On Thursday, Ryan McGee and I recorded a special edition of the Talking TV with Ryan and Ryan podcast. For the second time, we transformed it into Talking TV with Ryan and Ryan and Ryan -- our special guest was Shawn Ryan, whose Fox show, 'The Chicago Code,' was canceled earlier in the week.

We talked to Ryan for well over an hour, about a variety of topics -- everything from 'Code' to the "tabloidization" of television to 'Game of Thrones' to the chances of a 'Terriers' DVD coming out later this year. I've provided a road map of our conversation below.

"One think that [Fox entertainment president] Kevin [Reilly] said, and I think it's accurate -- he said, 'For some reason, the show just didn't, from the beginning, just generate any kind of controversy or must-see appeal," Ryan noted near the start of our conversation. "It just never became a newsworthy kind of show."

News broke Tuesday that several Fox shows have been cancelled, but aside from lamenting the potential that each of the Fox dramas had, let's not dwell on the fact that 'Breaking In,' 'Lie to Me,' 'The Chicago Code,' 'Traffic Light' and 'Human Target' are no longer among us.

Let's focus instead on what the actors and producers from that show should do next. Here are a few of our suggestions; feel free to offer your own in the comment area.

Jackie Earle Haley, late of 'Human Target'
JEH on season 3 of 'Justified.' How incredible would it be to see Haley in Harlan? Dear television industry (specifically 'Justified' creator Graham Yost and FX): Make this happen. Please. Pretty please.

Shawn Ryan, late of 'The Chicago Code'
Ryan's had a tough go of it in recent months. The late, great 'Terriers' was canceled by FX in December, and now 'Code' is gone too.

It's that time of year again, the upfronts, when TV networks decide which shows live and which shows die. This year Fox has become the first network to announce which shows are being culled, and it's bad news for Christian Slater. Again...

Fox announced that it's cancelling five of its live action shows: 'Human Target,' Lie to Me,' 'The Chicago Code,' 'Traffic Light' and 'Breaking In.' It also dropped the ax on some of its drama pilots, including the much talked-about 'Locke & Key' and 'Exit Strategy.'

Angry fans turned to Twitter to vent as the news broke late Tuesday, with 'Human Target' fans being among the most vocal. In fact, according to THR, they tweeted so vociferously that the show became a Top 10 trending topic.

While preparing for her role in 'The Chicago Code,' Jennifer Beals said she went with police on ride-alongs as a way to bring authenticity to her character of Teresa Colvin. But, if she learned anything, it's that being a cop is an extremely difficult job, she said on 'Live With Regis and Kelly' (weekdays, syndicated).

"I spent time on ride-alongs with detectives, watching them how they set up crime scenes, how they interviewed people, and, you know, tried to learn as much as I could from them," said Beals. "I realized that in real life I would last, really, 30 seconds."

Billy Bush mentions the favorable PEOPLE Magazine review given to Jennifer Beals' new show 'The Chicago Code' and asks the actress to explain the buzz surrounding the cop drama. But, Beals' foot slips off her stool and she finds herself too smitten by Bush to answer on 'Access Hollywood Live' (weekdays, syndicated).

['The Chicago Code' - 'Pilot']

If you did an inventory of the top creative minds that ushered in The Golden Age of Television, Shawn Ryan would have to be on the top of that list. Ryan's gritty, provocative cop show 'The Shield,' featuring Michael Chiklis as one of the TV's greatest all-time antiheroes, was the first basic cable drama to showcase the kind of cinematic urgency we'd come to expect from movies and HBO. Now we expect nothing less from FX, the network that brought 'The Shield' into our living rooms.

One can expect less, however, from FOX, the network airing Ryan's return to the cop drama, 'The Chicago Code'. It's not that FOX hasn't shown its fair share of solid dramas, it's just that a show on a broadcast network can't explore as many nuanced, dark themes, or get away with as much, as a cable network like FX.

In its first hour, 'Code' wasn't as revelatory as 'The Shield.' But it's definitely ambitious, keen on addressing corruption on top of the standard chases, gun play, detective work and bursts of tough guy bravado. And, as a Chicago guy, it's great to watch a show about Chicago that was actually shot there.

'The Chicago Code,' which premieres tonight on Fox, is the latest in a long line of shows set in the Windy City, but alas, not all of the shows set in the Midwestern metropolis I call home have depicted it with much creativity, subtlety or thoughtfulness.

Sure, Katey Sagal and Ed O'Neill are terrific actors, but nobody's going to make the case that the stars of 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'Modern Family' were better off in the crude, Chicago-set sitcom 'Married ... With Children.' Trust me, given how often non-Chicagoans used to reference that show upon being introduced to an actual Chicagoan, I'm not sorry 'Married' eventually ended up in the television graveyard.

Still, some programs have depicted the city and its residents in compelling or at least mildly interesting ways. What follows is not a list of every show that has ever been set in Chicago, but a biased list of notable Chicago-centric shows from one lifelong White Sox fan.

Mr. Sunshine - Monday February 7, 8PM ET/PT, CTV/ABC

In all of his outings since 'Friends,' I've increasingly gotten the sense that Matthew Perry is a dark guy. He seems angry a lot, and he even has scowl lines. Sigh. I loved Chandler Bing -- I wanted to be more than 'Friends' with him, if you know what I mean.

