Yesterday, in discussing ABC’s decision to release a spoiler-heavy 10-minute preview of the upcoming third season of “Cougar Town,” television critic Ryan McGee asked showrunner, Bill Lawrence, directly what the idea behind the strategy was. Here’s his response:

It’s not a “new standard” as far as clips go. We have a different burden – getting people back after nine months, convincing folks to try a show with a polarizing title. But: why not put every episode out? You’re not trying to get all those people to watch it on TV, you’re trying to get word of mouth, and buzz to spread to the 25,000 NIELSEN households (that’s it – has anyone met one?) that determine the fate of your show. That is our flawed system: 25,000 households representing entire TV viewing country. You just have to hope that if a Nielsen family watches pilot/clips early, they are still compelled to watch again because they liked it and want to keep show alive. Ruining it for the masses or encouraging them to watch on their computer doesn’t matter until the system changes.

I knew the Nielsen sample was small, but that number is striking: 25,000 households, out of approximately 115 million households in America. I’m not very good at math, but by my calculator’s calculations, that means that .0217 percentage of American households determine not only the amount a network can charge its advertisers, but what shows in effect are canceled or renewed. .0217. That’s astounding. That means that, essentially, a very popular show (say, a show like “Mike & Molly” that receives 10 million household viewers) has to only be seen by the right 2,100 households out of 115 million to be considered a successful show.

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Oops. That headline came out all wrong. What I meant was, the country — no, the planet — needs your help to get “Community” back on the air. Donald Glover, the future first black Spider-man, has taken to the YouTubes to deliver a VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE, the gist of which is this: Thursday nights just aren’t the same without Annie’s Boobs our friends from Greendale. “Parks and Recreation” and “30 Rock” are great, and while GIFs of Ron Swanson smiling light up our mornings, they just don’t compare to GIFs of Annie Edison in a cleavage-bearing Santa costume Betty-Booping her way around a room.

So watch Donald Glover’s PSA, then take action. Call your state representative. Plant a computer virus in the NBC servers. Hold a school of kindergartners hostage. Do whatever it takes in this, our time of need.

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No-nudity clauses have long been a big deal in the film world, but now that nudity restrictions are more lax in the TV world — both on premium cable, basic cable, and even network television — actors who want to remain clothed now find it increasingly necessary to sign detailed no-nudity clauses, so says The NY Post. In fact, when the short-lived “The Playboy Club” debuted last fall, the subject came up because many of the actresses in the show, such as Amber Heard, were asked to waive no-nudity clauses for rebroadcasts on DVD and abroad. Kristen Bell also signed a no-nudity clause for her Showtime comedy “House of Lies,” though she will film in bra and panties, and apparently, allow her toes to be sucked.

With the Supreme Court now hearing arguments about the FCC’s ability to censor nudity on network television, the issue could gain even more attention in the coming years. But from what we know of rumor, innuendo, and statements made in interviews, we can be fairly certain that the following ten television actors and actresses all have various forms of no-nudity clauses. That does not mean, however, that they won’t wear revealing attire. Feel free to compare to the 10 Television Actresses You Were Most Likely to See Naked in 2011, and, FYI, while Alison Brie is not on the record with regard to her willingness to appear naked on television, she’s not shy about sharing details of her college sexual experimentation.

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After being away for a few weeks for various seasonal celebrations (thanks, Jesus and/or Maccabees) and other holidays (thanks, having dreams), the GIF of the Week feature is back. Today, we’ve got animated selections from “Archer,” “Justified,” “30 Rock,” “Parks and Recreation,” and the greatest Lifetime Original Movie ever (bitch).

Yay indeed, Leslie.
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Man alive. As if “Community” being on hiatus isn’t torture enough, now details are beginning to leak out about the episodes those bastards at NBC are WITHHOLDING FROM US. We’ve just learned that the show — which has a history of genre mash-ups — will be paying homage to “Law & Order,” the late, great long-running procedural that spawned two decades of copy-cats and basically today’s entire CBS line-up.

The story behind “Basic Lupine Urology” is as zany as you’d expect from Community: The Greendale gang must channel their inner Lennie Briscoes when someone allegedly sabotages their science experiment — the yam they’re attempting to sprout is demolished! — and they decide to investigate the crime.

Once the Human Being in question is unearthed, Annie “Jack McCoy” Edison prosecutes the perp to the fullest extent of the law Greendale’s Code of Conduct.

And yes, yes: The “dun dun” sound effect will be put to good use. But my favorite part? This man will play the judge:

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