"ER" EXTENDED, "TRAVELER" SHORTENED

NBC's veteran medical drama "ER" that entered its 13th season this fall has gotten a new lease on life. Although the network had initially anticipated the ratings for the aging series to continue to slide this season, the show bounced back.

Is it the improved writing following a terrible cliffhanger last season; or is it the addition of the star John Stamos (whom ABC was finally kind enough to release from his pointless "Jake In Progress" contract that prevented him from joining the show last season); or is it simply the weak competition over on ABC and CBS ('Six Degrees' and 'Shark' that lose a significant chunk of lead-in audience)?

Whatever the case the network has ditched plans to interrupt the show for the winter (mid-season drama 'The Black Donnellys' are looking for a new home) and now it ordered another episode on top of the original 24 episode order, bringing the total to 25.

thriller series "Traveler" from 13 to only 8 installments. The series stars Steven (Rex Van De In related news, ABC has decreased the order for their excellent new mid-seasonCulpKamp on "Desperate Housewives") and Logan Marshall Green (Ryan's brother Trey on "The O.C.).