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Despite a steep increase in advertising prices and a lackluster economy, commercial spots for Super Bowl XLVI are all sold out, showing yet another sign of the increasing influence of sports TV on Madison Avenue.

In case you missed the memo, some (all?) of the 2011-12 TV season's best new series have been held till midseason this year. So what does that mean for you? First, that the season so far has kinda been a big ol' ball of bummer, right? But more importantly, some seriously kickass premieres are coming your way, and pronto.

It wasn't an exciting Wednesday, ratings-wise, but CBS' three procedural repeats each claimed comfortable wins, as the network dominated the slow night in all measures.

There was little change at the top of the primetime basic cable rankings for 2011, with USA finishing the year as No.1 in total viewers and adults 18-49 for a sixth consecutive time on the strength of its original series. The cable network added another hit to its original slate this year with rookie Suits. There was one change each in the Top 5 among total viewers and 18-49 from 2010. History broke into the Top 5 among total viewers after doing the same among adults 18-49 last year, while siblings TNT and TBS swapped places in the top 18-49 echelon. (Network rankings after the jump.)

Apple HDTV has been in the news for some time, and the latest Apple device is rumored to be launched in mid 2012. That means we might be able to see the iOS powered Smart TV crash into the market between the second and third quarter of the coming year. Find out more tech news here.

AMC announced on Tuesday (December 27) that "Hell on Wheels" has been renewed for a second season.

The body of Joe Bodalai, who co-wrote the script for the first "Wayne's World" movie, was discovered at a Los Angeles hotel on Monday.

Jonathan Ames, the creator of the recently canceled HBO series “Bored to Death,” invited local fans to join him at a Boerum Hill bar Wednesday in its memory.

The powerful 19-year-old vocalist from Sunrise, Fla., won the Fox talent competition Thursday over soulful 30-year-old singer Josh Krajcik of Wooster, Ohio. Amaro, who was mentored by judge Simon Cowell and was at one point eliminated from the contest, was awarded the grand prize: a $5 million recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial. "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God," Amaro repeated after host Steve Jones announced her as the winner.

"The X Factor" judges didn't want to stop listening to Melanie Amaro. The powerful 19-year-old vocalist from Sunrise, Fla., wowed the Fox talent competition's panel with her soaring rendition of Beyonce's "Listen" during Wednesday's final performance round, prompting head judge Simon Cowell to declare that Amaro should win the show's grand prize: a $5 million recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi commercial.