Terrible, terrible show.

You may be tired of "24," but when measured against "American Idol, it comes out smelling like a rose.

There are far worse offerings on TV than any of the shows you've chosen to disparage.

If this article was written a year ago I would agree. The 4th season of "24" was its worst. If it wasn't for my DVR I would have given up on it entirely. But I'm glad I didn't.

The 5th season had more energy, better pacing and a great supporting cast. Perhaps bringing in David Fury, a veteran of television shows with long story arcs, helped.

One of the things I like about "24" is its humorless approach. I like shows that mix comedy in with drama and tension, and I like shows that don't take themsleves so seriously. But it's nice to have one show that just plows ahead and isn't winking at the audience the whole time and doesn't take time out for the invariably lame "witty banter" portion of the show. Besides, it may not be intentional, but the silly office politics and family drama moments are what adds some humor to this show. I know I'm in for some cheesy fun when Elisha Cuthbert's name is in the credits.

So I'll be tuning in next year, hoping Chloe is anti-social, Jack has nothing to smile about, and, yes, I even hope Kim Bauer shows up for an episode or two. That will make me smile.

With all the bad TV out there, have you completely lost your minds? Did Laura Miller really watch last season? I'd have to agree with others that if you had listed the show a couple seasons back (seasons 3 and/or 4), I'd likely to have been inclined to agree with you, but this most recent season was a big step up for the show. I won't say much more about it, as it would be redundant in light of fstop's posting.

Suffice it to say, however, that there are far, far worse shows on TV which could have been chosen. The War at Home has already been mentioned. Desperate Housewives also comes to mind. After an intriguing first season, that show really stumbled in its second outing. How about Smallville? Man, has that show degenerated into a pile of hot, steaming kryptonite. God knows American Idol has run its course of giving us talentless, banal singers near and dear primarily to the heart of corporate America. The Amazing Race has become quite pathetic with its "go from point A to point B" instructions, obnoxious product placements and mediocre contestant challenges that your average 8-year-old could solve in a snap. And I'm just touching the tip of the Iceberg o' Bad TV here.

24 has its faults, certainly, and Laura does raise some good points, but there's a whole crop of shows out there that deserve cancellation more. After the marked improvement of the show in season 5, I eagerly await season 6. Get back to me next May. I may find I agree with your assesment at that time. But, for now, welcome back, Jack!

What a premise - people an entire show with unpleasant characters who sit around a landscape of faux poverty discussing their bodily functions. Hey, it's the "Honeymooners," only without a scrap of humanity and with references to piss, shit, masturbation, fucking, sucking, belching and anything else that you really don't want to know about these characters or see them doing. Wowsa.

Aw, c'mon. Just because the Law and Order franchise has taught us all how to be homicide detectives (to the point that I recently heard a child yell at the TV, "You forgot to put on the blue booties!"), can't we have a police show that is just entertaining? Every time I watch The Closer, I laugh out loud at the dialogue and the hour seems to go by in 15 minutes. There aren't many shows I can say that about. To hell with realism and proper police procedure. I suppose you didn't like Columbo, either.

Poor Larry King-- why pick on him? Ok, he doesn't do hard-hitting journalism, but nobody really expects him to. Scowling Queen Nancy Grace demonstrates why Larry should stick around; if we have to have all these obnoxious talk-tv personalities and phoney journalism, at least King offers a gracious counterpoint.

I agree with the letter writer about the loathesomeness of reality tv. The logical end game of RTV is to give all the shows' contestants real weapons and have the shows attack each other.

Dear Salon,

To your list of shows that have lately begun to bite, might I suggest you add Project Runway, or as I have seen it this season, Project Misogyny. Now I know what you are thinking..the fashion industry hated women? No! But alas, it is true!

This week everyones favorite Cindy Brady double Allison was "auf'd" over the crazy 80s fabulous "design" of 'let me put a basket on this models head' Vincent. The reason is because she made a risky outfit out of paper that apparently made her model look "plus sized" and that she as a female designer should no better than to sin that big.

Now I work in the sciences, and every girl here knows we have to produce work thats twice as good for the same recognition (look it up!) but I thought surely on a fashion show on a gay TV network a girl can get a fair shake. Again Alas. Higher standards for women...no risk taking allowed, thats for boys like Kayne (who also created a monstrosity but did NOT get the axe). Now I understand reality shows live by keeping personality over talent but damn, at least TRY to pretend the deck isn't stacked.

Moreover many male designers this season go about refering to female designers as "frigid" and "feminazis", in fact they do this whilst laying about in boxers and drinking beer...I shit you not. The giganto male egos in the confessionals also boggle the mind, you know the old "I am better than everyone else here, everyone look at me". In addition I might add the strong female personalities on this show definitely get the "bitch edit" most glaringly architect Laura Bennett. Thus all the designers explosion at Vincent, which edited as Lauras explosion at Vincent. Lauras demands for an end to the bullshit of certain egomaniancs picking on of other designers get the stamp of that timeless architype, the Overbearing Mother.

We all like a show where we see a product get made from begining to end, remember when Mr Rogers had the film of the crayon factor? But we can enjoy that process without the tired, played out, stank nasty crap PR has been shoveling this season. No wonder I dont like to wear dresses.