1. C-SPAN's unfiltered convention coverage. I don't care how brilliant CNN's and MSNBC's pundits are. And I don't care how scripted the conventions are. From gavel to gavel I want to hear the speakers' talking points, not Donna Brazile's or Pat Buchanan's. God bless C-SPAN.
2. MSNBC anchor fights. Nothing like an outdoor venue with screaming crowds and 12-hour work days to bring out the worst in everyone. As Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews sniped on-air and Joe Scarborough chewed out David Shuster for sleeping through his show, I couldn't help thinking what a great reality show this would make.
3. Rebooting new shows. The writers' strike shortened the seasons of "Pushing Daisies," "Chuck" and other freshmen series, so the networks are relaunching them this fall with fresh ideas and energy. (Not that any of that will save "Private Practice.")
... AND WHAT'S NOT
1. "Entourage." Whatever happened to the fun-loving, carefree comedy we fell in love with four summers ago? In the season opener airing Sunday on HBO, everyone is miserable, including Ari (Jeremy Piven), who just got a hot convertible from his hot wife. Even Fran Drescher, guest-appearing as the mom of a spoiled Hollywood daughter, made me long for the horse-laugh days of "The Nanny."
2. USA HD bait and switch. NBC agreed to let Time Warner carry USA in high-def -- but only for the Olympics, after which it was yanked off area systems. The cable company promises it will be back.
3. AMC bans, then un-bans, "Mad Men" Twitter accounts. Fans were posting messages online as Peggy Olson, Don Draper and other characters. Perfectly legal -- but AMC lawyers shut them down anyway, until the inevitable backlash forced them to relent.
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