Is the end near for Ugly Betty?

The show's ratings have been plummeting throughout season four, as its move to Friday nights may drive a nail into the comedy's coffin.

ABC is unlikely to yank the series of its schedule, but it's also unlikely to renew it for a fifth season. How is creator Silvio Horta preparing for such an uncertain future?

“Obviously, we all want the show to continue, but I don’t want to get caught off guard and have them tell me it’s the last season and have to wrap everything up in one episode,” he told Michael Ausiello. “So I have two season-ending arcs planned — one where it’s the last season and one where we continue for another one.”

If this is Ugly Betty's final season, how would you want the series to conclude?

We know on Monday's episode, "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap," two things are for sure:

1. Chris Elliot will be guest starring as Lily's estranged father, Mickey.
2. There will be at least one slap of Marshall's remaining slaps against Barney.

However, executive producer Carter Bays is still keeping his mouth mum about the exact details of the slap.  He says, "There’s a little bit of a twist on the slap this year.  The Slap Bet commissioner makes an interesting ruling that I can’t reveal."

We will give you a hint.  Marshall gives away his slap and it will be used by one of the other How I Met Your Mother cast members... or Lily's father.  Watch their potential slaps in action:

The next new episode of V is titled "It's Only the Beginning."

We just hope that title rings true. The ABC drama is one of the most exciting shows on television, yet it's fate is undecided.

Following Tuesday's installment, V goes on hiatus until March. That is, assuming the network picks up the show's remaining first season episodes.

Therefore, we urge readers to give this series a chance next week. Read our review of last week's episode to see why love it so much and check out the promo below for "It's Only the Beginning."

Click on the pics below for a closer look at scenes from the show's fourth - and hopefully not final! - episode...

When this week's episode of Cougar Town, "Two Gunslingers," started off with a line about Bobby being gone we already set ourselves up for disappointment.  Bobby has become one of our favorite characters, especially when combined with Andy, and heck, even Grayson.

However, we have to hand it to the rest of the Cougar Town cast,  especially the ladies, for managing to still put together a good episode.  Jules dragged her friends to a resort for her 41st birthday, and Ellie and Laurie treated us to some of their best bickering we love so.

Meanwhile, Travis was left home alone, but with Grayson watching over him.  Seeing these two awkwardly interact, including Travis blackmailing Grayson was pretty entertaining.  Unfortunately, the hilarious Andy only had a few brief scenes.

Hopefully next week, the dynamic duo of Andy and Bobby make their triumphant return.  Until then, here are some of our favorite Cougar Town quotes from the episode:

Jules: Hey resort Trent, you're even cuter out of your uniform.
Trent: I'm gay.
Jules: Just go with it, Trent. Come on, I'm trying to scrape together a fantasy here. If I can be Resort Jules, you can be Straight Trent.
Trent: I was Straight Trent for sixteen years.
Jules: Great! What's another hour? | permalink

Grayson: Your mom said, "no girls."
Kylie: It's okay, I'll just get my stuff.
Travis: Do you know what her stuff is? It's flavored lip gloss and an over-sizes t-shirt for when she gets, quote, tired and snuggly. | permalink

As much as we hate the joke we're about to make, we had "Great Expectations" for this week's episode of Modern Family.  The highly anticipated episode guest starred both Elizabeth Banks and Edward Norton.

So how could an episode with these two heavy weights be so mediocre?  Well for starters, Edward Norton's role as Izzy LaFontaine of Spandau Ballet was hilarious in concept.  Come on, Claire brought in the bassist of a band Phil's never heard of to play for their anniversary?  Hilarious set up, but just didn't produce enough laughs.

Elizabeth Banks as Sal was at least a little funnier, but didn't give us the crazy adventure we were hoping for.  Perhaps she needed more time than just one-third of a half hour sitcom.

The saving grace of this episode was grandpa Jay.  He had all the kids over for a P-Jay party at his house and he spent the whole time trying to keep Haly on lockdown.  Seeing him thwart her attempts at escape were hilarious.

