Here are the answers to your questions for “Saving Grace” creator-showrunner Nancy Miller.

“Saving Grace” begins its third season on TNT next Tuesday, June 16.

 It's the fourth series created by veteran TV producer-writer Miller, who — like Grace — is from Oklahoma.
Previously she was executive producer-creator of “Leaving L.A.” (starring Christopher Meloni, Melina Kanakaredes and Hilary Swank) and Lifetime’s Annie Potts starrer “Any Day Now.” She also created and produced “The Round Table,” which starred the fabulous Jessica Walter and aired on NBC in the early ’90s.

She’s served as co-executive producer TNT’s “The Closer” and NBC’s “The Profiler.” Other shows she’s worked on include “Threat Matrix,” “The Monroes” and “Against the Grain.”

Miller (pictured at right) answered all the questions asked. She chose as her favorite the question from Sue Claire, about writing strong female leads. Sue, your DVD is on its way!

Thanks to all of you for participating and thanks to Nancy for her great answers. Enjoy season 3!

Q. You have been creatively involved with TV series with female lead characters, such as "Saving Grace" and male leading characters. Is there a difference in the presentation, writing or other aspects of the creative process in the two types of shows? (Sue Claire)
A. There isn’t really a difference. Although everyone tells me that I create men who are too romantic. My answer is that I create men the way they should be! Man or woman, an actor is an actor. So working-wise, the experience is different but very much the same. Probably like any job, guys and girls have different ways of expressing themselves but we all want the same thing — to be loved.

Hart Hanson has answered your questions about "Bones." We had an overwhelming response and so not all of your questions were submitted to him but I tried my best to represent the most burning questions. Whenever possible, I combined similar queries.

"Bones" has been picked up for two more seasons so you have more adventures of Booth and Brennan to look forward to.

Executive producer Stephen Nathan did not participate but I still included his picture. (Hart's on the left and Stephen's on the right in the pic below.)

"Bones" obviously has a loyal and fervent following. We appreciate your participation. Enjoy.

We're still sorting out the prize. The winner will be contacted by email.

Q. What is something you really want to do on the show but feel you would break the budget with if you even attempted to have it done? (Natashadelovely)
A. Oh, there’s so much we could do with more money. We’d like to be out in the world more, we’d like cooler effects, we’d like to use the Angelator more, we’d like to give David more action sequences, we’d like to do a “train” episode … it’s a very long list. In fact, we’d like to utilize some of our favorite guest stars even more. But this is a harsh world and somehow we have to use intelligence and creativity in place of budget to get the effects we want — money is a lot easier.

Q. Will the writers approach the writing process differently now that “Bones” has been picked up for 2 seasons instead of 1? (Miraya) And how much will the cliffhanger affect the creative direction of the show for season 5? (Quratulain)
A. Being picked up for two seasons will indeed have an effect on the unfolding storylines within “Bones.” We may be able to get a “run” at a few things that we’d be guessing about otherwise. And the cliffhanger from last season may mean something different to us than it did to the audience. But having fudged that answer brilliantly (didn’t need budget for that, did we?) yes, the cliffhanger from Season 4 has a very definite effect on Season 5.

We’ll next be conducting a Q&A with “Saving Grace” creator Nancy Miller, so get your questions in soon.

Holly Hunter receives some smart heavenly advice in “Saving Grace,” the TNT drama series that returns for its third season June 16. Hunter plays Grace Hanadarko, an Oklahoma City police detective who partied hard and saw her life spinning out of control before angel Leon Rippy (known to many from his stint behind the bar on “Deadwood”) persuaded her to get her act together. TNT is finding sizeable audiences for their original series — “The Closer,” “Raising the Bar,” “Leverage” — and “Saving Grace” taps into the zeitgeist of eccentric women characters on cable who don’t necessarily get things done in traditional ways, but always with panache and on their own terms.

