It seemed the new TV season had just started, then, suddenly, the stream of new episodes threatened to run dry.
For the most part, you can relax for the rest of the month. Even with TV writers on strike, most of your favorite comedy and drama series have episodes on tap through November, and even beyond. But a few will be in reruns all too soon.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR?:
— ”House,” with six episodes left, will be fresh through November, with the last few airing in January — one of them following Fox’s broadcast of the Super Bowl.
–”Samantha Who?”, ABC’s new hit comedy, has eight episodes in the can.
— The ”Crime Scene Investigation” trio, ”NCIS,” ”Criminal Minds,” ”Without a Trace” and ”Cold Case” each have three to six more episodes to run on CBS.
DRYING UP:
— CBS’ comedies (”How I Met Your Mother,” ”The Big Bang Theory,” ”Two And a Half Men,” ”Rules of Engagement”) will run dry by month’s end.
— ABC’s ”Ugly Betty,” ”Pushing Daisies” and ”Grey’s Anatomy” each have four new episodes to go.
— ”Desperate Housewives” airs the last of its current stock of new episodes Dec. 2.
— The final new episode of NBC’s ”Heroes” airs Dec. 3.
ON THE BRINK:
— ”The Office” will head into rerun mode on NBC for the foreseeable future after next week’s episode. Among other things, shooting has stopped because star Steve Carell won’t cross picket lines.
— Despite a report that Fox’s ”Family Guy” would air its final new episode this Sunday, the cartoon series will be new through November, the network said.
MIA:
— The planned January return of Fox’s ”24” has been postponed indefinitely. Since only some of the series’ 24 episodes have been shot, Fox didn’t want to risk beginning a new season that might be interrupted.