**UPDATE***
CBS has not yet announced whether “The Unit” will return or not. As soon as that happens, you can read about it on my blog. I no longer post to Unscripted.

CBS announced today it will renew 11 series for the 2008-2009, but “The Unit” and “Shark” don’t seem to appear on this list.

The shows you will see in the fall are: “Cold Case,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: Miami,” “CSI: NY,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “NCIS,” “Numb3rs,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Without a Trace” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

Those series join previously announced ‘”Survivor” and “The Amazing Race”.

Walnut Creek’s Sonja Christopher may be known as the first person to be ejected from “Survivor,” but at least she’s no quitter.

Affable breast cancer survivor Sonja Christopher, a real “Survivor.”

The ukulele lady had this to say:

Here’s my theory about Johnny Foulplay:

He undoubtedly got a fee for appearing (on All-Stars it was $25,000).
What easier way could there be to earn a quick 25 grand for three days
work than to get on the show and then quit?! Of all the Survivors I
know, he is the most despicable in my book.

You are absolutely correct. He could have easily continued, but clearly his game plan from Day 1 was to go in, grab the easy money and bug out. What a loser.

Hopefully, “Survivor” producers have learned their lesson - and anyone else crazy enough to hire this clown. And if you’re out there, casting people, give Sonja another go.

Here’s a look at the first episode, which includes Sonja getting cut up on the island, and Dr. Sean fixing her up. She also does a funny twist on “Bye Bye Birdie” while playing her ukulele:

And Sonja sent this link to her appearance on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” She says she’s “a little more cleaned up” than in the Survivor video:

It was so game on from the beginning when our own favorite Survivor, Yau Man Chan from Martinez, literally took down Jonny Fairplay to snag the immunity idol.

Immunity Idols love Yau Man, the guy who came up with both idols last time he played. When Fairplay stupidly found the first idol, on the wrong boat, he turned to correct his mistake. But a flying tackle send Fairplay into the side of the boat while Yau Man came up with the prize.

You go, Man.

We didn’t see much of Emeryville’s Mary Sartain, a real estate/financial company owner.

Although she did a Playboy-style pose for the publicity shots for “Survivor: Micronesia.”

Now, I have to be happy that Fairplay appears to be the guy everyone wants on their team. After all, who wouldn’t want to go up against him in the finals? I like having Fairplay in the running because he gives good game. OK, time to confess: I also have him in the department pool and I could really use some money.

Jonny Fairplay, the rat-faced weasel who made me lose the “Survivor: Micronesia” pool.

Wait, that was what Fairplay said about having a stable relationship and a baby on the way. But my favorite quote from him was when everyone was vying for his participation in their various alliances:

“I find it insane that there are nine of your favorite survivors of all time and they all believe what I say,” Fairplay tells the camera. “Have you not watched the show before?”

The favorites proved that experience pays off when it comes to working together to make camp. They have a great shelter, know how to get food and fire. But what they lack is the knack for winning challenges.

In the immunity challenge, which consisted of putting together puzzle pieces to make the wheels on a cart, then taking the cart through an obstacle course and finally putting the wheel pieces back in another puzzle, was won by the fans.

For a brief, shining moment, I thought that my man Fairplay was going to be in the game. Then, he went insane. He started telling people he wanted to go home to his pregnant girlfriend, to spend time with her and his baby. He wanted to be a good dad more than he wanted to play the game.

Fairplay and his fiance, Michelle Deighton, who was an America’s Next Top Model finalist, became parents on Jan. 16 when daughter, Piper Addison was born. Seems like Piper would have liked to have a little cash in the piggy bank instead of a legacy of having a dad who was a quitter.

Fairplay didn’t quit to be a good dad. What he wanted was to change his image to become more commercial. What he wanted to do was bail while he still could be seen as a nice guy, and not the weasel everyone remembers from his previous “Survivor” appearance.

What he wanted was to screw me out of the “Survivor” pool. Good riddance, JP. Now I’ll stick with the locals, Mary on the Fav side and Yau Man, who deserves more than anyone to win this time around.

My man Yau Man, with dirty skunk Fairplay slinking around the background in this shot from “Survivor: Micronesia.”

Here’s the thing about TV criticism. You know you should objectively sit down and critique a show based on things like execution, acting, writing, and so on. And if I was doing that for “Moonlight,” I would have to admit that perhaps Alex O’Loughlin - who plays private investigator Mick St. John, a vampire seeking redemption - won’t be winning any Emmys for his performance.

Mick (Alex O’Loughlin), Friday night is our night. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS.

Even the premise is so tired it should be taken off the field in a stretcher.

