WASHINGTON, Oct.

By MIKE HUGHES For TV people, a busy summer is about to become busier. Political conventions loom. "The Olympics have pressed the conventions together," says David Bohrman, head of CNN's Washington bureau. Previous years had a one-week gap between them.

By MIKE HUGHES For frustrated TV viewers, the post-strike doldrums may be brushed aside fairly quickly. CBS has announced that three of its situation comedies are expected back with new episodes on March 17. Each is expected to have nine fresh episodes this season.

By MIKE HUGHES Frank Caliendo has always known TV's best moments come late at night. "I loved 'Saturday Night Live' as a kid," he says. "Those were the days of Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman and Mike Myers." Now Caliendo gets his chance.

By MIKE HUGHES HOLLYWOOD - As soon as you step onto the "Las Vegas" set, you're convinced. This feels like a place where you could lose your inhibitions, your money, maybe your soul. It feels like Vegas. It's small compared with real casinos but huge compared with other TV sets.