'All Hell Breaks Loose'

Dear "Lost," how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways:

--You are perhaps the last true watercooler show on TV right now.
--You have TV's best villain in Ben Linus (Michael Emerson).
--You've taken the practical means of storytelling to a new level with the combination of flashbacks (which many screenwriting teachers snicker at as a cop-out technique) and flashforwards.
--When you add to the cast, generally it is an improvement (Ben, Juliet, Mr. Eko, Desmond, and now the boat people)
--When a character sucks (Ana Lucia, Boone, Shannon, Nikki, Paolo) you kill them off in really cool ways.
--In a show about mystery, suspense and action, you tell some of the best love stories around (Jin-Sun, Desmond-Penny, etc.)
--You almost never telegraph your punches, meaning there are genuine surprises every week.

Oh, I could go on and on, but I'm sure there are 10,000 reasons and counting as to the greatness of this show. Tonight is the eighth episode (ABC, 9 p.m.), the last filmed before the strike. When I interviewed Emerson a few months ago, he said No. 8 could serve as a great season finale had the strike not been resolved, and that all hell breaks loose in the final moments of the episode. We'll see. Meanwhile, tonight's Michael-centric story focuses on why he has returned to the island after betraying the castaways two seasons ago and murdering two of them.

The show then airs reruns for the next two or three weeks, to make up for the gap caused by the strike. It's going to be the longest two or three weeks ever.

AROUND THE DIAL: I hope you caught last night's "Late Show With David Letterman," in which the cast of "Battlestar Galactica" came on as their characters to present the Top 10 list. On that note, Sci-Fi made it official and will pick up the "BSG" prequel called "Caprica" after BSG ends. ...

"Friday Night Lights" is very close to being official renewed now. For more on that, check out TVGuide.com's Michael Ausiello's report from PaleyFest at http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Friday-Night-Lights/800035828.

THURSDAY'S BEST BETS: One of the best times of the year for sports fans tips off this afternoon with the NCAA basketball tournament. Of course, the only team worth watching, the Cinderella Georgia Bulldogs, battle Xavier at noon today on CBS. Check local listings for other games in the tournament.

Surrounding "Lost" is more ABC newness, with two episodes of the promising Judy Greer comedy "Miss Guided" at 8 p.m., including one with guest star Ashton Kutcher, and "Eli Stone" at 10 p.m.

"Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC, 9 p.m.) narrows it down to two finalists. If I have to lay odds, I'm guessing Piers Morgan and Carol Alt reach the finals. It's followed by a new "Lipstick Jungle" at 10 p.m.

Hopefully, "Smallville" (CW, 8 p.m.) can rebound from last week's 42-minute gum commercial. It's followed by a new "Reaper" at 9 p.m.

An ABC Comedy Worth Watching?

You may not know the name Judy Greer, but it's a fair bet you've seen this talented actress/comedienne in something. From things like "Arrested Development" to "13 Going On 30" to the recent "27 Dresses," Greer is often cast as the scene-stealing best friend.

Tonight, Greer moves into the spotlight as the lead on "Miss Guided" (ABC, 10:30 p.m.), a new single-camera comedy in the vein of "Malcolm In The Middle." Greer plays a guidance counselor at the school she once attended as a high school geek. To her dismay, her teenage rival from those days (Brooke Burns) is now a super-hot member of the faculty.

Though ABC didn't send me an advance copy, and given its dreadful sitcom record over the past few years - "Cavemen" and "Carpoolers" this year alone - those elements might spell trouble, but "Miss Guided" has generated some positive buzz, and the presence of Greer makes it worth checking out. Though debuting tonight after a 90-minute "Dancing With The Stars," its regular timeslot will be Thursdays.

TUESDAY'S BEST BETS: I had high hopes for FX's "The Riches" (FX, 10 p.m.) last season when it debuted, because it took an interesting concept (a family of traveling con artists who assume the identities of a wealthy family) and had a big name cast, including Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver. Plus, it was coming from the same network that gave us "Rescue Me" and "The Shield."

I gave up after about three episodes. With the exception of Izzard, who was terrific as the clan's patriarch, the characters were too annoying to root for and the pacing of the plotlines was terrible. But "The Riches" has built up its own cult following, and Season 2 kicks off tonight, for better or worse.

"Jericho" (CBS, 10 p.m.) continues to wind down with its penultimate episode, if my math is right. And "Project Runway's" Tim Gunn makes a special appearance on "The Biggest Loser" (NBC, 8 p.m.) Of course, the ratings grabber of the night will be "American Idol" (Fox, 8 p.m.)