Because of the expected February transition to digital television, Nielsen pushed February sweeps into March. Sweeps begins Thursday, bringing with it those highly promotable special reports that some viewers love to hate.

It also means local anchors who have been away using vacation days in February will be shackled to the anchor desk once again, which is what happens every sweeps month.

But KDKA-TV's Patrice King Brown won't be in her normal spot, at least not during the early part of March sweeps. Brown is recovering from surgery on a torn Achilles tendon.

"I have to keep my foot elevated above my heart," she said by phone this week. "So I'm doing a lot of sitting on the sofa."

Brown said her doctor said her leg won't be weight-bearing for a few weeks.

"Once it is, I'll be back," she said, noting that she appreciated viewer concerns about her recent absence from the air. "Thank goodness this is something that will be healed in a few weeks. 'Dancing With the Stars' will have to wait, but beyond that, I'm OK."

A few over-the-air digital TV viewers have called to say they're still getting the remedial guide to DTV that's running on the WPGH/WPMY analog channels.

Some troubleshooting suggestions:

• Make sure your digital-to-analog converter is set to "over the air antenna," not "cable TV."

• Consult your TV or converter box instruction manual and perform an autoscan of the channels. This is something you'll have to do again on June 12, when the remaining Pittsburgh broadcast outlets shut down their analog signals.

If that doesn't work, call the TV station you're having difficulty receiving. TV station phone numbers can be found on Page 31 of Sunday's TV Week or at post-gazette.com/tv.

• The CW has renewed six series for the 2009-10 TV season: "Smallville," "Gossip Girl," "90210," "America's Next Top Model," "One Tree Hill" and "Supernatural."

• Starz has renewed "Crash" for a second season, but there will be less of a focus on police and some cast members will depart, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Dennis Hopper remains. "Kill Point" writers Todd Harthan and James DeMonaco join "Crash" behind the scenes.

• Fox has renewed "The Simpsons" for two more seasons.

• CBS has ordered two more cycles of "Survivor" for the 2009-10 TV season.

After last season, "24" seemed like it was on its last legs and even the early hours of the current season did not inspire hope for a revival. But in recent weeks, "24" has started to shine again thanks to the new blood of President Allison Taylor (Cherry Jones) and FBI agent Renee Walker (Annie Wersching ), whose response to the tactics of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) takes "24" into the uncharted territory of the consequences of Jack's actions.

Monday's two-hour "24" (8-10 p.m., WPGH) is fast-paced and emotionally resonant. The issue of torture vs. protecting America comes to a head, and Bauer hears an order he's not accustomed to: "No."

Granted, some of the plot is ridiculous in the typical "24" fashion (who knew it was that easy to break into the White House?), but the action moves fast enough that it's easy to ignore the plot holes and focus on the characters and the ethical issues they confront.

Jerry Seinfeld will executive produce "The Marriage Ref," a new reality show for NBC that features celebrities who will advise real-life couples in the midst of marital strife. ... Former Pittsburgher Ming-Na has been cast in Sci Fi Channel's "SGU: Stargate Universe" alongside Lou Diamond Phillips and Robert Carlyle. The latest entry in the successful "Stargate" franchise launches in October. ... ABC Family will finally show reruns of the seventh season of "Gilmore Girls" beginning in June. ... Pittsburgher Katelynn Pippy, who had a recurring role on "Army Wives" in its second season, has been named a series regular for the third season, per Variety. Season three begins airing in June, and Lifetime has already ordered an 18-episode fourth season for 2010. ... WTAE will remember the one-year anniversary of the death of Myron Cope in today's newscasts at noon, 5, 6 and 11 p.m.

Tuned In Journal includes commentary on "Celebrity Apprentice," "Ugly Betty," "Mister Jindal's Neighborhood" and the state film tax credit program.

This week's TV Q&A responds to questions about "Southland," ratings for "Life on Mars" and local weather coverage.

Read both at post-gazette.com/tv.