Ox Notes: January 22, 2009

Only two hours into its new season, I'm abandoning Lost again (I skipped Season 3 entirely). I can't another season of slow-as-molasses plot development and dialogue that boils down to: "I know the answer, but I can't tell you." What are your thoughts on the premiere? EW has a recap of both of last night's episodes.

I was much happier with last night's Restaurant Wars episode of Top Chef: New York. Bravo's website has blog posts by judges Tom Colicchio, Toby Young and Gail Simmons, as well as Q&As with guest judge Stephen Starr and the ousted cheftestant.

Bravo's website also has an instructional video on how to make Stefan's Orange Chocolate Rice Parfait. Yum!

Reality Blurred has a pre-season interview with Survivor: Tocantins contestant Erinn Lobdell.

ER alums George Clooney and Julianna Margulies will both return to the show before the series ends later this spring.

With long running hits like ER leaving the air, NBC is working on an image makeover. Meanwhile, other networks are planning more of the same in order to keep viewers comfortable, such as maintaining a full slate of crime procedurals at CBS.

Speaking of makeovers, a special called Making Over America with Trinny and Susannah, hosts of the British version of What Not to Wear, debuts on TLC on Saturday, January 24 immediately following the 2009 Miss America Pageant.

On Monday, January 26, Bravo will run a marathon of Inside the Actors Studio featuring some of the comedians who've stopped by the show in advance of a new episode featuring Conan O'Brien at 8 p.m. ET.

Ox Notes returns on Tuesday, January 27. Until then, enjoy this clip from The Soup starring Star Trek: TNG's Geordi La Forge and cast members from Mad Men: