The Sci-Fi Channel had a winner on its hands Friday night thanks to the tag-team efforts of “Stargate Atlantis” an “Sanctuary” finales.

For “Atlantis” it was a series finale that, after it’s ratings success, has many wondering exactly what Sci-Fi is thinking in canceling the show. The show scored a 1.5 household rating and drew 2 million viewers.

New series “Sanctuary” also wrapped up its first season with its highest ratings since its premiere bringing in a 1.6 rating and 2.1 million viewers.

With the “Atlantis” ratings up 14% from the previous year it’s a shame the show isn’t continuing. There is definitely some doubt about the concept of the replacement series “Stargate Universe” – but we’ll just have to wait and see how it works out before judging its success.

As i sit here typing this my daughter is watching “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” for about the 400th time this Christmas season. While she’s watching it she’s also holding onto a Rudolph plush toy. Don’t even get me started on the Rudolph ornaments, Golden Books, and (let’s not forget) the cookie cutters that make stand-up characters from the special.

My guess is, things in the Rudolph house-hold are going alright. The folks behind this 50 year old special are doing a-ok.

And yet, the doom-sayers at TV Week (who seem to all be collectively depressed based on recent posting) want to know “Where did all the broadcast TV viewers go during this time of year?” because ratings for the holiday specials we all know and love have fallen flat this year.

First, let’s keep in mind that “flat” still means they’re in the Top 20 shows on all of television…so that’s not exactly something to weep about to begin with…BUT…let’s a assume the ratings were bad (which they ARE NOT for shows that older than most of the people writing on the Internet) — can anyone figure out why?

Seems pretty clear to me.

DVD.

These specials are not only ON DVD – they are marked like crazy this time of year. There are holiday packs with these specials in almost every major store I’ve been in since the first week of November. A few years ago it wasn’t like this – but when the first Christmas specials started getting released on DVD EVERY other possible special soon followed (He-Man and She-Ra Christmas Special, anyone?). The reason for that is simple – they sell like mad.

Ratings for these shows aren’t down because people are sitting in their houses too depressed to watch TV because of the economy, and the ratings aren’t down because TV is DOOMED. They’re down because people are watching these specials MORE THAN EVER in the privacy of their own homes, whenever the heck they want.

The sooner the television industry figures out that that’s how people want to view television (ANY TELEVISION – SAVE LIVE SPORTING EVENTS) the better off they’ll be.

(S02E11) “Chuck vs. the Santa Claus”

In a random “only on Chuck” moment, the Buy More finds itself home to a high speed chase crash with Ned the supposed “good guy” robber holding everyone timidly hostage while looking to Chuck for advice. Besides friends and his government protection in danger, sister Ellie and future brother-in-law Captain Awesome are also at the Buy More previous to it’s opening to the general public, hoping, as so many of us do, to find a few good deals and last minute gifts the day before Christmas.

As our story unfolds we learn that Ned isn’t as hopeless as he once appeared and is instead a fulcrum agent working with the crime scene “negotiator” to determine A) where Bryce is located at and B) where the intersect is. With Sarah and Casey going out of their way and even losing an appendage in the process of keeping Chuck safe it’s not hard to see who they’ve been protecting. Unknowing that their covers been blown they leave Chuck in the Buy More with the bad guys when offered out as a hostage swap.

Knowing exactly what matters most to Chuck the fulcrum agents are easily able to determine exactly how valuable he is and why when they give him the option of either sharing what he knows or watching his sister die.

All’s well that ends well though and in Chuck we’re guaranteed that things always end well where good and evil are concerned. Therefore it should come as no surprise that Sarah, Casey and Chuck are able to first escape then take down the bad guys (with a little help from the Buy More crew) and end with their lives, if not relationships, in tact for Christmas.

I do so love a happy ending.

(S02E05) “Let It Go”

Finally, the characters of Private Practice get down to the core of what gives a show it’s heart. In tonight’s episode, we were allowed a real glimpse of the key player’s personalities.

In the sub-plot surrounding Violet we receive confirmation that she was once raped. While we still don’t know the full-extent that this has effected her, it’s obvious that this part of her life is painful and not fully understood by many, with the exception of her old college friend. Sadly her one time confidant is now running for congress and will do just about anything to erase her own painful past, including sacrificing Violet’s job. Time will tell, but this may just be an opening for a major move in Violet’s life. I don’t suspect that she’ll leave the show, but she may be forced to leave the practice.

Also finding that the ties which bond them can, and sometimes must, be severed, Naomi and Sam officially call it quits. This only occurs though after they not only full themselves, but also their daughter who has hopes of her parents reuniting. As this storyline progresses, one can easily tell that explosions may occur as both Naomi and Sam begin to date again. After all, nothing that happens in this practice is ever truly private.