But I guess we all have to move on from early TV crushes. Here, Perry plays an angry, scowling manager of an arena where stuff happens: hockey games, circus acts, and reunion tours of mid-level rock bands. In the pilot, Perry gets dumped by his friend-with-benefits, turns 40 and realizes he doesn't want to be alone anymore. Sounds really funny, right? No wait, I can make it worse: Thomas Schlamme is directing but Aaron Sorkin isn't involved, so get ready for a lot of walk-and-talks without very interesting talk.

The new cop drama 'The Chicago Code' (9PM ET Monday, Fox) resembles its lead characters: It's focused, determined and ambitious -- and sometimes it tries to do too much. Still, the handsome 'Code' succeeds far more often than it strikes out.

Though much of it set in the world of the Chicago Police Department, it would be unfair to call this worthy drama from Shawn Ryan ('The Shield,' 'Terriers,' 'The Unit') a police procedural. A significant chunk of the story is devoted to police superintendent Teresa Colvin's efforts to combat corruption in the Windy City. To assist her in that lonely cause, the steely Colvin (Jennifer Beals) recruits her old partner, Jarek Wysocki (Jason Clarke), a tenacious detective well known for his headstrong ways.

Together, they take on a powerful alderman, Ronin Gibbons (Delroy Lindo), a very well-connected shotcaller in the world of Chicago politics. This trio of increasingly interesting characters form the core of the show, and, in the three episodes Fox sent for review, any time Beals, Clarke or Lindo occupied the screen, 'Code' crackled with intriguing potential.

There are only two shows discussed in this week's Talking TV With Ryan and Ryan podcast, but I think you'll agree they're worth talking about in depth.

In the first 28 minutes of the podcast, we talked about 'The Chicago Code,' a good, new Shawn Ryan drama that premieres 9PM ET Monday on Fox (look for my review and a feature about the show in the next day or so).

In the second half (about 26 minutes), Ryan McGee and I gabbed about 'Justified,' a very good show that has gotten even better in its second season, which begins 10PM ET Wednesday on FX.

If you thought creator Shawn Ryan's last series, 'The Shield,' dove deep into a world of police and political corruption, just want until you see his new show, 'The Chicago Code' (premieres Monday, Feb. 7, 9PM ET on Fox).

The amazing cast includes Jennifer Beals playing the first female superintendent of Chicago, determined to change the city; Jason Clarke as her former partner turned go-to guy for help on the ground; and Delroy Lindo as one of the city's most powerful men, who isn't exactly an angel.

Add to that a sharp rookie, played by Matt Lauria, and Billy Lush as a cop so deep undercover he doesn't really know what's right anymore and you've got a beautifully layered drama that's the best new show of the year.

I caught up with the cast to hear more about the show, the shades of gray in all their characters and their newfound respect for the Chicago police department.

Happy New Year! 2010 was a crazy year for TV, but there's plenty to get excited for in 2011 -- I've got the super-fast rundown of some of the best new and returning shows, like 'The Chicago Code,' 'The Killing' and 'Episodes.' (If you haven't set your DVRs yet, now's the time.)

I also catch up with the cast of 'Hot In Cleveland.' They've got an amazing batch of guest stars for season 2 -- Mary Tyler Moore, anyone? -- but who are Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves hoping will come play?

Then I hit the set of 'Southland' to answer some fan questions. The most asked: Will Cooper get a love interest this season? Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie sound off on who Cooper's dream lover is.

Got TV questions? Email me at TheTVShowGirl@aol.com or tweet me @TheTVShowGirl and I just might get you answers on the show.

After voting for their favorite candidates in the midterm elections yesterday, Americans made another choice: their preferred news network.

Ratings from last night's midterm election coverage are in, and America chose Fox News as its preferred election night viewing. According to Daily Intel, almost 7 million people tuned into the network for election results. That's more than twice as much as CNN's viewership and MSNBC's viewership combined.

More than 2.4 million viewers watched CNN, while MSNBC drew more than 1.9 million.

In other TV news ...

• Cybill Shepherd will guest star on '$#*! My Dad Says.' The actress will play a life coach in the show's Nov. 18 episode. [TV Guide]

• 'The Chicago Code,' previously known as 'Ride Along,' will premiere on Mon., Feb 7 at 9PM on Fox. The drama follows Chicago's most well-respected policemen and women who work to expose political corruption in their city. [Hollywood Insider]

That hospital stay yesterday didn't get in the way of Charlie Sheen's work schedule -- his manager told People that the actor will return to work this week.

"Charlie will be working this week doing a cameo role, playing himself, in a small movie as a favor to a friend and has every intention of going back to work on 'Two and a Half Men' on Tuesday," Mark Burg told the magazine. "He's looking forward to working."

Sheen was found drunk and naked in his trashed New York hotel room early Tuesday morning, and was immediately hospitalized then released later in the day. Though sources claim the hospitalization was due to intoxication, Sheen's rep said it was an "adverse reaction to some medication."

In other TV news ...

• ABC has ordered six more episodes of its midseason series 'Off the Map,' bringing the episode total to 13. The medical drama follows doctors at a medical clinic in South America. [TV Guide]

• Fox has renamed new series 'Ride-Along' to 'The Chicago Code.' "Changing the title ... reflects our belief that this is more than just a cop show. It's about the not just the police but politics, the Midwest, history, Government corruption and the city's code," said creator Shawn Ryan. [Deadline]