Given the short (and wet) shrift...

Can I just tell you that CW Network, the train wreck formed form the joining of the WB & UPN, are a bunch of punks. Not only did they keep on their roster most of the shows that no one wants to see (except for "Supernatural" and "Veronica Mars", of course), but they seemed to pass on anything that remotely required what Julian McMahon's character inserted in Larry Hagman's character on "Nip/Tuck".

I'm speaking, of course, of the show "Aquaman" (mercifully renamed from the original title of "Mercy Reef") which Warner put the pilot episode up on iTunes for download for $1.99. I guess figuring they couldn't get sponsors and so make us pay directly, everyone was amazed at the quality of this gem and the fact it was number one on iTunes charts for a week. As for the show itself, your host had initial doubts figuring Ving Rhames (wacko), Lou Diamond Phillips (weirdo), and Justin Hartley (er... see pic) would be a toxic mess. However I downloaded it, watched it in the TV room - watched it twice - and now I'm more puzzled than ever why it remains in limbo.

So about a thousand glowing iTunes reviews later, critical buzz including internationally, and an inadvertent tie-in to the HBO hit series Entourage, the CW keeps its hands in its pockets and its head up its butt.

USA Networks? Sci-Fi Channel? Are you listening?

- Farmer Ted