Here are the guidelines:
1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question by May 27.
2) Please keep the questions about the creative process, Nancy's background and influences or the characters and don't ask questions about future plotlines, which would never be revealed anyway.
3) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance. I'll choose the best questions to send to Nancy and from those, she'll choose the 10-15 that she wants to answer.
4) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
5) Be clever and have fun.
6) The person who asks the question Nancy likes best will receive a signed season 1 DVD.

Please note: Only 50 comments show up at a time but I will see all the responses. Don’t worry if yours disappears. It doesn’t mean I deleted it.

— Kathy Lyford and Stuart Levine

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for questions has now passed. I'm sorting through them and sending them on to Hart. All questions will be considered. (Only the 50 most recent show up here.) Check back soon for the answers. Thanks.

Our next Q&A is with the “Bones” creative team — creator-showrunner Hart Hanson and executive producer Stephen Nathan, who just happen to be two of the funniest guys I know.

With its smart characters, witty banter and playful take on solving the most gruesome of crimes, Fox’s “Bones” has become a must-see on Thursday nights, or any other night the network airs it. Over the course of four seasons, the “will they or won’t they" vibe that surrounds main characters Seeley Booth and Temperance Brennan has been deftly handled — walking the line between interesting verbal foreplay and the audience’s demands to get on with it already — without losing any of the red-hot chemistry. With its eclectic cast of supporting characters, Bones is more complex and engaging than the average crime scene procedural — it’s proof that as the series has grown and matured, its payoffs are more satisfying.

The Season 4 finale is Thursday so it’s the perfect time to submit your questions.

Here are the guidelines:

1)    Hit the comment button below and ask your question by May 19.
2)    Please keep the questions about the creative process and don't ask questions about future plotlines, which would never be revealed anyway.
3)    You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
4)    Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
5)    Be clever and have fun.
6)    The person who asks the best question will receive a special prize to be determined.

— Posted by Kathy Lyford and Sara Farr

“The Big Bang Theory” co-creator/executive producer Bill Prady answered every one of the questions that was submitted before the deadline. He even addressed the questions that Jim Parsons’ couldn’t answer.

With the season finale of the CBS comedy looming Monday, it seemed like the perfect time to post the results.

Before "TBBT," Prady (far left in the picture to the right, flanking the cast with Chuck Lorre) wrote for shows such as "Dharma and Greg" "Gilmore Girls" and began his Hollywood career working for Jim Henson Productions. He is a fan of many things the characters on the show like, particularly "Star Trek." He was previously a computer programmer and said he worked with people who were very bright but couldn’t fit in well in the world and that this was the genesis for the characters we’ve come to love

Before we get to your questions, I'd like to share with you some tidbits we gathered at the “Big Bang” panel at the Paley Festival, which my colleague Cynthia Littleton moderated.

• The original working title of the show was “Lenny, Penny and Kenny.”
• The show was not “pitched” in the traditional way. Normally a writer would go to the network with an outline of the premise, the characters and a vision for where the show would go in the future. For what eventually became “The Big Bang Theory,” Prady and Chuck Lorre wrote a script, hired some actor friends and “put on a show” for CBS honcho Leslie Moonves. “It was crazy,” Lorre said. But it worked.
• Kaley got teary-eyed every time someone on the panel or a guest in the audience gave her a compliment. It was really quite endearing. My favorite line of the whole panel — from Jim Parsons to Cuoco — “Did you think these people were going to throw fruit at us?”
• Asked why the show works so well, Lorre and Prady agreed that everyone, no matter how confident they may seem, at some point feels as if they are on the outside looking in and so the audience can easily identify with the characters.
• The staff calls the scenes between Penny and Sheldon “Peldon" or “Shenny" scenes
• Parsons, told by his manager that he was being asked to audition for a Chuck Lorre pilot, thought it was a Chuck Woolery pilot.
• Musing about how difficult it is to find the perfect actor for even one role in a pilot, Lorre said he felt they'd captured "lightning in a bottle five times" with the "Big Bang" gang. We couldn't agree more.

