THE FRIDAY FIVE | My “View” dream team

If I could pick five people to be on The View’s roundtable, even for a day, they would be:

THE FRIDAY FIVE | Surprises this season so far

Remember when sweeps used to be a huge deal? (I also remember when broadcast networks relied on movies one night a week.) Now instead of stunt programming, we just get streamlined primetime lineups. It feels like the networks have been more patient this fall than in years past. Nonetheless, I’m thinking Jay Leno might just want to take the whole month off. As we approach the season’s first mile marker, here are some news items that made me furrow my young brow.

THE FRIDAY FIVE | Returning series I could take or leave

I am fiercely loyal to my TV shows, often well past the point of reason. At least, I used to be. Procedurals, spinoffs, and sitcoms seem to rule this new season, still in its infancy. But series from each of these categories have all but fallen off my radar this year.

BIG BROTHER | Where are they now? Relationships, real estate, and drug running edition

People caught up with Jordan, who bought a house for her mother, as promised. Jordan confirms that she and Jeff are now officially a couple outside the house. Those wacky producers got much more than they bargained for: this high school clique season turned into Jordan’s reality TV fairy tale.

Season 9, on the other hand, continues to be a major embarrassment, which is saying a lot for a show of this caliber. First, contestant Crazy James appeared in a series of adult videos which were released during his tenure in the house. Now, season 9 winner Adam Jasinski has allegedly confessed to using his winnings to fund a drug operation on the East Coast.

30 ROCK | 4×01: “Season 4″

Cheesy Blasters and Jenna’s tennis video were the highlights in this otherwise middling season premiere. Do better! I want to want to go to there!

COMMUNITY | 1×04: “Social Psychology”

I’m mostly sad that they’ve ditched the origami fortune teller titles.

THE GOOD WIFE | 1×01-1×03

I was almost guaranteed to love this show on its casting alone (Julianna Margulies, Josh Charles, Matt Czuchry…plus bloaty old Chris Noth and an increasingly leatherfaced Christine Baranski).

The legal drama is paint-by-numbers enough that I’m starting to wonder if I should take the bar (or the TV lawyer equivalent). But I feel there’s something more to this. We’re still fumbling through a Matlock-y phase, but chalk that up to the show still finding its way. Despite its timely premise, the gender attitudes tend toward dated, and either they’re still building the titular arc or they picked the wrong title for this show. Nonetheless, I’m as ready to commit to the season as CBS is.

By putting more emphasis on the conclusion of a story than the coherence of the steps that take us there, Glee is turning into Frankenstein’s monster as it lurches awkwardly into our living rooms.

Mark Blankenship

THE FRIDAY FIVE | Things I’m digging about cable

I’ve looked askance at cable television for many years, especially after jumping on the satellite bandwagon half a decade ago. As noted here, I recently signed up with Charter, and given the quantity of horror stories I’ve heard from other customers past and present, I’ve been waiting for the sky to fall down. In the meantime, I’ve discovered some things I actually enjoy about my service.

The fall television season has reached an improbable moment: the number of new series that have been picked up for a full year exceeds the number that have been canceled.

Dave Itzkoff, The New York Times