Three weeks in to the summer series Swingtown, the writers behind the retro CBS drama have managed to make both the 1970s and suburban Chicago look fun.

During the summer months television gets downright dirty. No, I'm not talking about lurid scenes involving scantily clad individuals or grainy footage coming from the "Big Brother" house on CBS. I'm talking about actual dirt -- the kind you have to lather up to get rid of.

The 2007-08 television season is as good as done. Sure a couple stragglers (Lost) still have episodes left to air but this one is basically a wrap.

If you like blood, then I have something especially for you. Dexter (Sundays at 9 PM on CBS) may be the best thing to air on network television this year. It did so only because of the now-settled writer's strike and had already aired on cable movie channel Showtime and I see that as a blessing.

Over the past weekend, I became an addict. No, I won't be needing weekly meetings but it saddens me how weak my resolve becomes when options are few.

My new found addiction is Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. I caught most of the past three seasons which chronicles the adventures of a group of crabbing boats on the Bering Sea off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

I first got sucked in last week while watching a behind the scenes feature on how the documentary-style filmmakers capture what is becoming increasingly stunning footage aboard up to six fishing boats.

I'll make no secret of my undying love for comedy. Whether it be movies, TV or life in general I enjoy myself a good laugh -- even if it is at my own expense.

But as the old saying goes, the best things in life are free or in the case of basic cable a mere $21.95/month.

I never thought I'd write those two names and have something good to say about the has-been songstress but when I heard about the former mousekateer appearing on a legitimate TV show I was amused. Or maybe impressed. Mostly curious. But somewhat depressed too.

It seems that even when the big four networks are scraping the bottom for programming, they still have no patience.

The latest one-and-done casualty was the internet-spawned "Quarterlife". Sure, I missed its only airing on NBC last Tuesday but was curious why it got axed due to mediocre ratings (the lowest in its time slot in 17 years).

It's official. The Writers Guild of America has settled their strike and is officially back to work today.

That is good news for couch potatoes everywhere but it won't mean immediate relief from the deluge of so-called reality fare that currently makes up the bulk of the primetime television schedule.

As always in the darkest of times, there is some light.