And now, on to your questions. I’ve chosen the elevator question as my favorite because it made me giggle. Nicola, I will contact you about your prize.

Q. As much as I love the awkward staircase conversations in “TBBT” I want to know if the elevator will EVER be fixed? It would be so funny to watch someone get trapped in there with Sheldon. (Nicola)
A. Our broken elevator does two wonderful things for us. First, it eliminates the traditional sitcom L-shaped apartment building hallway and second, it allows us to do “walk and talk” scenes without having to create a city street or similar set. We’re proud of the set, which required we jackhammer a hole in the floor of Stage 25 (to make room for the stairs going down). I can’t tell you whether it will ever get fixed, but if it does, I’m sure things won’t go well.

You Losties are amazing —188 responses, most of those containing multiple questions for the show’s honchos, Carlton Cuse (left, below) and Damon Lindelof. Let me tell you, it was no easy task to whittle those queries down to 20 to send to the guys. Of those 20, each showrunner picked five to answer.

We didn’t want to leave anyone out, but Damon and Carlton agreed to answer 10. Rest assured we made every effort to combine as many similar questions as possible so that we would represent the most-asked questions. That said, if your question began with “Will we ever see…?”, it didn’t make the cut since the guys were explicit in not wanting to reveal future plot points.

With season five down to just a couple of episodes before the two-hour finale on May 13, the “Lost” scribes have been piling on the revelations (Castaways worked for  the Dharma Initiative back in 1977! Ben actually saved Rousseau’s daughter!) and filling in backstories at breakneck pace (Glimpses of Charles Widmore in his prime have been eye-opening, and last week's episode on Miles' history was a retro gem). The time-travel aspect has been smartly fleshed out, with Hurley and Miles debating its rules in comic style. And Damon and Carlton have revealed via podcast the chosen name for the season finale’s key scene (The Fork in the Outlet).

The “Lost” showrunners have been busy this season, locking in the show’s core characters and throughlines, keeping track of elaborate continuity (witness the kerfuffle over Charlotte's age) and laying the groundwork for a grand wrap-up of all the show’s mysteries in season six. It’s rare for a TV series with such an intricate and serialized storyline to maintain such rabid fan interest and confidence in the storytelling, but Damon and Carlton clearly bring their own rich appreciation of drama, sci-fi and genre to the endeavor, as reflected in their ongoing love for the Stephen King universe and Damon co-writing the sequel to Par’s upcoming reboot of “Star Trek.” It’s clear from their responses to your questions that they’re both showrunners and fans themselves, and that “Lost” proves an iconic favorite.

UPDATE: The winner of the signed DVD set is (drumroll…) Derek, who asked the first part of the question about the predetermined end date. The scribes couldn't pick a favorite question and neither could we so we put everyone's name in a hat and picked a winner that way. Congratulations Derek! DVD will be along to you shortly.

Thanks for the spectacular response and enjoy the answers. Here we go:

Q. When the show is all said and done, how do you want the show to be remembered … and about 20 years after the show has ended would you both be willing to be involved in the remake/relaunch of “Lost,” and if so, what would you do differently? What has the show taught you? (Combined Ramsey Lawson and Jon P.)
DL: I think our hope is that looking back on the entire run of the show, that people remember the EXPERIENCE of watching it — what it actually felt like to be mystified and frustrated and surprised — as opposed to just where it landed storywise. When all is said and done, we’ll have consumed six years of our fans’ lives and our greatest wish is that they look back on that time and feel that it was all worth it. As far as whether we’ll want to revisit “Lost” 20 years from now, the answer is probably no… though it would be pretty cool to see what someone else might come up with!

Good news all you fans of “The Big Bang Theory”: We had so much fun with the Jim Parsons Q&A  that we’re doing one with the show’s co-creator Bill Prady.

We chatted with Bill after a taping back in November and he’s enthusiastic about answering your questions regarding the awkward genius quartet (Sheldon, Leonard, Wolowitz and Koothrappali) and their gal pal Penny.

