My fellow nerds,

Consider this an open letter to all the sci-fi nerds, comic geeks, and TV lovers who will not be attending "that thing out in San Diego." This week marks a sad week for us my friends. It is the week when the "c" word starts infiltrating our Twitter streams, RSS updates and blog posts. I am, of course talking about Comic Con. I, like many of you, will not be attending.

It's not for lack of trying, though. The amount of times that I've pitched the Comic Con experience under the guise of "content research" to the powers that be here at Motivators is innumerable, but the conversation seemingly ends up going something like this:

Me: It's a valuable opportunity to check out what great TV related promotional products are out there. What are shows doing to reach out to their fans? What's hot in terms of TV merch this year? This is completely work related.
Boss: Will that guy from Bones be there?
Me: Yes.
Boss: No.

Apparently, no matter how many awesome custom tote bags, custom room keys, custom water bottles and other things will be given out at "that thing in San Diego" the powers that be are content with letting me sit in my corner and blog about what everyone else is getting (including close to David Boreanaz.) Unrelated sidenote: my iPod just started playing Never Gonna Give You Up. I think it sensed I was on the verge of tears and is trying to cheer me up, but I digress.

So my fellow nerds, I implore you to remember something this week. As you sit on the couch in your mom's basement or at your desk with one of your dual monitors dedicated to your comic-con twitter list remember that there are journalists out there doing their damndest to get the best scoop for you. Without folks like Michael Ausiello, Marisa Roffman, Alan Sepinwall, the teams at Give Me My Remote, Zap2It, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, Fancast and more, we wouldn't have half the scoop we're going to be getting.

Sure, we'd have the attendees regular updates and with the fabulous invention of that stalking service known as Twitter, this information as easy to follow as ever. But, the journalists have learned the art of what I like to call "twit-scooping." They can get primo scoop in 140 characters.

Even better, they have that wonderful little press pass, which gives them up close and personal access to your favorite celebs and showrunners. One word: twit-pics! They'll go ask some ballsy questions trying to get scoop...and they're doing it all for you.

For you, the guy on the couch in your mom's basement.

For you, the guy trying to stealthily hide the fact that underneath that three piece suit, you are a giant dweeb.

For you, the blogger who could be writing about all the swag that you're getting because it actually does relate to your job but your bosses are too busy being concerned with the fact that you could be a "liability" if you're in the same room as David Boreanaz. (Ok, that's mostly me and I'm mostly kidding.)

Seriously though, before we all attack them with more questions and use them as our venting/griping/whining/complaining/sounding boards let's say one big giant Thank You to every journalist that will be walking amongst guys dressed as Wookies just for the scoop on our favorite shows. May you all live long and prosper.

And just remember, every tweet that gets sent you to that says "I hate you!" really means I love you. Now if you'll all excuse me, I've got to get back to weeping in my corner.

My plan for Saturday was set in stone: a mimosa and my hammock, except it got blown to all hell when I realized that my remote actually worked. After a few simple clicks, I landed on My Life on the D List. I've seen Kathy Griffin many times before, but never actually invested the time for a marathon. So my mimosa and my tanning (rather lobstering) was briefly put aside as I watched Kathy decide to destroy her house with no plan and was briefly concerned her mother might have had a heart attack when she found out she ripped out the bar. Up next La Griffin went topless to be airbrush tanned at a Kiddie Pagent and then she headed to Alaska to chill with her soulmate Levi Johnston (yes, Bristol Palin's baby daddy). Kathy's life on the D list was a hilarious train ride to wreckville and I couldn't look away...until I flipped a channel and found the Kardashians.

I've got one gripe with the full family show: why don't they bring Bruce anywhere? As Kris recounted to him the story of a drunken Scott shoving a hundred dollar bill down a waiter's throat, he casually repled "You're lucky I wasn't there. I would have punched Scott right in the face." And the ratings would have sky rocketed. Speaking of Scott, he's like the Spencer Pratt of their lives but better because he's a parent. I don't think I've laughed harder than when he walked in on the sisters trying to administer a butter remedy to a home bikini wax burn. He simply stood there holding his son, observing the situation taking place atop his kitchen counter top and offered one simple thought:

"This is normal?"

It's so not and that's what makes it so awesome. Whether it's Gordon Ramsay screaming at a poor chef over scallops, Kathy Griffin taking make-up tips from a 7 year old (she needs 100 glitter, please) or Khloe Kardashian telling her brother-in-law that he's a sociopath with murder in his eyes, I love knowing that the "normal" lives of these people make me seem...well, normal.

I get it. I actually do, get it. I am well aware that when it comes to television it is the Nielsen Rating that is the one all powerful number. The Nielsen's based on a group of probably about 30k people and using their patented formula will turn the viewing habits of that group into what the viewing habits are for the entire country. It's flawed, and I even accept that too. That said, I totally understand that when a show's ratings slides for long enough, the show will probably be cancelled. My problem comes in when networks start worrying more about the bottom dollar then actually pleasing the viewers that follow them. It's ignoring one of the most important, most basic principals of any company, increasing brand loyalty. Don't abandon your loyal customers. In the case of a tv network, give your loyal customers even just a little of what they want. This week I bring this up because of a few very notable sudden cancellations. The biggest news was for the original Law & Order, which had been on for 20 years and then cancelled. This leaves the show tied with Gunsmoke for longest running prime time drama. NBC also cancelled Heroes this week. Heroes had only been on for 4 seasons, but had once been called the show that would save NBC. FlashForward, an ABC show, was another victim of cancellations this week. The problem with these cancellations is that these networks asked viewers to buy into a serial storyline, watch every week, with the belief that these storylines would be resolved. So there is something to be said for letting viewers see these shows have their proper send offs. A few years back, when Arrested Development was struggling with ratings, halfway through the season the creators were told the show would be cancelled. They rewrote their scripts and created the ever popular, Series Finale. Law and Order certainly deserved a Series Finale, Heroes deserved a Series Finale, and as bad as it turned out to be, FlashForward deserved a Series Finale. When you abandon your shows, you abandon your fans, and that does nothing for your brand loyalty. 

