Here we go again.

The high-pitched squealing you’re hearing across the country is due to the return of Grey’s Anatomy. Everyone’s still all upset about Izzy and George (Gizzy? Zorge? No?), so that’s going to be “fun.” Or “world-weary sigh-inducing.” One day, I will find the strength to leave this show. Who knows. It might be today.

Ugly Betty is also new tonight. This is a show that I don’t miss when it’s gone, and I’m never that excited about when it returns. But I always end up watching and enjoying myself, though I couldn’t tell you why, once it’s over. It can’t just be the combined sassiness of Marc, Amanda, and Justin, can it?

The Office is a repeat, but 30 Rock — in its fabulous 9:00 slot — is brand new, and features Jack’s new love interest, Phoebe, she of the “avian bone syndrome.” “You probably don’t remember me…”

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: I’m tempted to tell you to watch ESPN’s NFL draft special, but I can’t stop laughing long enough to try to make that sound convincing. How about ESPN2′s Contender Challenge, which I gather is some sort of boxing match? Eh? Or ESPNClassic’s Holyfield/Foreman match? (Do you call it a match, in boxing? I wouldn’t know.)

I don’t really have anything to say about television right now — but there is a lot of fun music coming out these days. So let’s discuss.

Last night I bought me a copy of Laura Veirs’ new record Saltbreakers. I’ve just started getting into it, but I can tell it’s a winner already. She’s got an unusual vocal style — sort of casual and flatly delivered — but I really like it. It’s far from syrupy or affected.

Her latest album was Year of Meteors, which was sort of a cosmic, electronically-inflected folk outing. From what I can tell so far, Saltbreakers is a bit more diverse but has a similary mellow feel.

She’s also a really good songwriter and talks about science a lot. Veirs was a former geology student.

Here’s the video for Cast a Hook:

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/yZGheh28D7o" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Our long national nightmare is now over.

• Get the Planet Earth DVDs for $42. Relive the carnage.
• Mark Burnett says he’s going to take The Apprentice somewhere else if NBC cancels it.
• Sanjaya’s gone on AI — hopefully this will damage ratings.  Also, the suits on the show deny that the show is one big glass closet.
• Laguna Beach might be cancelled.  In other breaking news — Laguna Beach is still on the air.
• The Henry Rollins Show is back on IFC.  This week’s guest was Peaches, singer of “Fuck the Pain Away” and “Lovertits.” True story: I saw her perform lewd acts on stage at the Siren Music Festival on Coney Island.
• Joan and Melissa are out and Lisa Rinna is in for the red carpet at the TV Guide Channel. I can’t imagine how they thought that was a good idea.
• Neil Patrick Harris came out to avoid a “witch hunt.”
• Isaiah Washington to play a sexually abused priest.
• Lots of gay in the news today: there’s going to be another fabulous coming-out on the show Brothers and Sisters.
• Clyde Drexler is refershingly candid about how happy he was to be voted off Dancing with the Stars.
• Is House slowly acquring Hugh Laurie’s traits?
• According to Jenna Fischer, she and Angela Kinsey are BFF.