CBS is keeping 'Survivor' fans hanging on its decision whether or not to renew.

If the show does make it to season 21, there could be some format changes ahead. Reality Blurred reports it's likely that one location, for instance Samoa, could be used for two seasons. Producers could then incorporate returning cast members.

2009 was a good year for television. It offered the resurgence of the comedy on network television, and the continuing growth of original programming on cable. In all honesty, I don't think I could just do a list of what was great and what was horrible on television because I would need pages and pages.

Instead, I'm going to focus on the things that really stood out this year. Sorry, Mad Men fans, but even though this was a great third season and an amazing finale, I expect it at this point. It's the only way I could come up with to keep my list manageable.

Also, as a point of protest I did not include Jon, Kate or the balloon boy hoax. These events got more attention than they deserved already this year, and I feel bad I even mentioned them.

(S19E14) I suppose it's only fitting and par for Sunday evening programming that the big three-hour Survivor season finale and live reunion show was delayed by football here in the NYC viewing area. No, I won't dwell on it. But, really. CBS, can't you get this scheduling thing down?

What I should dwell on are these skinny legs in the image above. It's a wonder the three guys were able to walk out of there at all. Tonight we went down from five to four to three and then onto the sole survivor in the live voting reveal. Am I pleased about it all? Read on.

'Survivor' (Sun., 8PM, CBS) season 19 finale
The season of Russell, 'Survivor: Samoa's' scene stealer, comes to a close, as the jury members question the finalists and declare a winner in this 19th season of the venerable reality series. A reunion special follows immediately after the finale, but we're already looking forward to season 20, which is rumored to be a "Heroes vs. Villains" gathering of some of the series' most memorable contestants. Inaugural winner Richard Hatch was even scheduled to compete, until those ongoing legal woes (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31870342/ns/entertainment-reality_tv/), related to his 'Survivor' win, did him in. Could 'Samoa's' Russell H. pop up on the 'Villains" team?

We'll soon know whether Russell Hantz's ruthless game play will make him the winner of 'Survivor: Samoa.' If he doesn't win, he certainly deserved to -- no one's played the game better this season.

Some fans are already anointing Russell as the best 'Survivor' contestant ever ... but win or lose, some of us aren't ready to go that far. How does he stack up against previous players, all of whom could give Russell and his hidden idol-finding ways a run for the million? Hopefully, some will actually do so when the series returns for a 20th edition all-star season this spring.

(S19E13) Mark your calendars now, folks. The big three-hour finale night for Survivor is this Sunday, December 20, starting at 8 PM ET. The night will start off with the two-hour finale followed by the reunion hour. But we still have a few bodies to cast off the island before they face the jury. Will the original Foa Foa Four make it intact to the final four? Will Russell manage to sell his snake oil all the way to the jury and win the million?

(S19E12) Although I wouldn't have said it a month ago, this season of Survivor has been so interesting each week due to a certain snake oil salesman. Mind you, I don't like a lot of what Russell says, especially his misogynistic attitude towards women. But to give credit where credit is due -- he's a master of the game, and this season would have been boring without him. It's got to all catch up to him one day. His own people will turn on him if any of them are serious about wanting a chance at the million dollars. They have to. Could tonight be the night?

(S19E09) If you haven't watched this episode of Survivor, stop right now. Watch it. Oh, don't go by the expression on John's face. That's the face I had when the show started. Yet now I'm downright perky and alert. For me, this started off being a real iffy season. But, as folks really play the game, I'm all excited about it all over again. Some play it poorly, but there are a few movers and shakers this season.

(S19E08) I know this photo might be considered sort of spoilerish for the front page. But since last week's Survivor promo showed the merge going down, I know you all know Evil Russell will attempt to work everyone. Heck, that's what the guy does. To me, he comes off akin to a snake oil salesman. Yet he seems to get people to believe his wily ways. I bet he could have sold a lot of snake oil a century back.

(S19E07) Even though we're down a Russell this week on Survivor, I'll continue to refer to the remaining Russell as "Evil Russell." It just somehow fits even without a confusion of Russells. However, there is just one Shambo. Although she's a good worker in camp and works hard on the challenges, that might be a good thing. One Shambo is quite enough. Perhaps she's just too nice to be on the show. Perhaps she is a bit dim. I just don't know.

In what Jeff Probst called the "scariest moment on 19 seasons" of 'Survivor,' contestant Russell Swan collapsed twice and appeared to be on the brink of death. He was the second 'Survivor: Samoa' player after Mike Borassi to be medically evacuated.

After the Galu tribe leader blacked out, Probst declared, "This challenge is over, neither tribe wins reward" -- making it the first time in 'Survivor' history that a challenge was unfinished. And though both teams were sent to tribal council to vote someone off, Probst informed them that everybody would be safe -- this week.

Watch Russell's injury moment from TV's Top 5! after the jump ...

Don't ever take 'Survivor' for granted. The Oct. 22 episode of 'Survivor: Samoa' marks one of the few times in the show's nine-year history that production was halted for a medical emergency. (One of the most famous incidents: In season 2, Michael Skupin was evacuated by chopper after falling into a campfire.)

In a CBS TV ad for the episode, dreadlocked Pennsylvania attorney Russell Swan appears to faint while carrying a huge purple maze (you read that right -- he's carrying a maze), then hits the sand after whacking his head.

Host Jeff Probst's voiceover tells us, "[In] 19 seasons, it was the scariest moment I've ever had on this show," and the preview shows the lawyer receiving medical attention while his fellow castaways attempt to revive him.

(S19E05) We're into the fifth episode of Survivor and I'm still getting some of the cast mixed up. True, they're mostly on the larger Galu tribe -- the ones who keep winning, yet we only see a focus on a select few. We all know "Good" Russell and Shambo. Did you know that someone named Brett is on the Galu tribe? No. Really, I'm not kidding. He got some airtime tonight. At this point, they could stick in stunt doubles and we wouldn't know the difference!

(S19E03) If I had my druthers and could choose which weirdo to watch take over Survivor between Evil Russell and Ben "Coach" Wade from last season, I'd surely go for Russell. Don't get me wrong. I don't like Russell. I wouldn't invite him over for dinner or send him a birthday card. But he's playing the game and, despite saying he's not there to work, he works around camp and at the challenges. However, his expertise in work at camp is playing mind games. Wade did diddly. Now if only I knew what a druthers was.

(S19E02) Controversy is good for a show, don't you think? When you think about it, we're on the 19th season of Survivor. There are only so many fresh new challenges and twists you can do with a bunch of folks stuck in the jungle. What to do? We saw it last season -- come up with outrageous cast members. The same tactic is in practice this season, perhaps two for the price of one. Evil has a name and we know it's Russell. Stupid Jerk Bully has a name ... and, believe it or not, that name isn't Russell.