Britney, Vulcans Key May Sweeps

Hello, Federlines. Goodbye, Federation.

In TV's May sweeps, running Thursday through May 25, viewers will be asked to process a number of comings and goings--from the premiere of the new Britney Spears-Kevin Federline reality series, to the final voyage of Star Trek: Enterprise.

And that's just what's happening on UPN.

Elsewhere, in the great, last gasp of the 2004-05 season, Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace check out of That '70s Show, Quentin Tarantino checks into CSI, ABC News checks out American Idol, and JAG just plain checks out.

Here's a look at the month's programming highlights:

PREMIERES Family Guy (Sunday, Fox): Stewie lives. American Dad (Sunday, Fox): Following a sneak peak on Super Bowl night, Seth (Family Guy) MacFarlane's latest animated series gets down to business. Britney and Kevin (May 17, UPN): The expectant couple shares "their courtship, engagement and wedding through exclusive, never-before-seen private home videos, shot mostly by the couple with their own camera." That should explain all the Cheetos smudges on the frames. Queer as Folk (May 22, Showtime): The drama series embarks on its fifth--and final--season. The Bad Girls Guide (May 24, UPN): Jenny McCarthy returns to prime time in this sitcom about the sort of wacky ad execs who would dream up crazy campaigns for Candie's shoes.

FAREWELLS JAG (Friday, CBS): Harm leaves for an ABC development deal. Sorry, that's David James Elliott. Whichever. It's show over after 10 seasons. Third Watch (May 6, NBC): Eddie Cibrian returns to help close up shop at the 55th precinct after six seasons. Star Trek: Enterprise (May 13, UPN): No less than an unflappable Vulcan (Jolene Blalock) has declared the final episode--set six years in the show's future when Captain Archer (Scott Bakula) and crew have returned to Earth--"appalling." The buzz says beware of a Tommy Westphal/St. Elsewhere/it-was-all-a-figment-of-the-holodeck ending. We know what you're thinking: Finally, a reason to watch! Everybody Loves Raymond (May 16, CBS): The ninth and final season of TV's most-watched comedy was an exercise in reruns interrupted by occasional new episodes. The Barones' swan song (one of those occasional new episodes) is preceded by the hourlong clip job, Everybody Loves Raymond: The Last Laugh. That '70s Show (May 18, Fox): Ashton Kutcher and Topher Grace have had their fill of the decade. Fox hasn't had their fill of this show, though. It'll live on minus Kelso, Eric and their stash. ER (May 19, NBC): Noah Wyle takes the George Clooney train out of town. County General putters on.

COULD-BE FAREWELLS Judging Amy (Tuesday, CBS): Judging by its ratings, this six-year old series is about to get dismissed. To celebrate the occasion, Judge Amy (Amy Brenneman) resigns from the bench and considers a career in politics--just in case anyone's in the mood for Electing Amy. Scrubs (May 10, NBC): J.D. (Zach Braff) completes his residency, meaning at least someone has strong career prospects. The Simple Life: Interns (May 12, Fox): The third-season closer finds Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie (in perhaps her final Simple Life assignment) entering dentistry. This might not be the best time to arm the former friends with sharp, pointy objects... The Bachelor (May 16, ABC): Charlie O'Connell reveals the identity of the girl he'll eventually dump. Fans of poetic justice, meanwhile, will be rooting for ABC to dump The Bachelor when it unveils its fall lineup in a few weeks. Revelations (May 18, NBC): Bill Pullman was ordered to stop the Anti-Christ in six weeks--and this is week six. But will miraculous ratings mean an extended run for a limited-run series? Charmed (May 22, WB): After seven seasons, the collective power of the Sisters Halliwell appears to have waned.

