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Is it just us, or has 'Gossip Girl' kind of ... sucked recently? The ever-hopeful Kelly and Patricia come up with some surefire ways to fix the once-beloved CW drama. Plus, Producer Mike weighs in as a 'Friday Night Lights' newbie -- and what do we think will happen on the 'Mad Men' finale?

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This week's 'V' debut episode on ABC has some dazzling moments, including a few that may shock and surprise even viewers with vivid memories of the original 1983 miniseries. But does it belong on the list of all-time great TV series premiere episodes? Compare and contrast with the list below, featuring 10 of our favorite TV pilot episodes of all time.



10. 'The O.C.'
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch," says snobby jock Luke (Chris Carmack) to poor newcomer Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie). "This is how it's done in Orange County." For that exchange alone, this episode belongs in the pilot Hall of Fame.

James Franco's guest spot on 'General Hospital' is genius (we agree) [NY Mag]

Jennifer Aniston and Oprah are two of '30 Rock''s best guest stars [TV Guide]

And speaking of '30 Rock,' check out star Tina Fey's favorite show moments [Daily Beast]

In the transition from high school to college, see which TV shows passed -- and failed [Buzz Sugar]

'2012' is getting a new beginning on the small screen [EW.com]

There have been dozens, if not hundreds, of reality TV shows since the genre gathered steam at the start of this decade. There are the big and enduring ones -- 'Survivor,' 'Big Brother,' etc. -- but many were just hot messes (thanks, Britney Spears, Bobby Brown, Flavor Flav and various other fame-seeking tools!). Here are our picks for the 10 all-time worst, most ill-advised, absolutely, incredulously, jaw-droppingly awful forays into reality television. What are yours?

Welcome to the sci-fi nerd edition of DVR Divas. AOL TV editor Sandy Deane and Lemondrop's sci-fi heroine Julieanne Smolinski dissect the new take on the classic alien-invasion drama 'V,' why 'Battlestar Galactica' nearly took over Julieanne's life and what makes 'The Plan' a must for 'BSG' fans.

Then the Divas bond over their mutal dislike for Katherine Heigl (because, Katherine, it's creepy when you have hardcore makeout sessions with your gay BFF on national TV) and annoying medical drama cliches.

Putting aside ideological politics for a minute (we know it's hard, but try), the act of running for president, with 24-hour cameras and a grueling, unending schedule of handshakes, smiles and stump speeches, must wear on anyone that attempts it. With 'By the People: The Election of Barack Obama,' filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams follow then-candidate Obama from May 2006 up until election night, focusing more on the campaigning process itself than the backroom politics seen in D.A. Pennebaker's and Chris Hegedus's 1993 'The War Room,' about Bill Clinton's presidential run.

Britain's BBC is a breeding ground for American television. Our classics like 'Survivor,' 'American Idol,' 'America's Got Talent,' 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and countless others started out as BBC successes that were later tweaked for the American market. In fact, the hit BBC series 'Being Human' has just been Americanized for the SyFy channel. So why not check out these shows in their first incarnation? BBC America is chock full of Brit comedic wit, outstanding series and cheeky talk shows. Below is a list of our top 10 faves and some honorable mentions.

Whether it's the lifelike costumes, the special effects or the bizarre stories themselves, kids' TV shows can be downright terrifying. We've combed through television history and our own repressed memories to come up with a list of shows that leave both children and adults crying for their mommies. So grab your teddy bears, get out your therapist's number and enjoy our list of creepy kids' television shows ever.

When it comes to famous guest stars, '30 Rock' is pretty hit-or-miss [TWOP]

Fans of 'The Wire' may want to think about enrolling at Harvard [Harvard Crimson]

What's scarier than Heidi and Spencer Pratt? Their Halloween costume [US Mag]

Still need a Halloween costume? Check out these last-minute ideas [TV.com]

In honor of 'V,' relive the original series [TV Squad]

Kelly, Patricia and special guest Brooke Tarnoff from Girls on Pop discuss the 'Friday Night Lights' premiere (thanks, DirecTV!) and somehow manage to talk about things OTHER than a shirtless Tim Riggins. Barely.

Plus: Betty finally grows a spine on 'Mad Men' -- what will happen next? And why, oh why, is Robin still cooking on 'Top Chef'?

Watch or listen to the podcast after the jump.