That doesn't matter for The CW, that constantly floundering mash-up of the now-deceased WB and UPN networks, because no one watches any of their shows and at least people talk endlessly about GG. They've also renewed a slate of programs that you thought had been canceled long ago, like Supernatural (about witch-hunting gay brothers who are in gay love with each other), Smallville (about how easy it is to get lost in Tom Welling's eyes), and One Tree Hill (about old people wandering around North Carolina looking for the bus stop).

OK, you can now continue completely ignoring the CW. Except for Gossip Girl. I'll make sure you pay attention to that.

It's an innovative deal where NBC found a partner who will share costs and exhibition windows," an insider explained.

While Finke also reports that the network execs in Burbank definitely received scads of mini-footballs in a show of support from the show's loyal audience, there isn't any indication at press time that shattered lightbulbs made it any further than the mailroom. Either way, congratulations are due to all who fought for the show to survive. Don't get too excited, though, for all this news really means is that you've just bought yourselves another 365 days in which to start planning NEXT year's "Save Friday Night Lights" campaign. We'll see you then ... same bat time, same bat channel.

• EXCLUSIVE: NBC Picking Up 'Friday Night Lights' After Partnering With DirecTV [DHD]

Silverman checks out the presentation ballroom, where he says he'll shortly announce a celebrity edition of "The Apprentice." The celebrities will play for charity, 13 episodes have been ordered for midseason (only 13, he explains, to keep the time-commitment demands modest for the celebrities, but surely the show's middling performance last season likely plays a factor too).

Silverman said he approached producer Mark Burnett and star Donald Trump with the idea. Trump immediately embraced it, though Burnett was tad reluctant. The producer has avoiding doing celebrity editions of his key shows in the past, but Silverman convinced him that "now is the time."

As for which celebrities will participate, Silverman said one of the first calls he made was to the staff of "The Office," which he produces. The idea of actors who play office workers on TV competing with business tasks in real life had its appeal.

While the more cynical among us might suspect that Silverman's "now is the time" pitch involved hourly deliveries of burlap sacks full of reluctance-easing cash to Burnett's office, we're inclined to believe that Trump's genuine enthusiasm for this not-at-all-desperate twist on the Apprentice formula was the deciding factor in the series' return. Even though it seemed clear during the show's flagging Los Angeles season that the billionaire host was no longer becoming aroused by his once-stimulating termination games, Trump is confident that the opportunity to publicly humiliate America Ferrara, already suffering through the indignity of being blackmailed into participation by old Ugly Betty boss Silverman, will restore his legendary boardroom potency.

• Silverman: NBC Ordering Celebrity Edition of 'Apprentice' [TVWeek.com]
• Previously: Presenting Trump Chairs [Defamer]