The show has continued its hot ratings pace and has been picked up for two additional seasons.

As always, here are the guidelines. We’ll send questions to Bill in about a week. I’ve saved some of the queries you all sent in for Jim Parsons that he didn’t have answers for (see the first comment below). We’ll see if Bill can provide you with the info you’re seeking, especially the ever-popular “Will Sheldon and Penny ever hook up?” question. I don't know how much future plot Bill is able or willing to give away so phrase those questions carefully.

1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question by April 3.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
4) Be clever and have fun.
5) The person who asks the best question will receive a special prize to be determined.

UPDATE: On Monday, March 30, NBC and DirecTV inked the deal that will bring us two more glorious seasons of this remarkable show!

At long last, here are the answers to your questions for “Friday Night Lights” showrunner Jason Katims (pictured accepting a Vision Award in June).

Loyal readers will recall I first opened up the opportunity for questions prior to the NBC show’s third season premiere on DirecTV's 101 Network back in October. At the time Jason was too involved working on our favorite show to get to your questions. Then, he was swamped with writing  “Parenthood,” his pilot for NBC and Imagine.

I was persistent (some may call it annoying) and with the help of his marvelous assistant, we’ve received the answers we’ve been waiting for. A big thanks to both Jason and Jamie. And I can’t thank you readers enough for your patience.

Those who love "Friday Night Lights" know that the level of devotion you feel for the show can become an obsession. There’s nothing quite like it on television. The show can break your heart every time out. This piece from the Canadian Press does a great job of summing up fans’ feelings.

And yet, the ratings have never taken off (go figure) and as each season approaches its finale, we fans are left wondering if there will be more. Well, recently there has been scuttlebutt on the Web about a two-season renewal in the works. That’s right, TWO seasons. Nothing has been decided thus far and I don’t know any more than you folks, but if you read Jason’s answers carefully you’ll see that he seems optimistic about the future of the show. I have complete confidence that if/when it returns it will be every bit as riveting as it’s been for the first three seasons.

Of course, not all our favorite characters will be back if the series does complete yet another Hail Mary. It is, after all, a show with high school at its core. Kids graduate; people leave small towns.

EW’s Ausiello Files hints at which cast members we could count on seeing in seasons 4 and 5.

Indeed, already this season we fans have had to say goodbye to two favorite characters. At EW’s PopWatch, Scott Porter blogged about leaving the show and Jason Street behind. And Gaius Charles talked about Smash’s exit with TV Guide.

I used the questions that were most relevant at this point in NBC’s airing of the season and Katims answered 10 for us. I'll start with the question Jason and I chose as our favorite. Congratulations Anne, your signed DVD of Season 2 is on its way.

Enjoy!

Q. If you could choose one episode/moment (excluding the pilot) that captures the very essence of the show to sell the show to a new viewer, which one would you choose, and why? — Anne
A. I’d choose Episode 304 — “Hello Goodbye.” It’s the episode that bids farewell to Smash and has such a poignancy to it. But what makes the episode recommend itself is that there are so many other things going on simultaneously. Tyra meets Cash; Landry confronts Tyra as he is recovering from dental surgery; Tami loses the Jumbotron battle. It’s meaty and smart and all the characters and stories seem to be firing on all cylinders. Gaius Charles and Jesse Plemons give two of their finest performances.

Season Pass' next Q&A is with "Lost" showrunners Damon Lindelof — who co-created the series with J.J. Abrams —  and Carlton Cuse, who came onboard as exec producer after the pilot. This is your opportunity to query the creative team behind the show that helped revive a near-dead ABC in 2004. So ask your questions now.

Damon and Carlton spent the show's first four seasons layering on the mystery and the mythos about the island, the Flight 815 castaways, the Others, the Dharma Initiative, the four-toed statue, Smokey, Adam and Eve and a few dozen other plot threads. Now in its penultimate season, the scribes are steering the story arc toward revealing the answers and the “aha” moments that the fans have long demanded. And in between, just to keep things interesting, we're doing a whole lot of time traveling.

