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The mere mention of the words "reality television" makes most sensible viewers recoil. It conjures up bug-eating 20-year-olds on MTV or D-list actors shamelessly trying to make ill-conceived and improbable comebacks. It brings up visions of Flavor Flav on...

Aside from wryly indicting his own personality, John McCain declined to speculate on why he lost, and he defended his running mate, Sarah Palin.

Simon Baker, who plays Patrick Jane on CBS' The Mentalist , says he has spent too many years taking himself too seriously. "I ...

Nostalgia fans, and anyone else who appreciates great electronic journalism, take note. Tonight, the CBS Evening News (6:30 ET/PT, ...

IT'S the end of an era for children's group Hi-5, with last remaining original member Nathan Foley quitting.

Television is swarming with overseas actors playing American characters, from Linus Roache on "Law & Order" and Anthony LaPaglia on "Without a Trace" to Anna Friel on "Pushing Daisies" and Rachel Griffiths on "Brothers & Sisters." Maybe they're good actors. But some do the American thing much better than others (cough, Anna Torv, cough). Here's a selected report card. MATTHEW ...

The 42nd Annual CMA Awards 8 p.m., Channel 5 Awards shows are more meaningless than ever these days, except as variety-show-like opportunities to see the stars sing and dance and promote their latest. The culture of kudos is no longer very special, unless the public is involved in the voting process (see under: "American Idol"). Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley ...

YOU COULD say the presidential campaign's been very, very good to Keith Olbermann. On Monday, MSNBC announced it had extended the "Countdown" host's contract for four more years, which should just about take him through President-elect Barack Obama's first term.

In her many appearances this week, Sarah Palin is on a speed date with history, upending protocol as she goes.

The "Top Chef" kitchen exquisitely mirrors a certain kind of creative workplace where the obsessively gifted flounder in the face of the coolly confident.