Midseason

During the next month, the broadcast networks are rolling out at least 10 new midseason series. NBC unveiled its epic drama "Kings" last week. Two new ABC sitcoms are coming, "Better Off Ted" this week and "In the Motherhood" next. And Fox has a variety show with the Ozzy Osbourne clan, which, given its erratic history could result in either spontaneous brilliance or spontaneous combustion. Is there a hit somewhere in this bunch? The networks could sure use one.

NBA awards can be so predictably dull. There's most valuable this and most improved that, with many deserving topics going unrecognized. Like the daily disaster that is the Lakers. Or the breathless Derrick Rose updates. Or the laughable use of performance-enhancing drugs by a wiry Orlando Magic forward who has barely played. Here, then, are the midseason awards for the most captivating players, coaches and phenomena not named LeBron James (our most valuable player), Tom Thibodeau (coach of the year)

This is the 10th post in a series awarding midseason grades to some of the Lakers . This focuses on the rookies. Player: Darius Morris How he did: 2.7 points on 52% in 10.3 minutes through 13 games. Good: Even with his limited playing time, Morris shows potential with his play-making abilities and athleticism. He hasn't let his limited role detract him from working hard. Morris routinely stays after practice to work on shots and often arrives early for pregame warmups.

PHOENIX - If Hanley Ramirez is to be the Dodgers' starting shortstop, he'll have to improve his defense. That's been the Dodgers' stance all winter. Evidently, it's been Ramirez's too. Ramirez played 57 games at shortstop for the Dodgers last season after a midseason trade from the Miami Marlins, for whom he played third base. The former All-Star looked uncomfortable. His range appeared limited. The ball was often slow to come out of his glove. "For me, it wasn't very good," Ramirez said.

A look at players who are fulfilling their potential at midseason in high school baseball: PITCHERS *--* Rk Player School Yr. Comment 1. Matt Harrington Palmdale Sr. Has 7-0 record and 95 mph fastball 2. Tyler Adamczyk Westlake Jr. Pitches like future first-round draft pick 3. Bill Susdorf Hart Jr. Has six saves and 0.42 ERA 4. Matt Merricks Oxnard Sr. Best left-hander, has 92 mph fastball 5. Jesse Kozlowski Westlake Sr. Has thrown consecutive shutouts 6. Chris Cordeiro Thousand Oaks Sr.

This is the fourth in a series of posts awarding midseason grades to some members of the Lakers. Player: Metta World Peace How he performed: Averaging a career-low 4.9 points per game on 33.5% shooting and 23.9% from three-point range. Synergy Sports Technology ranks him 137th overall in total defense. Good: The Lakers' 96-91 victory Jan. 25 against the Clippers provided everything the purple and gold want in World Peace. He tangled with Blake Griffin for a loose ball and made two steals.

NBC has put the kibosh on midseason newbie "Next Caller" from its lineup indefinitely, sources close to production confirmed. The Dane Cook-led comedy was picked up in May by the network for a six-episode order. But the commitment wouldn't last. It seems the network felt the series wasn't moving in the right direction creatively. Four of the six episodes were filmed before production was stopped. And those four will apparently not make it to air -- hey, not even as a movie special a la "Mockingbird Lane" ?

Before the coffee. After remembering why today matters. The Skinny: Sure was foggy this morning. That and sad music at Starbucks put me in a blue mood. Friday's headlines include ... wait for it ... the weekend box office preview!!! Also, teens are not the only ones who get in trouble with Facebook. Netflix is in hot water with the SEC over one of its posts. Finally, a preview of midseason TV. Daily Dose: While some thought Fox Sports would have a new Dodgers TV deal worth billions locked up by now, the talks continue and now rival Time Warner Cable is entering the fray.

Delays in production caused by the writers strike prevented ABC from ordering as many series as it normally does in May, but after the filming of pilots this summer, the network said Tuesday that it had picked up three dramas and two comedies for midseason. The hourlong shows are "Castle," starring Nathan Fillion as a mystery novelist who gets involved in solving real-life crimes; "Cupid," a remake of a 1998-99 series about a man (played by Bobby Cannavale) who may or may not be the Roman god of love; and "The Unusuals," a comedic procedural set in a New York police precinct.

