I watch a lot of television. My husband and I have three DVR’s so we don’t miss anything. And right now, they are pretty empty, sans a few Paranormal State episodes and Frontline specials on Mormons. I don’t watch Heroes, Lost, Dancing with the Stars or any sitcoms on CBS. I gave up on the Mentalist and Battlestar Galactica is over until the pre-quel, Caprica, starts later this year. But still, with hundreds of channels to pick from, there has to be something worth watching — it’s sweeps!

30 Rock is still great. Salma Hayek’s arc has ended and the show is safe to watch again. Tina Fey is one of the funniest chicas on television and delivers solid comedy each week. Which leads me to the biggest (although expected) let down of the mid-spring season - Parks and Recreation.  For a show created by half of the team behind the US Office, I had higher hopes. Without Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (The Office UK) guiding the ship, the characters feel like a really long SNL skit, albeit toned down in homage to Michael Scott. My feelings can be summed up in one word — blurg.

Also worth checking out are two new, wait for it, cop dramas (!) Southland and The Unusuals.  Southland is on NBC, Thursdays at 10pm, in the old ER slot. It follows several officers in LA on their daily patrols. The filming style and language beeping make me miss The Shield, but the characters and situations are worth following. Call me crazy, but the rookie cop has an Ed Norton thing going on and I like it. The Unusuals (which overall isn’t that unusual) (ABC, Wednesdays, 10pm) has some interesting characters and isn’t half bad. It has some snappy writing, which always makes me smile. Not a glowing endorsement, but pickings are slim right now.  It does beat Candy Girls (E!, Sundays, 10:30pm).

I am waiting with bated breath for the return of Burn Notice (USA, Premieres June 4^th, 9pm). This show follows a secret agent who is left behind by his government, hence burned. The zippy writing, fun characters and educational experience alone make this worth carving out weekly TV time. What have I learned from Burn Notice? Endless things you can do to spy on people with cell phones, how to fake C4 and how to react in dangerous situations. If you ever need someone to trick an arms dealer into believing I am your Baltimore connection so I can retrieve your kidnapped child unharmed, I am your girl, thanks to Michael Weston and his feisty sidekick, Fiona.

On Sunday nights, No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency is a great spring treat on HBO. Known for its foul language, gore and adult content, HBO opted for a palate cleansing change before the return of True Blood. Originally shot as a movie, no one was sure what to do with it — No. 1 didn’t fit in anywhere.  Kind, sweet, respectful and funny, No. 1 is great fun that will have you calling your girlfriends Mma on Monday morning. Jill Scott is perfect in her role as Mma Ramotswe and hopefully it will get renewed at the end of its six weeks.  Also in HBO news, East Bound and Down got picked up and Flight of the Conchords didn’t. True Blood is back in June.

Finally, if you haven’t heard me shouting with joy, Friday Night Lights got a two season pick-up. How, I have no idea, but yeah NBC! Not since Baltimore’s own Homicide has a show gotten so many chances. The third season was as wonderful as the first and I can’t wait for the fourth to begin. The third season is out on dvd this month, so you have no reason not to understand why I have to be physically restrained around JD’s Dad. Don’t miss it!

Happy watching — it’s probably raining. What else have you got to do?