5. Heroes 

Another show that could be irreparably damaged by the writer’s strike after having a hasty ending to what many, myself somewhat among them, considered to be a disappointing sophomore season for one of television’s most popular shows last year. Yes, the show has problems. Yes, the writing is sometimes bad and the acting exacerbates things but I’m still holding onto hoping that creator Tim Kring will right the ship and make this show a must-see again.

4. The Office  

The only thing I don’t absolutely love about The Office is that it is no longer airing new episodes. Everything about this show is pitch perfect, clever and well done. There have been a complete recent pitfalls for me (the last episode before the show went dark was really bizarre) but I love this show and know that when the show comes back on, it will be equally brilliant as it has been in its first three seasons. Let’s just hope that’s sooner rather than later.

3. Boy Meets World 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that few television shows that I loved as a kid are anywhere near as good as I remember them. Saved by the Bell and Thundercats come most readily to mind but Boy Meets World is a show that I enjoy every bit as much as 24 as I did when I was 12. What I love most about the show, above all else, is its authenticity and its heart. Far more than any sitcom of its sort, you really believe that these people are a family and really care about each other and it gives the show an endearing warmth. Sadly, the show is no longer airing on syndication on ABC Family and the Disney Channel, let us hope that is only temporary.

2. Scrubs

Really sad to see this show go this year but it has been an incredible run for what I feel to be the best medical show, comedy or drama, in the history of television.  If there is ever a day that I pass on watching Scrubs, I hope someone has the decency to kill me. It will break my heart if this show ends without a proper series finale, as rumor has it. A show that has been this strong for this long really deserves an ending with some closure, both for those involved in the production and those who have loved the show for the duration of its run.

1. Sportsnight 

My steadfast rule when I started making this list is that whatever lands on my list, or particularly at the top of the list, I wanted it to be shows that I’ve watched and love to watch and will watch again and the discontinued Sportsnight is the epitome of that philosophy. I’ve seen every episode of Aaron Sorkin’s pre-West Wing dramedy about life on a Sportscenter-esque late night sports show. The show really introduced the world to Peter Krause, who had previously done a few bit roles including the role as a white supremacist handler on Seinfeld and Felicity Huffman. It would have been so easy for this show to be hokey and terrible but it is tremendously well-written, well-acted (save Sabrina Lloyd who plays Natalie, who has since been found stinking up Numb3rs and Ed).

My girlfriend broke the news to me last night. Tonight would be the last episode of The Office until further notice. I knew that they had shut down production on the show last week but I had no idea that the impact of the WGA strike would be felt so immediately. But here we are. Tonight is the last half-hour episode for a while, it would appear. I hope it’s half as good as last week’s Survivor Man episode which left me in tears.

TV Guide has an updated list of how many episodes of every Network show we have left.

The Office shutting down production… Lost may not come on until February 2009.. now this…

Here’s a video from UnitedHollywood.com that features the writers of The Office explaining why, as showrunner Greg Daniels puts it, they’re “trying to shut down our own show.”

According to the website, The Office has closed down.

“The Office has shut down for good. Around 2:00 pm Tuesday. The crew has been asked back Wednesday to strike the location, but there will be no more shooting. This is thanks to a complete staff picket from 4:15 am to 3:00 Monday (when they called the day) and 6:45 am Tuesday until they shut it down. It is also thanks to a number of WGA members/actors making principled stands and not reporting to work.”

In the absence of football or any other sport that I care about, my weekday television viewing has been.. let’s just say subpar. Last night for example, the girlfriend and I watched the Rock of Love premiere (which is kind of like a really skanky, drunken trainwreck you can’t help but watch), the finale of America’s Next Top Model (not sure which circuit, not sure it’s a good sign that I know that the seasons on ANTM are actually called “circuits”) and then watched Making the (not to be be mistaken with Da) Band 4, where Diddy’s theatrics are starting to wear me out. I like how every time he pulls up to the band’s apartment in his Phantom, they play some really awesome hip-hop song to announce him. I think I’d like that same service for myself. I’m going to hire a band to follow me around and play AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” for me every time I walk into a room or maybe Bloc Party’s “Helicopter.”

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No, seriously…

More than 500 people are reporting symptoms of food poisoning after Taste of Chicago.

A Florida man called 911 because he was surrounded by police and needed help.

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The Titans are finding that replacing a felonious defensive back is harder than it might seem.

The Wall Street Journal’s Jason Fry examines the idiocy of the NFL’s new 45-second rule.

Is there beef between Matt Leinart and Ben Roethlisberger?

With the Bobcats trading for Jason Richardson and re-signing Gerald Wallace, the Fanhouse wonders if there’s room for Adam Morrison in Charlotte?

After signing defensive tackle Cory Redding to a contract that doesn’t make sense, the Lions will likely be facing a holdout from its top pick Calvin Johnson.

Edgerrin James is ditching his gold teeth.

In 14 months, at least six Baltimore-area high school athletes were KIA in Iraq.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Kathleen Nelson looks at some possible NFL reality shows to hold you over until Week 1.

Has Barry Bonds caused a riff on Fox’s baseball telecasts?

Great story in the Kansas City Star about how fans punctuate milestone moments in their lives in stadiums.

The Oklahoman’s John Rohde on what he thinks will keep him entertained until the start of football season.

Fun story in the Denver Post today about celebrity golf tournaments.

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Well-rounded news…

Apple has filed a patent for a backlit trackpad.

Broadband speed in the U.S. stinks.

The first four episodes of fourth season of The Office will be an hour long.

Is NBC revamping American Gladiators?

Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke has a unique way of dealing with the paparazzi.