Ox Notes: February 15, 2008

The networks have decided to hold a scaled-down version of their upfronts in May, where they will debut pilots for the upcoming season. The demand for pilot scripts, as well as new scripts for shows that got additional episode orders this season, mean that many writers will be working non-stop for the next few months.

NBC announced that Heroes, Life, and Chuck will definitely be back for the 2008-2009 season. CBS picked up 11 shows for next season, but has yet to decide the fates of several shows, including How I Met Your Mother and Moonlight.

Plans for the Oscars telecast are on track for the February 24 ceremony. I plan to watch the show just to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova perform "Falling Slowly" from Once, my favorite film of the year.

Tina Fey will host the first new episode of Saturday Night Live, which returns on February 23. Ellen Page, star of the movie Juno, will host the following week.

David Attenborough's final nature documentary series, Life in Cold Blood, is currently airing on the BBC. The famed naturalist has decided to retire at the age of 81.

Survivor: Micronesia wasn't a big waste of time for the first two ousted castaways, Jonny Fairplay and Mary Sartain. When they returned to California after the taping, Fairplay introduced Mary to Ryno, his buddy from Pearl Islands. The two friends of Fairplay hit it off and are planning to get married.

Looks like Rami isn't the only Project Runway designer who can't take criticism gracefully. In an interview with People, Sweet P should've stopped after she said that Roberto Cavalli's criticism was "a bummer." Instead, she continued: "Cavalli isn't really my aesthetic. He's a great designer, but there are other people I like better."

You might want to set your Tivo now to record Dance War on Monday night. That way you can fast forward through all of the singing to get to the Dancing with the Stars 6 cast announcement.

Greg is getting a jump on his three-day weekend and sent me this video collection of stupid Wheel of Fortune contestants, which is a great way to kill time on a Friday. If you can solve the puzzle "E_clusi_e Nightclub," you're way ahead of these poor saps.