Eureka! Physicists celebrate evidence of particle

Rolf Heuer, Director General of CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), answers journalist's question about the scientific seminar to deliver the latest update in the search for the Higgs boson at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Meyrin near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle." Rolf Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, says "we have a discovery" of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that is "consistent with a Higgs boson." He spoke after two independent teams at CERN said they have both "observed" a new boson that looks just like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape. (AP Photo/Keystone/Martial Trezzini)

Rolf Heuer, Director General of CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), answers journalist's question about the scientific seminar to deliver the latest update in the search for the Higgs boson at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Meyrin near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle." Rolf Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, says "we have a discovery" of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that is "consistent with a Higgs boson." He spoke after two independent teams at CERN said they have both "observed" a new boson that looks just like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape. (AP Photo/Keystone/Martial Trezzini)

FILE - In this March 22, 2007 file picture the magnet core of the world's largest superconducting solenoid magnet (CMS, Compact Muon Solenoid), one of the experiments preparing to take data at European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)'s Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particule accelerator is photographed near Genva, Switzerland. The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle." Rolf Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, says "we have a discovery" of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that is "consistent with a Higgs boson." He spoke after two independent teams at CERN said they have both "observed" a new boson that looks just like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape.The results of the experiment will be announced Wendesday July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone/Martial Trezzini,File)

FILE - In this March 30, 2010 file picture a scientist looks at the first collisions pictures at full power at the CMS experience control room at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Meyrin near Geneva, Switzerland. The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle." Rolf Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, says "we have a discovery" of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that is "consistent with a Higgs boson." He spoke after two independent teams at CERN said they have both "observed" a new boson that looks just like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape.The results of the experiment will be announced Wendesday July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Keystone/Salvatore Di Nolfi.File)

Joe Incandela, spokesperson of the CMS experiment, addresses a scientific seminar to deliver the latest update in the search for the Higgs boson at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Meyrin near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle" which is believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape. (AP Photo/Denis Balibouse, Pool)

British physicist Peter Higgs arrives for a scientific seminar to deliver the latest update in the search for the Higgs boson at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Meyrin near Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, July 4, 2012.The head of the world's biggest atom smasher is claiming discovery of a new particle that he says is consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson known popularly as the "God particle." Rolf Heuer, director of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, says "we have a discovery" of a new subatomic particle, a boson, that is "consistent with a Higgs boson." He spoke after two independent teams at CERN said they have both "observed" a new boson that looks just like the one believed to give all matter in the universe size and shape. (AP Photo/Denis Balibouse, Pool)

GENEVA (AP) ? Scientists at the world's biggest atom smasher hailed the discovery of "the missing cornerstone of physics" Wednesday, cheering the apparent end of a decades-long quest for a new subatomic particle called the Higgs boson, or "God particle," which could help explain why all matter has mass and crack open a new realm of subatomic science.

First proposed as a theory in the 1960s, the maddeningly elusive Higgs had been hunted by at least two generations of physicists who believed it would help shape our understanding of how the universe began and how its most elemental pieces fit together.

As the highly technical findings were announced by two independent teams involving more than 5,000 researchers, the usually sedate corridors of the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, erupted in frequent applause and standing ovations. Physicists who spent their careers in pursuit of the particle shed tears.

The new particle appears to share many of the same qualities as the one predicted by Scottish physicist Peter Higgs and others and is perhaps the biggest accomplishment at CERN since its founding in 1954 outside Geneva along the Swiss-French border.

Rolf Heuer, director of CERN, said the newly discovered particle is a boson, but he stopped just shy of claiming outright that it is the Higgs boson itself ? an extremely fine distinction.

"As a layman, I think we did it," he told the elated crowd. "We have a discovery. We have observed a new particle that is consistent with a Higgs boson."

The Higgs, which until now had been purely theoretical, is regarded as key to understanding why matter has mass, which combines with gravity to give all objects weight.

The idea is much like gravity and Isaac Newton's early theories. Gravity was there all the time before Newton explained it. The Higgs boson was believed to be there, too. And now that scientists have actually seen something much like it, they can put that knowledge to further use.

