19 Timeslots, Friday 10PM

Two of the three networks at 10 on Friday have a very reliable show, and the third will be bringing in the fifth night of a weekly strip. Don't expect much upheaval here in '09-'10.

ABC: The longtime home of newsmagazine 20/20 will continue to be that way in 2009-10. ABC has tried other stuff here before, like drama Men in Trees at the beginning of fall '07, but I wouldn't count on any such experiments this year.

CBS: Crime drama Numb3rs debuted in this timeslot in midseason of the '04-'05 season and has held down the timeslot ever since, even though it always seems to be part of the moving/cancellation rumor mill toward the end of the season. Nevertheless, it enters season 6 and should be favored to win the slot in the demo. It averaged a 2.3 demo in '09-'10 originals.

NBC: For fall of '06 NBC went with declining crime drama Law & Order out of its longtime Wednesday 10pm home and gave it a run on Friday. It eked out another season but was held for midseason while NBC ran the final season of Las Vegas in this hour during '07-'08. NBC then moved crime drama Life to this timeslot for the beginning of fall '08. Its results weren't anything special but they were good enough to warrant NBC moving the show to its fast-tanking Wednesday lineup while Wednesday refugee Lipstick Jungle briefly ended up here. Jungle did badly and was pulled temporarily, eventually airing its last few episodes in the 9:00 hour while Dateline NBC took over on most Fridays at 10. For fall '09 it's the last broadcast of The Jay Leno Show's weekly strip.

Cable Notables: The tail end of wacky USA Network detective drama Psych's summer season will air here, then USA brings in newbie White Collar to air after the final episodes of Monk. Syfy goes with sophomore drama Sanctuary.