Watching outside the box . . . unconventional episodes

Last night's episode of Boston Legal was, as Alan (James Spader) summed up, eventful. The firm has gone bankrupt, Shirley and Carl are engaged and Alan put forth a convincing speech about the state of racism in America.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I could write a column about all the TV things I'm thankful for. Like I'm thankful that Lost, Scrubs and 24 will all be back in January. Or I'm so thankful that it actually looks like the Arrested Development movie is going to happen (remember there's always money in the banana stand). And, of course, I'm thankful that Little J wiped off her bad eye makeup on Gossip Girl (although I am strangely indifferent to who Nate ends up with, how about you?).

It occurred to me that this season with Annie (Shenae Grimes) on 90210, Meredith on Grey's Anatomy and Dr. Brenner of ER, it's kind of raining annoying characters on TV.

Oh how I want to tell you a lot about 24: Redemption.

It is hard to say goodbye.

We've had a lot of new faces hanging around some of our favorite shows this fall so let's take a look at how they are doing.

It's time for another edition of I'm not picking up what you're putting down . . . As much as I really really like House, I simply don't think I'm ever going to want House and Cuddy to get together.

So I wasn't going to tell you guys this. Yesterday when I was watching Anthony Edward's return to ER (Thursday at 10 p.m. on NBC), I actually said out loud "Hot diggity!

We've spent a lot of time this season bemoaning the fact that House doesn't seem to know what to do with Cameron and Chase (hopefully that changes somewhat with next week's episode so stay tuned). But there are a few other characters who aren't getting the attention or story lines they deserve.

It's not that I'm jaded. But when you follow the TV industry for as long as I have, it takes a lot to shock me. And I have to say I was positively flabbergasted when news broke yesterday that Brooke Smith and her character Dr. Erica Hahn were being written out of Grey's Anatomy.