The center's atom smasher, the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider, sends protons whizzing around a circular 27-kilometer (17-mile) underground tunnel at nearly the speed of light to create high-energy collisions. The aftermath of those impacts can offer clues about dark matter, antimatter and the creation of the universe, which many theorize occurred in a massive explosion known as the Big Bang.

Most of the particles that result from the collisions exist for only the smallest fractions of a second. But finding a Higgs-like boson was one of the biggest challenges in physics: Out of some 500 trillion collisions, just several dozen produced "events" with significant data, said Joe Incandela of the University of California at Santa Barbara, leader of the team known as CMS, with 2,100 scientists.

Each of the teams confirmed Wednesday that they had "observed" a new subatomic particle ? a boson. Heuer said the discovery was "most probably a Higgs boson, but we have to find out what kind of Higgs boson it is." He referred to the discovery as a missing cornerstone of science.

As the leaders of the two teams presented their evidence, applause punctuated their talks.

"Thanks, nature!" joked Fabiola Gianotti, the Italian physicist who heads the team called ATLAS, with 3,000 scientists, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Later, she told reporters that the standard model of physics is still incomplete because "the dream is to find an ultimate theory that explains everything. We are far from that."

Incandela said it was too soon to say definitively whether the particle was exactly the same as envisioned by Higgs and others, who proposed the existence of an energy field where all particles interact with a key particle, the Higgs boson.

Higgs, who was invited to be in the audience, said Wednesday's discovery appears to be close to what he predicted.

"It is an incredible thing that it has happened in my lifetime," he said, calling the discovery a huge achievement for the proton-smashing collider.

Outside CERN, the announcement seemed to ricochet around the world with some of the speed and energy of the particle itself.

In an interview with the BBC, the world's most famous physicist, Stephen Hawking, said Higgs deserved the Nobel Prize. Hawking said he had placed a wager with another scientist that the Higgs boson would never be found.

"It seems I have just lost $100," he said.

Marc Sher, a professor of physics at William & Mary College, said most observers concluded in December that the Higgs boson would soon be discovered, but he was "still somewhat stunned by the results."

The phrase "God particle" was coined by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Leon Lederman, but it's used mostly by laymen as an easier way of explaining the theory.

Wednesday's celebration was mainly for researchers who explore the deepest, most esoteric levels of particle science. But the particle-hunting effort has paid off in other ways for non-scientists, including contributing to the development of the World Wide Web.

CERN scientists used the early Web to exchange information, and the vast computing power needed to crunch all of the data produced by the atom smasher also boosted development of cloud computing, which is now making its way into mainstream services.

Advances in solar energy, medical imaging and proton therapy used in the fight against cancer have also resulted from the work of particle physicists at CERN and elsewhere.

The last undiscovered piece of the standard model of physics could be a variant of the Higgs that was predicted or something else that entirely changes the way scientists think about how matter is formed, Incandela said.

"This boson is a very profound thing we have found," he said. "We're reaching into the fabric of the universe in a way we never have done before. We've kind of completed one particle's story. ... Now we're way out on the edge of exploration."

The discovery is so fundamental to the laws of nature, Incandela said, that it could spawn a new era of technology and development in the same way that Newton's laws of gravity led to basic equations of mechanics that made the industrial revolution possible.

"This is so far out on a limb, I have no idea where it will be applied," he added. "We're talking about something we have no idea what the implications are and may not be directly applied for centuries."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/b2f0ca3a594644ee9e50a8ec4ce2d6de/Article_2012-07-04-Switzerland-God%20Particle/id-5612b21557994ca19067c57f009dca20

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Duke Energy warns of ?President paying your bills? scam

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- Duke Energy is alerting customers about a new identity theft scam claiming that their utility bills will be paid by President Obama through a federal program.

The company says that the scammers are contacting customers in person, through fliers, or through social media and text messages.

The customers are then asked for their birth day, social security number, and bank account information before being given a false bank account through which their utility bills can be paid through the program.

In reality, the company says, there is no money in the fake account, and the customer's bills are not being paid.

