Good News: Simon Cowell is making good on his promise to tinker with THE X FACTOR following a solid albeit not spectacular inaugural season. Bad News: For host Steve Jones and judges Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, all three of whom got the “X,” err… we mean ax, earlier this evening. [Source]

Good News: Fox has picked up a pilot written by and starring Mindy Kaling that will see the current OFFICE star play a “young Bridget Jones type doctor trying to navigate both her personal and professional lives.” Bad News: For the denizens of Dunder Mifflin, which is very quickly turning into the television equivalent of the ill-fated Costa Concordia cruise ship. [Source]

Good News: Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon has just booked a multi-episode arc playing a fellow Cancer survivor to Laura Linney’s Cathy on the upcoming third season of Showtime’s THE BIG C. Bad News: For any and all performers hoping to walk away with a supporting actress Emmy or Golden Globe next year. [Source]

Good News: NBC is said to be in serious discussions with regards to developing a spin-off of THE OFFICE. Bad News: No, Mindy Kaling’s Kelly Kapoor is not getting her own show (Hat Tip: @jfuentes), but rather Rainn Wilson’s Dwight “Only enjoyable in small doses” Schrute. [Source]

Good News: Actor Jason O’Mara has some pretty concrete ideas when it comes to improving TERRA NOVA should the show be fortunate enough to see a second season. Bad News: None of which involve hiring a more competent writing staff. [Source]

Good News: On January 12th, COMMUNITY star Danny Pudi and wife Bridget welcomed happy and healthy twins into the world. Bad News: Based on NBC’s ever-expanding development slate, we suspect Pudi will have an awful lot of time to play “Daddy” come fall. [Source]

Good News: According to The Internet Move Database LOST, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and DEXTER were among the top 10 most viewed television series of the past decade. Bad News: Joining them on the list were HEROES, GLEE and GOSSIP GIRL. [Source]

Most Abused Character: THE WALKING DEAD’s Daryl was thrown from a horse, fell onto an arrow and down a cliff (twice), survived a zombie attack and was shot in the head… by one of his pals. Suddenly, your sucky Monday isn’t looking so bad, huh?

Thanks For the Warning: Mr. Julie Chen — aka CBS prez Les Moonves said that TWO AND A HALF MEN could run for “many, many” years.

The “Enough Is Enough” Award Goes To… : THE RIKKI LAKE SHOW, set to debut this fall. Because what the country needs is yet another chat-fest.

Show Most Deserving Of A Rescue Effort: NBC’s COMMUNITY is the thinking man’s sitcom and the dumb dude’s chance to feel smart.

Silliest Theory: Fox News suggested that GLEE is suffering because of a focus on stories over music. The reality? GLEE is suffering a ratings decline because the stories stink.

Funniest Cold Open: Despite genuinely heartwarming and hilarious episodes of RAISING HOPE, MODERN FAMILY and HAPPY ENDINGS this week, THE OFFICE’s cold-open that showcased the extent to which Pam and Jim would use their “Baby on Board” to their advantage was the only thing that prompted an honest-to-goodness laugh-out-loud moment from us (Think water bottle, duct tape and any excuse to get out of a meeting!)

Most Unnecessary Return: DEXTER already spends enough time talking to his dead dad. Did we really need his dead brother putting in appearances, too?

Best On Screen Meltdown: Little Sydney Braverman made up for her season long disappearing act on this week’s PARENTHOOD a classic meltdown that — if we do say so ourselves — was a little too reminiscent of a certain TV Addict’s childhood.

Most Unexpected Twist: With its penchant for twists we didn’t see coming, Sunday’s HOMELAND didn’t just manage to cement its status as our favorite freshman drama of the season, but the thinking man’s version of 24.

Classiest Exit: After thirty plus years spent brightening up the morning of people from all walks of life, Regis Philbin bid adieu to the genre he practically invented. And while many might have been taken aback by the slightly stoic nature of his farewell, like his entertainment icons Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, he did it his way.

Most Bizarre Twist: After popping back onto the pop culture radar a few weeks ago by being repeatedly referenced on HAPPY ENDINGS, Brett Butler (of GRACE UNDER FIRE fame) told ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT that she’s now psychic. And, of course, pimping a reality show about her newfound abilities. I predict an epic failure in Ms. Butler’s future.

Best Reason To Keep Up With The News: NPR’s hysterical news quiz WAIT WAIT, DON’T TELL ME will get a special televised airing on BBC-AMERICA on December 23.