SEASON FINALES Veronica Mars (May 10, UPN): The teen detective (Kristen Bell) figures out who offed her best friend. Nancy Drew was never like this. Gilmore Girls (May 17, WB): Rory (Alexis Bledel) shocks her mom (Lauren Graham) and not the other way around. Smallville (May 18, WB): Clark (Tom Welling) goes to a cave to talk to his biological super dad--blah, blah, blah... Here's the highlight of this 90-minute episode: Eight minutes of footage from the upcoming Batman Begins. CSI (May 19, CBS): Quentin Tarantino is in the director's chair for an "explosive" tale that leaves one of our crime-stoppers in "grave danger"--and in serious jeopardy of losing all off-season bargaining power. The O.C. (May 19, Fox): It's do-or-die for the Cohens' marriage--and just maybe for somebody else. Rumors persist an O.C. denizen will not live to see season three. Desperate Housewives (May 22, ABC): Apparently missing the story about the Vanity Fair cover shoot, the imminently sensible Alfre Woodard moves to the viper pit that is Wisteria Lane. Grey's Anatomy (May 22, ABC): An STD hits the staff at Seattle Grace Hospital. What does this show think it is--7th Heaven? 24 (May 23, Fox): Jack Bauer's latest bad day comes to a close with two more hours of terror. Everwood (May 23, WB): Dr. Andy (Treat Williams) considers a gig in Chicago, posing all sorts of logistical and name problems for the upcoming fourth season. House (May 24, Fox): The irritable doctor (Hugh Laurie) gets all mushy for Sela Ward, guesting as The Woman from His Past. Lost (May 25, ABC): The castaways face their toughest challenge yet--going two-hour-finale-to-two-hour-finale with American Idol.

REALITY SHOWDOWNS The Amazing Race 7 (May 10, CBS): Jerry Bruckheimer's people plot another whiz-bang finish to deny the Emmy to American Idol. Survivor: Palau (May 15, CBS): The latest king/queen of the jungle is crowned. After, the cast reunites in New York to demonstrate they clean up nicely. America's Next Top Model (May 18, UPN): Word of advice to the winner: Don't make Tyra Banks angry. You wouldn't like her when she's angry. The Apprentice (May 19, NBC): Donald Trump gets just one hour to decide which of the final two candidates he should hire in order to end this show's lowest-rated season yet. Fear Factor (May 23, NBC): Newlyweds celebrate the sanctity of marriage by drinking alligator eyeballs. The Contender (May 24, NBC): The baddest boxer is crowned. A check for $1 million is awarded. NBC is pleased the show didn't bomb as loudly as The Next Great Champ. American Idol (May 25, Fox): A guess--viewers flip back and forth between this and Lost, hoping to miss all the Coke commercials, but catch the coronation of Carrie Underwood.

MILESTONES Cops (Saturday, Fox): Guys in dirty undershirts star in their 600th episode. The Simpsons (Sunday, Fox): Homer's clan turns 350 episodes old. According to Jim (May 10, ABC): Jim Belushi's clan turn 100 episodes old. 7th Heaven (May 9, WB): In a first, "Simon anxiously awaits the results of his STD test." Who does that kid think he is--a doctor on Grey's Anatomy? Alias (May 11, ABC): With Tarantino otherwise engaged with CSI, Jennifer Garner takes the helm--her directorial debut.

TV MOVIES Warm Springs (Saturday, HBO): Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon star as future Oval Office residents Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt faced with a health crisis. Riding the Bus with My Sister (Sunday, CBS): Rosie O'Donnell and Andie MacDowell are sisters who tug at your Kleenex box in this Hallmark Hall of Fame production. Elvis (May 8 and May 11, CBS): Every generation gets its own Elvis biopic. This time out, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Bend It Like Beckham) inherits the King's sideburns. Hercules (May 16, NBC): In this three-hour extravaganza, a half-man, half-god hero (Paul Telfer) performs feats of super strength. A Congressional steroid investigation ensues. The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (May 20, ABC): R&B star Ashanti is definitely not in Kansas anymore when she is confronted by Miss Piggy as the Wicked Witch of the East. Trump Unauthorized (May 24, ABC): The dramatic true-life tale of an ambitious man (played by Justin Louis) who dreamed of naming everything in New York after himself. Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution (May 25, CBS): The West Wing's Janel Moloney stars in this docudrama about convicted killer Scott Peterson's unwitting mistress.

SPECIALS Primetime Live: Fallen Idol (Wednesday, ABC): American Idol judge Paula Abdul is suing mad over this ABC News probe into her reputedly close relationship with second-season contestant Corey Clark. The rest of us, however, are just insanely interested. Elvis by the Presleys (May 13, CBS): The rocker's ex-wife and daughter, Priscilla and Lisa Marie, play old home movies. American Idol: International Best of the Worst (May 19, Fox): People from across the world butcher Whitney Houston songs.

AWARD SHOWS 40th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (May 17, CBS): Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" award-show tour wraps. 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (May 20, CBS): Martha Stewart looks for her first post-jailhouse win.

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