NBC is definitely headed down a dead end alley. Heroes degraded faster than season 2 of Alias and no matter how many critics tell me Friday Night Lights is the greatest, I still haven’t seen a single frame of it. The Office is still strong (as proven in “Murder” a couple weeks ago) but Parks & Rec is spreading the combined creative team a little thin.

Of course, it has to be hard to work under the constant cloud of corporate takeover that has hung over NBC for so long. I wonder how Comcast will handle the schedule if they succeed in their vertical integration monopoly attempt?

The downside is NBC is running low on great shows. 30 Rock is going strong, but aside from that? The Office appears to be hitting its decline phase, with the writers’ answer to any problem that comes along being how can we make Michael more buffoonish and Homer Simpson-like. Scrubs and My Name is Earl hit that wall years ago, and the new shows that have replaced them don’t have any soul to them. Heroes had a great first season then went down hill quickly. Friday Night Lights has continually been good, but now with Leno occupying the 10 p,m. to 11 p.m.you hear the execs scurrying to find a time slot for it (And when they do find a spot for it, bet your bottom dollar it will be on Friday Night, when the show’s target audience is out drinking). The network debuted three new shows this fall, and maybe Mercy will survive until next year. This is a long-winded way of saying there’s a reason why NBC is the fourth-place network right now.

I don’t blame Jay for taking NBC’s millions. But I also vote (as does everyone) with my remote control, and there’s a good reason I switch the channel before Leno comes on.