What's working ... October 27

1. "60 Minutes." Its excellent work explaining the credit crisis -- and the reckless collusion between Washington and Wall Street that made it possible -- has been must-viewing for millions. No wonder it's starting its 41st season with a return to Nielsen's Top 10.

2. "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on DVD. Out this week is the 20th anniversary box set of the show that made it cool to talk back to your TV set. It also influenced a generation of comedy writers and reality-TV shows; Martha Stewart claims her daughter's new series "Whatever, Martha!" was inspired by "MST3K."

3. "Life" support. NBC rescued the Damien Lewis cop show from Friday doom by moving it to Wednesdays as the lead-in to "Law & Order."

...AND WHAT'S NOT

1. Tom Brokaw. He promised to leave "Meet the Press" after Election Day, but the blowhard NBC anchor should have quit while he was ahead. Following his widely publicized Q-and-A with Colin Powell (who endorsed Barack Obama on the show), he ruined an interview last week with John McCain by asking weird, overstuffed questions and then interrupting the answers.

2. Kirk-Sulu feud. William Shatner's angry rant about not being invited to "Star Trek" alum George Takei's gay wedding was the hot item on YouTube. Shatner needs to take his foot out of his mouth and use it to kick down, Priceline-style, that wall he put up between himself and Takei. Perhaps he could pay for the lucky couple's honeymoon airfare.

3. Campaign withdrawal. I'm already dreading the end of my favorite TV soap opera of the fall season. And I'm sure the same goes double for Keith Olbermann.

-- A.B.