NBC isn't exactly engendering a lot of goodwill among people, with their cancellations of shows like Life and Medium, and My Name is Earl. The fact that they're replacing these shows with not one but two medical shows, isn't exactly a confidence booster. NBC hasn't sent screeners of all their pilots yet, hence the "Part 1" in the title. But I have gotten a taste of both their comedy and drama offerings with Community, a comedy starring The Soup's Joel McHale, and Trauma, one of the aforementioned medical dramas.

Going into this, I didn't have high hopes for Trauma, and while I wanted to like Community, I had a bad feeling that it wasn't going to be the vehicle that would change Joel McHale from cute host of a basic cable show to primetime star. Now, after seeing both of them, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by one.

If you haven't entered our latest giveaways yet, here's a reminder that some are ending today. You've got until 5PM Eastern today to enter the both the Third Watch season one DVD giveaway and the Damages season one DVD giveaway. We're also giving away a couple of iPods, courtesy of Tava, though that one ends February 11.

Just head on over to the posts linked above, read through the rules and make the applicable comment there (not here!) We'll notify the winners next week.

Good luck!

This time we've got three copies of Third Watch season one on DVD for three lucky, random commenters. The set is available in stores tomorrow.

To enter, simply leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Friday, February 8, simply telling us why you'd like to own this set. As always, we'll randomly choose three winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
Click here for complete Official Rules.

There is an interesting article over at The Register about how long Australian TV fans have to wait to get programming from the US. A recent survey of some 119 shows reveals that the average delay for the programs is 16.7 months. As if they are putting videotapes on a rowboat and paddling them across the pond.

To be fair, that 16.7 months number is skewed a little bit by the inclusion of Antiques Roadshow which wrecked the curve with an 11 year delay in being broadcast. Still, there are many more popular shows that still have long delays once they leave their country of origin. Some of the average delays listed are: CSI: NY (9.3 months), Grey's Anatomy (4.9 months), Heroes (4.2 months), House (5 months), and Third Watch (22.1 months).