With nominal exceptions (NFL football, "High School Musical"), individual cable ratings remain miniscule compared with most network shows. Still, the Nielsen numbers game makes for interesting copy.

On the subject of numbers...

Ten reasons why viewers haven't abandoned the networks:

1. "American Idol"

2. "Brothers and Sisters"

3. "CSI franchise"

4. "Desperate Housewives"

5. "Grey's Anatomy"

6. "Law & Order" franchise

7. "Lost"

8. "Saturday Night Live"

9. "60 Minutes"

10. "Two and One Half Men"

Nine reasons why networks are still concerned about cable:

1. "The Closer"

2. ESPN "Sportscenter"

3. "Hannah Montana"

4. "High School Musical" franchise

5. "John Adams"

6. "Nip/Tuck"

7. "Rescue Me"

8. "Shark Week"

9. "The Tudors"

Eight series the networks should ship to cable as part of an extreme makeover of its tarnished image:

1. "According to Jim"

2. "The Bachelor"

3. "Deal or No Deal"

4. "Don't Forget The Lyrics!"

5. "Extreme Makeover"

6. "Hell's Kitchen"

7. "'Til Death"

8. "Wife Swap"

Seven "on the bubble" shows that will be back:

1. "Back To You"

2. "Boston Legal"

3. "Eli Stone"

4. "How I Met Your Mother"

5. "Moonlight"

6. "Sarah Connor Chronicles"

7. "Shark"

Six suggestions for improving network television:

1. Plant a show in one time slot and leave it there - viewers won't follow series to new days and times

2. Revise the family hour (8 to 9 p.m.). Parents look for shows they can watch as a family, and, increasingly, more are on cable than on the networks.

3. Use low-rated Saturdays as an incubator for new shows or niche shows such as "Friday Night Lights."

4. Want to bring back the sitcom? Turn down the sex and turn up the laugh factor; i.e. "Big Bang Theory."

5. Forget 52-week programming. Viewers would prefer 26 weeks of quality shows.

6. Limit network affiliates to 30 minutes of local news. Please.

Five reasons why "Must-See TV Thursdays" aren't, anymore:

1. "My Name Is Earl"

2. "30 Rock"

3. "The Office"

4. "Scrubs"

5. "ER" - yes, it's still on the air

Four reasons why "American Idol" is losing its younger viewer base:

1. Dolly Parton

2. Neil Diamond

3. Sixties Week

4. Andrew Lloyd Webber

Three reasons why this week's unveiling of the fall television schedules won't attract as much media attention as in prior years:

1. NBC already spoiled the party with its early "reveal" in April

2. No surprise cancellations

3). "Cavemen" is already canceled

Two shows ABC is clamoring to claim should other networks drop them:

1. NBC's "Scrubs"

2. CBS's "The New Adventures of Old Christine"

One series that will top Pittsburgh ratings for as long as its lasts:

1. National Hockey League playoffs

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