Is this, at long last, the end of 'According to Jim'?

We don't say much about "According to Jim" around here, aside from occasional references to its unkillability. But when the show starts making references to offing itself, we take notice.

Such was the case earlier today, when ABC sent out a list of season finale dates and attached the description for the last "Jim" episode of the season -- which is called "Heaven Opposed to Hell" and sure as heck sounds like a series-ending installment to me. (Dare we dream?)

Here's the full description of the Jim Belushi-directed episode:

"When Jim [Belushi] chokes on a shrimp puff, he dies and arrives at heaven's gate. With Jim on trial to prove his selfless acts on earth, best friend Andy [Larry Joe Campbell] is summoned to heaven to defend him. As Jim attempts to prove his good works to God (Lee Majors), his sister-in-law, Dana (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), represents the devil (Erik Estrada), arguing that Jim's selfishness should mean a certain trip to hell."

OK, Lee Majors as God is kind of inspired, but I hope Albert Brooks is getting royalties from the show for its similarity to "Defending Your Life." All that aside, though, does it not sound like Belushi and Co. are preparing to bring their eight years(!) on ABC to an end? Finally?

I won't believe it, however, until I hear it from the mouth of an ABC executive (for starters, the network announcement mentioned only a season finale, not a series end). It's been widely assumed for at least the past couple years that the show was on its deathbed -- only to come back each time. The next episode to air (scheduled for March 24) will be the show's 170th. 

I'm also sure there's some sort of Bobby Ewing escape hatch in there somewhere, should ABC do the inexplicable and bring "Jim" -- which is averaging a meager 5 million viewers per episode this season -- back for 2009-10.

Still, it's fun to dream.

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