The short winter days aren't so bad when you have your favorite TV shows keeping you warm at night. As the days get longer and warmer, it's that time for TV fans to bid adieu to some of our favorite shows for the summer. Think of it as the television industry's way of saying, "Hey! We're playing in the sun. So should you!" Alas, this particular May finale season will sting as we watch the clock stop on '24' and bid our final goodbyes to hopefully departed 'Lost' friends.

In a portent of things to come, Dollhouse is being shoved aside by Fox during November sweeps. The popular rumor is that November will see a repeat of House shown on Friday nights. The upside is that December will have Dollhouse go double-long as two episodes will be shown back-to-back on Friday nights.

At least Fox is living up to its promise to show all 13 episodes of the second season. Granted, Dollhouse has not been Whedon's best effort, but Fox hasn't exactly been kind to the show what with relegating it to Friday nights.

This is just an example of how outdated the current ratings system is. I'm sure if DVRs or Internet downloads were taken into account, Dollhouse's ratings would be much better than they are on paper. Sadly, we live in an unfair world (with an unfair Nielsen Ratings system) so it's likely we're looking at the last season of the show.

Generally speaking, the CSI franchise has been a ratings juggernaut for CBS. Still, this season the original CSI has been declining a bit. It started last season when Laurence Fishburne took on the role of Dr. Ray Langston, becoming the main man on the show with William Petersen exiting.

Well, in an effort to perhaps pump up Fishburne's popularity, CBS is doing something unique. For the first time, a CSI character -- Langston -- will crossover to the other two shows in the same week, all part of the same story.

Will it work? Probably. Crossover stunts are always fun and it'll give viewers who watch one of the CSI's or two, to sample the other. That's not as weird as it sounds. I only watch CSI, not NY or Miami.

If it's almost ratings sweeps month, it's time for stunt sex on TV. On the heels of news that the Oct. 12 episode of 'Heroes' will contain a same-sex smooch comes a report from Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files that 'Gossip Girl' is planning to go even further, with a full-fledged ménage à trois. The thrashing threesome will frolic during the Nov. 9 episode.

In a concession to convention, the 'Gossip Girl' threesome will take place in a bed (ho-hum), but otherwise, the steamy triple play could be just the thing to heat up the show's numbers during November sweeps, when networks and advertisers pay special attention to ratings. It could also help 'GG' maintain its carefully cultivated reputation as the show your parents and pastors don't want you to watch.

Do the American people really like watching their favorite shows this way? Assuming you have more than one or two shows you enjoy following, this week is daunting to say the least and beyond exhausting. Just last night I had a three-hour finale of The Biggest Loser and that awesome Fringe finale. In the past few days we've said goodbye to The Amazing Race, The Apprentice, Cold Case, The Unit, Brothers & Sisters, The Big Bang Theory, House and Castle. And that's just on the major networks.

Over the next two days we have America's Next Top Model, Lie to Me, Lost, Bones, My Name Is Earl, Smallville, Parks & Recreation, CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Hell's Kitchen, The Office, Supernatural and even CSI: NY on a special night. And it goes on through the weekend. In an era where ratings are slipping, how can it make good business sense to put all of these finales on against one another all within a few days of each other. I know they've always done that, but I just don't think it makes sense anymore.

Here we are in the middle of the March sweeps period (March this year instead of February, because we were supposed to switch to digital TV on February 17 and Nielsen was worried that would screw up the numbers) and The Mentalist is a repeat tonight. Not only that, but it's the third week in a row where the show has been a repeat.

Hmmm...I wonder why CBS has made this decision?

Television as an industry is in need of a major overhaul. It's old, dusty, soiling itself, and not keeping up with the technology that changes from day to day. If it were an old, sick animal, or Larry King, it would probably be put to sleep. Alas, so many of us rely on the old biddy that it would be hard for us to say good-bye.

Luckily, I am a resourceful, intelligent and, dare I say it, gorgeous human being who has some ideas in mind to freshen up the television landscape. Yes, it may mean sacrifice from some of us (mainly network executives) and we may lose something in the process. But, in the end, the industry that we love to quietly despise while watching Cheaters will thrive once again.

This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or calling and leaving a message at (775) 640-8479 - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week we have: 24, Heroes, Privileged, Scrubs, Supernatural and The Unit (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

(S02E09) "He is my parent. The one getting me arrested!" - Jenny about Rufus

I can sum up this week's episode of Gossip Girl with six words: The. Downfall. Of. Little. Miss. J. And I can sum up my opinion of the episode with four words: Did. Not. Like. It.

I've said it last week and, sadly, I have to say it again this week: the writers wrecked my perfect Little Miss J. After reading the comments TV Squad readers left in response to my review of last week's episode, it looks like I'm not alone feeling this way. I understand that Jenny can't always be perfect and that she has to make mistakes to learn and grow up but the writers have gone too far with her and, from the previews of next week's episode, it looks like we ain't seen nothing yet.

It's November sweeps time. When thinking of that time of year, TV fans know that this also means huge cliffhangers, major twists and a lot of guest stars. A good number of fans don't like the stress this time of year brings, especially since they know some of their favorite series will go on hiatus for December and the first weeks of January.

To help you prepare for November sweeps 2008, we compiled spoilers for the November episodes of some of the best shows on TV. We give you spoilers for series such as: Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Fringe. Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Prison Break, Smallville, The Simpsons, The Unit, Without a Trace and Ugly Betty.

SPOILERS FOLLOW!

(S08E07) "He's just a regular guy." - Chloe about Clark

It smells like sweeps time when you get rocking episodes such as "Identity." Episodes filled with action, mythology and storyline developments. And when Smallville is concerned, you have to add the "one step closer for Clark to become Superman" factor to really have a truly rewarding episode. For me, "Identity" displayed all four elements and almost made me forget that Lex left the building.

(S01E07) "We are following the plan. Everything is right on schedule." - Pete

Three babies and three couples. This week's Private Practice episode was all about screaming women and babypalooza, flirting doctors, and making adjustments since the plan couldn't be followed to the letter. It may not have looked like a November Sweeps episode but at least the episode pushed the romantic storylines a bit further.
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(S01E08) "I have one brother. He's messed up but he's not a crook." - Jack

This week's Journeyman episode had a tough act to follow because last week's installment was fantastic. "Winterland" may not have been as good as "Double Down" but it sure gave us a lot of answers about Livia and had the FBI Agent connect some dots we wondered if someone eventually would.

(S04E07) "Trust but verify." - Bree to Susan

Deception was the trend of the week on Wisteria Lane. All Desperate Housewives storylines moved forward; the most important move was probably the dive that took the love triangle involving Carlos, Gaby, and Victor.

(S01E07) "You're here to protect you." - Livia to Dan

I don't know about you but as soon as I saw the previews for this week's Journeyman episode I was jumping up and down at the thought of seeing Dan do something in the past that would actually put his future (or present) in jeopardy! Don't get me wrong, I don't want bad things to happen to our hero but it was inevitable to eventually have him screw things up and see the ripple effect his actions while traveling can have on his own family and life.

In this fantastic episode (probably the best so far), Dan and Livia had to protect Past Dan and make sure he got rescued by Katie so that the future would stay intact. What a way for the series to kick of November Sweeps.