Last week's column, castigating local TV stations for using scare tactics to entice viewers during May sweeps, generated a lot of feedback.

Richard Drew/Associated Press "Today" host Matt Lauer gets out of the way as Katie Couric, left, his departing co-host, gets a goodbye kiss from news anchor Ann Curry during Couric's last show Wednesday.

Viewers and several people who work in local TV news sent "atta boy" messages, and while it's comforting to know I'm not alone in my concern about stations going overboard, there's one thing I failed to mention that needs to be said:

Sometimes we get the television we deserve.

I know I'm contradicting myself because last week I wrote that Pittsburgh viewers deserve better. And they do. But we have to remember that TV stations would not feed viewers slop if some of us didn't lap it up.

There are some people -- though surely not you because you're media literate, as evidenced by your decision to read a TV column (grin) -- who will tune in for every Steelers story, no matter how inane. And some people, let's call them hypochondriacs, will feel compelled to watch the report about bacteria growing on toothbrushes.

As long as viewers continue to tune in to watch reports such as these, stations will continue to pander. But it would be nice if local news outlets found the courage to take a higher road.

Bye-bye, Katie

The "Today" show send-off for Katie Couric on Wednesday was pretty much the coronation one would expect in this day and age. Couric seemed rightfully embarrassed, not just by the fuss but by how poorly some of it was staged.

After the "Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives" package, in which some of the people she interviewed over the years returned to genuflect before Couric, producers had the "ordinary" visitors stand out on the "Today" show plaza as if they were in a police lineup.

"They're probably thinking, 'What am I doing here?' " Couric said.

Leave it to Ann Curry, the "Today" newsreader who was wisely passed over in the search to replace Couric, to muck things up, albeit in an amusing Ann-as-stalker way.

"I am a different person because I know you, because you've made me better," Curry cooed. "You've made me love you and don't be a stranger 'cause if you do, I'll come calling."

"You're starting to freak me out, Ann," Couric said.

Starting to? Please, that ship sailed years ago.

TCA Award nominations out

The Television Critics Association has announced nominations for its annual TV awards for the 2005-06 TV season. Here's a list of programs that received nods:

Program of the year: "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "Lost" (ABC), "The Office" (NBC), "The Sopranos" (HBO) and "24" (Fox).

Comedy series: "The Daily Show" (Comedy Central), "Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN), "My Name Is Earl" (NBC), "The Office" (NBC) and "Scrubs" (NBC).

Drama series: "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "House" (Fox), "Lost" (ABC), "The Sopranos" (HBO) and "24" (Fox).

Movie, mini-series or special: "American Masters: Bob Dylan: No Direction Home" (PBS), "Elizabeth I" (HBO), "Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House" (PBS), "Sleeper Cell" (Showtime) and "Viva Blackpool" (BBC America).

New program of the year: "Big Love" (HBO), "The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central), "Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN), "My Name Is Earl" (NBC) and "Prison Break" (Fox).

Individual achievement in comedy: Steve Carell ("The Office"), Stephen Colbert ("The Colbert Report"), Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls"), Jason Lee ("My Name Is Earl") and Jon Stewart (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart").

Individual achievement in drama: Alan Alda ("West Wing"), James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos"), Hugh Laurie ("House"), Kiefer Sutherland ("24") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer").

Children's program: "Dora the Explorer" (Nickelodeon), "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" (Cartoon Network), "High School Musical" (The Disney Channel), "Nick News" (Nickelodeon) and "Sesame Street" (PBS).

News and information: "American Masters: Newhart" (PBS), "Broadway: The Golden Age" (PBS), "Frontline" (PBS), "Frontline: Country Boys" (PBS) and "60 Minutes" (CBS).

Heritage award: "Hallmark Hall of Fame" (CBS), "The West Wing" (NBC) and "Will & Grace" (NBC).

'24' reruns on Fox

Breaking with its tradition of not rerunning "24" episodes, Fox will show repeats of season five episodes (the season that concluded last month) from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays beginning June 16.

'Millionaire' moves to WPXI

"The Tyra Banks Show" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" are swapping stations Monday. "Banks" jumps to WPGH at 1 p.m. and "Millionaire" will air at 1 p.m. on WPXI.

'Survivor' auditions planned

Auditions for the 14th edition of CBS's "Survivor" will be held at car dealerships in Beaver, Carnegie and Wexford, noon to 8 p.m. June 13. Details at www.kdka.com.

Tuned In Journal

This week's Tuned In Journal posts have included interviews with "Rescue Me" star Denis Leary, "Scrubs" executive producer Bill Lawrence and a review of the new G4 series "Icons."

Next week's lineup includes reviews of Comedy Central's local news mockumentary "Dog Bites Man," "The Showbiz Show With David Spade" and a visit to "Deadwood."

Read the Tuned In Journal daily at www.post-gazette.com/tv/tunedin.

TV Q&A

Today's TV Q&A responds to questions about The Weather Channel, "NCIS" and "The Office." Read it online at www.post-gazette.com/tv.