Best Merchandising: CBS is selling “Soft Kitty” t-shirts inspired by Sheldon’s favorite lullaby on THE BIG BANG THEORY.

Best Merchandising [Runner-Up]: Somebody is going to need to tell us where we can get a hold of some of that PARKS AND RECREATION retro merchandise, and STAT!

Sign That Twitter May Have Jumped the Shark:  Simon Cowell joined the social media site.

Most Shocking Break-Up: Move over Demi and Ashton. After an impromptu night of passion, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s Barney agrees to break up with Nora only to see Robin stay together with Kevin. Talk about the complete and utter opposite of Legen… wait for it… dary!

Let’s Give A Big Texas Welcome To… : James Wolk, star of the killed-before-it’s-time primetime sudser LONE STAR, who’ll be playing boyfriend to HAPPY ENDINGS’ Max.

Were you one of a handful of loyal fans that was somewhat taken aback by the surprise announcement that James Spader had signed on to fill the sizeable void left by the dearly departed Steve Carell when THE OFFICE returns for its much anticipated eight season this Fall? Rest assured, you weren’t the only one.

“It sort of took me by surprise too,” admitted James Spader to the TV Addict during NBC’s recent Television Critics Association Press Tour Party in Los Angles. “I’d been in New York doing a new David Mamet play for a year and I was sort of trying to figure out what to do next and then all of a sudden I got a call from [OFFICE Executive Producers] Greg Daniels and Paul Lieberstein.”

As luck would have it, Spader had recently become acquainted with the talented twosome a while back to discuss what the actor characterized as general long terms plans for television not related to THE OFFICE. “They said we’ve written a small thing for you in the finale if you’d be interested in doing it, no obligation, we just would love to have you come and fool around for a bit,” explained Spader. “It seemed very funny and they had a bunch of other interesting people doing it and the episode turned out well.”

Actually, the episode turned out a little better than well. Said Spader, “I never really considered whether I would do more [episodes] then all of a suddenly they [Daniels and Lieberstein] called me back again and said we’d really sort of like your character to come back in some capacity. And we start talking about that and here we are.”

Here indeed.

Expected to appear in 15 episodes during THE OFFICE’s eighth season, Spader will reprise the character fans were introduced to in the season finale… but with a twist. Rather than be put in the unenviable position that would see Spader step into Steve Carell’s fairly lofty shoes, the Producers have cleverly decided to take a different approach by having the multiple-Emmy-winning actor replace Kathy Bates, who conveniently enough is otherwise occupied on her hit NBC series HARRY’s LAW, as CEO. A CEO who, much to the chagrin of the denizens of Dunder Mifflin, is most assuredly is a little more hands on then his predecessor.

“He’s not as concerned about being loved. He’s very different and brings with him a very different energy. I don’t know a great deal about how Michael Scott functioned within the office but Robert Calironia, the character I play is not so concerned with how loved he is,” revealed Spader. “We just started shooting and right now he’s sort of doing what I’m doing, getting to know the office, all the people and trying to figure out how to make it all work.”

New episodes of THE OFFICE return to NBC this Thursday September 22nd on NBC. Catch up on past episodes you may have missed for free online at clicktowatch.tv

Best Ending We Saw Coming a Mile Away: Just how hot was Will and Alicia’s longer-then-expected elevator ride on Tuesday’s season finale of THE GOOD WIFE? So hot, that not even the far-too-revealing teases could ruin what may have in fact been the most satisfying season ender of 2011.

Best Ending We Didn’t See Coming: Note to Showrunners not willing to put their opus’ central couple together for fear of diluting viewer interest. Keep delivering edge-of-your-seat episodes like Andrew Marlowe’s marvellous CASTLE season ender and you won’t be hearing a peep from us. Seriously. Still reeling.

Biggest Shocker: That we were too busy concentrating on whether or not BONES’ Hart Hanson would have the cajones to finally put Booth and Brennan together that it didn’t even occur to us that he would write Emily Deschanel’s real-life pregnancy into the show!

Biggest Shocker, Daytime Division: Two of the most complained-about (and seemingly entrenched) soap writers in recent memory were ousted. In a one-two punch, GENERAL HOSPITAL announced that Mob-lovin’ scribe Bob Guza was out, and a day later, DAYS OF OUR LIVES said that RoboRafe creator Dena Higley had also been replaced!

