Lost . Previously, he was a writer on the NBC drama Crossing Jordan , Nash Bridges , and the sadly failed Kevin Williamson ABC drama Wasteland . Lindelof is also the writer of the recent Marvel comic book mini-series Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk . Cuse joined Lost in October 2004 and has written more than a half-dozen episodes of the show, including last week's "Lockdown," which he co-wrote with Lindelof. Before Lost , Cuse was the creator of several shows, including The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. , Nash Bridg

After what seemed fairly like an eternity, last night finally brought loyal Gilmore Girls viewers what they've been waiting for: a new episode, the first since February. So, the question is: was last night's Gilmore Girls ("I'm OK, You're OK") a triumph or a tragedy? If asked, I'd have to fall on the side of it being a certifiable tragedy. Seriously, what has gone wrong with this once great show? Coming off of a season that many argued was a return to form, this sixth season has been slovenly, slow, and just plain oddly plotted at times. Each episode seems haunted by the lack of Amy Sherman-Palladino and husband/creative equal Daniel Palladino, who in my mind embody the spirit and vision of Gilmore Girls . Without them, the series just feels... painfully average. Yes, I know that they can't write every single episode (though I would really, really, really like them to) and that no one on the writing staff can even come close to their rapier wit and

The Food Network unveiled its latest slate of programming for 2006, which included a new show from British domestic goddess Nigella Lawson (the host of Nigella Bites and Forever Summer and the author of cookbooks How to Be a Domestic Goddess , Nigella Bites , Forever Summer , and Feast ), according to the Hollywood Reporter. ( Nigella will forever be the woman who taught me the simple yet sensual joys of Guinness chocolate cake, watermelon-feta-and-olive salad, and Happiness Soup... and, even more importantly, the woman who inspired my girlfriend to want to cook.) The show, Nigella Feasts , will feature the gorgeous television personality, author, and journalist in a program about "food, family, public holidays, and private passions and how to celebrate with dishes that stir the senes and delight the palate." It is expected to premiere in September in a daytime slot. So set your Tivo. And just be sure to eat something before watching.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I tuned in last night to the Travel Channel's new show, 5 Takes: Pacific Rim , having missed the first season of the 5 Takes franchise. What I discovered however was a cross between a travelogue, MTV's The Real World , and a daring example of truly intereactive television. But more on that later. First, here's the skinny on the show itself. Five 20-something strangers are selected by the Travel Channel to take an amazing 13-week journey--armed with only $50 a day and crammed into a single hotel room--and have every second of the trip filmed. They'll participate in video diaries and blog-writing as they explore, eat, drink, dance, and experience a number of locations along the way. In fact, it's those very locations that provide one of the more interesting twists of the show. Viewers can log onto the 5 Takes website and make suggestions about where the gang should go next (will it be Melbourne or Canberra?), where they sh