Online chat: 'Donnellys' fans go crackers, and nothing will discourage the Donald.

The Inquirer's Jonathan Storm and the Daily News' Ellen Gray have been keeping us informed of all the goings-on at the annual television critics press tour, currently being held in Beverly Hills. The following is a partial transcript of their online chat yesterday. They'll be back on Friday at 11 a.m. at http://go.philly.com/tvchat to discuss the just-announced Emmy nominations.

Jonathan Storm: Are you positively thrilled that smarmy Donald Trump will be back with another Apprentice?

Ellen Gray: I won't watch it, anyway, or at least not outside the line of duty. But I was pretty appalled. Not sure how the celeb version would work - they're talking about doing it for charity, but since the usual prize is working for The Donald, what's that worth? - and I think it'll be a cold day in hell before Rosie signs on.

JS: I'd like to see the two of them in an Ultimate Fighting Cage Match. I wish them no permanent harm, but it would be nice to have them sidelined for, say, 10 years.

EG: I think Trump would deem that to be permanent harm. Rosie's irrepressible.

Michael: Any real surprises so far on the tour?

EG: Star Jones' new look certainly got a few gasps. Her coyness about it was less of a surprise. . . . BTW, Court TV, where she'll be yakking, is going to the name truTV. Which apparently doesn't mean the return of Tru Calling.

Michael: Kenan Thompson, who plays her on Saturday Night Live, was very happy about her slimness, because that will help him stick to his diet.

Melinda: So why does The Apprentice keep coming back season after season? Does the Donald have some nasty pictures of NBC executives?

JS: I think a lot of people have nasty pictures of TV executives in Hollywood. I have no idea what the attraction of Donald Trump is.

Joe Bianco: With everything The Black Donnellys fans are accomplishing (sending out crackers, shamrocks, letters), do you think we are getting noticed from any network? Is it possible to get a second season out of the whole ordeal?

Eric from MA: Why is it that shows that have substance, and take a while to develop plots are slowly being phased out for more and more stupid reality TV shows? It seems like the major networks are reluctant to let a plot develop (for example, Black Donnellys, Jericho), and they ax it before it even gets going. . . .

EG: We have two different questions here, I'm afraid. Yes, there's a problem with shows not getting enough time to develop, but no, I'm afraid that doesn't apply to Black Donnellys, which started out as a pretentious mess, and got worse. (Please don't send me crackers.)

Stan: What show survived for another season that really surprised you? I mean, one you can't understand why it's still on the air.

JS: I've been surprised since 2001 every time ER comes back.

EG: Well, obviously, the return of According to Jim raised a few eyebrows. Though it makes a handy placeholder when you're looking for an example of a show that's just really dumb (and other writers are always stopping by my office looking for just such examples, since they don't watch enough bad TV to come up with their own examples).

JS: Yes, now that The King of Queens is gone.

Alphonse: Did I read that Isaiah Washington got another job in prime time? What do you guys think of that?

JS: Yes. "He became available," the new NBC programming boss said yesterday, so they snapped him up. He's going to be on Bionic Woman, the remake of the Jamie Sommers show. He plays the bigoted guy who is always saying rude things about bionic people.

EG: I think Washington's an incredible actor - and if you don't believe me, go back and look at some of his scenes with T.R. Knight - so I'm happy to see him employed, even if it's for only five episodes while they develop a show around some "action" idea he has. I'm sure there'll be people who won't ever watch anything with Washington again, but I can't go there. I mean, I'd never want to be married - or formerly married - to Alec Baldwin, but that doesn't mean he isn't the best reason (besides The Office) to watch NBC on Thursday nights.

Eva: Do you guys like or dislike Rachael Ray?

JS: Only the meanest of meanies, like maybe Rosie O'Donnell, could dislike Rachael Ray.

EG: Even though I'm not actually watching her - my daytime viewing's pretty limited - I'm feeling a bit over Rachael already. Could be those Dunkin' Donuts commercials. But I like the fact that she's not super-skinny.