Misguided ABC?

I don't know about you, but every time I like a new show it immediately gets canceled. From "My So-Called Life" to "The Comeback" -- and dozens before and in between, I'm almost to the point where I won't get into something until it's been on a few seasons and then I just play catch up. (The best thing about DVDs.) So I was genuinely pleased when I read that my beloved "Friday Night Lights" would be back for a third season -- albeit shortened and airing first on DirecTV before making its way back to NBC in early '09 -- and even though I don't think it's all that good, that "Lipstick Jungle" was returning too. No sooner had I celebrated those two battles did I read that my other new fave, ABC's "Miss Guided," was on the "nearly dead" list in USA Today. (Say it isn't so!) My friend assured me that anything with Ashton Kutcher's name on it was a guaranteed hit -- Mr. Demi Moore's an executive producer -- so I thought I was safe to dig in. Now it seems like it's over before it even began. With only seven episodes having aired as a midseason replacement, how can ABC so quick to dump it? Does anyone else love the show as much as I do? (I hadn't even had a chance to blog about it yet other than mentioning the favorable review it got in The Times.)

If you haven't seen "Miss Guided," I can only describe it as what "Strangers With Candy" would have been like if Valerie Cherish had gone back to her old high school as a teacher instead of Jerri Blank as a student. (If that doesn't make you wanna watch it, you're as lame as the execs at ABC.) Judy Greer is simply brilliant as hapless guidance counselor Becky Freeley, who returns to the scene of her teenage trauma to right the wrongs of her youth. Brooke Burns is delish as her onetime nemesis, the eternally popular Lisa Germain (only Lisa probably didn't know Becky existed and couldn't care less). Like Becky, Lisa has also returned to Glen Ellen High School, but as a teacher. Earl Billings has a certain Principal Blackman quality as Phil Huffy -- and Chris Parnell is well-suited as the power-hungry vice principal, Bruce Terry. As an added bonus, Kristoffer Polaha is beyond dreamy as former auto shop teacher turned (underqualified) Spanish instructor, Tim O'Malley -- the clueless object of Becky's affection. (Naturally, the former cheerleader and most popular girls ever Lisa Germain has to have his attention too.)

I really hope ABC is still considering keeping this one around. It really should have been a cable show to begin with, but I thought their new-found success might have given them the balls to try to air something good for a change (I guess adding another night of "Dancing With the Stars" is easier than producing something witty and intelligent.)

In the meantime, you can watch full episodes online here. And join me in nightly prayers for the return of the best half-hour comedy in years, a show that fans of "The Office" would undoubtedly appreciate -- if given half a chance.

Related: A Guidance Counselor's Second (Painful) Adolescence (NYT)