TV: I lamented earlier that there wasn't enough good TV anymore. As if to punish me, the only two network shows I watch have now been placed against each other.

The first is Smallville, the Superman-as-a-teenager show that's done its best to thwart the traditional Superman mythology as much as it can, but which still manages to be an interesting show. Ironically, it seems to be becoming more and more like Roswell, another Sci-fi show with pretty much the same premise, only it was four aliens who came to Earth instead of just one. But Smallville seems to cribbing it's lastest plot twist from the Roswell coffers . . . Rather then being sent to Earth merely to survive the explosion, Kal-El was sent to rule as king over the weak little humans. So he's left in conflict between his love for the humans and the demands of his now-dead father. I liked it on Roswell, though, so why hate it in Smallville?

The other is The Apprentice. I've never watched a single episode of network "Reality TV." All the shows have the same basic premise as game shows--will you come put yourself at risk of public humiliation in exchange for the chance at cash and prizes? Like puppets, people jump.

(The lottery is the same way. It's a reverse tax (a tax on the poor) that no one argues against because they have the chance at cash and prizes.)

But along comes The Apprentice. A show that, at its best, has the potential to teach me some stuff that may actually help me in the real world. The best thing about it is the lesson that it teaches about figuring out what you want and doing it. In the first episode, the Donald gave each team $250, told them to build lemonade stands, and whoever came back with the most money won.

A good lesson to put on Prime Time TV--all you have to do to make money is put the money you got in a place where it will come back to you. Rather than send it to the guys who do the infomercials that will come on after the clock strikes 12.

I hope it continues to fulfill its promise.

And may more nights of television create conflict in which to watch, rather than whether to bother to watch at all.