You could say that the second Seth Rogen-hosted episode of SNL was lousy with recurring bits, both expected and not. But “lousy with” has negative connotations for a generally strong episode, so I’ll say this episode was delightful with recurring bits, and hope that phrase catches on in a totally non-confusing way.

Lots of familiar but enjoyable recurring characters turned up: Bill Hader’s guest-flummoxing Italian talk show host Vinny Vedecci, and a variety of Weekend Update players: Rod Blagojevich, Jean K. Jean, and Angelina Jolie. The Digital Short, “Like a Boss,” wasn’t technically a rerun, but I’m disappointed to see the Lonely Island going back and making videos for fresh material that debuted on their Incredibad album a few months back.

I can cook anything, as long as it’scereal.

• A valiant NBC affiliate in Boston is resisting the Jay Leno monstrosity that NBC has planned next season, to no avail.
• John Stamos’ mom and three people in the Dakotas watched the ER finale.
• The game show host from Slumdog Millionaire will be on 24.
• No more L Word, even in spin-off form.
• Meatloaf will be on House.
• Diablo Cody talks about the finale of The United States of Tara.
• A comparison of the various international versions of The Office.
• The gays have ranked their favorite reality stars, with an inspirational AIDS victim coming in second to a charming boy with abs.
• In Treatment’s second season is great too — too bad you don’t know anyone who watches.

As ER said its goodbye, Buzz thought back over her favorite memories of the show and asked you to share your own. (BuzzSugar)

This week, Sandie took a look at American Idol‘s Adam Lambert back when he was in the Los Angeles production of “Wicked.” (Daemon’s TV)

Are you ready to laugh even more on Thursday nights? Check out my review of the new NBC comedy Parks and Recreation starring Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. (Give Me My Remote)

In the latest round of Playing the Percentages, Scooter puts a number on the chances of Chuck ever hooking up with Sarah, if Cupid will be any good. And just hours after he accessed the chances of another season of Friday Night Lights, it was announced we’d get two. (Scooter McGavin’s 9th Green)

Rae’s sad to say goodbye to ER but she didn’t think the finale was quite as perfect as others did. (RTVW)

Vance thinks the producers and judges are trying way too hard to fix the competition on American Idol, especially when it’s so obvious that Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta are far better than Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took an early look at next week’s episode of Chuck (“Chuck Versus the Dream Job”), which features guest stars Scott Bakula and Chevy Chase. (Televisionary)

Marisa participated in a chat with SNL‘s Will Forte and Arrested Development‘s Mitch Hurwitz on their new animated project Sit Down Shut Up. (TiFaux)

I suppose it’s not special anymore to find quirky, independently-run Web sites that feature artfully shot live performances of indie rock acts. There’s La Blogotheque (with those freaking adorable kids dancing to Menomena), Black Cab Sessions, that one where they film the people in the elevator.

But I guess it can’t hurt to learn about another one, right?

Here’s Bandstand Busking a London-based site that invites nice young musicians to play music in the park. Nothing more or less. So I guess it’s not so much quirky as it is PBS  for the Facebook generation.

Here are two noteworthy clips –Hauschka and Frightened Rabbit.

Hauschka is a German guy who does “indie classical” music. In this clip, he’s playing the toy piano along with a string quartet, which kind of gives the music a “circus of death” feel. Creepy, but pretty if you can take it.

Next up is some more traditional fare. I’ve written about Frightened Rabbit before, but here is a solo acoustic performance of “I Feel Better.”

(Also, you can subscribe to the video podcast on iTunes)

Okay, so I wasn’t the only one on the line. But I still participated in a Fox conference call with Mitch Hurwitz and Will Forte about the upcoming Sit Down Shut Up, their new animated show that focuses on a group of self-involved Floridian teachers. As if I wasn’t already chomping at the bit for the show’s debut to arrive—April 19 at 8:30 ET, y’all—what I heard on the phone made me even more excited.

First off, I know we all already love a great majority of the people involved in the show, including most of the producers (Mitchell Hurwitz, Josh Weinstein) and a lot of the voice actors (Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Kristin Chenoweth, Will Forte, Kenan Thompson, Henry Winkler, etc.). So, what name could possibly be added to this roster to make the show seem EVEN MORE AWESOME? I don’t know, how about MO WILLEMS?

