I feel guilty getting excited about a reality TV show in this tumultuous time for writers, but I can’t help it — Project Runway is just that good. And it premieres tonight!

Now is the time when I squeal like a little girl: It’s Joel McHale’s guest starring appearance on Pushing Daisies! There are so many things to love about Joel McHale. His impeccable comic timing. His willingness to embarrass himself. His ability to be self-deprecating but still really enjoy himself. I’m so proud he’s on “real” TV — and not only that, but the best new show of the season.

And Dirty Sexy Money is on tonight, too. I’m looking forward to it, but I’ve exceeded my daily allowance of exclamation points.

Mythbusters throws a wrench into your TiFauxing plans by extending to two hours, for some supersized myths. Luckily, Mythbusters re-airs frequently, so schedule your TiFaux carefully and you needn’t miss anything.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: Has anyone ever watched anything on the National Geographic Channel? I’m not entirely sure we get it. But they have a slate of interesting-looking shows tonight. Topics include skinheads and people who dive into volcanoes for a living.

In today’s episode of What’s Depriving Us of Our Shows Now, meet the Country Music Awards on ABC. No Pushing Daisies or Dirty Sexy Money for us. This couldn’t have been scheduled for a Thursday? Or, you know, not shown at all?

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: Only one more week until Project Runway debuts.

Daylight savings time can bite me. (PS - don’t forget to vote. In the real election that is happening today. Not that it would hurt to vote in the fake one.)

• Look! Jack Bauer has been spotted in Georgetown!
• Take a look at Variety’s writer’s strike blog.
• The Washington Post gives kudos to Brian Williams’ SNL appearance.
• Will Scrubs bow out early because of the strike? Meanwhile, star Judy Reyes has signed a deal with ABC.
• The New Yorker reviews Pushing Daisies.
• The NY Times talks about the people who spend big bucks trying to get on reality TV shows.
• Papa Mars is now going to be on Numb3rs.
• Weeds got a fourth season!
• NBC has greenlit Kings, about a modern King David.
• This might not be Curb Your Enthusiasm’s last season. Ditto for ER.
• Spoiler chat with E-Kristin.
• Will Rosie have a show on MSNBC?
• Take a look at Posh Spice’s guest turn on Ugly Betty.

This could be really bad.

• Vanessa Hudgens will appear, presumably clothed, in High School Musical 3.
• A&E has pulled Dog the Bounty Hunter.
• E-Kristin says that The Office’s spin-off is still very much theoretical.
• Ha!  Star Jones is stealing from plus-sized women?
• The writers strike will start today.
• The woman from I Love New York will be on Nip/Tuck.
• You know what The Office lacks?  Nudity.  Playboy TV wants to solve that problem.
• How much of The Hills is real?
• Sabrina Bryan is doin’ it with her Dancing With the Stars partner.
• Joss Whedon talks Dollhouse.
• Molly Shannon will be on Pushing Daisies for three episodes.
• Barack Obama showed up on SNL.
• We may not be done with one-hour episodes of The Office, unfortunately.

There are 43 calories in one mini Snickers bar.

• The lead in the Knight Rider pilot has been cast.
• Rescue Me is coming back for 22 episodes.
• An interview with the producers of Pushing Daisies.
• 21 Jump Street’s Dustin Nguyen is still around.
• Survivor’s next season will be an all-star one — TV Squad lists possible cast members.
• In reality star train wreck news, Big Brother’s Mike Boogie (allegedly) beat up a waitress. Meanwhile, Kristi Swanson’s charges were dropped for assaulting her babydaddy’s ex-wife.
• E-Kristin reports that the writer’s strike is near. She also has more with the folks from The Office.
• Matt Roush defends Grey’s.
• The Hills is casting for Spencer and Heidi’s wedding. They’ve almost found a maid of honor.
• Amne$ia has a cool premise, but is hosted by Dennis Miller.
• A band called Sam Champion was on Gossip Girl as Dan’s dad’s band.
• Brian Williams chronicles his experience on SNL.

This post is late. It’s like I still think I’m on jury duty. Or perhaps I just don’t care because I’m going to a Tom Stoppard play tonight instead of watching TV. Once I saw a Tom Stoppard play that lasted thirteen hours. Who’s jealous now, huh?

Or maybe I’m just mad that there’s no new 30 Rock. Oh sure, you’ve still got The Office with the return of Karen, but it’s just not the same.

Coincidentally, Ugly Betty goes to Broadway tonight, too. Henry and Betty go to Wicked, which has been previously established as Betty’s favorite show. And one of my dad’s, too. My dad also saw the thirteen hour long Tom Stoppard play with me. FULL CIRCLE!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: Stream of consciousness thought I could not logically fit in to the rest of the post: Kristin Chenowith was the original Glinda in Wicked. And now isn’t she great in Pushing Daisies? And Raul Esparza was in that one episode of Pushing Daisies — he was nominated for a Tony for the revival of Company. Maybe (dare to dream) he and Kristin will sing a duet one day. Musical theater everywhere! That is all.

