Good news for fans of good TV: Late last week, NBC announced a new deal to keep Kevin Reilly as Entertainment president at the Peacock.

	NBC photos Kevin Reilly will stay on as NBC Entertainment president. Click photo for larger image.

Why should this matter to viewers? Because Reilly has been a champion of quality, low-rated programs. He's the one who gave full-season orders to "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," series so low-rated they easily could have been canceled after their initial 13 episodes aired.

In its coverage of the new deal, Daily Variety likened Reilly to legendary NBC executive Grant Tinker, who believed, "First be best, then be first."

Understand, I don't mean to deify Reilly. Odds are that come May he'll still cancel a series you or I like. I strongly suspect "Studio 60" is a goner, not only because of the low ratings and largely negative critical buzz, but also because in quotes about his attempts to rebuild the network last week, Reilly never mentioned the show. He did mention two others, though: "30 Rock" and "Friday Night Lights."

At this point, I think "30 Rock" is a lock to return for a second season. (The show is taking a break until next month so NBC can test a new Andy Richter sitcom starting next week.) The "30 Rock" ratings are crummy, but the show has had an enormous groundswell of critical support and positive buzz in recent weeks. Reilly is also the guy who showed patience with NBC's "The Office," renewing it even after its first six episodes drew dismal ratings.

I'm less certain about the future of "Friday Night Lights," which returns with new episodes March 21, leading up to an April 11 season finale. Reilly has been an ardent supporter of the show and has expressed some regret about the time slots "Lights" has been given. Even though its ratings are terrible, NBC hasn't done the show any favors leaving it on against Fox's "American Idol." Reilly might just give it another shot in a better time slot in the fall, but that likely hinges on how strong (or weak) new shows currently in development turn out.

After a break this month, "30 Rock," starring Alec Baldwin, left, Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan, will return to the NBC schedule in April. The TV tea leaves say its odds of renewal for fall are looking good. Click photo for larger image.

Perhaps what's most striking about Reilly is what a change he is from his predecessor, Jeff Zucker, who boasted about NBC's success throughout his tenure even as the writing was on the wall that ratings would trend down as he failed to develop new long-term hits. He clung to flotsam like "Fear Factor" as signs of his success and dismantled NBC's once great Thursday night comedy lineup in favor of "The Apprentice." In spite of this, he's since ascended even higher in NBC's executive ranks.

It's not coincidental that Reilly is attempting to revitalize Thursday nights or that the marketing department has re-branded it "Comedy Night Done Right," which, intentional or not, is a rebuke of the Zucker era when the night was not done right. It also hearkens back to the "Must-See TV" years of lore.

Because Zucker left prime time in such shambles, there's been speculation about Reilly's future at NBC (or lack thereof) since almost the minute he stepped into the job. Now he has a new contract that should bolster his standing in the Hollywood creative community -- something seemingly meaningless that's actually quite important in the TV business -- and allow him the leeway to rebuild NBC's schedule with quality programming. It worked for Tinker; here's hoping it will work for Reilly, too, because in the end, it's viewers who are the true beneficiaries.

Antkowiak lands on WTAE

Jennifer Antkowiak's next TV show, a half-hour lifestyle show called "Jennifer," will air weekends beginning in June for at least 26 episodes on Channel 4.

Produced through her own company, Jennifer Productions, "Jennifer" will tape at Leslie Sansone's New Castle TV studio beginning in May in front of a live studio audience. Anyone interested in tickets can sign up for a newsletter at jennifertvshow.com.

In addition, Antkowiak will also tape one-minute segments that will air during commercial blocks throughout the week, possibly during WTAE newscasts. She may also tape specials to air in prime time on Channel 4.

Antkowiak left her job as a news anchor at KDKA-TV last spring. The noncompete clause in her KDKA contract expires in late April.

Two pilot episodes of "Jennifer" were filmed late last year. Segments included fashion trends, a health psychologist and cooking with New Castle native/celebrity chef Pasquale Vericella of Il Cielo in Beverly Hills.

The program's run on WTAE will also serve as a platform for a possible launch of "Jennifer" in national syndication.

Kaminski back on WPXI

Channel 11 reporter Renee Kaminski, who's been off the air for about seven weeks following major surgery that was medically necessary, will be back to work Monday.

Locals go national

CBS News correspondent Joie Chen was in town this week to interview Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other figures in his orbit -- including mayoral candidate Bill Peduto and Peduto supporter John McIntire -- for a piece slated to air this weekend on "CBS Sunday Morning" (9 a.m. Sunday, KDKA-TV).

Style Network's "How Do I Look?" teams with the Pittsburgh chapter of the nonprofit Dress for Success to help Heather Eybers of Highland Park "present herself as a put-together, professional woman." She is preparing to open a for-profit clothing store that will support Urban Youth Action, Inc. The episode airs at 9 p.m. Monday.

Channel surfing

It looks like "Scrubs" will likely be renewed for a seventh (final?) season, and if NBC does pick up the show, star Zach Braff is close to inking a deal that will bring him $350,000 per episode, according to The Hollywood Reporter. ... Actor Larenz Tate will appear in at least five episodes of "Rescue Me," which returns for a new season this summer. ... ABC Family will share TV rights to "The Sound of Music" with sister-network ABC beginning next month. ABC Family will first air the classic film at 7 p.m. April 6. ... Showtime has renewed "The L Word" for a 12-episode fifth season to air in early 2008.

TV Q&A

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about The Weather Channel, reruns and early season finales. Read it online at post-gazette.com/tv.