(S05E08) "How did you find this one?" - Det. Sam Blair to Melinda and Eli

Eli and Melinda quickly came up with a fake story as to why they often discover bodies or are around crime scenes. Detective Blair bought it this time but it wouldn't surprising if she decides to dig a little deeper to get real answers. After years of being around deceased, one would expect that the Grandview police would start investigating why Melinda, and now Eli, are involved in a lot of their cases, no?

While we wait for Det. Blair to start to investigate Melinda and Eli, we are treated to one of the wackiest and lightest episode of the season thanks to Greg Germann and Perrey Reeves guesting on the episode.

It's always interesting when you've been hearing about a series for years and then finally sit down to watch it. All the little pieces and pop references of Ally McBeal are starting to come together, like Fishisms, The Biscuit, dancing babies and Vonda Shepard. I have seen the light. Well, at least season one of the light.

I mentioned in my preview last week that Ally McBeal seems like a mix of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and My World and Welcome To It. Having reached the end of season one, I still feel that way, with maybe a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer thrown in (hey, don't throw things at me, Ally looks like Buffy).

Molly Dodd because Ally is funny, desperate, strong and cute. My World because of all her fantasies, though not always in cartoon form as was the case with John Monroe / James Thurber.

I'm watching season one of Ally McBeal for Jane After Dark this week, and will give a full review this weekend. But I have to say, I'm just a few episodes in, and I'm already hooked. It's a weird blend of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd and My World and Welcome To It.

And it's very weird seeing Calista Flockhart, whom I mainly know from Brothers & Sisters, and all of her co-stars, whom I know from other current shows, on Ally McBeal. What's even more amazing is all of the musicians featured on this show: Elton John, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Al Green, and many more.

With only one episode left in its run, ABC has yanked In Case of Emergency off the air. The series stars David Arquette, Jonathan Silverman, and Greg Germann as former high school classmates who reunite later in life and discover they're not where they thought they would be at this point in their lives. Last week's episode scored a 1.5 rating, tying with a repeat of Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll.

A repeat of Lost will replace In Case of Emergency this Wednesday at 9 pm.

Even though it's not an official cancellation, it's pretty clear this show is over. ABC also canceled Six Degrees last week. Still on the bubble is What About Brian.

If there's any part of the press tour that's hard it's a situation like this: imagine being in a room with the cast of a show no one really likes much, extolling its virtues to disbelieving ears. To fill the boredom, the uncomfortable stars and creators start cracking jokes that no one thinks are funny. On top of that, there aren't enough questions to fill the time, so reporters start getting creative in order to keep the discomfort level at a minimum.

That's what I got when I sat in on the panel for the new ABC sitcom In Case of Emergency.

(S01E01) I'm not sure how I feel about this show. It's not bad. It's not good either. It's just there, wallowing in a sea of blandness. Honestly, what was so creative about this show that it deserved to get made? Maybe there's some sharp writing in upcoming episodes that wasn't displayed here. Which would be understandable of course. It is the pilot episode and you need to explain what the show is all about: four high school friends reuniting under unusual circumstances. That's a unique idea... right? Not even close.

Ahead of next week's Upfronts, where the networks lay out their fall schedules, ABC has announced it's picking up a handful of new dramas and sitcoms for next fall. Also, NBC is expected to pick up Tina Fey's new comedy and put it on Thursday nights. Oh, and NBC canceled Teachers. Shocker.

Details, details, details on ABC's pick-ups:

• The Nine, a drama following the aftermath of hostages in a bank robbery;
  
• Six Degrees, a drama about six strangers brought together by mysterious circumstances (Identity meets Lost?);
  
• Day Break, a drama starring Taye Diggs as a cop who tries to figure out who tried to kill him;
  
• In Case of Emergency, a comedy starring David Arquette, Greg Germann and Jonathan Silverman as a group of high school buddies who reunite when their lives intersect in some sort of comedic way;
  
• Help Me Help You, a comedy starring Ted Danson as a troubled celebrity shrink;
  
• Notes from the Underbelly, a comedy about how the life of a couple changes as they're expecting their first child.

There is a lot more speculation about the fall schedules for all the networks here in The Hollywood Reporter.