Tonight there is no Ugly Betty episode. I love this show, and the following show, Shark. Last Thursday, there was a new Ugly Betty; tonight, none. Why in the hell do the networks keep f–king with the schedule??? Why do they show an episode, then none? I think a few weeks ago there was an Ugly Betty, but no Shark episode after. Don’t the tv execs understand that we are creatures of habit? If I didn’t have a DVR to record new eps, I’d probably give up altogether. I got into Scrubs in its first and second seasons (before I had a DVR) and then the network started moving it around and I lost track and interest. What are the networks trying to accomplish? I’m not going to give up on Ugly Betty or Shark, or Heroes, or The Closer, but Jesus H. Christ, pick a schedule and if it’s a winner, stay with it!
In the case of Ugly Betty, my guess is that ABC didn’t want to run a new episode against American Idol. Similarly, no network is going to run a new episode of one of their good programs against the Superbowl, the Academy Awards broadcast, Thanksgiving or Christmas, all events when everyone is watching or doing something else.
In general, though, the American television season runs from September through May, or about 39 weeks. There are 22 episodes in a full season order, so some weeks there will have to be reruns.