Damon and Carlton aren’t about to give away any plot secrets, so don’t even ask, but they would like to riff on questions about their influences and inspirations, the incredibly involved process of producing a mini “Lost” movie each week, favorite character moments or pivotal events in past seasons. Plus, Carlton always appreciates inquiries about his banjo playing. Or you can ask Damon about his poker skills. (I happen to have played poker with him and I believe he cleaned my clock).

Once the duo puts the finishing touches on the season finale later this month, they’ll answer your questions; but they will only answer 10 so make them good ones.

Please follow the usual guidelines:

1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question by March 15.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
4) Be clever and have fun.
5) The person who asks the best question will receive a DVD signed by the guys.

Posted by Kathy Lyford with a huge assist from Cynthia Littleton and Brian Cochrane

PLEASE NOTE: Only 50 comments appear here at a time but we have access to the others and we will sort through every question submitted, I promise.

Here are the answers to your questions for Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri (pictured below with the show's host Phil Keoghan) about "The Amazing Race," which bowed its 14th edition Sunday.

One of our favorite Q&A subjects, "The Big Bang Theory" star Jim Parsons has a new video at Funny or Die.

In it, he plays a guy who does his best to punch up eulogy speeches, with questionable results. Very dark, and very different from Sheldon.

Check it out here:

Here are the answers to your questions for "Big Love’s" Bill Paxton, who plays polygamist patriarch Bill Henrickson on the HBO drama.

If you're a fan of "Mad Men," you've got to check out the slideshow of illustrations by artist Dyna Moe on her Flickr page. We think they're the bee's knees. As the artist explains, she started when Rich Sommer (Harry Crane) hired her to design his Christmas card. She was so inspired she then drew a new wallpaper for each episode.

Below are a few of my favorites. Check them all out as soon as you can. And, you can buy cards, posters and mugs at her Zazzle page. Color me impressed . . . and excited.

Our next Q&A participant is “The Amazing Race” co-creator Bert Van Munster (and possibly his wife/partner Elise Doganieri if she’s available).

“The Amazing Race” is always on my must-see list. Aside from the usual mix of interesting contestants, it gives me the opportunity to learn about other cultures and see places I never would otherwise. Kind of like traveling from my sofa. And it remains the only reality show to win the Emmy in the six-year-old category.

The new season of the CBS show, its 14th edition, begins Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. (New racers are pictured here.) You probably have plenty of questions about past seasons, where we’re going together this upcoming season or how they come up with those crazy tasks.

By now, you know the drill:
1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question by Jan. 29.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
4) Be clever and have fun.
5) The person who asks the best question will receive a prize.

Posted by Kathy Lyford

"The Biggest Loser" co-creator Mark Koops has answered your weighty questions. 

Mark (pictured with trainer Bob Harper) is also managing director of television production company Reveille, which produces "The Office," "The Tudors," "Ugly Betty" and many other series.

He's rightfully very proud of "The Biggest Loser," a series that has changed many lives over its six seasons.

Season seven, "Biggest Loser: Couples," began last Tuesday. Jerry, the oldest contestant ever, collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He returned to the ranch and is still in the game. And the season features the biggest contestant ever (Daniel) and the biggest female contestant ever (Carla). Producers also unveiled a rather ingenious twist. Of the 22 folks we were introduced to, nine were sent home to continue the program there. Those whose partners are still in the game in a month, will be invited back to the ranch.

Here are you questions and the answers. We'll have a couple of prize winners this time. I'll notify them via email. (I apologize if your question was left off; we had some technical issues with our software affecting comments during the week we were compiling questions.)

Q. Why is it that your show has less of the gamesmanship and nastiness than other reality shows? (With the obvious exception of last season’s Vicky, of course.) — Betty 
A. I think it is genuinely because they all want to change their lives. that may sound trite but it is true. the contestants become their own self-help group and one person’s success becomes the group’s success. They recognize that only one person can win the game, but they can all change their lives, change the lives of the ones they love and inspire you, the viewer. 

