Sunday night

I have to admit that 'Castle' is a show that took me surprise. I thought it would be one of those light cop/buddy/romance dramas with two different people thrown together even though they don't really want to be together and they'd banter and solve crimes and then the show would be a trivia question later. But it has actually turned out to be doing well for ABC, so I was wrong. Now ABC is moving the show from Monday to Sunday.

Relax, it's only for one episode. For one night only (for now, anyway), March 21, 'Castle' will knock 'Brothers & Sisters' off the schedule and will follow 'Desperate Housewives' on a Sunday. And fans of the show will be happy to know that there will be another new episode the following night in its regular time slot. It's a two-parter that will guest star Dana Delany as an investigator who teams up with Fillion and Stana Katic to find a killer.

You knew it was a bad sign in November when CBS decided to flip flop Cold Case and Three Rivers to test whether it was the time slots that were dictating the sliding ratings of the Sunday night dramas.

The results were hardly conclusive, but consistently drawing less than 2.0 in the demographics has doomed Three Rivers. CBS has pulled Three Rivers off the schedule for December. Merry Christmas, Alex O'Loughlin lovers.

This is the first step to cancellation and anyone who tells you otherwise is blowing smoke. Despite a big star in the center, Three Rivers is an earnest medical drama that's just not catching on with viewers. CBS will complete the 13-episode order and then kiss the show bye-bye.

In a move that should come as no surprise to anybody, Fox has shifted the air time for the new Mitch Hurwitz animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up to 7PM, also known as the "Sunday Night Fox Animated Death Slot." Given the startlingly low ratings the series has gotten in its first two weeks, I can only wonder if anybody will even notice.

Seriously, I watched the premiere (which we reviewed here on TV Squad) and honestly, the rumors are true. The show is cute and quirky (it would probably do well on Adult Swim), but it doesn't have the right kind of funny for Fox Sunday night animation.

In an even bigger insult, Fox is switching the cartoon with its timeslot predecessor King of the Hill, which is now in its final season on the network. It says something when Fox offers greater support to a show that they know won't be back (which, at this stage, now includes Sit Down, Shut Up).

Say it isn't so!

OK, I'll say it: it isn't so.

Seth McFarlane is currently under negotiations with FOX about his new contract. The current contract runs out in early 2007, and McFarlane still hasn't finalized a deal with the network even though the new season is supposed to start filming (um...drawing?) very soon. Variety reports that the production offices are currently closed.

But I say the network and McFarlane make a deal. The show has been a hit and an important show for FOX since coming back, and I don't see them letting it slide away (again). Though wouldn't it be interesting if FOX for some reason didn't renew the contract and NBC picked it up? I don't see that happening, but that would be a cool twist and an instant hit for the Peacock network.