This is what I call the Sleeper Curve: the most debased forms of mass diversion -- video games and violent television dramas and juvenile sitcoms -- turn out to be nutritional after all.

Watching TV Makes You Smarter

Oh, no! Say it ain't so, Ray! Say it ain't so!

The show's departure, on the heels of "Friends," "Frasier" and "Sex and the City," increases the sitcom shortfall. This year, "Everybody Loves Raymond" is the only top 10 comedy.

"So many shows are just joke bags," says creator Phil Rosenthal.

Raymond: "You're talking to the president of the Fat, Ugly Old Ladies Club. Welcome! Have a doughnut!"

"It's the one thing that appeals to the audience: They see themselves," says Raymond.

'Everybody' says goodbye, Raymond

For the week, Trio even changed its slogan from "Pop, Culture, TV" to "Joel, Stein, TV" and had me introduce each show. They also had me write and host a half-hour show of clips from my selections. It was about 12 hours into the day of shooting that it struck me that I wasn't getting paid for any of my work: not the hosting, the months of programming, the Good Clean Porn show or the My Trio idea. Trio is indeed the smartest network in the world.

My Life as a TV Executive

For those who may remain as yet unconvinced that television networks have, indeed, completely run out of ideas, I offer you this compelling evidence.

The subtlety of acting in adult films is explored in three half-hour specials featuring the unforgettable dramatic scenes from such perennial favorites as DEBBIE DOES DALLAS and I DREAM OF JENNA. With the distracting action sequences edited out, these programs allow the viewer to focus on those moments which best illustrate the skills of the writers, directors and most importantly, the performers who set the plot in motion and keep it going and going and going.

Good Clean Porn | Trio

Think of the children!

Leading lawmakers and the new leader of the FCC have proposed a broad expansion of indecency rules, which were significantly toughened just last year. They are also looking for significant increases in the size of fines and new procedures that could jeopardize the licenses of stations that repeatedly violate the rules.

Some senior lawmakers have suggested it may be time to extend the indecency and profanity rules to cable and satellite television providers. Lawyers for cable companies say any effort to impose indecency standards on paid programming would violate the First Amendment.

"I would welcome voluntary actions by the industry to address both indecency and gratuitous violence, but they aren't stepping up to the plate, and that's why Congress cannot wait any longer to protect our communities and our families," Mr. Rockefeller said when he introduced the measure. "If the industry won't protect our children from gratuitous violence and indecency, then we must act."

Under New Chief, FCC Considers Widening Its Reach

Now an American remake of "The Office," will have its premiere March 24 on NBC, relocated to Scranton, Pa., and generally Americanized. But it has retained the original's singular sensibility, including the faux-documentary format, the lack of a laugh track and the humor -- sly and excruciating rather than a series of one-liners.

Ricky Gervais's Life, After 'The Office'

In the February 14 issue of The New Yorker, Mark Singer profiles "Deadwood" creator David Milch.

"The demons that led a writer to 'Deadwood'."

(On newsstands now)

Last year, during the first season, Terry Gross interviewed David Milch on Fresh Air at

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1791703

Running time for the interview is 24 minutes.

The Misfit

A new season of Deadwood premieres Sunday, March 6. Don't miss it. You can watch the streaming-video trailer here.

The Miami Herald had this to say about the first season, which has been released on DVD:

Expletives are used on the first season of Deadwood like a teenager, like, uses "like." If you can get past the language, the violence and the nudity, you'll find Deadwood goes a long way toward putting new life into the Old West.

Deadwood is not for the easily offended. For those who can handle it and have the initial patience, it's rewarding.

HBO: Deadwood

This page explains how to set up TiVoToGo. Unfortunately it is not yet available on all TiVo units.

You can request to be placed on a priority list to have the new software sent to your TiVo. Your TiVo service number must begin with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, or 590 in order to be eligible (at this time).

TiVo.com | How to get TiVoToGo

TiVoToGo will be an automatic, free service upgrade for subscribers who own standalone Series2 TiVo DVRs.

TiVo Unveils Portable Transfer Service