In lighter news, Addison steps up her game and takes on her role as a leader without hesitation. After hours of sleepless nights she not only has an idea of how much money the practice will need to survive, but also an unpopular idea of how to obtain that quick cash. This includes leasing out the fourth floor she didn’t even know they owned until tonight. Speaking of fourth floor plans, could Charlotte be getting in on that action with her new job opportunity? Looks like a possibility to me.

Now, no Private Practice review can be complete without at least a small grumble from this writer. Tonight’s is quite valid, as the message the show sent out tonight was completely misleading. You can indeed get the HIV virus from oral sex. So here’s a clue to Cooper… put a cap on it. What’s more, just because you’re on the pill doesn’t mean you can’t slip up and get pregnant. Something to keep in mind Charlotte.

I personally feel that if you’re going to represent a very important issue as a doctor’s office, no matter how fictional, you should take it on with some sense of responsibility. There’s one too many kids out there who get their facts from a TV screen. Why add to that confusion?

Saturday evening saw a showdown between the Olympics, and the Disney Channel movie “Cheetah Girls: One World”, and the Cheetahs took the gold.

The Disney Channel Original movie scored 6.2 million viewers, and was the No.1 prime-time telecast among kids and Tweens. This now marks Disney’s second #1 movie this summer, joining “Camp Rock” at the top of the summer ratings charts.

“Burn Notice” is heating up the ratings charts this week, with the debut of its second season bringing in the second highest cable ratings of the week, just behing USA’s Monday Night Raw.

In fact, USA continues to dominate the top ten with Raw, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight, Law and Order: CI, and Law and Order: SVU all making it onto the list.

Go USA.

1. Monday Night RAW (USA)
2. Burn Notice (USA)
3. Sprint Cup – Chicago (TNT)
4. In Plain Sight (USA)
5. Monday Night RAW (USA)
6. Law and Order: CI (USA)
7. Picture This (ABC Family)
8. Camp Rock (Disney)
9. Law and Order: SVU (USA)
10. Army Wives (Lifetime)

ABC’s “Lost” jumped a staggering 18 places to finish in the top spot this week. A truly amazing feet for an amazing show. “Two and a Half Men” continued to dominated, and “Million Dollar Password” had a very strong debut.

1. Lost (ABC)
2. Two and a Half Men (CBS)
3. Million Dollar Password (CBS)
4. 60 Minutes (CBS)
5. NCIS (CBS)
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If you’ve ever wondered why shows like “Arrested Development” don’t make it while tons of reality shows do, then you should take a look at this list of the Top 20 shows of the 2007-2008 season.

Comedy, apparently, just isn’t top dog when it comes to television. The top 10 is almost entirely American Idol variations and Dancing with the Stars shows. The remaining Top 10 are rounded out by “Desperate Housewives”, “House”, “CSI”, and “Grey’s Anatomy”.

The only straight comedy in the Top 20 is “Two and a Half Men”. 5 of the remaining bottom 10 are reality shows (or football) as well.

“Reality” programming isn’t going anywhere anytime soon…and – man – that just makes me sad.

1. American Idol – Tues (FOX)
2. American Idol – Weds (FOX)
3. Dancing with the Stars – Mon (ABC)
4. Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
5. Dancing with the Stars – Tues results show (ABC)
6. Desperate Housewives (ABC)
7. Dancing with the Stars – results show (ABC)
8. House (FOX)
9. CSI (CBS)
10. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
11. NBC Sunday Night Football (NBC)
12. Survivor: China (CBS)
13. The Moment of Truth (FOX)
14. NCIS (CBS)
15. House (FOX)
16. CSI: Miami (CBS)
17: Two and a Half Men (CBS)
18. Survivor: Micronesia (CBS)
19. Without A Trace (CBS)
20. Extreme Makeover (ABC)

via TV Decoder

The Nickelodeon event movie “Chasing Zoey” won the week, along with an episode of the “Zoey 101″ series ranking 2nd. Apparently getting pregnant didn’t bother parents or kids too much, as Jamie Lynn Spears appears to be riding high this week.

WWE Raw was bumped down to the 3rd spot, while the NBA Playoffs took up the majority of the remaining Top 10 spaces.

1. Chasing Zoey (Nickelodeon)
2. Zoey 101 (Nickelodeon)
3. Monday Night RAW (USA)
4. NBA Playoffs – Suns/Spurs (TNT)
5. Monday Night RAW (USA)
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Due to an almost Y2K-like fear on the part of the television industry over the Feb. 2009 switch-over to digital, February “Sweeps” for 2009 has been officially cancelled by the Nielsen group, and will run in March next year.

Now, I could go off on another rant about how the Nielsen ratings should be trashed and replaced with a new system anyway – but I’ll skip it and just say, “I’m not surprised”.

You can read the full report from variety here.