TV fans, prepare to be disappointed. Or not.

Next week the broadcast networks will announce their new fall schedules, and some favorites will not make the cut.

For some series that remain "on the bubble," it may be a matter of low ratings (e.g. "Dollhouse," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles"). For others ("Cold Case," "Without a Trace") it's more a matter of a network cutting shows loose in an effort to control costs; a first-year show will almost always cost less to produce than a show that's entering its fourth or fifth season.

As far as the new shows go, we've already gotten a glimpse at NBC's new series, which were announced last week. On paper, NBC's new batch looks more promising than the sorry lot the network unveiled a year ago at this time, none of which survived except the Thursday night "Saturday Night Live" specials. NBC will announce time slots for its fall series and the fate of more bubble shows, including "Chuck," next week.

Pittsburgh viewers will be keen to know whether CBS picks up "Three Rivers," a medical drama pilot set and filmed in southwestern Pennsylvania. If it is picked up, the question becomes whether the series might film here. Odds are actors' contracts, which often specify Los Angeles or New York as a regular filming location, will prevent that.

If "Three Rivers" is picked up, it will be jockeying for attention with at least two other medical dramas, NBC's already announced "Trauma" and "Mercy."

I'll be writing about the network schedules in print next week but I also plan to post network press releases as soon as they become available to the Tuned In Journal blog.

NBC began rolling out a new batch of "Office" webisodes last week at NBC.com. This time the focus is on Creed (Creed Bratton) as he attempts to blackmail his co-workers.

Fans of "The Office" might seek out these webisodes, but I'm starting to wonder if Web-based series have much of a future. The Post-Gazette published a story about the new-ish phenomenon in March and since then in visits to several high school and college classes I've asked students if they watch shows at TheWB.com or Crackle.com. After I ask the question, I'm always left staring into a sea of blank faces.

The kids all know about Hulu.com and watch shows there or on network Web sites, but in five class visits only one student had "maybe heard of" "Children's Hospital," a show on WB.com.

If these media consumers, who are the target audience for these online shows, are not watching them, who is?

The problem seems to be that students are not even aware of these original online series, which isn't too surprising. The backers of these sites spend little on marketing, relying instead on their shows going viral, which doesn't seem to be happening in any significant way.

Maybe there needs to be a one-stop portal for online shows, something like Hulu.com. Or why not make the shows more visible at Hulu because people already know to look for TV there? (Crackle and The WB.com shows are there but not easy to find.)

The other irony is that independently produced Web videos seem to gain more traction in the media and with the public. FunnyOrDie.com has become a recognizable brand, and Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog was a Web sensation last summer.

When NBC's "Southland" premiered, there was a subtle hint that the roughneck cop John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) is gay. At the time, executive producer John Wells said a more definitive scene had been cut from the pilot and would air in episode three.

But we're beyond that point in the series run now. What happened to the scene? Did producers or the network decide to de-gay the character (see: Zach on season one of NBC's "Heroes")?

According to a network spokeswoman, "the next scene that reveals more about John's character is episode six. Again, it is subtle."

That episode is due to air next Thursday but no reason was given for the latest delay.

Former WPXI weekend anchor/reporter Stacia Erdos, who left the station while trying to get into Ohio state politics, has crossed the great divide once again, this time back to journalism.

She's joined The Business Journal in Youngstown as a reporter.

Chris Fennimore's newest cooking marathon, " 'C' is for Cake," premieres at 10 a.m. tomorrow on WQED. ... PCNC will air highlights from the 2009 NAACP Human Rights Dinner featuring keynote speaker Rep. John Lewis tomorrow at 8 p.m. ... The final original episode of "Mad TV" on Fox airs tomorrow at 11 p.m. ... Reruns of HBO's "Deadwood" and "Oz" will air on DirecTV's 101 Network on Sundays at 9 and 10 p.m. respectively beginning May 31.

Jay Leno's last guest on the "Tonight Show" will be the man who's taking over for him -- Conan O'Brien.

Leno wraps up his 17-year run as host of NBC's late-night show on May 29, with O'Brien as his final guest. Then O'Brien steps in as "Tonight" host June 1, the Associated Press reports.

The big names making the cut for Leno's final week of shows include Mel Gibson, Prince and Billy Crystal -- who was Leno's first guest when he took over "Tonight" from Johnny Carson in 1992.

This fall, Leno will begin a daily prime-time show for NBC.

The Tuned In podcast has the week off, but a new TV Q&A responds to questions about cancellations, medication commercials and "Jeopardy!"