We are the family

An incredibly busy week here in TV land.

The major news has come from the upfronts, where the major US networks have been laying out their plans for next season. While this has been bad news for some shows - What About Brian, Smith and Studio 60 have all come to an end - others have earned a reprieve. So relax, fans of Smallville, Supernatural, One Tree Hill, Scrubs and Numb3rs.

It's not so clear cut for Veronica Mars, meanwhile, as the mystery deepens over her fate. Although it is likely to be axed now, US network The CW has yet to confirm whether Vera will be part of its lineup for next season. Word is expected in the next four weeks, after which time the network's option on picking it up expires. Watch this space!

On this side of the Atlantic it's BAFTAs time! As I prep my tux for an unholy encounter with Dawn French, voting remains open on the Pioneer Audience Award, the only award selected by the public. Head over to obsessedwith.tv to have your say - but be quick, as voting closes Sunday (May 20) at midday! Don't forget to check in with DS on Sunday night and throughout Monday for the full scoop from the ceremony - including lots of super exclusive red carpet videos! OoooOOoooOOOh!

Going back over the pond for a moment - is all this jetlag cancelling itself out yet? - many US shows are now reaching their climaxes. For 24 this marks a head-scratching moment (but more on that next week), while in Lost it's more of a jaw-dropping affair. Head to the spoiler spot on page 3 to be teased silly!

Finally, on Monday we're chatting with everyone's favourite Prison Break baddie, T-Bag! If you've any questions you've been dying to ask Theodore, drop me a message to the usual place! (Note: The "usual place" means clicking on my name at the top of the page and then typing text for me. The more sycophantic, the better)

Bonus Bits
> Tube Talk MySpace - bonus Doctor Who hint!
> Premiere List page
> Interview with Lost star Marsha Thomason (that girl Naomi who parachuted onto the island)

Ready for the questions? Head on over to the next page!

Sam Needs: "Does this mean that Jericho won't live on to a second season on Hallmark?"

Neil: 'Fraid so. And you can bet Hallmark will be really down in the dumps about it; it's been a big ratings draw for them on Friday nights.

Georgia Carney Evans: "Could you please tell me when The Class will begin on channel 4 and if the ratings are good in the US and do u think it has a shot of a second series?"

Neil: As per Jericho, The Class also got its marching orders this week: a shame, as it was a nice little series. It airs on C4 from the summer.

Kayli: "Hey Neil! How are you? I've read on forums that next season, season 14 is the last of ER? Is this true? I really don't want it to finish!"

Neil: No, that isn't necessarily the case. ER was renewed on a two-season pickup (as opposed to the more common one-at-a-time approach), guaranteeing the upcoming season along with the 13th. 24 earned a similar deal this week, but it doesn't mean the show will end there, although in the case of ER, ratings have been steadily declining so its future is by no means certain.

Richard: "Knowing that season 2 of The Unit finishes on a cliffhanger I wondered are there definite plans for a third season?"

Neil: Yes, confirmed this week. By the way, have you seen our interview with Dennis Haysbert?

Tracey Foster: "I was just wondering what number is the final series of "That 70's Show""

Neil: Eight. If only they were all as easy as this...

Dom: "Do you know when Ghost Whisperer season 2 will be on television in the UK?"

Neil: It's coming to Living this summer, along with Blood Ties and Men In Trees.

James: "Don't suppose you know if Las Vegas or Mile High will ever return to Sky One do you?"

Neil: Las Vegas airs in July, along with the much longed-for fifteenth season of Law & Order (July 18) and... wait for it.... the return of Standoff (Can I get some cheers? No? Didn't think so).

Claudia: "I have another one for you. I have missed Friday Night Lights on ITV4. Do you know whether the first series is to be repeated at a later date?"

Neil: There's nothing scheduled at present, but no doubt there will be a rerun, especially given the second season pickup.

Winston: "Hey Neil, I wanted to ask if you know when Sky are gonna show Season 4 of The 4400. I know it starts June 15th in the US. I should have HD by July!"

Neil: It's back Tuesday, July 10 at 9pm. And in HD!

Lesley: "Do you know if the Bionic woman picked up in the US, will be airing in the UK."

Neil: Undoubtedly. This is a convenient point to explain the next step of the process following the upfronts. UK execs are now flying out to Los Angeles for what is known as the LA Screenings. Over the next week they'll watch previews of all the new series from the US next season before putting in their bids. Expect news on who gets what to filter through over the next couple months.

Katrina: "Can you tell me if the US show The Game will be heading to UK screens any time soon? And what channel it would be on?"

Neil: Let's face it, if anyone goes for it, it'll be Trouble. And the prospects of that are greater now that it has a second season.

Michael Harrison: "Hello, could you please tell me if,when and where year 6 of Scrubs will be shown in the UK please? Keep up the good work."

Neil: It's coming to E4 this summer. Nothing more specific yet though, sorry.

Kevin: "What new shows should I look out for as all the ones I watch have either ended all together or the series has finished. By the way thanks for telling us all about Heroes way back when, I think it is now my favourite show ahead of 24."

Neil: Head to our upfronts section and click the preview links to read descriptions of the new series. Of course though, things often read different on paper to the final product so watch out for my thoughts on all the new shows over the next couple months as I watch the previews. But - and it's a big provisional but - the ones I'd flag up for you already are Reaper, Bionic Woman, Chuck, Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. There's also a neat little OC-style series coming up this summer called Hidden Palms - but more on that soon.

News on an amazing Doctor Who and the mind-blowing Lost finale - all on the next page!

As always, select the area to the right of each programme to read the text - but be warned that you may well be spoiled.

Doctor Who: The best episode of Doctor Who I've seen in a very long time next week: episode 8, 'Human Nature'. It's really that good. John Smith (The Doctor) wakes up in 1913, telling his maid Martha about strange dreams he's been having where he's a time traveller - and she's his assistant! Martha brushes off his concerns as he returns to his day job as a history teacher. Even a checkup from the school matron, Miss Redfern, confirms that he has one heart. The Doctor is human. Don't forget your bonus hint in the Tube Talk MySpace! Doctor Who airs Saturday evenings on BBC One

Lost: Five spoilerific facts about next week's finale:
1. At least one regular cast member dies.
2. Someone you would never expect to commit a murder does so.
3. Is he a double-crosser? Locke stabs a potential ally in the back.
4. Someone we haven't seen in a while makes a brief return.
5. Unless you've heard what happens already, the final moments of the finale will have your jaw on the floor.
Lost airs Sundays at 10pm on Sky One

Send your requests for shows to be featured in the Spoiler Spot to the usual place.

That's it for this week - more next!


Additional reporting by Kris Green and Nick Levine