One of the things I’m giving up for Lent (more out of a desire to improve my quality of life than anything else) is daytime television. Ultimately this shouldn’t be very difficult, but I’m still on the fence about whether Oprah counts as daytime. If nothing else, I can fall back on the fact that it repeats here overnight at 1:35 a.m.

Are the words “Grey’s Anatomy shocker” just part of Ausiello’s blog post template? Should he maybe change the blog’s name to that? I believe I’ve finally been pushed into the welcoming, overfull arms of those with Grey’s gossip fatigue.

THE AMAZING RACE | 14×02: “Your Target is Your Partner’s Face”

See how efficiently the Amazing Editors dispatched this round of airline musical chairs? This is the sort of streamlining we’ve been promised on this fourteenth race around the world. On the other hand, I’ve been vicariously running this race long enough now to be able to parse various clues in the editing and jump to reliable conclusions about the outcome of events and races to the mat.

For example, the first time we saw Steve & Linda, I could tell from their demeanor and comments that they were on track for Philimination. And up on that mountain, where Mel’s groin injury forced him to wait out strong winds for a chance to paraglide, rather than taking a one-hour hike down to the bottom, he and Mike were too overly concerned about their fates to actually have been in danger; they ultimately finished second. Props to minister Mel, though, for refusing to pray for divine intervention in something so frivilous as a race. Past ‘religious’ racers have been all too quick to invoke almighty assistance.

The pies vs. segways detour was a classic luck vs. skill choice. Margie and Luke, my hands-down favorite team, proved that sometimes you just stand there, hip-deep in pie. But plenty of other poor decisions (Mark & Michael’s airline laxitude, Linda’s getting lost on the mountain, and Christie & Jodi’s frat-boy level cluelessness) worked out in Margie & Luke’s favor, as they placed fourth. Cool challenges this week, but maybe the next episode is a little less predictable?

BONUS | Full episodes are finally available online

Newsday’s Diane Werts investigates the sometimes unsatisfying truths and financial motivations of TV on DVD releases.

The 81st Academy Awards

I didn’t intend to watch the entire Oscarcast. My plan was to turn it on and watch until I got bored. Amazingly, by the time I did get bored, I was too far into the show (and a backlog of laundry) to bail on it. Hugh Jackman was a capable host, though he was nearly lost in the shuffle of all the presenters, performers, and past honorees.

The first-time Oscar producers promised a different telecast this year, and they delivered in some nifty ways. Grouping the categories as stages of the filmmaking process was an inspired choice, and made for a brisk pace, with presenters handling multiple categories and imparting a rudimentary film education at once.

Whatever time they saved here, they unfortunately squandered on hall-of-famers and their babbling, pandering tributes to the nominees. It might have seemed more genuine if this tack had been reserved for two or three categories. Alas, this bloviating seems likely to be repeated in the future.

I loved Queen Latifah’s understated “I’ll Be Seeing You” during the tribute montage, though the directing sometimes made it hard to tell who was being eulogized at any given moment. I enjoyed the nods to Meryl Streep, the “Mr. Roboto” reference, and even the Ben Stiller-as-Joaquin Phoenix gag.

As for the winners, Slumdog Millionaire took home a predictable pile of statues. I’m a little ashamed at this point that I haven’t yet seen it. Heath Ledger was the shoo-in for best supporting actor, deservedly so. As for The Dark Knight being left out of the best picture category, that thing was a hot mess and Ledger’s performance was by far the best thing it had going for it. If we’re passing out awards based on merit, the Academy handled Knight surprisingly well.

Dustin Lance Black’s best original screenplay speech for Milk hit me where I live. And in that vein, I was pleased with Sean Penn’s upset over Mickey Rourke in the best actor category. All in all, a surprisingly watchable Oscars given all the press backlash in recent weeks. And it only went thirty minutes long!

The list of nominees and winners is here.

Conan O’Brien’s final Late Night is airing right now in the Eastern and Central time zones. The new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon premieres March 2, and O’Brien will take over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show beginning June 1.

THE REAL WORLD | 21×07: “Of Mice and Devyn’s Men”

I kind of can’t believe this show. Seven weeks in, I still don’t know two of the roommates’ names. Chet is totally annoying most of the time, but not always because he’s wrong/oblivious. Yeah, Devyn’s got two boyfriends. How you go through that situation ignoring the fact that it’ll surely be fodder for one of the shoddily constructed ‘plots’ your various suitors will catch on MTV eventually, I’m not sure.

Also, when did this show become an hour long? We could’ve cut down dramatically on all this rat drama, to be sure. I can barely remember what else happened in this episode, which I just finished watching. These people are idiots. I’m not saying I’d have wanted the roommate situations of my college years to be broadcast on cable TV. Then again, that’s why I never signed up to be on this hot mess.

USA’s Mary McCormack drama about the witness protection program, In Plain Sight, returns for a second season Sunday, April 19 at 10p/9c.

THE AMAZING RACE | 14×01: “Don’t Let a Cheese Hit Me”

I’m glad they started doubling up on installments of the Race. One a year just wasn’t quite enough. Loved the refurbished title theme and graphics package! The first episode of a season is exciting as the beginning of a journey, but about halfway through it becomes a challenge: far too early in the season, far too many teams to keep track of, much less root for. Surprisingly, this energetic premiere managed to buck a few of these rules.

It seems like a good mix of teams…few of them blend together so far, which at this early stage is a good sign. I’m liking Mel & Mike — if they continue to communicate in bitchy television references, they’ll make for reliable comic relief. And how awesome are Margie & Luke? Even stoic Phil got worked up about their first-place finish (though his blog comments make me wonder about how long they’ll be around). If this first hour is any indication, it’s going to be a tear-jerking thrill ride.

30 reasons The Guardian loves 30 Rock