Yet, I just can’t seem to quit the show. There’s something charismatic about Alex, a guy I had lunch with last summer (Check out the blog item Lunch with a Vampire). The Australian charmed me then, and he’s still oozing charisma. Come on. Watch this video

OK, maybe not exactly “Angel,” but not bad.

This past week, “Moonlight” won the People’s Choice award for best new TV drama. Thank you, YouTuber Twilightdew, for posting this with Alex talking all Aussie and stuff:

Last night, I sat huddled on the sofa as Mick tried to save Beth, the mortal he loves, and protect her boyfriend too. He failed on the second part of the exam, leaving the path open for him to pursue the sweet Beth.

Or, it would have if she hadn’t gotten angry with him for not sucking the life into her boyfriend Josh as he lay dying from a gangster’s fatal gunshots.

“Turn him!” she implored. But Mick knows better. He’s trying to become a mortal again with the help of his former wife/vampire Coraline. He knows that living as a vampire is no real life at all.

Oh, Beth.

Oh, me, for being addicted to this show each week. But sometimes, you’ve just got to a fan.

Contestants on “Survivor” have been known to stretch the truth a tad in their quest, and there is no question quite a few unsavories have emerged, from the currently incarcerated Richard Hatch (tax evasion) to Jonny “My grandmother died” Fairplay.

But Lunch Lady Denise?

Lunch Lady Liar?

Fans of the show watched Sunday’s high rated finale had nothing but sympathy for Denise when she had to endure hearing Courtney wonder on the show why Denise deserved anything just because she “sucked at life” and was poor.

Then on the live show, a teary Denise told everyone how horrible the school district behaved when she returned to work and was demoted from lunch lady to janitor. It was all because her presence was “too disruptive” to the students, who saw her as a TV star. So she was shuffled off to clean toilets and barf in obscurity.

A little bell went off in my brain, because I know janitors make more money than lunch ladies, so didn’t she get a promotion? Turns out Denise may have been a little less than honest about the whole deal. CBS’ “Early Show” host Julie Chen grilled Denise and school superintendent Nancy Lane, who says Denise fibbed.

Here’s the release from the school:

Press Release: Mrs. Denise Martin
December 17, 2007
Douglas Public Schools

On the “Survivor China” television program that aired on December 16, 2007, Mrs. Denise Martin, an employee of the Douglas Public Schools, stated that she was demoted from her position as a cafeteria worker upon her return from taping the show. This statement is false. In fact, Mrs. Martin held a full-time position as a custodian prior to her participation in the series, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. Mrs. Martin was granted - at her request - an unpaid leave of absence so that she could participate in the “Survivor” program. We were pleased and excited to support Denise, and have enthusiastically cheered her on throughout the duration of the show.

Although Mrs. Martin was a cafeteria employee prior to her selection as a contestant, she asked to be considered for a promotion to full-time custodian, and was promoted to this position on March 30, 2007. This promotion came with additional benefits and a higher salary. Following her leave, she then returned to this same position.

Regretfully, the Douglas Public School District was inaccurately portrayed as failing to be accommodating to an employee during what the District viewed as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. This is far from the case. On the contrary, we granted all requests made by Mrs. Martin so that she could participate in the “Survivor” series. Since Mrs. Martin was on an approved leave, her position was held open for her, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. As a District, we make every effort to support our employees, and will continue to do so.

Nancy T. Lane
Superintendent of Schools

Denise, Denise. Now you’re $50,000 richer because “Survivor” creator/producer Mark Burnett decided to dip into his deep pockets to make you feel better. He can well afford it, but can you afford to go back and face those people in Douglas after this?

Whoa, not so quick. First, our snappy recap of “Survivor:China” finale.

Amanda won the reward challenge, but of course on Survivor it’s never that easy. She had to choose either one, or two, other people to share pizza, beer and brownies with her. If she chose no one, she would have appeared to be fair with all of her alliance. But she also would have come across as selfish.

She kept the Courtney warning in mind: “An angry Todd is a bad Todd.” Best to keep him satisfied, so she chose the schemer - who wouldn’t have a chance to smack talk her while she was eating without the other three.

And she wisely decided not to choose between Denise or Courtney, because to take one would have tipped her hand.

Denise Martin, Todd Herzog, Courtney Yates and Amanda Kimmel during the Reward Challenge “Great Wall” & Reward of Pizza, Beer, Cola, Brownies during tonight’s finale episode of “Survivor: China” Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS

As Courtney says, “Todd’s a slippery little sucker.” Todd’s been able to weasel his way into more food by getting chosen to go on rewards won by others because no one wants him hanging around camp plotting against him.

He’s played a good game. But now he’s scared about Court, Denise and Amanda going all “girl power” on him. Game on.