“Big Love” star Bill Paxton is the next guest in our Q&A series. He’ll be answering reader questions here on Season Pass.

HBO’s drama about a polygamist and his three wives bows its third season Jan. 18. While many of HBO’s shows have long hiatuses, “Big Love’s” was extra long due to the WGA strike and hasn’t aired since August 2007. In the interim, the lifestyle portrayed on the show received a worldwide stage in April of 2008 when authorities raided Warren Jeffs’ polygamist compound in Texas and took more than 400 children into protective custody.  According to TV Guide's print edition, the show will address that real-life event in its premiere episode.

I’ll be sitting down with Bill to present your questions on Jan. 14 so please submit them by Jan. 13. You know the drill by now but here are the rules:

1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question by Jan. 13.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you’ll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
4) Keep in mind that actors are not always aware of future plot points.
5) Be clever and have fun.

The person who asks the question Bill likes best will win a DVD set of Season 2.

Posted by Kathy Lyford

(Paxton pictured above with his TV wives, from left, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Chloe Sevigny)

“The Biggest Loser” co-creator/executive producer Mark Koops will answer 20 reader questions here at Season Pass. Get your questions in soon if you want to be included.

Most folks’ New Year’s resolutions will include one or more of the following: Lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier. If you’ve ever watched “Biggest Loser,” you know that adhering to those principles can do wonders for your health and appearance.

We just finished watching the lovely Michelle (right) take the crown last season by losing 110 pounds. The next season, which starts Tuesday, features couples — parents and children, cousins, friends, siblings, marrieds and an engaged couple. It will include the heaviest-ever contestant and the oldest contestant to date.

Your questions for Mark can include anything about past seasons, the upcoming season, casting, challenges, contestants, etc.

Here are the rules:
1) Hit the comment button below and ask your question. We’re aiming to get the questions to Mark by Friday, Jan. 2.
2) You may ask more than one question but we are looking for quality, not quantity. Asking more will not guarantee that you'll get an answer. In the spirit of fairness, we try to give plenty of folks a chance.
3) Read through the other comments to make sure you’re not repeating something that’s already been asked.
4) The person who asks the question Mark likes best will win a prize, to be determined later.

Posted by Kathy Lyford

It's that annual time to reflect on what worked on TV over the past year… and what didn't. Here is my personal list.

BEST

"Mad Men"
This intricately woven tale of 1960s ad men's work and home lives captured the imagination of an obsessively loyal fanbase. It's also one of the few things Emmy got right, awarding the show its outstanding drama trophy. And creator Matthew Weiner has become one of our favorite people this year. See our Q&A here.

DirecTV's deal for "Friday Night Lights"
A shared window plan between the satellite provider and NBC bought the critical darling another season. Those lucky few who subscribe to DirecTV have had the privilege of enjoying a season that approaches the greatness of the show's epic first season.

"Big Bang Theory"
This comedy about socially awkward geniuses has emerged as a surprise hit this fall after garnering fair ratings in the strike shortened 07-08 season. Creatively the show's never been better, with the razor sharp ensemble now firing on all cylinders and auds propelling it to season high numbers week after week. See our Q&A with star Jim Parsons here.

"Desperate Housewives"
Fast forwarding the ladies' lives five years added a much needed jolt to the flagging drama. See our Q&A with creator Marc Cherry here.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
Priceless

"Privileged"
A sweet dramedy that's too smart for the CW's core audience. More people ought to be watching.

"Worst Week"
Consistently laugh-out-loud funny.

"Dexter"
Jimmy Smits proved a suitable friend, then foil, to our favorite sociopathic hero. See our Q&A with exec producer Clyde Phillips here.

“The Office”
Anyone who works in an office has got to appreciate this painfully accurate laffer.

“The Biggest Loser”
As reluctant as I am to include a reality show in any best of list, I have to admit, this one hits on every emotion.

