So that was rather disconcerting. Our site was down for several days (thanks to all of you who actually noticed). Seems that the Freak House had signs of structural damage and some major retrofitting was required.

Funny how it works. For years, I did this job without blogging. Then, suddenly, your blog is taken away for just a few days and it’s so strange and sad to be without it. Frustrating, too, because I thought we were buildiing some momentum here. We’d received a lot of great comments from you in recent days (and they’re all gone … Hopefully, we’ll have no trouble getting our TV Freak back on.

So let’s catch up. I pray that a lot of you checked out “Friday Night Lights” Monday, and if not, tonight at 8 on NBC. In Monday’s Times, I wrote an impassioned plea to viewers to support this amazing show, which is suffering from poor ratings. As for today, I’m excited because I’ll be interviewing Masi Oka of “Heroes”. I’ll let you know how that goes.

But for now, we’ve got “Tuesday TV Trivia.” Because of our blog problems, some of your answers from last week were lost. We also had our contest time cut short. So we’re going to do an instant replay and ask the same questions. I know it sucks, but it’s the only way to be fair. Remember, everyone can play — even past winners. To answer, click on “Comments” and leave your response. You have through Friday to answer and I’ll hold back the responses until then. Here are the questions:

– Question 1: For a Season 3 DVD set of “Las Vegas,” (Uncut and Uncensored), tell me the name of the show’s title song and singer.

– Question 2: For a Season 4 set of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” tell me the name of the man who co-created the show with Ray Romano.

Good news for “Scrubs” fans. The hysterical hospital comedy is returning to prime time earlier than expected. NBC announced today that “Scrubs” will launch its new season on Nov. 30 as part of a revamped two-hour comedy block on Thursday nights.

“Scrubs” will air in the 9 p.m. slot, after “My Name Is Earl” and “The Office,” and just before “30 Rock,” which is being shifted from Wednesday nights.

The changes return NBC to its tradition of leading off Thursdays with two hours of comedy. It’s a strategy the network veered away from in recent years when “The Apprentice” aired at 9 on Thursdays. “Scrubs” was originally slated for a midseason return.

Madonna checks in with Oprah today to talk publicly for the first time about her plans to adopt a 1-year-old boy from Malawi, but I realize some of you on this blog are more interested to know what’s up with Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) of “24.”

The Emmy-winning show doesn’t return for its sixth season until January, but Fox decided to whet our appetites this week with an extended preview clip. I’ve watched it three times already, so here’s my field report:

– The late David Palmer’s brother (and former principal of Sunnydale High School) is now the president. The Biscuit from “Ally McBeal” appears to be one of his aides.

– Terrorists are once again wreaking havoc in America, but this time their attacks are spead across various cities — not just L.A. There are lots of explosions and lots of people yelling stuff. Meanwhile, Chloe looks as uptight as ever.

– The breathless narrator informs us that — you guessed it — “our only hope lies with one man!!!!”

– That man was last seen in custody of the Chinese and being brutally tortured. But apparently some kind of deal is made to transport Jack back to America so that he can be used as a bargaining chip with the bad guys. When he returns, he looks like a street vagrant, complete with a long scraggly beard.

– There is much talk about how Jack needs to die (”He must be sacrificed!”) in order to save the nation. Yes, Jack is our Christ-like Savior! … But somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. There are, after all, future seasons to produce and even a “24″ movie in the works. Yes, Jack needs to live — not only to keep us safe from evil dirtbags, but to keep cash flowing into the Fox coffers.

With apologies to Kanye West, the Devil is trying to break me down. In this case, the Devil being TV.

Yes, it’s only a few weeks into the season and I’m already hopelessly behind in my viewing. My poor TiVo, which I overwork like a sweat-shop slave, is bursting at the seams with shows in holding. The other day a reader asked me on my Q&A Forum what I thought of the “CSI” season so far and I was ashamed to say that I’ve hardly seen any of it.

I’ve also lost track of how lovelorn Marin is doing with her “Men In Trees.” I haven’t been on any missions lately with “The Unit.” It has been ages since I dropped in on “Smallville.” And I have no idea what the Ghosts are whispering about these days.

Still, I’m a gamer, so I just try to get to what I need to get to when I can. In tomorrow’s TimeOut, we’ll have an update on the season so far. For now, here are a few random observances:

– I didn’t show much love for “Heroes” in my fall preview (”Teleport us outta here!”). But my editor, Ardua Harris, was a fan from the start, as were my sons, David and Sam. So I hung in there and I now must admit the show is slowly winning me over. I’ve been sucked in by all the intrigue, and by Masi Oka’s jubilant performance. It also doesn’t hurt that Ali Larter is hot enough to melt your eyeballs.