After the traditional walk down memory lane, where the torches were lit and firecrackers popped to celebrate the fallen Survivors, it was time to move on to tribal council. It didn’t look good for Todd. Would he once again slip-slide out of getting the boot?

Todd was the first out of the immunity challenge. Each had to stack china on a small platform while holding firm with one hand. Second out was waitress Courtney. Denise desperately tried to strike a deal with Amanda: She would drop out if Amanda promised not to vote her out.

Amanda said no deal. Perhaps Denise knew she was faltering, or maybe her deal-making made her lose concentration. In any case, Denise dropped her dishes and Amanda was guaranteed a top three spot and a chance to plead her case in front of the jury.

It looked like Denise might just pull out a top-three finish as she worked Amanda, and Amanda in turn tried to work Courtney, all against Todd. In the end, we knew Courtney would never turn on snark-buddy Todd. There seemed to be a small chance Amanda would force a tie between Todd and Denise, but it was not to be.

We think Denise shot herself in the foot by saying because she had two children that might influence a jury. And she put Amanda on the spot by saying that Amanda told her she had Denise’s back. But it was Todd’s little oh-she-burned-you look that made Amanda look like a jerk.

In the end, a three to one vote shoved Denise into the jury box and out of the running for a top-three slot.

Denise only gets into the final four, out of the three. She returned home only to lose her job as the lunch lady and now works as a janitor. Mark Burnett decided on the live show to give her $50,000 to help get her life back on track.

Going into the final confrontation with the jury, I felt that Todd played it best, with Courtney coming in a surprising second. I almost thought I might want to vote for her since she was the snotty kid who at least played the most honest game of the three.

But in the end, it was the guy who studied the game, and watched it since he was a 14-year-old in Utah. Todd, you deserved it. You just need to get that snark in check.

Todd wins “Survivor: China”Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS

Do you agree with Jeff Probst that the biggest blunder was James not playing the Immunity Idol? Or was it Denice not going with Erik and Peih-Gee?

And for qodrn, who thought I got laid off and that I spend too much time talking “Survivor”, I’m still working for the paper, just working online instead of in print. And just think, with the end of Survivor tonight you’ll get a reprieve just in time for American Idol.

You would need a search and rescue team to find the link on this site to get my blog delivered to you free through an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, so just click here.

Thank goodness for the President’s annual State of the Union Address.

With no end to the Writers Strike in sight, the networks are starting to sweat. They’ve squirreled away precious few new episodes. Just when CBS announced they were ready to place a few nuggets out there for viewers, they got a reprieve when they remembered, hey, doesn’t the President of the United States usually do something we can broadcast around the end of January?

Voila-La. Bush finally comes to the rescue - and just in time to save those new episodes of “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and the premiere of the new sitcom “Welcome to The Captain” for February sweep.

According to the very nice press release sent out by CBS, “Welcome to The Captain” is a comedy about a wildly eclectic group of people whose lives are intertwined through the place they all call home, a fabled Hollywood apartment building, El Capitan, which they’ve dubbed “The Captain.” It stars Fran Kranz (”The TV Set”), Chris Klein (”American Pie”), Jeffrey Tambor (”Arrested Development”), Raquel Welch (”The Three Musketeers”), comedian Al Madrigal, Valerie Azlynn (”Two and a Half Men”) and Joanna Garcia (”Reba”).

This is when I get kind of sad about no January Television Critics press tour so that I could find out what the heck Chris Klein was thinking when he told a women’s magazine that he hated placating women and wouldn’t tolerate his girlfriend gaining weight.

“When a woman isn’t feeling good about herself and you combine that with her period, eventually she’ll ask you if you like her body,” he told Elle back in 2005. “You have to say no… I don’t placate.”

Katie Holmes apparently dumped him, which worked out quite well for her what with the whole TomKat deal.

Katie recovers nicely from her Chris Klein break-up

And just where has Chris been hanging out lately? Ditto Raquel. It’s been a long time since the pin-up years and it’s always nice to touch base, yes?

Raquel Welch, Jeffrey Tambor, Chris Klein, Fran Krans, Joanna Garcia, Al Madrigal and Valerie Azlynn make up the cast of WELCOME TO THE CAPTAIN

The State of the Union Address takes place on Jan. 28, shoving the CBS comedies to a Feb. 4 date.

Here’s the new line-up:

Monday, Jan. 28

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

8:30-9:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN

9:00-10:30 PM CBS NEWS COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

10:30-11:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Monday, Feb 4

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

8:30-9:00 PM WELCOME TO THE CAPTAIN (Series Premiere)

9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN

9:30-10:00 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (Season Premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

Can we blame the writers’ strike for this?

“Heroes” broke my heart this season by going from an obsession to a duty. Oh, the writers teased me with a few episodes that made me think this series was getting back on track. The last two episodes looked that tonight would be redemption time - and make me want to care about Volume 3: Villains.