Someone asked about how they came up with the idea to put animated characters against live-action, photographic backgrounds, and Hurwitz said that the main inspiration was Knuffle Bunny. You can definitely see what he’s talking about if you use Amazon to flip through the first few pages of Knuffle Bunny. (Then you should use Amazon to buy it, because we love it, along with the Pigeon books.) Hurwitz went on to say that Mo Willems even designed the characters for Sit Down, Shut Up. You can totally see it in the blonde chick with the flower in her hair. It’s not a secret or anything, but the reason the Willems connection hasn’t really been promoted is that he’s so known for children’s books, and a lot of the jokes in SDSU are wildly inappropriate for children. “Some of them are even inappropriate for Will Forte,” Hurwitz said. (Sorry, Mo, we’re blowing your cover—but it’s because we love you.)

Other than that, the conference call just seemed like a big ol’ love fest. “You are so funny on the show,” Hurwitz said to Forte. “I feel like we’re working with Jim Carrey before he made Ace Ventura.”

Forte was equally complimentary about the shows scripts: “There are so many jokes in there that I can’t process them all.”

Hurwitz even had nice words to say about Fox, even though they canceled Arrested Development, saying that they’re basically the only network that’s still willing to take a chance on animation.

Animation is what’s going to allow SDSU to push things a little further than they could on Arrested Development. Hurwitz said that when he was shopping the show as a live-action feature, networks said that “the characters were way too broad, self-centered, and oblivious,” and that he had to rewrite it. Rather than soften their edges, he pitched it again as an animated series. The jokes that seemed too broad for live action suddenly were too tame for animation. “It’s more joke intensive,” he said, “and less about grounding a character’s drive.” The characters now, he says, are “all equally clueless and equally self-involved,” and are so selfish that “the students are as integral to the show as the paper products are to The Office.”

It all sounds good to me. I’ve never worked in a hospital or in a police station, but man have I had my run-ins with burned-out teachers. Pushing the characters so that they’re even more self-centered than the ones on The Office makes it sound even better. Then, doing a cool live action/animation hybrid designed by Mo Willems on top and, well, you know where I’ll be on April 19 (8:30 pm ET).

PS: I guess every Mitch Hurwitz post has to end with an update on the Arrested Development movie. He hasn’t written it yet. “We’re still assembling the pieces,” he said.

I should never try to forecast any show ever.  Like never ever.

• BIG NEWS! The final episodes of Pushing Daisies will be available on DVD July 21. I smell viewing party with pie!
• My Name is Earl may pull a Scrubs by leaping off NBC. This time, though, it may move to FOX.
• It’s over! Project Runway will air on… LIFETIME.
• Will George Clooney say a second goodbye on ER?
• Guiding Light: after 72 years, it isn’t recession-proof after all.
• Wanda Sykes will have a late night talk show on Saturday nights.
• Learn how the networks are saving money.
• Will Bryan Fuller be able to save Heroes (spoiler alert: No.)? He thinks he can.
• Wallace Shawn interviews with the AV Club.
• Ausiello has scoop on Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives and more.

Damages ends tonight in a 90 minute season finale!

This is the kind of event television that might even prompt me to watch it live — kicking it old school like it’s 2005.

The biggest mystery, it seems, is what the Sam Hill is going on in that hotel room. Did Ellen actually shoot Patty? Is there someone else in that room?  What’s Wes’ involvement in it all?

I’m beginning to think that Patty and Ellen are somehow in on this together.  I don’t know how, but I have a feeling that they’re setting that cop up and this is all an elaborate ploy.

Or, maybe that isn’t Patty’s blood that she’s (disgustingly) smearing all over her face as she staggers to the elevator.  I’d like to think that Ellen didn’t actually shoot Patty, but maybe gross bearded corrupt cop.  Or even Wes (sorry, Maggie.  I know.  So pretty.).

Stay tuned and we’ll post-game later. In the meantime, here are some inconsequential teasers from TV Guide.