ABC Slates Lost Premiere

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»

Southland , Parks and Recreation lead upturn

(NEWSER) - After years of poor ratings, NBC may be on the rebound with the help of two new series: cop show Southland and Amy Poehler’s comedy Parks and Recreation. Parks scored only 6.9 million total viewers, but it maintained 88% of The Office’s coveted young-adult audience. Southland topped CBS’ Harper’s Island in the 18-to-49 demographic and beat expectations by almost equaling Harper’s Island's total viewership. More»

Don't expect your average cop shows and sitcoms

(NEWSER) - As they ready their fall lineups for advertisers, the major networks are stepping off last season's beaten path of struggles and flops. “We were looking for fresh,” says NBC Entertainment’s new president. “I really want people to see the concept for a show and go: ‘Oh wow. What’s that?’” To that end, his network is planning shows like Smash, the big-budget story of a Broadway musical’s creation. The series will have original songs penned by Broadway legends—and it’s getting some help from Steven Spielberg. More»

Comic blames bad fit; show now has 2 judging vacancies

(AP) - Ellen DeGeneres is dancing off American Idol after one season, leaving Fox's hit show with two vacancies on its judging panel. If the singing contest intends to revamp itself to stem a ratings slide, it has the opportunity to bring in two new faces for Season 10, which starts in January. Fox has yet to announce a replacement for Simon Cowell, who left after the season finale in May to start a new talent show for the network. More»

You want lists? These folks have lists!

(NEWSER) - In case you haven't heard, Lost ends its run tonight with a 2½-hour episode that carries six seasons' worth of speculation and the anticipation of pretty much the whole internet. "We feel like Lost deserved a real resolution, not a 'snow globe, waking up in bed, it’s all been a dream, cut to black' kind of ending," co-creator Carlton Cuse tells the Washington Post . To indulge your addiction:

• Watch cats tell the story in 1 minute.