Thursday:

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show," (syndicated): Howie Mandel and Chris Brown are scheduled guests.

I will be happy when the cast gets down to a reasonable size, as it is hard to keep track of all the castaways on CBS’ "Survivor: Cook Islands." Plus, they hardly get any airtime, especially during this period, where the producers have four tribes that they have to give equal time to. And then, pretty much equal time has to be given to all the participants in the tribe. Although, as in most reality competition shows such as this, the person about to be given the boot gets a bit more screen time, which is why more time was given to the Aitu tribe and Billy on the last episode. I thought it was pretty cheesy of his team to throw the competition to get rid of him, but that’s one way to play the game. The preview almost indicates that the Puka tribe is planning the same strategy to get rid of Cowboy. If that is the case, we’ll get to spend a little more time with our guy Brad. They’ll be sorry when Cowboy goes if one of them gets a headache. As has been the case with CBS this season, there is very, very little known about this episode, airing at 8 p.m., other than the episode title, "Flirting and Frustration," which could mean just about anything. As before, there will be a competition for reward and immunity; somebody will be sent home; and somebody will be sent into Exile, which won’t do them much good any more, as Yul found the immunity prize in the last episode.

Variations of "Ugly Betty" have appeared on TVs around the world and have finally made it to the American small screen, premiering on ABC at 8 p.m. The dramedy stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a plain young woman whose dream of working in the fashion industry has finally come true. She has gotten a job as the assistant to Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius), who is head of his father’s fashion magazine, Mode. While neither knows much about the fashion industry, the pair make a formidable team. However, Daniel’s rise to power did not sit well with diva fashionista Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams), who felt that she should have been given the coveted spot after the mysterious death of Mode’s legendary editress, Fey Summers. She and her gay assistant, Marc (Michael Urie, who plays a decidedly different role than the lonely Eric of "WTC View," which recently aired on Logo) have taken upon themselves to find ways to sabotage Daniel and Betty. However, in this first episode, it is Daniel who is out to sabotage new hire Betty, as she is not the assistant he had been hoping for. Also, lesbian fave Gina Gershon guest-stars as Fabia, so you gals that might have passed this one by have a reason to tune in. As I had said before, this could be a TV version of "The Devil Wears Prada" and become the gay fave of the new season.

Now on the newly formed CW but the same time — 8 p.m. — "Smallville" starts its sixth season with even more challenges for Clark Kent (Tom Welling), who is still adapting to his emerging superpowers. This season it’s reported that he gets "superbreath" (maybe he just needs a mint). Strange events will continue to plague his little town while he deals with his relationships with girl-next-door Lana Lang, the future love of his life, Lois Lane, and future arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. This first episode has Lex/Zod hold Lana captive so that she can provide him with an heir. In Lex’s case, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as his father, Lionel, played by out actor John Glover, has been a thorn in Clark’s side from the very beginning. Meanwhile, Clark is without his powers, imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, while Martha and Lois crash near the Fortress of Solitude where Martha gets information from Jor-El as to how to kill Zod. Before leaving "Smallville," as I noted and the reason for even mentioning the show is because of John Glover. Much hoopla is made of gay characters, but out actors playing straight roles get very little press. I think that their presence on TV is just as important, because it shows that being out does not mean one cannot have a career in Hollywood. Acknowledging out actors may give others the courage to come out as well. A side note, Tori Spelling will be popping up on the show as a gossip columnist for the Daily Planet, and she has a special power as well — she will have the ability to turn herself into water, which should be handy for getting in and out of tight places. Also, Michael Ausiello reported on the TV Guide Web site that there will be a first look at Justice League in January as well that will feature Green Arrow, Cyborg, Flash and Aquaman, but no Wonder Woman. "Smallville" executive producer Al Gough indicated that Joel Silver holds the rights to Wonder Woman and that Joss Whedon is writing a movie. Gough said that there would be a Wonder Woman series if he had the rights to the superhero. No, ladies, I don’t know Joel Silver’s e-mail address. . .

That was certainly a shock on last week’s episode of Fox’s "Celebrity Duets." I was sure that Jai was going to make to the final three, in fact, I thought he was going to win. He genuinely looked upset when he was told he was going home. The only thing I can figure is that everybody assumed he was a shoe-in for the top spot that they didn’t bother voting for him and voted for Hal instead. Hal gave a credible performance with Dee Snyder, but I have to agree with the judges that he wasn’t really singing; he was pretty much screaming. Or it could be that Patti LaBelle was just too much of a presence for Jai and the audience didn’t feel it. As for Lucy, while that was certainly a pretty duet she had with Richard Marx, it did not have nearly the dynamic of Jai and Patti’s, and I can only surmise that it was her fan base (and we know who you are, I can hear the "Xena" cry as I type this) that brought her into the finale, airing at 9 p.m. She, Hal and Alfonso will be paired with yet another recording superstar (maybe two numbers each this time?) and then it will be up the viewers to pick a winner.

He has chatted with Oprah and Rosie and then with Larry King, but this time it may be a little different when Jim McGreevey chats with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s faux news show "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," airing at 11 p.m. (and a number of times Friday). The former New Jersey governor will, of course, be pushing his controversial memoir, "The Confession," which appears to be selling well. Jon will most likely delve deeper into the relationship that McGreevey claims to have had with Golan Cipel, whom he hired as state’s homeland security adviser. Cipel has denied a relationship between them. Hopefully things won’t get too serious; after all, "The Daily Show" is supposed to be funny. I am going have to have a disclaimer with this entry, as many a guest has backed out at the last minute from appearing on Jon’s show, so there could always be a last-minute substitution for McGreevey.