More on Leno and late night:
Jay Leno’s late-night future up in air | Poll: Should Jay stay or go? | Video: Leno gets laughs out of rumors

Who's gonna get to keep 11:35?

NBC’s prime time/late night time slots seem like a game of musical chairs – First the Peacock network makes good on its promise to give Conan O’Brien the hosting gig of “The Tonight Show,” then takes away some of the luster of that accomplishment (no matter how they framed it) by giving Jay Leno, the abdicating “Tonight Show” host, his own 10 p.m. prime time show five days a week. People who like watching crime programs at 10 p.m., or “Dateline” episodes where Chris Hansen pulls the okee doke on “alleged” predators, or who just don’t find Jay Leno funny at any timeslot, cried foul.

And now that the show turned out to be a ratings turkey and, honestly, not all that funny, NBC is reportedly considering pushing Jay back to 11:35, meaning that Conan could be headed back to “Late Night,” and meaning Jimmy Fallon might be…oh, who knows? NBC, for their part, has released a statement confirming that they are committed to keeping Conan on NBC, which, as anyone whose ever been dumped by a vague text message claiming to want to be friends, knows doesn’t mean anything. Sure, they’re committed to keeping you around. But as what? And when? And what kind of friendship is that anyway, huh? And are you gonna pay Conan back for all those lunches when you “forgot” your wallet, NBC?

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Michael Cudlitz and Benjamin McKenzie in 'Southland', which will return to TV on Jan. 12 on TNT. (NBC)

Cable network TNT says it has rescued the shot-down NBC cop drama Southland and will bring it back in the new year.

Beginning Jan. 12, TNT will broadcast all six episodes that were shot by NBC for its aborted second season, as well as the seven episodes from the first season.

Produced by John Wells of “ER” fame, Southland won good reviews but not-so-good ratings when it premiered last spring on NBC. It was renewed for this fall, but NBC canceled it before its October return.

Set in Los Angeles, the gritty drama stars Ben McKenzie, Regina King and Tom Everett Scott, among others.

On the bubble.

Three words all TV shows’ producers dread hearing. That means your show is stuck in Limboland, a cursed place that lies somewhere between renewal and bootsville.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly where several shows find themselves as the networks scramble to finalize their fall schedules this month.

So, which shows will live? Which will die?

Only the powers-that-be know for sure.

Here are seven shows in danger of going bye-bye and my reasons for why they should live-live:

Anthony Anderson, Jeremy Sisto and S. Epatha Merkerson on 'Law and Order'. (NBC)

On the air since: 1990

Average number of viewers: 7.5 million

Why it should live: By now, Law & Order‘s just-the-facts-ma’am formula should be as stale as month-old bread. But it’s not. Know why? Crime never gets old in a city that has eight million stories to tell. The show gets a welcome shot in the arm every few years with new cast blood. But the bottom line is this: Law & Order deserves to best or at least tie Gunsmoke‘s 20-year record as TV’s longest-running drama.

The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS)

On the air since: 2006

Average number of viewers: 7 million

Why it should live: Three words — Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The Emmy-winning actress continues to delight and entertain as Christine Campbell, TV’s kookiest single mom. She also boasts some crackling chemistry with Barb (Wanda Sykes), her sassy gal pal. Plus, it’s nice seeing a sitcom in which former spouses actually, like, get along. Most of the time.

Zachary Levi as Chuck Bartowski in 'Chuck'. (NBC)

On the air since: 2007

Average number of viewers: 6.5 million

Why it should live: Zachary Levi oozes the right mix of goofy bewilderment and wide-eyed innocence as Chuck Bartowski, a reluctant 007 who is both shaken and stirred at the thought of being chased by gun-toting bad guys. With Chuck finally embracing his inner Bond by agreeing to upload a new Intersect in his brain, the writers have set up juicy story possibilities for season three.

Kathryn Morris (left) stars in CBS' 'Cold Case'. (CBS)

On the air since: 2003

Average number of viewers: 11.6 million

Why it should live: Not many crime dramas keep you guessing until the end, but Cold Case does almost every week as a bunch of grizzled Philly detectives solve twisty old murders. The series is at its best when it becomes an impressive period piece and goes way back in time to the days of Prohibition, the Negro Leagues and the Kennedy assassination. Cold Case does a terrific job of giving viewers an interesting peek inside the characters’ personal lives.

Amy Brenneman and Tim Daly in 'Private Practice'. (ABC)

On the air since: 2007

Average number of viewers: 9.1 million

Why it should live: Because there aren’t many good scripted, prime-time soaps for adults anymore. Private Practice arguably boasts TV’s prettiest cast, and creator Shonda Rhimes knows how to put them in the kind of not-so-pretty situations that make any juicy soap worth checking out.

Michael Cudlitz and Ben McKenzie in 'Southland'. (NBC)

On the air since: 2009

Average number of viewers: 9.1 million

Why it should live: It’s gritty and real. Watching Southland is like watching a Michael Mann movie as we follow a group of harried L.A. beat cops in some of the city’s grimiest neighborhoods.

Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall in 'The Game'

On the air since: 2006

Average number of viewers: 1.6 million

Why it should live: The obvious reason is there are hardly any black-themed shows on TV. But that reason isn’t strong enough. Like Girlfriends, The Game does a good job of balancing silly comedy with heartfelt drama as evidenced by how the writers skillfully handled Jason (Coby Bell) and Kelly’s (Brittany Daniel) painful divorce. Life gets messy. So does The Game. But it makes you laugh during all the messy parts. Tip to writers: If the show is renewed, please tone down Tasha’s (Wendy Raquel Robinson) ghetto-fabulous ‘tude.