The best of timing, the worst of timing

ABC publicist Jeff Fordis confirmed just now that I am not the only one wondering: In light of the devastation along the Gulf Coast, does the network go ahead with "Invasion"?

That's the series, scheduled to air Sept. 21, that begins with a hurricane sweeping through south Florida. It doesn't look like much of a deluge on camera, and once it's done, the ground goes dry and life seems to return to normal fairly quickly. That, of course, is nothing like the aftermath that the real life Hurricane Katrina is inflicting on New Orleans and other communities in that region.

Given the current estimates of it taking three to six months just to dredge out the floodwater, let alone get people's lives back to normal, that means "Invasion" will be coming on the air while people are still fragile and the tragedy is still a lead story on the nightly news. Especially if the death toll is catastrophically high, as some officials are saying today it could be.

ABC is airing a news special at 10 ET tonight (NBC is, too, at 9 ET). But the show will go on in three weeks -- at least that's the word. "There are no plans to reschedule the premiere," Fordis said.