It feels odd to critique a television season that is in flux, due to the ongoing Writer’s Guild of America Strike, which could stretch into next year – effectively making the fall TV season the only shot at catching new material from favorite shows and upstarts.

I hope that a decision is reached soon, not only for the sake of the talented writers who keep us entertained and deserve their fair share; but for us, the fans who love scripted fare and the characters we’ve become attached to.

I don’t know about you, but I am already bummed out at the prospect of facing a glut of game shows and reality-driven drivel to pass the time – it’s bad enough that all VH-1 seems to air is episodes of “I Love New York Season 2.” Which reminds me – I didn’t get my flu shot this year! I suppose I could, like, read a book or something? Ahh! Hurry up and resolve the issues!

Hey, “Cavemen” is still on the air! Albeit, it has been steadily slipping in the ratings and has been completely retooled from the initial pilot I talked about in The fall TV preview (issue 1027), which was a lot funnier than the one that aired.

While it’s been made less offensive to black viewers by eliminating racial overtones, it screwed up the one good thing it had going … Julie White as a boozy Mom, she’s now the apartment manager for the Cavemen, and was grossly underused in the one episode I caught.

Gaywatch Grade: D, it only barely skirted an F because it’s so easy to make fun of!

“Dirty Sexy Money” has a talented cast of actors who have name recognition: Peter Krause, Jill Clayburgh, Donald Sutherland, William Baldwin and Blair Underwood.

But, what it also has going for it, in its chronicling of the uber-rich Darling Family of New York City, are a few new faces, too. Both Natalie Zea, who plays the many-times-married Karen Darling and Glenn Fitzgerald as Reverend Brian Darling steal each scene they are in, and are a hoot, if not a holler.

Unfortunately, the family tree also includes twins portrayed by Seth Gabel and Samaire Armstrong, which reflect all of the things that seem to be wrong with young Hollywood today – i.e. being famous for doing nothing more than making headlines for their behavior. And, really, don’t we see more than enough of that on “Access Hollywood” and, ahem, CNN? Armstrong seems to be taking her character very seriously. She has checked into an outpatient facility to deal with “personal problems” – maybe she was researching her role?

The show also features a transgender character, Carmelita (Candis Cayne), a far cry from the one used as a joke on ABC’s “Big Shots,” which may be facing cancellation. Boo squish.

Gaywatch Grade: B+, and could obtain an A, once the twins are involved in a suicide pact storyline!

“Pushing Daisies” is by far my favorite new show this season, with its brand of crime solving and whimsy about a man who can bring the dead back to life for one minute to ask whodunit.

Star Lee Pace as Ned and the woman (Chuck, played by Anna Friel) he loves/brought back to life/and can never touch again, have one of the all-time greatest TV “will-they-or-won’t-they” elements going for them, and their chemistry is palpable and as sweet as the pies Ned makes for a living.

But, a secondary touch from Ned’s resurrection finger (sounds dirty) causes permanent slumber.

The best ingredient to this original concoction is Kristin Chenoweth, as the equally kooky and spicy Olive (maybe she can be an unofficial Spice Girl?), who is also pining for the pie maker.

Gaywatch Grade: A–, because the narrator loves to tell us how many days/hours/minutes a person has lived, etc., and that involves counting!

All I am going to say to the new version of “Bionic Woman” is to feel free to turn yourself into a self-exploding bomb, and just end the show! Lindsay Wagner must be tossing and turning in her Sleep Number Bed at the way this show sucks ass – and not in a good way!

Gaywatch Grade: F, and that ain’t for fine, ok!

“Chuck” picks up the slack of what “Bionic Woman,” should have been – a cool show starring chicks who kick some major butt! This blend of action and comedy, with a little bit of romance works very well, which is no surprise since the executive producer of the show is McG, who directed the Charlie’s Angels movies.

Gaywatch Grade: B, due to the fact that to tote its virtues, you have to admit to liking a show called “Chuck.”

Christina Applegate has returned to her television roots (no, not like the ones she sported in her hair on “Married With Children!”) with a cute new comedy, “Samantha Who?” Even though the show’s premise about a former bad girl who awakens from a coma as an amnesiac may prove to be thin for the long run, I am enjoying it in the interim.

Former “Designing Woman” Jean Smart is a stitch as her Mom, and Jennifer Esposito and Melissa McCarthy as her friends provide ample comedic support – they are almost like the sports bra equivalent of delivering laughs!

Gaywatch Grade: B, as it has the potential to hopefully outlive its plotline.

“Ugly Betty” certainly didn’t get any less gay this season, what with Marc getting a boyfriend, Betty’s fantasizing that hot nerd Henry was an underwear model, Betty’s nephew, Justin, rebelling by acting straight, Victoria Beckham as a guest star, and a whole episode built around the musical, Wicked. Color me tickled pink! Thankfully, the show seems to have beaten the sophomore season jinx! Yay!

Gaywatch Grade: A, but they need to give Amanda more bitchy things to say this season.

One of last year’s biggest hits, “Heroes,” seemed to be sliding down the slippery sophomore slope, but thankfully regained its footing a few episodes in.

There was only so much more I could take about the indestructible cheerleader, Claire (Hayden Panettiere), not being able to use her powers and having trigonometry be her biggest obstacle this season – boring! As is the excruciating Hiro (Masi Oka) in ancient Japan storyline – just give me a Samurai sword when it comes on, and I’ll commit Hare Kari! Is it me or do Mohinder (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and Matt (Greg Grunberg) seem like adoptive gay parents to Molly (Adair Tishler)?

Gaywatch Grade: B–, and it gets that by a hair – literally, as Peter Petrelli (Milo Ventimiglia) cut his signature bangs, and his brother Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) sported a fake-looking beard for a few episodes.

“Brothers and Sisters” is still a treasured Sunday-night ritual, and it was great to see Sally Field win an Emmy for her role on the show, especially since the former “Flying Nun” was censored for saying “goddamn” during her acceptance speech and brought even more attention to the show.

Anyhoo, the series isn’t shying away from gay subject matter with the storyline involving Uncle Saul’s sexual proclivities, but with Kevin’s priest boyfriend abroad and his former flame, Scotty, staying with him on a platonic level – there has been little onscreen smackeroo action.

Gaywatch Grade: A, but as I cautioned last year, don’t run through storylines too quickly … Justin could have detoxed for more than one episode.

“Desperate Housewives” is definitely back, after a strong third season last year, with some great new additions to the neighborhood. Dana Delany is bitch, err, pitch perfect as Katherine, the new/old neighbor with a secret, and thankfully the gaybors (Tuc Watkins and Kevin Rahm) have been incorporated into this season’s mystery, unlike the unfortunate Applewhite family of season two.

Gaywatch Grade: A, as in Andrew, whose character has gotten a bit subdued the past two seasons – perhaps he can cause some conflict with the new gay couple on Wisteria Lane, or suggest a three-way at the very least! I’m just sayin’!

So, I guess the one good thing about the writer’s strike (I say that in jest, of course – no, really?) is that if you haven’t seen some of these shows, you may still have time to catch them in reruns. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print.