Duke Energy, along with the Better Business Bureau, is working to keep consumers educated, and are asking customers to follow a few simple steps in order to avoid getting involved in this or any other scam:

• Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or at your home unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
• If you receive a call claiming to be your utility company and feel pressured for immediate payment or personal information, hang up the phone and call the customer service number on your utility bill.
• Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a utility problem. Also, ask utility employees for proper identification.
• Always think safety first. Do not give in to high pressure tactics over the phone for information or in person to get into your home.

Source: http://sedgefield-parkroad.wbtv.com/news/news/73801-duke-energy-warns-president-paying-your-bills-scam

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Fourth of Independence Day

Source: http://www.getoutdoors.com/goblog/index.php?/archives/4471-Fourth-of-Independence-Day.html

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Asian stocks rise on hopes for stimulus measures

People walk past a digital display of Tokyo stock prices at a securities firm in Tokyo Monday, July 2, 2012. Asian stock markets inched higher Monday amid continued optimism over Europe's moves to ease its debt crisis and economic malaise. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

People walk past a digital display of Tokyo stock prices at a securities firm in Tokyo Monday, July 2, 2012. Asian stock markets inched higher Monday amid continued optimism over Europe's moves to ease its debt crisis and economic malaise. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

A man waits to cross a road as others watch a digital display of global stock indexes outside a securities firm in Tokyo Monday, July 2, 2012. Asian stock markets inched higher Monday amid continued optimism over Europe's moves to ease its debt crisis and economic malaise. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

SINGAPORE (AP) ? Asian stock markets rose Tuesday amid expectations policymakers will implement stimulus measures to help spur weak global growth.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.6 percent to 9,055.47 and South Korea's Kospi gained 1 percent to 1,869.75. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 inched up to 4,134. China's Shanghai Composite advanced 0.4 percent to 2,234.03.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.5 percent to 19.724.92. Markets in Hong Kong were closed Monday to commemorate the hand-over of the territory to China in 1997.

The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that U.S. manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in almost three years, highlighting concerns that the world's largest economy remains mired in weak economic growth.

Traders have begun to expect the European Central Bank to cut lending rates and the Bank of England to boost money in circulation at meetings later this week. There are also hopes that Japan and China will bolster the global policy response with stimulus measures of their own.

"The world economy has stumbled, with trade especially weakening into June," said Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian economic research for HSBC in Hong Kong. "Monetary stimulus, possibly by the ECB this week in the form of a rate cut, and later this month by the Bank of Japan, are needed. Plus, in China, there's lots more the government can do to ratchet things up."

Some analysts say global economic growth might have already bottomed and any signs of improvement will send stocks higher, despite worries about Europe's ongoing debt and economic crisis.

"After the interruption in the second quarter, financial markets are back in 'good enough' mode," said Tim Condon, head of Asia research for ING in Singapore. "We expect risk assets, such as emerging and developed market equities, to reverse their second quarter losses in the third quarter."

Markets in the U.S. will be open for a half-day Tuesday and closed Wednesday for the Independence Day holiday.

On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average closed down less than 0.1 percent at 12,871.39. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.3 percent to 1,365.51. The Nasdaq composite average added 0.6 percent to 2,951.23.

Benchmark oil for August delivery was down 2 cents at $83.73 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.21 to close at $83.75 in New York on Monday.

In currencies, the euro rose to $1.2585 from $1.2579 late Monday in New York. The dollar rose to 79.62 yen from 79.51 yen.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-07-02-World%20Markets/id-deaa68c2bde64c8fa6015ea7dbcf4f6b

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structured settlement companies - How Structured Settlement ...

by Tim J.
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structured settlement companies More Details about structured settlement companies here.

Recovering from an injury can be an extremely taxing process, both physically and mentally. But what can really add to this difficult period of time are the financial costs. Suddenly, you can find yourself having to pay for expensive medications that you never needed before. There are hospital bills that need to be paid. Perhaps you've been out of work for an extended period of time and lost your income. You've already suffered enough, why needlessly suffer more? It's at this point that structured settlement companies can help you.

You may have heard of companies that buy structured settlement payments through television and radio advertising. But many people who see the commercials may not totally understand how the process works. After all, how much information can be packed into a thirty second commercial? Here's a brief explanation outlining how structured settlement companies can offer you the assistance you need to meet your new financial obligations.

