'New Normal' is uneven, but good

Q What do you think of the show "The New Normal"? Does it have a chance of doing more than one season?

A "The New Normal" is holding up pretty well ratings-wise, and NBC ordered a full, 22-episode first season. It's too soon to say if the show will survive to have a second season, but so far the ratings are decent.

As for the quality of "The New Normal," it can be a disjointed muddle. Sometimes the show is hilarious in its political incorrectness; other times it strikes an overly strident tone.

But of all the new shows this fall, "The New Normal" is trying hardest to do something different, to express a different voice than viewers normally hear in prime time. Because of that, it's the new series I'm most excited to see each week, even if I sometimes come away disappointed.

Stars get paid for 'Dancing'Q Do the celebrity dancers on "Dancing With the Stars" get paid for each week they survive?

A The show's ABC publicist did not return an e-mail responding to the question, but it's safe to say that on most competition shows contestants are paid more the longer they manage to stick around.

Emmy rules are complicatedQ What are the rules for cable shows to be eligible for the Emmys? "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central is an annual winner, but what about foreign-produced shows such as "Doctor Who" and "Copper" on BBC America?

John Leverence, senior vice president of awards for the Television Academy, explains it this way: "The Emmy-eligible distribution platforms are broadcast network, cable (and that includes BBC America), satellite, syndication and Internet.

"As a general rule, any domestic program is eligible to enter the Prime-Time Emmy competition if it is originally, nationally broadcast, cablecast, syndicated or streams in prime time. Also as a general rule, any foreign program is ineligible for the domestic Prime-Time Emmy competition (although eligible for the International competition run by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in New York). A third possibility is a joint production (financially and creatively) between a U.S. and foreign entity, which is eligible in the Prime-Time competition, e.g., 'Masterpiece' programming is a co-production of WGBH/PBS in the U.S. and a foreign entity."

"Copper" is a co-production, making it eligible for the Emmys.