Broadcast TV viewers are a fickle bunch. It's hard to know what primetime dramatics to give them -- a stirring conclusion of "CSI: New York" or the news of the death of PLO leader Yasser Arafat?

To all those TV pressure groups that helped the FCC become a reactionary organization, those that egged a response to Janet Jackson's half-time Super Bowl escapade and to Howard Stern -- I can only say: I hope you're happy. Now the fun really starts.

If you are a TV advertiser, you might be wondering why dramas such as "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "CSI: New York," and even reality show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" are suddenly the early season stars.

Few things are given in television: broadcast ratings will continue to erode; "Joey" will still have no clue; there'll probably be a "CSI: Hoboken;" and the NFL will always get a rights fee increase from TV networks.

Comedy Central executives must have mulled over the idea and then said, "Oh, what the F!"

Sinclair Broadcast Group must be doing some new financial math - perhaps calculations yet to be discovered on this planet.

Phew! It's finally over. There is no cultural icon left who hasn't tried to rock primetime television.

If there was any victory won last night during the TV's coverage of the Presidential election, it probably was with TV advertisers - perhaps new TV news sponsors.

Feeling depressed about this too serious holiday season? Take two relatively small viewing talk shows, Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and Warner Bros. syndicated "Ellen," and call me in the morning.

This could be a memorable and mythical season for events that haven't occurred in years - the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series of baseball and NBC losing the World Series of television.