– For the first time ever last week, “Lost” was edged out in the ratings race by “Criminal Minds.” Which got me wondering: Who watches “Criminal Minds” — and why?! I (Are they making these numbers up?) So, “CM” fans, if you actually exist, contact The Freak and represent. Let me know why we shouldn’t dog your show.

– Some advice to Lizzie on “Grey’s Anatomy”: Just deposit the damn check in the bank, for crying out loud. At least you could be building interest while you decide what to do with your life.

– NBC’s recent cost-cutting decision to load up on cheap, unscripted fare in the 8 p.m. hour sends me into a deep depression. Does that mean we’ll be seeing more lame and awful game shows like “Deal or No Deal”?

– All you people who refuse to watch “Studio 60″ (That’s most of you) are missing excellent work by Matthew Perry. The man truly does have skills. And Sarah Paulson? A revelation.

– Speaking of “Studio 60,” it and “30 Rock” have cast more attention this season on “Saturday Night Live,” which isn’t necessarily a good thing for that ailing show. But as long as it still has Amy Poehler, “SNL” isn’t a total loss. She might be the funniest woman going on TV right now.

– The Freak is also getting a kick out of Ed Helms in “The Office.” That scary intensity he brings to his character is hilarious. We want more, please.

– Before I sign off for the day, I want to send a shout-out to Chris Lopez, the Times editor who departed last week. Chris was one of this blog’s biggest champions, constantly offering encouragement and advice. Around the office, he even addressed me by my proper name (The Freak). He has my unwavering appreciation and I extend my best wishes to him and his family.

Prime-time romance is a funny thing. TV writers work their tails off to find two characters/actors who have undeniable chemistry (ie: Sam and Diane on “Cheers”) and then they go about trying to come up with ways to keep them apart. After all, the theory goes that once they’re together, the fun goes out of the whole thing (See: David and Maddie on “Moonlighting”).

Last night, you could see this dynamic playing out in two very different shows: “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Office.”

On “Grey’s Anatomy,” you’ve got Meredith and Derek, who, over two-plus seasons, have had a one-night stand, followed by a torrid afffair, followed by a painful breakup, followed by a breathless workplace romp, followed by … well, you get the idea.

Recently, Meredith found herself trying to pick between Derek and nice-guy vet Finn. But simultaneously, Derek was trying to be noble and step aside. (Oh, those clever writers!). And judging from the preview clips of next week’s show, he’s about to jump in bed with another woman. (Just call him McIdiot.)

The dilemma TV writers face is that, if they overplay their hand with this kind of on-again-off-again stuff, it can get old and frustrating pretty fast. I’ve talked with several “Grey’s” fans who say they just don’t care anymore whether Meredith and Derek get together. How about you? Are you still intrigued by their relationship?

Now, let’s turn to “The Office,” where you have a very different kind of relationship between Jim and Pam — one that theoretically isn’t at the heart of the show, but still packs a powerful allure. Jim and Pam were your typical workplace soulmates who enjoyed long chats and a flirty kind of rapport — even as she prepared to marry someone else.

That all ended when Jim finally made a bold declaration of love and kissed Pam in last season’s finale. Now the separation: Jim has moved to another regional branch and Pam has called off her wedding.

As viewers, we know they’re absolutely right for each other and we’re waiting for them to figure that out. Along the way, the writers have been brilliant in deftly handling the relationship — enticing us and teasing us while not going overboard with it. In many ways, the Jim-Pam pairing is one of the most intriguing and emotionally honest relationships we’ve seen on TV in years (and all without a moment of sex!). So much attention to detail. So many small, but very telling moments.

Last night’s show ended with a brilliant scene as the lovelorn Jim made an after-hours call to the office not thinking Pam would answer (or did he plan it all along?). They stammered awkwardly at the start (obviously so much has gone unaddressed), but then they gradually slipped into their old routine of easy chit-chat about a variety of things, with him calling her by her last name (Beesly). … Finally, when it was time to hang up, it got awkward all over again. Ah, such melancholy. Such perfection. Bring on some more.

So who are the TV couples who rock your world these days? What past TV relationships have you most enjoyed? Do tell.

In the middle of last night’s disappointing “Lost” episode, my 11-year-old son, Sam, posed this question: “So what if Hurley is the polar bear?”