Last night, I came to check Twitter and realized that something truly unfortunate had occurred. A reporter had leaked some spoilers for the highly publicized 100th episode of Bones. These spoilers revolved around some scenes that are sure to make fans jaws drop and hearts stop.

How do I know this? Well, because I've seen the 100th episode already.

Before you ask, no it was not sent to me and no, I'm not revealing my sources. Maybe I know someone who knows a guy who went to college with a girl who's friends with a cousin of someone that had access to the highly coveted DVD. Maybe I just have access to the dumpsters of powerful people. None of that matters. All that matters, is that I saw it weeks ago and I haven't said a word. Why?

Because I love the feeling of Christmas morning.

Let me explain this rather convoluted analogy by saying this: I'm a spoiler whore. If spoilers were drugs, I'd probably have a needle of Ask Ausiello sticking out of one of my veins at all times. So before this coveted DVD fell into my possession, you'd better believe I did everything I could to find out what was going to happen in that episode. I stalked Fancast.com and Korbi TV. I watched and read any interview with the cast and with the producers. I followed tweets and read blogs all of which talked about how great the episode was going to be. And when it was offered to me, I honestly debated taking it.

Could I trust myself not to talk about it? Could I trust myself not to share any wonderful moments via twitter or this blog?

I will tell you right now that the only person besides myself that has seen this episode is my mother and considering the fact that she tried to call Direct TV last night and started dialing 1-800 on the TiVo remote, I feel safe in my assumption that she's not going to be online sharing any secrets.

You see, I shouldn't even be sharing the fact that I've seen the episode. My initial plan was to save this, my 100th blog for April 9th when I'd post a glowing review because that's exactly what this episode deserves. However, knowing that some very important moments have been spoiled for fans, I felt that I had to add my two cents. And before you ask, no I'm not sharing any spoilers. I'm not confirming or denying anything related to the plot, the characters or the episode itself.

I'm asking you, on behalf of the fans and on the behalf of the producers and anyone else who's seen this episode, not to read those spoilers. Maybe I'm taking a liberty speaking for those important individuals, but considering that this is just  sincere plea, I doubt they'll mind.

You see, my viewing of the 100th episode was different than anyone else who received the disc. I don't write for a magazine and I don't get paid to watch TV for a living. I'm not a critic. I'm just a fan who happened to get very very lucky.

I watched the entire episode with bated breath, and I'll tell you this much: in my 27 years of watching TV, not one viewing experience has been more pleasant. I understood what Marisa Roffman meant when she said that her jaw dropped and I agreed with Matt Mitovich's “wow.” It honestly felt like Christmas morning.

I'm talking about Christmas morning, back when you still believed in Santa. Back when you believed that you'd go to sleep and when you'd wake up your presents would be under the tree and it would be magic. It wasn't like Christmas morning when you'd approach the tree and see the presents that you'd stealthily re-wrapped after using a MacGyver-esque concoction of a butter knife and a hair dryer to open them after you'd found them in the hall closet.

Of course, I opened that hall closet last night and to me, it shouldn't have mattered. I already saw the episode, right? What did it matter to me?

It mattered because I was lucky enough to have that Christmas morning feeling and all of a sudden, I knew that millions of fans wouldn't be able to share that same feeling. They would know what was coming. They'd peek through the wrapping paper and everything would be ruined. And that honestly made me sad.

Because if this reporter had had enough respect for the fans and everyone who worked so hard on this episode, he would never have shared what he did. He wouldn't have ruined Christmas morning for all the fans who have supported this show through its ups and downs. Sadly, that damage has already been done and it can't be undone. The only thing I can do is plead with you, the true, loyal fans of this show to not click on that article. I'm not going to tell you where it is or who wrote it,because that's just pointing you in the direction of the hall closet. I may as well just hand you the butter knife and hair dryer right now.

All I will say is this: Santa has gotten all of your letters. You want a beautiful, wonderful episode that will be brilliantly directed and acted. You'll get it. You just have to believe in the magic and not peek in that hall closet. Trust me, Christmas will come in April and it will be well worth it.

I guess I have to call spoiler alert for CSI.  That being said, you've all been forewarned.

March 4th can't come soon enough for me. It's a Thursday and for once, I'm excited about something other than Bones. CSI Las Vegas (aka the original CSI) will be featuring a few very special guest stars. Country music fans, get ready: Rascal Flatts is hitting CSI! The band will be playing themselves and in an interesting plot twist, it'll be more than just a simple music performance. The entire plot will revolve around the group and one band member will be killed! The guys and CBS have collaborated to promote the episode by filming an exclusive music video fro their song Unstoppable. It's being called the CSI mix and you can get a sneak peek at the episode by checking out the video. Obviously, a fan will be a suspect and it's interesting to see how they use promotional products to depict her being truly obsessed. What, just cause the girl's got some promotional apparel that makes her crazy enough to kill? I wear my Rascal Flatts t-shirt from time to time. Granted if I opened the door for the cops, I'd probably be wearing a little more than she was but hey, she is supposed to be crazy, right? It'll be interesting to see who the killer is on March 4th and like I said, I definitely can't wait. So check out the video and see if you can spot the promotional items!