ABC Cancels Desperate Housewives

You're a citizen before you're a couch potato, Roston writes

(NEWSER) - There is perhaps no “greater sign of our civilization’s decline” than the uproar about President Obama’s State of the Union address possibly preempting the season premiere of Lost or an episode of American Idol, Michael Roston writes. “Before we are couch potatoes, we are citizens,” he rants. "The annual address helps remind us of our elected leaders’ solemn obligation to communicate their intentions to a public they so often fail while in office." More»

(NEWSER) - ABC's Modern Family is a critics' darling, who generally think it's a clever update of the family sitcom, and one that doesn't sacrifice the tenderness we've come to expect from the classics of the genre. A sampling:

• The series, "with its multifamily approach and semi-documentary form, redefines, updates and invigorates the family-comedy genre," writes Barry Garron in the Hollywood Reporter. It's "the obvious choice for best new fall comedy—and possibly best series."

Broadcasters say 'overexposed' prez wastes valuable time

(NEWSER) - Networks are not happy about the primetime hour that President Obama's July 22 news conference took up, reports Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post. Rahm Emanuel called the top brass at all three networks to ensure they carried the event. The networks both resent the pressure and complain that they’re not getting their money’s worth. “There was nothing” newsworthy, says one CBS VP. “There hardly ever is these days.” More»

(NEWSER) - Wisteria Lane's population is going to shrink by one. Nicollette Sheridan, who plays Edie, is leaving the show, reports E! Online. A new script is in the works about Edie's demise, probably a car accident of some sort, but there's no word on when it will air. ABC confirmed the turn of events, and a rep for the 45-year-old actress says Sheridan "is looking forward to her next project." More»

Network bumps final shows of popular series in ratings grab

(NEWSER) - Dying to know how the recently canceled series Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, and Dirty Sexy Money will end? Come back in the summer, says ABC. The network, which originally scheduled the final episodes of Daisies to start airing last week, has more ratings-friendly plans for the time slots, E! reports. Fans of all three shows will get closure in June—at the earliest. More»