Fall season smackdown

Ever wonder why so many awful shows make it to the boob tube each fall? The new-to-DVD film "The TV Set" offers a few reasons why. David Duchovny stars as a TV scribe fighting to save the integrity of his comedy pilot, which begins with the death of the lead character's brother. That's too depressing, says a TV executive (Sigourney Weaver) who makes decisions based on what her flighty teen daughter likes, and the battle begins. Duchovny is dead on as a man fighting for dignity while realizing he has to support a wife and new baby. Weaver, looking more fierce than when she tackled the Mama Alien, deserves Oscar consideration. Her character perfectly captures the condescending nature of too many prime-time programs. Watch it and weep. (photo, left to right: Ioan Gruffudd, Sigourney Weaver, David Duchovny and Judy Greer)