In an article of the same title, the USA Today has a list of the TV shows that (now that the writers' strike appears to be near its end) are expected to return with new episodes this spring, which are expected to return but not until later, which are in doubt, and which ain't coming back.  I was glad to see that several new shows that we've been watching will survive: Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Chuck, and Life.  It was also nice to see that a couple of the shows that are dead were ones that I sampled but wasn't hooked by: Bionic Woman and Journeyman.   I was disappointed to see Reaper on the questionable list, and I wonder about Aliens in America (I guess I'm not too optimistic).  There is one dead show that I had been watching and thought was OK despite it being panned by most: Cavemen.

Tonight I finished watching My House in Umbria (2003).  From Rotten Tomatoes:

Based on the novella by William Trevor, MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA is set in the sprawling Italian countryside. After a tragic train accident, four survivors find solace in the villa of an English writer, Mrs. Delahunty (Maggie Smith).

This was a bit dull and never really grabbed me, though it certainly makes hanging out in the Italian countryside look attractive.

I give it 3 out of 5.

The third (and best !?!) film that I watched on the flight back from Germany was Balls of Fury (2007,PG-13) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A former child ping-pong prodigy is recruited by the FBI to lead them to a mysterious crime figure with an obsession for the sport.

You don't start watching a movie like this with your expectations too high, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It was goofy and funny and pretty consistent throughout...never running out of gas.  Maybe it was the mood I was in, or lack of sleep, or something, but I really enjoyed it.

I give it 5 out of 5.

Another film I watched on the flight back from Germany was 3:10 to Yuma (2007,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

Desperate for money to keep his farm operational, a down-on-his-luck, 19th century rancher agrees to transport a legendary and dangerous robber to a train that will take him to prison.

I've never been a big fan of westerns, but this was enjoyable.  I didn't really like the ending, though...it seemed too sappy or something.  All in all it was good, though.

I give it 4 out of 5.

On the flight back from Germany one of the films I watched was The Beach (2000,R) (ScreenIt! Review).  From ScreenIt!:

A young American traveler and his two new French friends travel to a hidden island, rumored to be a tropical paradise, only to slowly discover that it might not be such an idyllic place.

I enjoyed it.  It was interesting to read on Wikipedia about differences between the book and the movie, and I think I would have preferred that some of the changes that were made hadn't been.

I give it 4 out of 5.