Another Precinct Heard From: Rosie Weighs In on 'American Idol'

We're not sure where Rosie got the inside track on Briggs's mental health. She did not elaborate.

Former "Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler, who was on "The View" that morning, explained contestants are "very aware of exactly what you're getting into. I mean, you've watched the show before. This year is not going to be any different than next year. You know what you're doing when you get into it."

Fox declined to respond to Rosie's sermon.

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Lucky CBS got to make its pitch to the press at Winter TV Press Tour 2007 the day "Idol's" second-day numbers came in, leading one reporter to ask CBS suits on stage, "Other than sending in a plucky band of rebels, what can you do" about "the death star" that is "American Idol"?

"We're kind of lucky in a way that our shows -- they're not 'Idol'-proof, but maybe kind of 'Idol'-resistant," CBS scheduling guru Kelly Kahl said, pointing to the fact that "NCIS" held on to 95 percent of its normal ratings against the first night of "Idol's" sixth season this week.

" 'Criminal Minds' did very well last night. So our shows hang in there okay. The other guys kind of get . . . vaporized."

"There's always the hope that the next iteration of 'American Idol' will show some weakness," said Nancy Tellem, head of the whole CBS entertainment ball of wax, adding wistfully, "Clearly it hasn't happened."

CBS has this year's Super Bowl broadcast and recently announced it would air an episode of its perv-tastic crime drama "Criminal Minds" in the best time slot of the year for a scripted series -- immediately following the game.

"Criminal Minds" stars Mandy Patinkin as the head of an elite team of profilers who try to catch serial killers before they strike again. In its sophomore season, its ratings are the fastest growing of any series on TV.

Critics wanted to know how "grim" the episode will be or whether it would be "lighter than usual" because CBS did not want to bring people down on what's a celebratory night.

CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler started to tap-dance, while seated: