Just Don't Say Anything To Me About The Mets, OK?

It's been best of times, it's been the worst of times, at least over the past 24 hours.

I got to see the premiere of Jake Kasdan's new film, "The TV Set" Thursday night, then met the writer-director himself after the screening. More on that in tomorrow's posting.

Then I went to a bar and watched a baseball game. The less said, the better.

I'm having a good couple of days, spending a lot of time with other socially inept, self-obsessed screenwriters, so that's been a blast.

But then I check my e-mail today to find that NBC is no longer going to be scheduling original dramas and sitcoms in the 8 p.m. timeslot, instead going with game shows and cheap reality programming. I blame society in general; if more people would watch what I tell them to watch, this wouldn't be happening.

Check back in over the weekend for words and pictures (gasp!) from the Austin Film Festival.

WEEKEND'S BEST BETS: "Kidnapped" (NBC, 9 p.m.) returns to the air on Saturday, so this is your chance to send NBC a message and let them know there is still a place for high-quality drama. You have 10 episodes to do it in before the show is yanked.

The wankers at A&E have finally gotten around to showing "MI-5" once more. There is an all-day marathon beginning at 11 a.m. and running eight episodes. Sorry, I shouldn't say wankers. I meant to say bloody stupid wankers. Anyway, what these programming geniuses at the most inaccurately named network on the dial fail to realize is that "MI-5" is TV's best and most realistic spy show. My recommendation is to enjoy the ride.

Finally, Game 1 of the World Series (Fox, 8 p.m.) throws its first pitch Saturday night. I won't be watching.