We all had a good laugh, but, really, Sam’s query probably made as much sense as the episode itself, which was bizarre even by “Lost” standards. What we got from our island friends was a weak and unfulfilling Locke flashback, drug-induced hallucinations, a where-did-that-come-from possibility that Desmond can see into the future, and a scary altercation with a polar bear.

But no episode of “Lost,” of course, is a complete waste. It was great, for example, to see Boone again, if only for one night, and Charlie delivered one of the funniest lines of the season when he informed Locke, with a deadly seriousness, that polar bears are “like the Einsteins of the bear community.”

Still, I fear that if we have a few more episodes like last night’s, those ratings are going to keep slipping. Maybe now is a good time for the show’s producers to follow Locke’s advice: “You have to clean up your own mess.”

I was stunned at my wife Diane’s reaction last night when it was announced that Jeffrey Sebelia captured the top prize in this season’s “Project Runway.”

“I’ll never watch this show again! I’ll never read Elle magazine! I’ll never buy TRESemme hair products!” she blurted as she stomped out of the room.

Diane, who has always had a strong sense of morality, was livid to see that, once again, a reality show has rewarded bad behavior and general boorishness. I can definitely see her point. Jeffrey was the show’s king jerk — a total ass at times — and I didn’t want him to win either. (We both thought Uli Herzner’s collection was stronger).

Still, as we all know, true artists are not always angels. And there’s no doubt that, over the long haul, Jeffrey was the most edgy and innovative of the designers. Going into the finale, I thought the only person who could topple him was fan favorite Michael Knight, but Michael blew it with a disappointing Fashion Week collection.

Oh well, at least I’ll be watching when the show returns in the middle of next year — even if Diane isn’t.

Was I the only one who was creeped out by the Sara Evans interview last night on “Dancing With the Stars”? It felt like a jarring intrusion on what is normally 90 minutes of frothy fun.

Evans is the country singer who quit the show a few days ago after filing for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Craig Schelske. Evans, 35, alleges that Schelske, 43, committed adultery, was verbally and emotionally abusive, drank excessively and frequently watched pornography in their home.

In a superficial interview repeatedly touted by the show as an “exclusive,” Evans called the experience “devastating” and told host Tom Bergeron, “It’s very personal and very traumatic and very hard for my kids.”

Well, if its so personal, let’s not talk about it on national television.

After the interview, Bergeron had the poor taste to ask Evans if she and her partner might want to do a farewell dance right then and there. She politely declined, deeming it inappropriate.

One more complaint about “Dancing”: Maybe I’m just in a grumpy mood, but the whole goofy Jerry Springer routine has gotten very old. It was fun for a while, but now it’s sad and pathetic. All you people phoning in your votes need to put him out of his misery (and ours).

Well, it has been two weeks since KTVU-Channel 2 station general manager Tim McVay had the amazing gall to tell me that Leslie Griffith would be returning to her anchor chair “any day now.” Guess what? Still no Leslie.

People have asked me for updates, but I really don’t have any because both sides in the matter aren’t commenting. It would seem, though, that it is time (actually past time) for KTVU management to be honest with its viewers and let them know what’s going on.

Why they’ve taken the lay-low strategy they have is a mystery to me. I can only guess that they’re clinging to a remote possibility that they can convince Leslie to return (something she obviously doesn’t want to do). Or they hope that by having someone else in the anchor chair for an extended period of time will lessen the public’s attachment to Leslie and therefore blunt the impact when the announcement finally does come down.

Either way, honesty is obviously not the reigning policy at KTVU.

The so-called season of the serial is quickly losing its snap, crackle and pop.

Attempting to ride the coattails of big-buzz hits such as “24″ and “Lost,” the networks this fall stocked up on high-concept dramas with complex plots and continuing story lines. So far, not so good.

“Vanished” (Fox) is in danger of doing just that. “Kidnapped” (NBC) has been exiled to Saturday nights, where it will supposedly finish out a shortened run. “Smith” (CBS) received the first cancellation slip of the season. “The Nine” (ABC), perhaps the best-reviewed show of the season, saw its ratings plunge 30 percent in its second week.

There are some signs of success: “Heroes” (NBC) and “Jericho” (CBS) have been given full-season orders. Still, none of the serials so far can be considered major breakout hits. And consider this: Even “Lost” has seen a significant ratings slippage in its first two weeks — a development that has to scare the hell out of ABC.

So what’s going on here? Are you watching any of these shows? Is it just too much of the same thing? I’d love to hear your theories.

(P.S. — With this posting, we officially surpass the 100 mark — a mini milestone that we’re celebrating with quiet satisfaction here in the Freak House. Thanks to all who have supported us so far. Hopefully, there’s much more to come).