Best Performance By A Former Brat Packer: While many speculate that Catherine Tate will be the new OFFICE boss come fall, we loved the idea of James Spader’s off-kilter alter ego getting the top slot.

Biggest Regret: Not tuning into Thursday’s two-part season finale of THE MENTALIST, which based entirely on our Twitter feed’s reaction to Red John’s reveal will be something that we hope to revisit sometime in the not-to-distant future.

Oddest Story: In a span of a few days, former REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY star Danielle Staub went from working as a full-on stripper to seeking help from reality-star shrink Dr. Drew.

Ploy Most Likely To Work On Our Own Contributor, CT: Upon learning that The CW would be offering a Bingo-like came called CWingo as a way to get viewers to watch ads, CT dashed out to buy himself a series of multi-colored blotters.

Least Shocking Development: THE BACHELORETTE’s Ashley Herbert claims to be “blown away” by the hotties vying for her attention. Because the show is so well known for casting unattractive dudes.

Most Delusional: MAD MEN creator Matthew Weiner — who says such 60’s-themed shows as THE PLAYBOY CLUB and PAN AM owe their pick-ups to his show — seems to think he’s the first person to have set a show during that decade.coughAMERICANDREAMScoughw

Biggest Letdown: Quick! What’s the only thing more disappointing than HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s season finale, which punctuated an incredibly uneven season with a predictable pregnancy for Marshall and Lily coupled with the not-so-shocking reveal that Barney was in fact the man about to walk down the aisle? How about the almost unforgivable fact that not only did we fail to get a clue to who the titular mother is, but if fans want one, they’ll have to shell out hard earned cash for it! Said co-creator Craig Thomas in an interview with TVLine.com, ““There’s an exclusive clue in the season 6 DVD that will be released in September… There’s a longer version of a scene from last night’s finale on the DVD that gives you a little more information about the actual moment Ted meets the mother. That’s DVD only. I realize I sound like a salesman saying that. It’s just true.”

Wondering what you’ll spend the summer chatting about? Well, most television execs would love for you to fritter away your time on the beach chatting about the various cliffhangers they cooked up in hope you’ll come running back in the fall. Can anything top CASTLE’s jaw-dropper of a finale (which we won’t spoil here… but seriously, catch it if you haven’t!)? Well, here’s four finale’s we can’t wait to discuss!

THE GOOD WIFE
If THE GOOD WIFE’s first season was better than expected — and it was — it’s second could be described as downright phenomenal. What started as a cross between a “ripped from the headlines” procedural and a messy melodrama has morphed into a complex, surprising, and densely-plotted tale of betrayal and politics. Now that Peter and Kalinda’s shocking past has been exposed, expect fireworks as this storyline comes to a head. This being THE GOOD WIFE, it’s probably best not to try and guess what the writers will pull out of their bag of tricks, but we suspect the finale will provide Julianna Margulies with even more material to add to her Emmy reel. Airs Tuesday May 17th at 10PM on CBS (Global TV in Canada)

THE OFFICE
Michael Scott may be gone, but the folks at NBC desperately want to make sure viewers keep showing up at THE OFFICE. With that in mind, they’re staffing Dunder-Mifflin Sabre with a roster of guest stars including Will Arnett, Ray Romano, James Spader, Catherine Tate and Jim Carrey. Oh, and did we mention that Ricky Gervais returns as David Brent? Sure, that many celebs shuffling through is often the very definition of desperation (see also: WILL & GRACE), but there’s also a big question waiting to be answered: Who will wind up taking over THE OFFICE… and how will viewers react? Airs Thursday May 19th at 9PM on NBC (Global TV in Canada)
 
GREY’S ANATOMY
George being hit by a bus. A shooter taking aim at Seattle Grace’s surgeons. Yup, the show’s head honcho, Shonda Rhimes, has constructed a few jawdroppers over the years. Rumor has it this year’s finale will focus less on the melo and more on the dramatic, a fitting end to a season which saw the characters grow and change in reaction to last year’s terrifying finale. As fans of cliffhangers know well, sometimes, bigger is better… and sometimes, simple can be extremely complex. It’s a lot easier to get people talking by firing a gun than by undermining a relationship, but Rhimes has proven a master at both. Airs Thursday May 19th at 9PM on ABC (CTV in Canada at 7PM)

