Angel

We’ve not been able to confirm this with our best sources, who appear to have retired for the evening, but the switchboard has been lighting up all Tuesday night with news from lesser sources that the WB finally decided to slide "Angel" off the bubble and into a fifth-season renewal. For those just joining us, this is exceedingly good news, because:

a) Tim Minear’s fourth-season finale script is an amazing knee-slapper, and spins the show into a wholly unexpected direction (hint: one of the show’s most prized elements returns to loom larger in the Team Angel lives than ever before);

b) Some of the best writers from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Firefly" are expected to migrate toward Team Angel, transforming the franchise into a kind of Mutant Enemy supershow; and

SPOILER * * * * * * *

c) For the many asking if Spike will die at the end of the "Buffy" series finale or if Spike will be a component of the "Angel" cast next season, the answer is apparently "yes." You heard me. All rejoice now.