It is always possible for future episodes to be better than a pilot, or worse. That's why, in a wiser time when networks were independent of media conglomerates, the networks would ask for a few additional scripts once a pilot order was made, before committing to the series.

Sadly, not done any more. The conglomerates have already planned for the licensing rights for "The Nine" and "Ugly Betty" and "Men in Trees," planning on video games, tie-in novels and other ancillary crap, hoping that the shows will be successes. Despite the fact that the three shows mentioned were never thoroughly thought out beyond their pilots.

Which seems to be the case with "Jericho." I admit I haven't seen it, but from the description alone, I knew they would have to show something more than a flashy concept in the pilot to deserve attention.

What deserves comment is that so many of these shows are echoes of earlier, better written, more memorable, just-plain-better series. "Men in Trees" is clearly "Northern Exposure." "Ugly Betty" owes to more than lousy telenovela/soap opera comic relief characters; ABC once had a transvestite sitcom called "The Ugliest Girl in Town."

"The Nine" and "Heroes" have picked up on the gimmick started by "Lost," but originated with "Twin Peaks." That is, the series creator promising monumental, epic things if you just keep the faith and keep watching. Well, once viewers realized that David Lynch was a charlatan, and HAD no ideas lurking underneath all the weirdness he projected, the audience dropped out.

Although Havrilesky doesn't know about it (there's a lot she doesn't know about, but I digress) J. Michael Straczynski promised great things before he launched "Babylon 5." And, unlike Lynch and so many others, he delivered. "Lost" has sort-of delivered, but the stupidity of the captured people in the season opener was infuriating. When the skank brought the guy in the cell food, he should have beat her unconscious and broke her jaw the first time, like any sane person imprisoned by a faceless, powerful enemy. Now he's back in the cell, passive, mournful, and most likely drugged to the eyeteeth.

It's up to "The Nine" and "Heroes" to show they were more than an idea dashed off by a production assistant without actually creating a cohesive universe and characters. They don't have a lot of time.

By the way, much as I detest Havrilesky and would like to see her in some other line of work, I would have never revealed the fact that she is dating in a public forum, especially since she announced that she's pregnant. It doesn't matter much to me, but it's something personal that has nothing to do with television, the topic under discussion. Others might also take offense at her marital status, instead of her writing (a proper reason for offense). That was a dishonorable thing to reveal.

The only comparison at the time was the varying versions of "Star Trek." Which I would argue were far more cartoonish and nondramatic.

Where the Trek Franchise shows would take the works of several writers (most non-pros and unable to fight for their scripts), had staff writers put about three scripts into a waring blender to make a single episode, and give most of the credit to the staff rewriters, "B5" always had respect for its writers. In some seasons, Straczynski wrote all the scripts himself.

And unlike most show creators/writers, he kept what we would today call a "blog" which explained his thoughts about characters and scripts, and took questions and comments from viewers. He was informed by (although not necessarily controlled by) the opinions of his viewers. Name another show where the creative process was openly displayed to its viewers.

Long-time fans of Trek Franchise shows have complained that the paths of their series resembled drunks on the highway, wandering all over the lanes, careening off the dividers and blithely running over children. The control of shows like "B5" and the late, lamented "Firefly" is disappearing in all genres of TV, because caring for an idea or a principle more than expediency is impossible for the megacorporate suits that now run the business.