SUPERNATURAL
Let’s face it: With mastermind Eric Kripke gone and even loyal fans sceptically asking “How do you top the apocalypse?”, a lot of folks entered this season with a bit of trepidation. Yet what emerged was a fantastic season that saw the show taking the kind of chances few would dare. One could almost hear the folks behind the cameras playing the ultimate game of “what if?”. (“Hey, what if we did a western?”) As a result, what many expected to be the show’s final season proved one of its best and earned the Winchester boys a renewal. In other words: Tear down that wall in Sam’s head, bring on the battling angels and let’s get this cliffhanger started! After all, we need something to chat about this summer! Airs Friday May 20th at 8PM on the CW (2 Hours)
 
Nawfal Faizullah is a contributing writer to The TV Addict. He lives in London, has a passion for American television, and dreams about one day crash landing on the Island from Lost. Contact Nawfal at nawfalf@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter (@mightynaf).

Best Calling Out: MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell put his corporate bosses in the hot seat by insisting they end attention whore Donald Trump’s “relentless campaign of hatred” by revealing that the tycoon can’t run for president because he’s committed to doing another season of THE APPRENTICE. (We here at thetvaddict.com continue urging viewers to boycott Trump’s offerings… and here’s why.) 
 
Most Likely To Mangle A Phrase: Whether declaring “You can’t stand the truth!” (instead of the famous line from A Few Good Men “You can’t handle the truth!”) or talking about how “you can’t pull the wool over the undercover specialist,” SURVIVOR’s Phillip is proving one of the most misquote-worthy contestants in the show’s history.
 
Best Twist: Once again harkening back to its first season, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES revealed that Wisteria Lane’s curmudgeonly Karen McCluskey knew all along that Paul Young didn’t kill Felicia Tilman.
 
Most Conveniently-Timed Break: A lotta people complain about how long it is between MAD MEN seasons, but star January Jones is making good use of her down time by having a baby!

 
The Saving The Best For Last Award Goes To… : THE OFFICE, for making sure that Pam got the final farewell to departing boss Michael in what turned out to be one of the uneven sitcom’s most outstanding episodes.
 
The When It Rains, It Pours Award Goes To… : GENERAL HOSPITAL which, even as it was being dogged by increasingly-loud cancellation rumors, was hit by a lawsuit filed by the estate of of the show’s legendary creators claiming it is owed syndication money.
 
Worst Export: Oh, England, we’re sorry. You give us classics like THE OFFICE and ALL IN THE FAMILY (TILL DEATH US DO PART was the original) and what do we give you? JERSEY SHORE, being remade as GEORDIE SHOREM by MTV UK. On behalf of all of us, we’re sorry.
 
Something To Sing About: Holy crap, THE VOICE is entertaining TV. From the format to the likeable trainers, this show deserves to be bigger than the lackluster IDOL. Our only complaint? Carson Daly.
 
Least Open Minded: The reaction of Dustin Zito’s REAL WORLD housemates to his naked frolicking on a site aimed at gay men (which included one abbreviated close encounter of the oral kind with another guy) proved that, sadly, today’s 20something’s are just as capable of homophobia and prejudice as their older brethren.
  
The “Yeah, Right” Award Goes To… : Former ONE TREE HILLer Chad Michael Murray, who tweeted that if the show returns next season, he might be on board. Why? “Maybe… for you guys.” Or maybe for a bunch of money. Or because he hasn’t exactly had a lot to do since leaving.

After months of hype, oodles of retrospectives and one super-sized farewell that touched on all the right notes, Michael Scott has finally left the building. Our feelings for which we’d like to sum up by borrowing a line from our favorite fictional President by asking, “What’s Next?”*

With apologies in advance for not wallowing in the comedic genius that is Steve Carell and what have you, the simple fact of the matter is that his exit couldn’t have come at a better time. In fact, three seasons from now, there is a very good possibility that fans of the series may look back upon last night’s episode as right up there with the best thing to happen to THE OFFICE since the introduction of the line, “That’s what she said.” Suffice to say, seven seasons is a long time for any series, let alone one that takes place within the confines of an increasingly crowded office park. And while there’s no denying Carell’s importance to THE OFFICE, and his award-winning contribution to what will go down in history as one of the fledgling fourth place network’s [NBC] only bright spots over the course of the past few seasons or so, there is also no denying the fact that our interest in THE OFFICE has been waning. So much so that what was once at the top of our Thursday watch list had more recently found itself on the bottom.

