An earlier version of this story wrongly implied that there’s no longer any concrete need for a rabbit-ears antenna. Although the antennas are far less popular today because of the prevalence of satellite dishes and cable TV, they can still be used to receive broadcast signals on an older analog or newer digital television. But because of the switch to digital transmission,
those viewers with older analog sets will also need a digital converter box.

It is perhaps the last symbol of America’s analog age, a V-shaped thingamajig that once helped bring the wonderment of television into millions of American homes. But as of Friday, the rabbit-ears antenna seemingly took its place atop the trash heap of history, joining such once-prized tools of ‘modern’ living as the rotary phone and eight-track player.

In this case, the cause of death was the final ascendancy of digital transmission. On Friday, viewers who did not possess a digital television or had not converted an analog set for digital use ‹ found themselves facing certain jeopardy (or, more accurately, facing a world without Jeopardy!). By early morning, local TV stations started making the government-mandated
switch from analog to digital, a much-publicized change years in the works. For an unlucky few who didn’t heed the warnings, there was no more catching the big game, no more laughing through another Seinfeld rerun, no more
falling asleep to the 11 o’clock news.

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Heidi and Spencer better watch their backs.

Former supermodel Janice Dickinson can’t wait to pounce on fame-hungry newlyweds Heidi Montage and Spencer Pratt in the Costa Rican jungle, where they’re all about to film the reality show “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!”

“Stephen, we’re gonna get ‘em,” Dickinson schemed in an interview with fellow cast member Stephen Baldwin on Friday. “This one’s gonna be fun.”
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Dave spent most of this week’s episode sitting in a bath robe with a bottle of alcohol in front of him. Just as I was thinking maybe he’s not a complete psycho, he snapped back into it.

Susan, trying to cheer Dave up, told him that she was the one driving the car that killed his first wife and daughter. Dave does cheer up, and now he’s planning on killing Susan’s son. That’s dark even by Desperate Housewives standards.

Susan and Mike told the police that Mike was driving because — get this — she forgot her license that night. Somehow I think that after you kill two people, this wouldn’t be so important to the police.
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A woman who claims she was sexually harassed then fired from the TV show “Lost” is suing ABC and actor Henry Ian Cusick.

The lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles alleges that Cusick, who plays Desmond Hume on the show, fondled the woman’s buttocks and breasts and kissed her on the lips in October 2007. The lawsuit claims she reported the incident to her supervisor, but was simply told to avoid the actor. She states she was fired 12 days later in retaliation for reporting the alleged abuse.

The filing says the woman had worked for ABC since 1997.

The lawsuit does not specify how much she is seeking. Messages left for an ABC spokesman and Cusick’s manager were not immediately returned.

The reality series “I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!” lost Rod Blagojevich but boasts TV lovebirds Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt and a Baldwin brother among the contestants.

Ousted Illinois Gov. Blagojevich, who had hoped to compete on the NBC show, was barred by a judge from traveling to Costa Rica for filming while he awaits trial on racketeering and other charges. He was in Los Angeles on Friday to join in the cast announcement.

The “I’m a Celebrity” contestants include Montag and Pratt of MTV’s “The Hills,” who were set to be married this weekend.
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Because the theme of “Survivor” is always being in jeopardy, never knowing when you’re going to be punked and sent on your blindsided way far from the million dollars, this week’s review will all be written in the form of questions?

Why were these idiots acting like Sierra had handed a puppy to the dogcatcher, when all she wanted to do was play a game?

Why is Tyson such a horrible, horrible person?

Why are they forgetting it’s a game?

Why are the challenges so complicated with the letters and the words and the really hard learning concepts? Who makes these? The laid-off Sesame Street staffers?

Doncha hate anyone who makes Tyson happy?

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Jay Leno checked into a hospital with an undisclosed illness Thursday and canceled the taping of the “Tonight” show, but was doing well and planned to return next week, his publicist and NBC said.

Leno left his office at NBC’s studios about midday and checked himself into a hospital for observation, said his publicist, Dick Guttman. He would not identify what ailed Leno, but characterized it as “mild” and said the comedian continued to work Thursday, making phone calls and writing jokes.

“Jay Leno is doing just fine,” read a statement from NBC spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre. “He was kidding around with the hospital staff and running his monologue jokes by the doctors and the nurses. He’s expected back to work on Monday.”
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For the cast and crew of “Desperate Housewives,” it was a Saturday afternoon of warm hellos and bittersweet goodbyes, as they greeted an auditorium filled with cheering fans but also bid adieu to one of the show’s leading original cast members.

Nicollette Sheridan, who plays Wisteria Lane’s saucy “Edie,” makes her final appearance as a series regular on the episode airing Sunday.
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Gale Harold is back on Wisteria Lane.

Six months after a serious motorcycle accident, the “Desperate Housewives” actor has returned to work. His character, Jackson, is primed to propose to Susan, played by Teri Hatcher.

The 39-year-old Harold landed in intensive care as a result of the crash last Oct. 14. On the set of the show Wednesday, he said the accident taught him that “you can play hard, but you may have to pay a price.” But it’s a price he says he’s paid back in full.

Harold’s return episode is set to air May 3 on ABC. The actor is signed to the series through the end of this season but says he has yet to be asked to return for 2009-10.

One small step for NASA, one giant running leap for Stephen Colbert.

NASA announced Tuesday that it won’t name a room in the international space station after the comedian. Instead, it has named a treadmill after him.

NASA earlier held an online contest to name a room (or “node”) at the international space station. With write-in votes, the name “Colbert” beat out NASA’s four suggested options: Serenity, Legacy, Earthrise and Venture.
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