"The Capture of The Green River Killer"
This Lifetime mini was an engrossing and emotional account of the 20+ years search for a serial killer with stellar performances from Tom Cavanaugh and Amy Davidson. It's too bad the broadcast nets have given up on movies and minis.

WORST

The Emmy Awards
An embarrassment to the television community. Everyone involved should be ashamed. If you've blocked out how truly awful it was, read my review from that night here.

"Do Not Disturb"
Auds mercifully checked out early from this dreadful Fox comedy.

"Grey's Anatomy"
This show has lost whatever charm it once had and now just feels desperate.

"Knight Rider"
A bad idea, executed horribly.

"Crusoe"
Unwatchable.

"ER's" final season
I've been a fan for most of this hospital drama's 15 seasons but this last gasp has been a slow painful death.

"Boston Legal"
Someone needs to explain to me how this ever attracted an audience. I've never been so happy to see a show end its run.

Those are mine. What are yours?

For more best of lists, visit TVGuide.com's list of best shows and best TV moments. TV.com weighs in here. Our pal Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune has her say here.

Did you see other lists that resonated with you?

— Kathy Lyford

Posted by Kathy Lyford

Here are the answers to your questions for “House” co-showrunner Katie Jacobs. She was pretty selective with the queries and answered the five that inspired her the most.

The show, about cranky diagnostician Dr. Gregory House and his co-workers and patients, has continued to rack up awards, most recently garnering is two Golden Globe nominations last week, for best drama series and lead actor Hugh Laurie, and two SAG nominations — for Laurie and the ensemble — just this morning.

Jacobs shares showrunner duties with David Shore — he runs the writers' room and she oversees the non-writing aspects of the show. She has also directed several episodes including “Half-Wit” with guest star Dave Matthews as well as the finale of both seasons three and four and this season's ninth episode — "Last Resort" — guest-starring Zeljko Ivanek, which aired Nov. 25.

Previously, Jacobs served as co-showrunner on ABC’s “Gideon’s Crossing,” starring the incomparable Andre Braugher, as well as CBS legal drama “Century City.” Before turning her focus to television, Jacobs produced several films, including Alan J. Pakula’s thriller “Consenting Adults” and the Carl Reiner comedy “Fatal Instinct.”

We'll start with the winning question. Diane will receive a DVD set of season four.

Q. How common is it for a non-writing producer to be a co-showrunner? It seems to make sense, since showrunning sounds like a huge job involving a lot of non-writing producing duties, but it doesn’t seem that common. Are you an anomaly? How do you split the duties with David Shore? — Diane
A. I feel like the show is best served by allowing David Shore and his writing staff as much writing time as possible. It is the voice of the show that makes it unique, the script and the words are king. Having said that, there are many other factors that contribute in making the show what it is. I spend most of my time casting, in post-production editing, selecting music, meeting with directors, writers, the network and actors… it’s a lot. But it’s an honor to run a show alongside David Shore.

“Mad Men” has definitely had an impact on my wardrobe. I've purchased several vintage dresses in the last couple of years and, more than ever, I lean toward 1960s-inspired new pieces as well.

But the show also makes me wistful for the furniture and tchotchkes from that era. Watching, or re-watching, an episode, often makes me yearn for a weekend trip to the flea market or prompts me to visit Ebay and do a search for “mid-century” items. In fact, I found a magnificent Danish Modern teak credenza on Ebay that now serves as my living room's entertainment center.

If you have ever felt that same twinge of nostalgia, you’ll enjoy this interview with “Mad Men’s” set decorator Amy Wells conducted by the publication Interior Design (owned by the same parent company that owns Variety).

Asked why viewers don’t see a lot of big-ticket mid-century pieces, Wells had this to say:

"I want to make 'Mad Men' look real, as if the people really have those pieces. It's important that they be imperfect, not iconic. A lot of people had Danish modern at the time because it was reasonably priced, and much of it still exists because it was so well made."

Check out the interview here and the accompanying slide show here.

Posted by Kathy Lyford

Photo: The Draper's bedroom