It’s almost May Sweeps, and season finales will be upon us faster than the networks can cancel soaps. Let’s break it down, network by network, of what succeeded – and what flopped – this TV season.

NBC

Let’s start with the weakest network. After the ‘Jay Leno Show’ debacle last season, NBC is still scrambling to find original programming that will net decent ratings.

‘Law & Order: Los Angeles’ has proved a disappointment, as evidenced by its massive overhaul and return to floundering ratings. The comedy ‘Outsourced’ is on the bubble, and shows such as ‘Chase’ and ‘Undercovers’ bombed ...

I’m not old, but I am mature. I’m not in the let’s-go-clubbin’-this-Saturday-night set, but I’m still in the coveted demographic that advertisers like. I’m old enough to remember when vampires were scary—not hot. And I do have those wonderful memories of big, boxy television consoles with three major networks and some local stations with really bad programming. Color television shows were a major big deal, so much so that announcers would actually let you know—“The F.B.I.— in color!” That was probably because not a lot of folks had a color TV set. It’s also cool to see how the physical tele...