It didn’t.

To begin with, we knew that two heroes would be killed tonight. I was hoping against hope one would be the mind-numbing Maya. Oh, I there was that glimmer when Sylar shot her, but then Suresh had to revive her.

Why?

Instead, two heroes were knocked out in the most unlikely of ways and Hiro proved to be crueler than we can accept. In the final moments when the Shanti virus was about to be unleashed on the world, naive Peter came to his senses and caught the vial just as it was dropped by Adam/Kensei.

Milo Ventimiglia as Peter Petrelli, comes to his senses and goes after Adam — NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

Hiro swept Adam/Kensei away _ and into a cemetery vault where, we imagine, he’ll spend eternity locked in a tomb.

Or until the writers need him back on the scene. But by then will he be a mere bones?

David Anders as Adam Monroe before he gets tossed into a tomb– NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

In two improbable storylines, Monica should have been able to use those snappy martial arts she learned to get away from her captor. Instead, she struggles and would have been burned alive with Niki hadn’t shown up. It’s Niki who ends up toast, so now Micah has to deal with the deaths of both his parents while they saved the lives of others?

The other storyline has Nathan standing up in front of TV cameras to expose The Company when he’s shot by an assassin. Hello! He’s got invincible cheerleader blood coursing through his veins. If Nathan doesn’t pop up again, I’ll be surprised.

Adrian Pasdar as Nathan Petrelli, who decides it’s time to out The Company– NBC Photo: Adam Taylor

And who snuffed Nathan? Please. HRG. After all, he made a pact with the devil (or in this case The Company) to keep his family safe. And that pact certainly involved a dastardly deed like knocking off Nathan.

Finally, the closing scene with Sylar regaining his powers and going all “I’m baack…” on us. We’re assuming from the title that Sylar plays a big role in the next series that’s slated to air next spring.

But who knows? With the writers’ strike, it could be next season. All we are hoping is that the writers spend this time pondering a better second half of the season.

Let’s face it. “Jericho” was a ratings-challenged and when it came back last summer, the numbers didn’t get much better.

But CBS still believes that if those “Jericho” Rangers can rally enough support to bring it back, they can collect enough viewers to keep it on the air.

Thanks to Ranger Jonathan Whitesell for passing this along:

Dear Rangers,

We have some exciting news and wanted you to hear it first. Later today we will announce Jericho’s return to CBS’s primetime schedule. Seven new episodes will be broadcast on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT beginning Feb. 12.

We hope you will rally around the new episodes of Jericho with the same passion and volume you displayed this summer to bring the show back. The writers and producers have crafted an exciting second season that picks up immediately following the battle with New Bern, as the town begins the rebuilding process, and along the way discovers why their small community is so important to the newly formed government, and what the true intentions of this new government might be.

In success, there is the potential for more Jericho, but we will need your help to recruit new viewers. For your friends or family who have never seen the show, the entire first season can be seen on CBS.com, or on the recently released Season One DVD set.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for your continued support of Jericho.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment

Both “Jericho” and the first-ever winter “Big Brother” premiere on CBS on Feb. 12.

Jake (Skeet Ulrich, right) and Hawkins (Lennie James, left)

Game shows and news magazines plump up CBS’ winter schedule, but at least one new series will be in the line-up announced today.

“The Captain,” premiering at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28, is a comedy about a wildly eclectic group of people whose lives are intertwined through the place they all call home, a fabled Hollywood apartment building, El Capitan, which they’ve dubbed “The Captain.”

The comedy stars Fran Kranz (”The TV Set”), Chris Klein (”American Pie”), Jeffrey Tambor (”Arrested Development”), Raquel Welch (”The Three Musketeers”), comedian Al Madrigal, Valerie Azlynn (”Two and a Half Men”) and Joanna Garcia (”Reba”).

CBS has also completed production on episodes of the game show “Do You Trust Me.” A scheduling announcement will be made at a later date.

CBS’s Revised Programming Schedule Effective in January and February:

Wednesday, Jan. 2
8:00-9:00 PM POWER OF 10 (Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Sunday, Jan. 13
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part One)

Tuesday, Jan. 15
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part Two)

Wednesday, Jan. 16
9:00-11:00 PM COMANCHE MOON (Part Three)

Tuesday, Jan. 22
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

Monday, Jan. 28
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE CAPTAIN (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

Tuesday, Jan. 29
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY

Thursday, Feb. 7
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR 16 (16th Edition Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CSI
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

Tuesday, Feb. 12
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM JERICHO (Season Premiere)

Wednesday, Feb. 13
8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Wednesday Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Sunday, Feb. 17
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM BIG BROTHER 9 (Sunday Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK