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The CW's mid-season drama, 'Life UneXpected,' will debut on Monday, Jan. 18 as a temporary replacement for 'Gossip Girl,' in an effort to combat the ratings slump 'GG' suffers during its cycle of post-sweeps repeats.

According to The Futon Critic, the freshman series will moonlight for 'Gossip Girl' for a number of episodes before moving to the 8 PM EST Monday slot, currently occupied by 'One Tree Hill,' to complete its run in the spring.

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?

Watch the podcast now.

If the Parents Television Council didn't exist, the networks might have to invent it.

The latest outburst of manufactured outrage by the TV watchdog group concerns the Nov. 9 episode of the CW's 'Gossip Girl' and the much-touted threesome (among characters yet to be named) that will supposedly be the episode's steamy highlight. The PTC has sent a letter to CW affiliates threatening them with FCC indecency fines should they air the offending episode, which no one at the PTC has actually seen.

Not that any CW affiliate is likely to pull the episode, not at the height of November's ratings sweeps period. Still, this predictable pantomime seems like a win-win for everyone

If it's almost ratings sweeps month, it's time for stunt sex on TV. On the heels of news that the Oct. 12 episode of 'Heroes' will contain a same-sex smooch comes a report from Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files that 'Gossip Girl' is planning to go even further, with a full-fledged ménage à trois. The thrashing threesome will frolic during the Nov. 9 episode.

In a concession to convention, the 'Gossip Girl' threesome will take place in a bed (ho-hum), but otherwise, the steamy triple play could be just the thing to heat up the show's numbers during November sweeps, when networks and advertisers pay special attention to ratings. It could also help 'GG' maintain its carefully cultivated reputation as the show your parents and pastors don't want you to watch.

TVGuide.com recently polled its users to find out which TV duos are in most need of a hookup.

Normally, we root for the happy ending. But for some TV couples, love just isn't the answer.

See our list of seven TV couples who should never hook up -- ever.

Matt LeBlanc plans a return to television, CBS plans a 'Criminal Minds' spinoff, 'NCIS' continues to dominate in the ratings and more of today's top TV headlines.

You may know Michelle Trachtenberg as 'Gossip Girl''s (the CW, Mon., 9PM) resident bad girl, Georgina. But this season Trachtenberg hopes you'll also get to know her as brand-new nurse Chloe on the freshman hospital drama 'Mercy' (NBC, Weds., 8PM).

The busy ingenue found time to dish with AOL TV about how Georgina's like the devil, how Trachtenberg got into the head of good girl Chloe -- and whether she'll revisit her vampire past one way or another (probably not a 'Buffy' movie, but maybe reuniting with Alan Ball for 'True Blood').

'Reading Rainbow''s contract expires Friday, 'American Idol' books Neil Patrick Harris, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return as CMA hosts and more of today's top TV headlines.

Kate Winslet may play the lead in a new miniseries adaptation of 'Mildred Pierce,' to be written and directed by 'Far From Heaven''s Todd Haynes.

Also in the news today: Comedy Central cancels 'Reno 911!,' while TNT schedules the final season of 'Saving Grace.'

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.

E! will not air its exclusive interview with 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' star Jon Gosselin, according to a network spokesperson. The interview has reportedly been canceled for reasons yet to be determined.

Also in the news today: ABC moves 'V''s premiere date, while Hilary Duff books a new ABC Family movie.

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.