After a long deadline day, I need to know that I have something I can come home and relax with. That's usually in the form of plopping myself down in front of the televsion and losing myself in a great story for an hour or two.

Five years ago, I was glued to the NBC combo of "Ed" and "The West Wing," two vast different shows that I loved the same. "Ed" was canceled after four seasons, while "The West Wing" was on for seven (the last on Sunday night, so that doesn't count it for these purposes).

Today, I am drawn to ABC's "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice." Both shows premiered last season as part of the network's all-new Wednesday. Unfortunately, the writers strike cut their seasons short, and both were off the air until about two months ago.

When they returned to ABC, so did I. Unfortunately, I was one of the few who did.

The ratings for both shows are significantly down and, although ABC won't come out and say it, "Pushing Daisies" has been canceled. Actually, it's filmed the 13 episodes the network ordered, but I don't know if they will all make it to air. And, even if they do, the final episode is a cliffhanger, which series creator Bryan Fuller says he will have to resolve in a comic book.

Well, at least I have five weeks until ABC rolls out its midseason schedule in early January. Sure, that means the return of "Scrubs" on two-episode Tuesdays. But what will be left for me on Wednesdays? You see: Although "Private Practice" was picked up for the full season, it will be moved to Thursdays at 10 p.m., which is way past my bedtime. (Believe me: If I could stay up that late, I would be watching the final episodes of "ER," a show I haven't watched in nearly eight years.)

So my dilemma becomes: What will I do on Wednesdays come January?

I guess I can always pull out my "Sports Night" or "Sex and the City" DVDs and spend some time with the CSC gang or the NYC girls. We'll just wait and see what kind of mood I'm in.