A Valerie Plame-free blog posting

Reader Kathie Schlegel wrote me earlier this month asking:

Today's article mentioned the show "Beautiful People."  It was a short and enjoyable series on ABC Family.  I was surprised to see the show finale happen so soon.  Would you know if that show will return?

I'm about a week late with the answer, but here it is:

ABC Family has picked up eight additional episodes for the first season of the original drama series, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, it was announced today by Paul Lee, president, ABC Family.  Eight additional one-hour episodes will be produced by Sony Pictures Television to premiere in 2006.

Not exactly sure why I liked this show so much. It's well written, the three actresses at the center all work for me, and despite it being yet another TV show set at an exclusive prep school, its insistence on seeing things from the outsiders' pov is refreshing. Well, that's enough reasons.

While on the subject of ABC Family, I notice it will be unveiling two never-before-seen episodes of "Whose Line Is It Anyway" next month (Nov. 7 and 21 to be precise). Never before seen but, I'm guessing, awfully familiar anyway.

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TV Week is reporting that

After six years, Lifetime has canceled its veteran drama "Strong Medicine," the network announced Thursday. The series was the longest-running original drama on basic cable and anchored Lifetime's Sunday nights. Lifetime made the decision despite a modest increase in ratings this season.

"The longest-running original drama on basic cable"? Really? Longer than "Stargate"? Or do those years on Showtime not count toward its total?

"Strong Medicine" was on for six seasons and I think I saw both episodes.