» Liane Bonin

Say it ain't so, O!

According to Reuters, Oprah Winfrey has decided to celebrate her talk show's 25th anniversary in 2011 with a bang -- by ending it.

The sad news for devotees of She Who Makes Books Bestsellers was announced by her production company, Harpo Inc., on Thursday.

In a statement posted on the Web sites of several TV station affiliates that air the show, Harpo president Tim Bennett said Winfrey would make the official announcement on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on Fri., Nov. 20.

So, it all came down to just two shorties on last night's 'American's Next Top Model' Cycle 13 finale: red-headed geek-turned-rock star Nicole and perky dyslexic Laura. But in the end, only one model could stand, if not head and shoulders above the rest (they are shorties, remember), at least a little taller -- and that was Nicole.

Despite a little misdirection about Nicole's snobby performance in the Cover Girl commercial being a deal breaker for the judges (psych!), and a slightly better performance on the wind-and-rain-swept runway by Laura (Nicole's weird, head-forward walk was ultimately dubbed her "signature" and not a flaw by the judges), the dorky redhead emerged victorious in the final episode thanks to a winning shoot for Seventeen. It was a long journey for Nicole, who had to overcome shyness, dorkiness and a very unmodel-like lack of cattiness to make it through the competition.

Any of you who were slavishly devoted to 'Sports Night' -- the late, great dramedy that exposed the comic timing and acting chops of stars like Felicity Huffman and Peter Krause early in their careers -- good news! Series creator Aaron Sorkin (who also produced a little somethin-somethin called 'The West Wing') tells TV Guide he's coming back to TV with a series that promises to tread the same juicy, fast-paced behind-the-scenes turf as 'Sports Night.'

The catch? That's also the same turf he covered on another series, 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,' which, while also late, is not particularly lamented by anybody.

'It's going to be what turns out to be the third in the trilogy of TV shows that take place behind the scenes of a TV show, but this will be a different kind of TV show,' Sorkin told the site. "That's all I can let out of the bag right now."

On June 23, 2009, the trademark laugh of the greatest sidekick of all time was silenced as Ed McMahon floated up to the great sidekick couch on the sky. While Publisher's Clearing House commercials and 'Star Search' reruns will never be the same, the good news is that McMahon, who rose up in the wake of some pretty stellar sidekicks himself, set the bar high for those to follow.

Perhaps he set it too high, though, as newcomers to the talk show field like Jimmy Fallon and Craig Ferguson have chosen to fly solo on their talk shows. And that's a shame. Like wine in a box and BBC America series, these straight men of the chat circuit are all too often underappreciated and overshadowed but consistently, inconspicuously deliver the goods.

What we have always feared to be true about men and women is now being turned into a sitcom. According to Variety, the book 'Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid' by 'Samantha Who' writer Jenny Lee and 'According to Jim' executive producer Howard J. Morris is getting the small screen treatment from ABC.

If you're one of the people who think 'The Simpsons' jumped the shark years ago, you clearly didn't realize the longest-running sitcom in history isn't just about random acts of funny -- it can win you free stuff, and save lives. Cowabunga, dude.

Fox is willing to bribe you to tune into the network this week with a 'Simpsons'-themed TV scavenger hunt commemorating the show's 20th birthday. From Tues., Nov. 9, to Friday, Nov. 13, Fox will be stuffing 'Simpsons'-related clues within its primetime programming. And they're not making it easy, as the clues won't be animated or obvious -- the network promises they could be "anything!"

Luckily, The New York Times has some tips, noting that some shows will mention the name of 'Simpsons' characters, others will have cameos from the cast, and one will incorporate 'Simpsons' licensed products into a plot line. But 'Glee' fans (or foes) can relax. The show won't feature any clues, as the episodes were shot before the hunt was planned by Fox.

It's a good (or at least a slightly better) year to play gay on prime time TV, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Eighteen regular characters on scripted TV are either gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, an increase of 2.6 percent over last season. Of course, not every character that is gay is played by someone who is. Here's a look at some of the straight guys who aren't afraid to play against personal preference and buck musty old stereotypes at the same time.

Remember the James Woods series 'Shark'? Not really? Well, one of the stars of that gone-too-soon CBS drama is about to get slightly better exposure thanks to an episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' on Nov. 19, according to EW's Ausiello Files.

Danielle Panabaker, who played Woods' troubled teen daughter on the show, will be playing a patient cared for by the perpetually cranky Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Mercy West transfer Jackson (Jesse Williams) on the episode. "It's a really sweet, heartbreaking story," a Grey's insider told EW.

That won't be the only stunt casting on the show, however. In the episode, Frankie Faison ('The Wire,' 'Law & Order:SVU') will appear as the father of Dr. Bailey (Chandra Wilson).