TV

One thing is for sure -- get the hankies out, since the final moments of the series will surely find the inseparable sextet splitting up.

How do you think "Friends" should end? Talk about it on the TV Gal Message Board.

How to Save 'The O.C.'

You know when you go to high school and college reunions and they always ask you what your proudest accomplishment to date is? I already have my answer - from the moment I watched the pilot episode of "The O.C.," I knew it would be a hit.

But lately I've been a little worried about my friends in Orange County. By becoming a hit so quickly and being picked up for like a gazillion episodes (many more than the typical 22 for network dramas), the show has had to scramble to come up with ways to fill the hour. It was smart to make Luke the Steve Sanders of the group and turn him into a nice guy. But the Oliver story line was way too out there. I mean, I think a tawdry romance between Luke and Julie could be interesting. It's so "All My Children" when Tad was sleeping with both his girlfriend Liza and her mother (I told you I used to watch the soaps). But I have three primary concerns about "The O.C." Please allow me to share them with you.

1. Marissa has got to stop being so stupid: It's really hard to root for someone who seems like she can't even dress herself in the morning.

2. "The O.C." is seriously underpopulated: We need more randy teenagers roaming around if we are going to make the romantic permutations interesting. And here's a crazy thought I want to throw out there. I know it's Newport Beach, but perhaps they could actually cast someone who isn't white.

3. No more Oliver story lines: A good soap opera always needs outlandish plots. But this was too much, too soon, and the show seemed very ill-equipped to deal with a topic as serious as teen suicide and depression. Adam Brody's public service announcement at the end of the episode seemed so out of place. It's moments like these that I can look out past the Cohen home and see the sharks circling.

Are you worried about "The O.C.?" Talk about it on the TV Gal Message Board.

Seth Cohen Quote of the Week

"Life is gritty enough? We live in Newport Beach." Seth to his father, after Sandy said he preferred the fun comic books because "life is gritty enough."

Coming Soon to a TV Set Near You

A brief look at some of the series heading our way this March:

UPN's "Game Over" is primetime's first-ever CGI-animated series. Patrick Warburton, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Dratch lend their voices to the Smashenburn family. The series debuts at 8 p.m. ET March 10.

"Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital" premieres at 9 p.m. March 3 on ABC. The 15-hour drama series stars Andrew McCarthy, Diane Ladd, Bruce Davison and Ed Begley Jr.

Mike White, the man behind "School of Rock" and "The Good Girl," created, wrote and executive produced FOX's "Cracking Up," premiering at 9:30 p.m. March 9 after an extended "American Idol" (it moves to its regular Monday home the following week). Jason Schwartzman stars as a recent psychology graduate trying to help the youngest son of a very dysfunctional family. Former "Saturday Night Live" regular Molly Shannon and Chris McDonald co-star.

Ioan Gruffudd ("Horatio Hornblower") stars in CBS' "Century City," a legal drama set in 2030. In the series premiere (9 p.m. March 16), a couple sues a doctor who failed to tell them their child would be born gay.

Jill Hennessy and Jerry O'Connell return to "Crossing Jordan" at 10 p.m. March 7 on NBC.

Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) and his crew return for a third season FX's "The Shield" at 10 p.m. March 9.

Don't forget that Tony (James Gandolfini) and company return for the a fifth but not final season of "The Sopranos" at 9 p.m. March 7.

And, alas, UPN's "The Mullets" returns at 8:30 p.m. March 10.

To the TV Gal Reader Belong the Spoils

A couple of late stragglers into the spoilers. Remember: Don't read if you don't want to know.

I want to make sure we're all clear that Alan's death on "24" was not the big death I was talking about. Someone we know pretty well is going to take a bullet in the head.

I'm hearing that both Eve and Lindsey will be back by the end of the month on "Angel." As I told you, Fred is going to be in real trouble (killed by a demon named Illyria, who takes over her body - how Jasmine of her). Turns out Knox is in on the plan (read: he's evil) and Lindsey, with his knowledge of the senior partners, will be able to help Spike, Angel and Wesley save her.

And it looks like my dreams of a little romance between the Lieutenant and Rita on "NYPD Blue" might have been premature. Word is that Rodriguez will be leaving the show by March.

Highlights of the Week Ahead, Part 2
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for Feb. 12-15

I am so addicted to "The Apprentice" (NBC, 8:40 p.m. Thursday) First of all, the show already gets TV Gal bonus points for not trying to have its contestants find love (although as we shall soon see, love may blossom quite naturally between two of The Donald's apprentices), but I think the real appeal of the show is that it hones in on things we deal with in our everyday life and exacerbates them, since the contestants are living in a microcosm created just for television. Plus it's fun to see what Omarosa is going to say or wear next (why does she never feel the need to cover her belly?), study The Donald's comb over and wonder what happened to Heidi's eyebrows.

ABC Family premieres "Hollywood's Most Romantic Couples: An US Magazine Exclusive" at 7 p.m. Saturday.

After taking a break for the triple threat of the Golden Globes, the Super Bowl and the Grammys, "Alias" finally returns at 9 p.m. Sunday with guest star Vivica A. Fox and an oh-so-brief cameo from Quentin Tarantino.

How about that fight between Miranda and Carrie on "Sex and the City" (HBO, 9 p.m. Sunday)? Leave it to Miranda not to mince words. The Russian and Carrie haven't even declared their love for each other. What business does she have quitting her column and moving to Paris? Couldn't she just start by going there for a two-week vacation and seeing how everything works out? It was a knee-jerk reaction to having all her friends happily paired off. All these shenanigans confirm my theory that Carrie will be single by the time the series ends (which don't forget is next Sunday). I've really enjoyed these last few episodes as the series has shifted the focus from the gals' sexual escapades to their romantic and interpersonal relationships.

Just because I don't talk about "Arrested Development" (FOX, 9:30 p.m. Sunday) every week doesn't mean you are not still under strict orders to keep watching the show.

That's all for today. But because it's February sweeps, I'll be back next Monday and Thursday with my thoughts on "24" (memo to show's creators: having the baby be Chase's does not make that story line more interesting. And are we really supposed to believe that CTU's technology security is that lax?), "American Idol" (thank goodness you didn't vote for Katie Weber, who so would have been this season's Kimberly Caldwell), familiar faces who deserve their own show and much, much more.

Have a question, seen a familiar face, have an inside scoop or want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com by clicking on my byline at the top of my column.