• TV Guide, Friday, May 4, 2012 2:53 PM

"Next fall, the networks are expected to air more regular live broadcasts than at any time since the 1950s, thanks to competition shows" like "The X Factor," writes Michael Schneider.

Why the boom in live TV? To get viewers away from time-shifting (which often means skipped commercials) and lure them "back in the habit of watching TV as it airs," writes Schnieder. And "Live viewing is still the best lead-in to whatever is behind it," according to Lisa Vebber, NBC's senior vice president of scheduling.

We don't think network execs were persuaded by last week's live episode of  "30 Rock" -- also a valentine to to the format --  though it was great, wasn't it? (We loved Jon Hamm in an Afro.)

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