Selling structured settlement payments isn't for everybody. You should consult with a financial adviser before doing so. However, there are some cases where it'd be more beneficial to have a lump sum of usable cash rather than waiting for the steady checks to keep coming in. Let's go back to the hospital bill example. A stay at a hospital can be surprisingly expensive. Your structured settlement payments may provide you with enough money to pay your usual expenses, but that crushing medical debt will remain. If you decide it would be best to totally pay off your debt, a lump sum might be the course of action you want to take. By selling some of your structured settlement payments in exchange for cash you can use in the near future, you'll have more cash on hand than you would have had otherwise. Using this new, larger sum, you can pay down your bills and put the burdensome debt behind you.

Of course, you may want to sell your structured settlement payments for other reasons as well. Suppose you want to take on a new investment strategy and need a larger amount of usable cash. Maybe you want to go back to school and need more cash now to pay your tuition. Whatever your specific situation is, structured settlement companies can help you get the cash you need to suit the life you want to live.

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'The Glass House': Is Robin Going Crazy In The House, Or Is It A Calculated Strategy? (VIDEO)

"The Bachelor"

<strong>"The Bachelor," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

<strong>"The Bachelorette," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

<strong>"Body of Proof," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

<strong>"Castle," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

<strong>"Charlie's Angels," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

<strong>"Cougar Town," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed -- for TBS!<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

<strong>"Dancing With the Stars," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

<strong>"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

<strong>"Desperate Housewives," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

<strong>"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

<strong>"GCB," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

<strong>"Grey's Anatomy," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

<strong>"Happy Endings," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

<strong>"Last Man Standing," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

<strong>"Man Up!," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

<strong>"The Middle," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

<strong>"Missing," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

<strong>"Modern Family," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

<strong>"Once Upon A Time," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

<strong>"Pan Am," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

<strong>"Private Practice," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' <em>other</em> new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

<strong>"Revenge," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

<strong>"The River," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

<strong>"Scandal," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

<strong>"Shark Tank," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

<strong>"Suburgatory," ABC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

<strong>"Work It," ABC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

<strong>"2 Broke Girls," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

<strong>"A Gifted Man," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>"A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

<strong>"The Amazing Race," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

<strong>"The Big Bang Theory," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

<strong>"Blue Bloods," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

<strong>"Criminal Minds," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

<strong>"CSI," CBS</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.<br />

"CSI: Miami"

<strong>"CSI: Miami," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable. <br />

"CSI: NY"

<strong>"CSI: NY," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

<strong>"The Good Wife," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

<strong>"Hawaii Five-0," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.<br />

"How To Be a Gentleman"

<strong>"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

<strong>"How I Met Your Mother," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.<br />

"The Mentalist"

<strong>"The Mentalist," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

<strong>"Mike & Molly," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

<strong>"NCIS," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

<strong>"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

<strong>"NYC 22," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

<strong>"Person of Interest," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

<strong>"Rob," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

<strong>"Rules of Engagement," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

<strong>"Survivor," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Of <em>course</em> we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

<strong>"Two and a Half Men," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

<strong>"Undercover Boss," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

<strong>"Unforgettable," CBS</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

<strong>"90210," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

<strong>"America's Next Top Model," The CW<br /> Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

<strong>"Gossip Girl," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

<strong>"H8R," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

<strong>"Hart of Dixie," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

<strong>"Nikita," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

<strong>"One Tree Hill," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

<strong>"Remodeled," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> As good as dead<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

<strong>"Ringer," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

<strong>"The Secret Circle," The CW</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

<strong>"Supernatural," The CW<br /> Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This fan favorite will return, but time will tell if the cast wants a Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

<strong>"The Vampire Diaries," The CW <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

<strong>"Alcatraz," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

<strong>"Allen Gregory," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

<strong>"American Dad," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact. <br />

"American Idol"

<strong>"American Idol," Fox</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

