Save these shows

The writers' strike has proved to be a lifeline for drowning TV shows.

Because the strike ran into so-called development season in the industry, the networks weren't able to develop and shoot pilot episodes for their usual vast array of potential new fall flops. That has made them more inclined to renew both struggling freshman shows, like ABC's "Pushing Daisies," and graybeard old shows, like NBC's "ER," both of which will be back in the fall.

In fact, there are only about a dozen network prime-time series with their futures in doubt at this point, but for those shows the next month is critical as CBS, ABC, Fox and the CW prepare to release their schedules in mid-May, joining NBC, which has already jumped the gun.

So if you're a fan of "Women's Murder Club" or "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" or, above all, "Reaper," as I am, now is the time to act. And, unless you have a Nielsen box attached to your TV, there is only one thing to do.

To quote the great Irish poet Sean O'Neill: Agitate, educate, organize.

Yes, now is the time for all good fans to come to the aid of their favorite TV shows. Yet, even though this might be the digital age, don't make the mistake of just sending someone an e-mail. Nothing disappears quicker than an unwanted e-mail message, and the networks no doubt have highly attuned spam filters to weed out viewer complaints.

No, better is a real, actual letter someone has to at very least process and file in a wastebasket, and better yet is some crafty touch that makes it a genuine nuisance, the way "Roswell" fans saved their favorite show by sending small bottles of Tabasco sauce (the aliens' favorite condiment) to TV executives at the Warner Bros. network.

One show has come up with such a device this year, so we'll start there and go in alphabetical order by network.

ABC

Anne Heche's "Men in Trees" is in danger of being chopped down, but fans have responded by having trees planted through the www.treesforlife.org Web site and sending the donation certificates to ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson. Now that's the sort of publicity stunt that gets attention -- and saves borderline series. See the ABC Web site message board for the show or http://sydney1106.tripod.com/id17.html for details.

Fans of the equally deserving "Women's Murder Club" and the slightly less-so "Eli Stone" can just send the usual annoying mail begging for a stay of execution to McPherson at 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA, 91521. Fans of "Boston Legal," however, should simply send e-mails here, and I promise to print them out and forward them to my good friend, writer-producer David E. Kelley.

CBS

"How I Met Your Mother" appears to have been saved by its Britney Spears guest shot, although Jason Segel's starring role in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" doesn't hurt. Yet, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' "New Adventures of Old Christine" appears to be in its annual battle for survival, and "The Unit" could use reinforcements, too. Jimmy Smits' "Cane" is probably a lost cause, but Jimmy Smits as ever has his admirers. Send letters, bras and panties to CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler at 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90036.

CW

I hope not for the last time, allow me to insist that the best, the funniest, the wittiest, the cleverest and the most biting series on the broadcast networks is "Reaper." Ray Wise can already clear space on his mantel for a Teddy Award coming from me in June for his role as Satan, even if a highly deserving Emmy nomination never arrives. "Aliens in America" is almost as worthy of support, but is most likely a lost cause. In any cause, send pitchforks, spiked tails, split hooves and any another devil-may-care items to Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff at 11800 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Fox

Believe it or not, in addition to "Sarah Connors Chronicles," the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton sitcom vehicle "Back to You" is in need of support. My guess is it will be back, but the high salaries could make it dicey. So just send money to Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at 10201 Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90035.

NBC

The so-called peacock network is already out with a year-round schedule heavy on reality TV and gimmicky fantasy series, but rest easy, sci-fi fans, "Heroes" is back, as is "Friday Night Lights," which will debut exclusively on DirecTV before returning to NBC next winter. "The Bionic Woman" is beyond repair, but last-ditch pleas can be sent to NBC Entertainment Co-Chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff at 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA, 91523. Fans of "Scrubs" should send mail to McPherson above, as ABC produces the show and is most likely to pick up the hospital sitcom.

Good luck, and remember the words of the inspirational philosopher Bluto Blutarsky: No show is canceled until we decide it is!

In the air

Remotely interesting: WMAQ Channel 5 President and General Manager Larry Wert has been promoted to president of NBC's central and western region, overseeing affiliates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Dallas. He remains at Channel 5.

Let me say one thing about the debut of Flavor Flav's sitcom "Under One Roof": It was considerably less stupid than the questions ABC's Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos asked during last week's Democratic presidential debate. "Under One Roof" returns at 7 p.m. Wednesday on WPWR Channel 50. … Radiohead appears on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday on Channel 5.

End of the dial: WGN 720-AM's Bob Collins will be posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame at the Museum of Broadcast Communications downtown this fall. Morning host Steve Dahl of WJMK 104.3-FM is a nominee.

WLIT 93.9-FM has become the exclusive radio promotional partner of Naperville's Ribfest.