Critic's corner

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2007 | by Robert Bianco

*Among the many dismal effects of the strike, none is worse than losing new episodes of Pushing Daisies (ABC, tonight, 8 ET/PT), an amazingly well-realized fantasy that has grown in depth and confidence each week. Tonight is the last new outing for a while, so enjoy and hope Chuck finds a way to forgive Ned while avoiding the probing nose of Oscar Vibenius (guest star Paul Reubens).

*Need another sign of the horror of days to come? You're getting reality shows on three of the five networks at 9 ET/PT: The new Crowned on CW, the second half of a Deal or No Deal special on NBC and the finale of Kitchen Nightmares on Fox. And as awful as they may be, they're still a better bet than the only new scripted alternative, CBS' execrable Criminal Minds. If that array won't make...