Eli Stone" airs its final episode on Saturday (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4). And I'm going to miss the series.
A lot.
After almost two decades of writing about TV, I am, perhaps, less emotional about these things than I used to be. Certainly, I get that it's a business. That it's a matter of finance, not art, when a show is canceled.
But I also get that we form emotional attachments to TV shows, so it's no wonder that viewers get emotional when their favorite shows are axed.
(It's always kind of funny — and by funny I mean annoying — when the same network executives who work so hard to create those emotional attachments say, "It's just a business decision" when they lower the boom on shows.)
I definitely have an emotional attachment to "Eli Stone." I love the show.
Is it sort of weird? Absolutely. C'mon — a show about a shark-like lawyer (Jonny Lee Miller) turned prophet?
Yes, indeed. Eli has a brain aneurysm that gives him visions. Except that, as time went by, it became clear that those visions were from some sort of higher power.
Dare I say — God?
In last week's penultimate episode, I was reminded once again why I love "Eli Stone."
It's not just because creators/executive producers Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim came up with characters who ring true despite the bizarre circumstances, the crisp writing, the great cast.
It's because, at the end of an episode, "Eli Stone" makes you feel good. Makes you feel hopeful. Makes you feel like — dare I say — happy.
The final episode wasn't screened for critics. But we have some indication that, while everything won't be wrapped up in a neat little package, there will be a sense of closure.
(According to ABC, "Eli's latest vision leads him to believe someone close to him will die in a plane crash. As Eli tries to unravel the mystery of who among his friends may meet their fate on the doomed plane, he and Keith take on the case of a woman named Diane who's in need of a heart transplant, but the religious parents of a donor refuse to give her their daughter's heart because she is an atheist. Little does Eli know that the heart he is fighting for will take on greater significance. Meanwhile Taylor and Matt get engaged, and Maggie's faith in Eli is tested.")
At this point, I'm just trying to be grateful that we got 26 episodes of "Eli Stone."
And offering my thanks to everyone involved in bringing us those episodes.
SCRUBBING UP: "Scrubs" has a new show-runner and a new direction as it heads into next season.
Reportedly, the sitcom will change focus following the departure of most of the cast. It will revolve around a medical school where Turk (Donald Faison) and Cox (John C. McGinley) teach a group of med students — and a bunch of those med students (who haven't been cast yet) will be regulars.
Zach Braff has agreed to return for half a dozen episodes as J.D.; other cast members, including Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes, may also make guest appearances.
If the show has to continue, it's definitely a good idea to change it up. Whether it will work remains to be seen.
Success or failure will be, to no small degree, in the hands of newly hired executive producer Josh Bycel. He'll be the show-runner on "Scrubs," with creator/executive producer Bill Lawrence having less time to devote to the show because he's launching "Cougar Town" on ABC.
(Courteney Cox stars as a 40-something single mother in this new comedy — which looks pretty good.)
Bycel's credits include "Psych" and "Andy Barker, P.I," which gives us reason to hope for the best. They also include "American Dad," "It's All Relative" and "Veronica's Closet," which aren't quite as impressive.
Keeping "Scrubs" alive is going to be a tough task. Not only did it have an outstanding run on ABC last season, but the season finale would have made a great series finale.
It'll be a tough act to follow.
E-mail: pierce@desnews.com