Again, don’t get us wrong. We are in no way claiming that a Scott-free OFFICE will be an upgrade on the original, and we sure as heck aren’t about to suggest that anyone is capable of simply waltzing in and filling Steve Carell’s shoes. What we are suggesting is that next Thursday — the first of what will hopefully be many Thursdays in the post-Michael Scott era — brings with it a level of anticipation and excitement not seen since the early years of Pam and Jim’s courtship. And while we don’t seriously pretend to know whether or not the show will be able to survive in the long run without the “World’s Best Boss,” we do know that for the first time in quite some time, we’ll be firmly planted on our couch at 9PM anxiously awaiting to find out. Will you?

* In case you’re wondering, our favorite fictional President is THE WEST WING’s Josiah Bartlet!

The Most Gleeful Moment of the Week Goes to… : Well, oddly enough, not so much GLEE, but rather THE OFFICE, whose denizens of Dunder Mifflin Sabre serenaded Michael Scott with their own version of “Seasons of Love” in a fond farewell tribute.

The Why-Can’t-Art-Imitate-Life Award Goes To… : SUPERNATURAL, for their brilliant episode in which puckish angel Balthazar (the pitch-perfect Sebastian Roche, perhaps best known as GENERAL HOSPITAL uber-baddie Jerry Jax) prevented the Titanic from sinking because “I hated the movie.”

Biggest Tearjerker: Suffice to say, the only thing that would have us reaching for the Kleenex more than Tuesday’s phenomenal wrap-up to PARENTHOOD’s second season will be if NBC fails to reward it for a third.
 
Worst Played Race Card Ever: SURVIVOR’s Philip said, “Any time somebody of my color gets up in one of your faces, then you feel like I’m a lunatic, I’m crazy.” Um, no, dude, anytime a person who is a lunatic gets up in someone’s face, people think they’re crazy.
 

The Imitation-Is-The-Sincerest-Form-Of-Platently-Ripping-Something-Off Award Goes To…: Dairy Queen, whose latest ads owe a whole lot to the Old Spice dude. As in everything.
 
The Making-Millions-Out-Of-Lemons Award Goes To… : The Disney Channel, whose original movie LEMONADE MOUTH was the highest-rated TV-movie of 2011. Clueless as to what it is? Ask your kids.
 
Irony Alert: Charlie Sheen decided bipolar awareness was going to be his cause… at least for a few days.
 
Best PR Move: The folks at Hoover announced that they’d be pulling ads from ABC as a way of showing their solidarity with fans of canned soaps ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
 
Irony Alert (Runner-Up): How does 30 ROCK follow up Jack Donaghy’s hilarious monologue (Complete with examples from Alec Baldwin’s own up-and-down career) that was responsible for convincing Tracy Jordan that the only way to stop being taken seriously is to do (gasp!) Network Television? With a quick cut to this week’s guest star Michael Keaton. Ouch.

Guilty Pleasure Watch: Gay-centric network Logo earned two snaps and a “you go, girl!” by renewing RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE.
 
Best Soapy Moment On A Non-Traditional Soap: While daytime has seemingly lost the ability to let secrets percolate, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES waited several seasons to reveal that Andrew was the one who ran down Carlos’ mom… and that Gaby knew! Better still, the same episode dealt with the continuing fallout from Mary Beth’s suicide… which happened in the first episode back in 2004!
 
The I’m-Rubber-And-You’re-Glue Award Goes To… : Donald Trump, who insisted Jerry Seinfeld should be ashamed of himself for pulling out of a charity event (but making a hefty donation) rather than be associated with the tycoon’s continued beating of the birther drum. Trump told Seinfeld he should be “ashamed of himself”… and did so without an ounce of irony!
 
Best Decision: Sources reported that NBC news would be cutting back on Royal Wedding coverage, finally seeming to realize that the media is far more interested in the nuptials than viewers.
 
Best & Worst TV News About A Single City: On the plus side? TNT announced that Ray Krebs and Lucy Ewing — aka actors Steve Kanaly and Charlene Tilton — would appear on the DALLAS remake. Sadly, Logo revealed that they’d be doing a spin-off of the mortifyingly awful THE A-LIST (think THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF GAYVILLE) in that same location.

And the Weeks Most Literal Cliffhanger Goes To… : GAME OF THRONES, for ending their highly-anticipated series premiere by having Jaime “The KingSlayer” Lannister push young Bran off a cliff when the 10-year-old moppet inadvertently walks in on Jamie and twin sister Cersei doing something two family siblings most definitely should not be doing. Ewwwwww.