<strong>"Bob's Burgers," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.<br />

"Bones"

<strong>"Bones," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

<strong>"Breaking In," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

<strong>"The Cleveland Show," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.<br />

"Family Guy"

<strong>"Family Guy," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

<strong>"The Finder," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

<strong>"Fringe," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

<strong>"Glee," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

<strong>"Hell's Kitchen," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

<strong>"House," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

<strong>"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong> As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

<strong>"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Renewed?<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> In early February, Fox signed on for a?16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

<strong>"MasterChef," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

<strong>"Mobbed," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> On the bubble <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

<strong>"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox <br /> Status:</strong> On the bubble<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.<br />

"New Girl"

<strong>"New Girl," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

<strong>"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell/Not their call<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

<strong>"Raising Hope," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

<strong>"The Simpsons," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

<strong>"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

<strong>"Terra Nova," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.<br />

"Touch"

<strong>"Touch," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

<strong>"The X Factor," Fox</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

<strong>"30 Rock," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong>"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

<strong>"America's Got Talent," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

<strong>"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

<strong>"Awake," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

<strong>"Bent," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

<strong>"Best Friends Forever," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

<strong>"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Too soon to tell<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

<strong>"The Biggest Loser," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

<strong>"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

<strong>"Chuck," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

<strong>"Community," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status: </strong>Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

<strong>"Fashion Star," NBC</strong> <br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why: </strong>The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

<strong>"Fear Factor," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

<strong>"The Firm," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> As good as dead<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

<strong>"Free Agents," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

<strong>"Grimm," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

<strong>"Harry's Law," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong>Cancelled<br /> <strong>Why: </strong> While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

<strong>"Law & Order: SVU," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

<strong>"The Office," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

<strong>"Parenthood," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

<strong>"Parks and Recreation," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

<strong>"The Playboy Club," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Canceled<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

<strong>"Prime Suspect," NBC <br /> Status:</strong> Canceled <br /> <strong>Why:</strong> Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes. <br />

"Smash"

<strong>"Smash," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed <br /> <strong>Why: </strong> After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

<strong>"Up All Night," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

<strong>"Whitney," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

<strong>"The Voice," NBC</strong><br /> <strong>Status:</strong> Renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

<strong>"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC<br /> Status:</strong> Likely to be renewed<br /> <strong>Why:</strong> The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/the-glass-house-is-robin-going-crazy-video_n_1645282.html

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'Flying Squirrel' soars, heads for London Games

Gabby Douglas competes on the uneven bars during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Gabby Douglas competes on the uneven bars during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Nastia Liukin reacts after falling from the uneven bars during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Nastia Liukin reacts after competing on the uneven bars during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Gabby Douglas, left, hugs her coach, Liang Chow after competing on the vault during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jordyn Wieber competes on the uneven bars during the final round of the women's Olympic gymnastics trials, Sunday, July 1, 2012, in San Jose, Calif. Wieber was named to the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) ? Now that she's on her way to the Olympics, Gabby Douglas has a new goal.

"I'm hoping I can catch an accent," she said. "I've always wanted an accent."

Look out London. The 16-year-old whose "Flying Squirrel" nickname might be the only thing more appealing than her personality or her high-flying uneven bars routine is ready to take on a new continent after upsetting world champion Jordyn Wieber to win the Olympic trials Sunday night.

Oh, she's bringing friends, too. Led by the 1-2 punch of Douglas and Wieber, this will be the strongest team the Americans have had since 1996, one that will be not just favored but expected to bring home only the second Olympic team gold.

McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman, who were with Douglas and Wieber on the U.S. team that won the title at last fall's world championships, also made the team, as did Kyla Ross.

"This is a very strong team. I feel this team is even stronger than four years ago," said Douglas' coach, Liang Chow.

Considering that 2008 squad had Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and Alicia Sacramone, that's a pretty bold statement. After seeing Douglas' stunning ascension over the last six months, however, no one should bet against her and the Americans.

"You want to peak at the right time," Douglas said. "And also still be awesome and great."

