In the market in which I live, we're enduring our once-a-month, week-long (or more) onslaught of Wayne Dyer-Suze Orman-heroes-of-doo-wop, other pure crap "specials" on our primary public-TV station. (Management actually preempted last night's Yo-Yo Ma concert for its endless-loop run of Dyer's "No Excuses" program.) It wasn't that long ago that any PBS station was a sanctuary from the network endemic. Now, at least here, it's a petri dish. Maybe an answer would be putting Wayne and Suze in the middle of a jungle and viewers would have to pledge to a PBS station to get them out--oh, what a dilemma!

What a perfect time to catch up on some movies and/or old TV series via NetFlix. That's what I do every summer.

I guess this explains why there are no Wednesday Picks on the main page today. Me, I'll be watching "Time Warp" and "Mythbusters" on Discovery, and then "The Unusuals."
[Actually, Bianculli is sleeping for seven weeks after finishing his Smothers Brothers book. Best bets to come once he shakes himself awake. - Diane W.]

Overall, that is one dismal lineup! I have to give a defense for So You Think You Can Dance, though.

Despite what may be the worst title in history, this is a show that fans of American Idol (which our dear friend Bianculli certainly is) can easily embrace. I would even make the argument that it is a better show. The level of dancing is fantastic and exposes the audience to a wide variety of style - ballroom, hip hop, jazz, ballet, modern, swing, Bollywood, etc. Even better, the judges act like they care about both dance and the contestants. Critiques are tough, but fair, and contestants are given advice they can actually use to improve (but be warned that one of the judges can express her enthusiasm in a very shrill shriek!).

It won't be for everyone, but for fans of dance or fans of American Idol, I recommend it.