We've said it before, but a mediocre episode of Modern Family was still easily better than any other comedy being offered, so we'll take it.  Here are just some of the Modern Family quotes from the episode:

Haley: This is kind of an important party.
Jay: The last thing you to do is insult someone when they invite you.
Haley: Exactly.
[Jay walks out]
Haley: OMG. That was so easy.
Alex: You really don't understand what just happened, do you? | permalink

Phil: I never liked Spandau Ballet. Our entire marriage, I never once mentioned Spandau Ballet. Am I even pronouncing that right? | permalink

Gloria [about Haley]: When I was her age I loved my grandfather, but I still wanted to be with boys.
Jay: I know, so did Claire.. and Mitchell. | permalink

Sal [about Lily]: Show me some pictures of Yoko... cause she's asian and she broke up our group. | permalink

Next week's new episode of NCIS: Los Angeles will feature a familiar face.

When Callen and Hanna come across a serial killer, NCIS forensics expert Abby Sciuto flies across the country to offer her expertise on the man she refers to as "The Phantom."

She's been following his killings (14 in two years) and wants to help bring the murderer to justice. Might she end up as his next victim, however?

We doubt it, but the following promo for "Random on Purpose" hints that things don't go so smoothly on the west coast for Abby:

Before she gets apprehended, though, Abby gets her drink on. Check out the following NCIS: Los Angeles episode stills:

On The Good Wife, the character of Kalinda has only been featured in spurts.

Perhaps this is because she doesn't have a famous husband in jail for using state funds to sleep with prostitutes.

Kalinda will soon have a new man in her life, however, as producers are casting for an easily-angered police detective that gets involved with the firm's investigator.

The recurring character will be named Ryan. Not much is known about him at the moment, except for this: he ends up owing Kalinda a favor; and sleeping with her.

At this point, it's no major spoiler to reveal that a plane crashes on to Wisteria Lane on December 6.

But executive producer Marc Cherry has spilled more on this mid-season cliffhanger to TV Guide Magazine, saying the incident will claim the lives of three characters: one minor, one central and one major who’s been on since season one.

Clearly, we're most interested in the identity of the significant character. Might it be the man pictured above?

“The fans are going to be sad over this one, but it was a good time to end this character’s story line.," Cherry said, who praised the fired actor for taking the news “with a lot of class."

“This person stood up at our table read and told everyone what a joy it was to be a part of the show."

That's great and all... but WHO IS IT? Chime in with your comments/thoughts/guesses now.

If this is the last season of 24, the long-running Fox hit is pulling out all the guest-starring stops.

Freddie Prince Jr. and Katee Sackhoff are both coming on board the drama, playing key roles at the new, New York-based CTU.

Sackhoff spoke to Sci-Fi Wire this week about her role as Dana Walsh. A few excerpts from the interview...

Walsh is Chloe's boss: "Dana is permanently happy," the actress said. "I think that also pisses Chloe off, because Dana's like, 'Oh, no, it's totally fine that you don't get it. Let me help you. It's great. I'll do that. It's fine. You don't need to figure it out, because I'm good enough to do both our jobs.' So that really pisses Chloe off."

Something happens at CTU... but Sackhoff can't reveal any 24 spoilers: "I don't know if anyone thinks that's actually a big secret,'" she joked "Could you imagine? So this is a 24 episode, and the whole season is just about nothing. No controversy, nobody dies, nobody gets beat up, Jack Bauer doesn't do anything. He might not even show up, and for 24 hours that would just be what it is. Could you imagine?"

Hi, I'm Don.

With those words, Benjamin Koldyke introduced himself to How I Met Your Mother fans on this week's new episode.

Unfortunately for Barney and Robin fans, not only with this actor be sticking around the sitcom; creator Carter Bays says he'll be romancing Robin for awhile.

“I don’t want to oversell anything," Bays told Michael Ausiello. "Yes, it’s very soon after her and Barney [split up], but...we’ve had characters that Ted has dated many times, but we haven’t brought in somebody for Robin. We’re seeing where it goes. We’re taking it gingerly."

Koldyke is quickly becoming some what of a guest-starring slut. Aside from dating Robin on HIMYM, he'll play for the other team and get with Alby on season four of Big Love.