Douglas convinced her mother to let her leave her hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., almost two years ago to move to Iowa and train with Chow, Johnson's coach. Though she was a member of that world team, few would have ever guessed that she, rather than Russia's Aliya Mustafina or Viktoria Komova, would present the biggest challenge to Wieber.

But she raised eyebrows at the American Cup in March by beating Wieber. Never mind that her scores didn't count because she was competing as an alternate. She came up just short at nationals last month, and again the first night of trials.

On Sunday night, however, Douglas would not be denied again.

She opened with a massive vault, soaring high above the table with her legs pencil-straight and body tightly coiled, and she needed only a small hop to the side to steady herself on her landing. She broke into a big grin as she thrust her hands in the air, and she trotted off the podium with her fists still raised. Her score of 16 ? including a huge 9.5 for execution ? moved her into first place, a spot she never relinquished.

She extended the lead on uneven bars, her signature event. Douglas is so light and quick as she flies between the bars that U.S. women's team coordinator Martha Karolyi has dubbed her the "Flying Squirrel," and she gets such great height on her release moves she could have dusted off the Jumbotron. But it is her grace that makes her stand out, looking like a ballerina in a jewelry box as she pirouetted on the high bar. There's some hard-core steel beneath that pretty package, however. On one transition, Douglas' hand seemed to slip on the bar, something that would have made most gymnasts go flying. But she kept right on going, never even hesitating.

When she landed her dismount, the arena responded with a roar that was probably heard in San Francisco. Her score of 15.9 gave her a 1.35-point lead over Wieber with two events left.

But balance beam has been giving Douglas problems all month ? a fall the second day of the U.S. championships cost her the title ? and Sunday night was no different. She had to windmill her arms to stay upright after a series of back handsprings, and she rocked and swayed for another several seconds after a back somersault. Her score of 14.85 was her lowest of the two-day trials, and cut her lead to 0.6 going into the final rotation ? leaving plenty of room for Wieber, who finished on vault, the highest-scoring event.

Wieber didn't get her normal height on vault, however, and landed low, needing to take a step back to steady herself. A minor error, for sure, but it meant Douglas needed to score only a 15.25 or better on floor exercise to win.

With a show worthy of Vegas, Douglas had the crowd rocking and rolling to her techno music. Basketball players would be envious of the hops she got on her tumbling runs, yet she landed them with such security there's got to be some glue somewhere on those feet. She pranced across the floor as if she owned the place, and never once stopped smiling.

"Winning or not winning at this meet is really secondary," Chow said. "Clearly we saw here that her mental strength and gymnastics strength is coming along."

When she finished, Chow greeted her with a bear hug. And that was before they saw her score: a 15.3 that gave her a total of 123.45, just enough to hold off Wieber.

"Everyone was telling me you have this great potential and you can be on top," Douglas said. "I didn't believe that, but everyone was just telling me to believe in myself. I did and I'm kind of up on top and it's amazing."

While Douglas is clearly a star on the rise, Liukin is exiting the stage ? this time for good.

Hampered by shoulder problems and a clock that wouldn't stop ticking, Liukin never returned to the form that made her the 2008 Olympic champion. She fell on uneven bars, her signature event, when her fingertips could only brush the bar after a release move, and needed to take a step back after landing her dismount on the edge of the mat.

But she refused to quit, and the crowd gave her a standing ovation. She finished off her career with a respectable routine on balance beam. As she walked off the podium, her father and coach, Valeri, greeted her with a kiss and fans began to stand once again.

Tears filled Liukin's eyes as she waved and said goodbye, to the crowd, her comeback and a career that includes five Olympic medals and four world titles.

"Of course I wanted to go out and put two good performances out there and end my career that way, so it's a little upsetting," Liukin said. "Today is something that I'll remember for the rest of my life. It can easily compare to winning the all-around gold medal to me. Those are pretty much the two highlights of my career ... winning an all-around gold medal and getting a standing ovation not once but twice."

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Follow Nancy Armour at www.twitter.com/nrarmour

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-07-02-GYM-Gymnastics%20Trials/id-432df38c1c3c4203b37b8317a9e8bbd8

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