Human beings are such gorgeously contradictory creatures — we demand variety (it's the spice of life!) and hate change. Nowhere is that more pronounced than in our attitude toward television; we regularly decry the monotony of the standard formats and then yelp when someone messes with them. "Rubicon" was too slow and complicated, "Men of a Certain Age" too insular and morose, "The Killing" was a rip-off (because it didn't conclusively reveal the murderer) and "American Horror Story" is way over the top. Well, quit whining and get used to it because (a)

"The Walking Dead" is off to a sprinting start in its return to prime time. The mid-season return of AMC's zombie apocalypse drama scored the largest audience in series history, delivering 12.3 million viewers in the 9 p.m. Sunday premiere of the latter half of its third season. The previous record was 10.9 million from the third season launch on Oct. 14. The episode's 18-49 audience of 6.8 million viewers outdistanced several popular network series, including "Modern Family," "The Big Bang Theory", "Two and a Half Men" and "NCIS.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - There are all sorts of benefits to having a kid brother who's playing quarterback in the NFC championship game. For the older brother of San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, there's also been an unexpected perk. "People know how to pronounce our last name now," said Kyle Kaepernick (KAP-er-nick), who is 10 years older than Colin. "My whole life, I've heard a lot of 'CAY-per-nick,' because of the E, and for some reason, a lot of 'KAP-er-NACK,' but I don't know why. Now people know.

MIAMI AT LAKERS Thursday, 7:30 p.m. PST. TV: TNT, TWC SportsNet, TWC Deportes. Better get a look at this matchup now because it won't be reprising itself in June. What was expected to be a possible NBA Finals preview has devolved into nothing more than just another midseason game. Miami has struggled recently and the Lakers have hit one low after another, the latest coming Friday when productive backup forward Jordan Hill was lost for the season because of a hip injury.

Before the coffee. After remembering why today matters. The Skinny: Sure was foggy this morning. That and sad music at Starbucks put me in a blue mood. Friday's headlines include ... wait for it ... the weekend box office preview!!! Also, teens are not the only ones who get in trouble with Facebook. Netflix is in hot water with the SEC over one of its posts. Finally, a preview of midseason TV. Daily Dose: While some thought Fox Sports would have a new Dodgers TV deal worth billions locked up by now, the talks continue and now rival Time Warner Cable is entering the fray.

ABC announced premiere dates for two new dramas and two new comedies, in addition to other new and returning series in its midseason prime-time slate. One new drama, "Red Widow," stars Radha Mitchell as a woman who gets caught up in the organized crime world and has to fight to keep her family safe. The series, which is from Melissa Rosenberg, a writer of the "Twilight Saga" films, will have a two-hour premiere March 3 at 9 p.m. before taking over its regular slot, Sundays at 10 p.m., on March 10. Anthony Edwards ("ER")

NBC unveiled Tuesday its midseason schedule - and it looks like school starts Feb. 7 with the return of "Community. " After postponing the comedy's Oct. 19 return, the network is returning it to its old Thursday haunt at 8 p.m. It will find a laughing buddy in "Parks and Recreation," which will move up an hour, to 8:30 p.m., starting Jan. 17 to fill the gap left by "Up All Night" (the show is going on hiatus as it revamps itself from a single-camera comedy...

Joe Blanton will make his first start for the Dodgers on Sunday, when he takes the mound for the series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Blanton was acquired by the Dodgers on Friday from the Philadelphia Phillies in the second midseason trade of his career. In the first, in 2008, he moved from the Oakland Athletics to the Phillies. The Phillies won the World Series that year. "Hopefully, history will repeat itself for me," Blanton said. He has recently found his form, averaging 72/3 innings over his last three starts.

After the Galaxy's first loss this season, Lothar Osiander said, "We'll see what this team is about by midseason." . . . "The refs made lousy calls." . . . "We need lighter colored uniforms because it's hot in L.A." . . . "It's impossible to win with 10." Guess what, Lothar. The Galaxy has such bad chemistry, they look like a first-semester intramural team. Lothar says, "We thought we had a good game plan." Wrong, Lothar. Yes, trying to strengthen an inconsistent defense by holding back and playing long-ball offense to a streaking forward is a plan, but guess what.

Dwight Howard imitated Kobe Bryant's monotone way of answering reporters' questions, resting his head on his hand and looking as bored as possible. Yep, he's feeling better. Howard will probably make his Lakers debut Sunday in an exhibition game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. He wouldn't confirm it, and neither would the Lakers, just in case Howard woke up with an unexpected ache in his back and had to postpone for another few days. Barring anything like that, the six-time All-Star will take his spot at center for the 16-time NBA champions.

NBC has put the kibosh on midseason newbie "Next Caller" from its lineup indefinitely, sources close to production confirmed. The Dane Cook-led comedy was picked up in May by the network for a six-episode order. But the commitment wouldn't last. It seems the network felt the series wasn't moving in the right direction creatively. Four of the six episodes were filmed before production was stopped. And those four will apparently not make it to air -- hey, not even as a movie special a la "Mockingbird Lane" ?