Yes, I am excited it’s Wednesday because of all the good TV. But I’m also excited to be back from fulfilling (enduring) my civic duty. Don’t ask me about it. Crime is not always fun like in Oceans 11.

It’s a Halloween episode of Pushing Daisies, which I’m looking forward to almost as much as the giant bag of candy I bought for the approximately zero children who ring our doorbell.

It’s gratifying that my early instinct on Dirty Sexy Money — that Brian is by far the most interesting Darling — seems to be true so far. He’s so angry and spiteful. But human.

I’m still recording Gossip Girl, but it’s not actually getting watched, as evidenced by my multi-week backlog. I would guess scandalous things are happening.

Just in time for Halloween, Mythbusters returns with some fire myths. Presumably not as a tasteless tie-in to the California wildfires.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: A special one for Cristin — David Wright is the guest on The Daily Show tonight.

Get me one of those hats with the light. Please.

• Brian Williams talks about his gig on SNL.
• ABC is doing pretty well with diversity.
• So much drama on Dancing with the Stars. On two fronts.
• Behind the scenes on Cane.
• Joss Whedon gives E-Kristin a video interview.
• E! also has a spoiler chat featuring Pushing Daisies, Gossip Girl, Dexter and Joel McHale.
• The Hater hates Jerry Seinfeld.
• Samantha Who? has been picked up for a full season.
• NCIS is celebrating its 100th episode. Do you know anyone who has seen any of them? (Again, I defer to Mama Fee)
• The Smurfs are coming to DVD.
• Watch the ten best “That’s what she said” moments.
• The root of all the NBC/iTunes drama? Apple wouldn’t let them sell one show for $2.99.

Halloween’s tomorrow, as you know.

What am I doing to celebrate? Well, not much — thanks for asking. Probably just going to sit around at home, watch Pushing Daisies and wonder what would happen on the off-chance I got a trick-or-treater. If I do get a munchkin, chances are I’ll probably tell them to wait while I dig up the miniature jar of cherry preserves I’ve had for the better part of the ’00s.

If, however, you’re an ambitious mid-week partygoer, and you still haven’t come up with a costume idea, here are some ideas for you to try out.

For couples:

Ned and Chuck (Pushing Daisies):

He wears:

• Long sleeved tee/sweater
• Holds a pie.

She wears:

• A vibrantly colored sun dress.

Both wear:

• Gloves on one hand. You must hold hands all night with the gloved hand.

For the ladies:

Lucille Bluth:

• A martini glass
• Pearls
• Shawl affixed with a brooch.

Meredith Grey:

• Scrubs
• A scowl

For the gentlemen:

Nathan Petrelli:

• Fake beard
• Business suit
• Harness
• Some sort of crane on wheels so you can attach the harness and hover all night (you’ll need a patient friend to wheel you around and hand you drinks)

Chuck:

• White, button-down short-sleeved shirt
• Nametag
• Uncontrollable nervous energy

Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights):

• Track jacket
• Stubble
• Arrange it so that most people remain oblivious to you at the party, except for two or three people who are obsessed with you.

Anybody else have any ideas? I wanted to go further with this but I’m sleepy.

Our favorite show about a magical pie-maker that recently received a full-season order to the thrill of audiences nationwide, Pushing Daisies, continues its whimsy tonight. Speaking of pies, I saw Waitress last night. Also sweet. (And TV related: Nathan Fillion. Enough said, am I right?) I really need to learn how to make pies.

This morning I decided there were three types of stories. There’s the story where things are bad, then they get good (Heroes, House, Waitress). Then there’s when things are good, then they get bad (Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money [both new tonight], Damages, Curb Your Enthusiasm). And there are stories where things are bad, and then they get worse (Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Arrested Development). I’m not sure if this distinction makes any sense to anyone but me, but I find it helpful in deciding what type of show I’m in the mood for. Lately I’ve felt some good-to-bad story fatigue. As much fun as these stories are, watching someone’s dreams get crushed over and over can be exhausting. You just know that Dan’s date is going to go horribly, Jenny is going to be humiliated, Nick will be forced to make ethically unsound decisions and neglect his wife and kid, and everything Juliet and Jeremy do will backfire. There’s nothing wrong with a bad-to-good story every once in a while.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming: NBC has been relentlessly promoting the campy-looking Phenomenon, which I gather has something to with magic tricks. Oh, I’m sorry: “They’re not tricks, they’re illusions!”