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Since I began writing the weekly "Smallville Scorecard," I've received lots of great comments from "Smallville" fans. I appreciate the feedback, encourage you to keep it coming, and wish to answer a few points of speculation in no particular order:

1. I am a fan of Lois Lane, just not the one who "Smallville's" writers make weak by writing the character as an insufferable know-it-all maverick who occasionally surprises me as a strong independent woman who then dons a bikini, red leather leisure suit, or French maid's uniform whenever the ratings dictate it. Bad form, writers. Bad form.

THE CWLois (Erica Durance) and Clark (Tom Welling) talk copy in last night's "Smallville" episode, "Instinct."

Rumors have been swirling for a couple weeks that Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin likely would appear on tonight's premiere of "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" to face her comedic doppelganger Tina Fey - who only slightly exaggerates her impression of Alaska's governor.

I think we'll all agree Sarah Palin could use the exposure (wink, wink) and NBC and "SNL" would enjoy the ratings avalanche. More importantly, who doesn't want to see Fey dress up as Palin? Fey's dead-on mockery of the Veep hopeful is sidesplitting each time she does it.

NBCTina Fey does her best Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin impression on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."

SPARKS FLY OUT (Episode 1.5): Sookie breaks up with Vampire Bill. Bill - an original son of Bon Temps - wins over Grandma's Civil War group with his recollections of life in the 1860s. Sam tries to make the most of his opportunity with Sookie. And Lafayette ropes Jason into giving V-juice another try.

LAST WEEK'S CLIFFHANGER: Sam lets himself into Dawn's home with his landlord's keys, jumps into her bed wearing a pair of latex gloves, rolls around and savors the smell of death? Dawn? Jason? Who knows for sure?

HBOThe Stackhouse family in happier times: Jason (Ryan Kwanten), Adele (Lois Smith) and Sookie (Anna Paquin).

Cartoon Network debuted the tiny screen version of "The Clone Wars" animated series Friday night. The big screen version, which was really just a big pilot for the show, wasn't very popular either commercially or critically. So how was the debut?

I am a Star Wars fan, but I did not rush to my local cineplex to see the big-screen "movie." I had read too many negative reviews and thought my money would serve me better in these harsh economic times as an investment in the "Iron Man" double-disc DVD. (It did, and "Iron Man" still rocks.)

Lucasfilm Ltd.Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, left, is shown with padawan Ahsoka Tano in the animated TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

Fox's sci-fi thriller "Fringe" - one of my favorite new shows of the fall - has been picked up for a full season following a strong showing in the Nielsen ratings. The Tuesday drama:

1. averages a 4.2 rating, 11 share among adults 18-49 (That's good.)
2. pulls in an average of 10.7 million total viewers (That's good, too.)
3. ranks as the top freshman series in the adult demo (Do I smell a Season 2?)

Fox Broadcasting Co.Astrid (Jasika Nicole), Walter (John Noble) and Olivia (Anna Torv) run an electrifying test iin the "Fringe" episode "Power Hungry" airing Oct. 14 on Fox.

Continue reading "'Fringe' gets full season order, and for good reason" »

Aussie 'True Blood' star Ryan Kwanten enjoys his role in HBO Southern vampire series, even if mum and dad see him in the altogether.

HBORyan Kwanten, left, says he's more prone to believe in vampires than other supernatural or sci-fi phenomena. "I've always been intrigued by vampires because they were once human themselves and have human qualities," he says.

Ryan Kwanten is from the Southeast, and he sounds like it.

But if you're a fan of "True Blood," in which Kwanten plays the carefree, sex-obsessed Jason Stackhouse in Bon Temps, La., you might be a tad surprised.

Kwanten hails from the southeast of Australia - Sydney, to be exact - and he sounds nothing like the good ol' boy he plays on TV.

Super scoop and the gang from "Smallville" are always at their best when the writers actually decide to tap their storytelling talents and abandon their lazy meteor freak of the week formula. Unfortunately, such occasions are few and far between. But last night's "Toxic" was an event fit for a future fans' choice marathon.

The CWClark Kent (actor Tom Welling) does some super reporting for The Daily Planet on "Smallville."

When Oliver Queen is poisoned with a rare toxin, he refuses treatment and it's up to Clark, Chloe and Lois to save his life. Unconscious and with fever, Ollie recalls his time as a castaway in the South Pacific. Luthorcorp's Tess Mercer has a past with the billionaire head of Queen Industries and she seizes an opportunity to pass along sensitive information. Much praise is deserved for the emotional exchange between Clark and Oliver toward the end of the hour. Find full episodes of "Smallville" here.

Two of TV's finest series returned this week for their sophomore seasons: NBC's "Chuck" and ABC's "Pushing Daisies." Both shows have heart (and a lot of it), which is sometimes hard to find in the vast programming landscape these days, particularly on the big four networks.