Pittsburg Post-Gazette

American television regards Christmas as a throwaway day. Aside from sports, there’s typically nothing new to watch on that day. For instance, ABC would be loath to air a new “Modern Family” episode.

Give thanks to PBS for the gift of something new to watch on Christmas week: Producer Rick Sebak’s latest national special, “Breakfast Special 2: Revenge of the Omelets” (2 a.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Dec. 30, KUED Channel 7). It’s a sequel to his first “Breakfast Special” program, which made its national debut in July 2010. At that time, he said he hoped to do a sequel because he had visited more restaurants than he was able to fit into the first program.

Q: I agree that “The Neighbors” is really funny. Dick Butkus with the Marty puppet on the Halloween episode was inspired and I would watch Jami Gertz in anything.

I’m curious about what is happening with the second season of “Smash.” I recall that the second season was ordered very early, before the precipitous drop in both the ratings and the caliber of the show’s writing. IMDB lists 13 episodes for season 2 with no details.

Q: Is this the final season for “Grey’s Anatomy”? I was surprised that Eric Danes was taken off the show, as well as the actors who played Lexie and Teddie. Christina has left the hospital, so there are not many of the original cast members left. It would be a shame if this were the last season.

A: We don’t know yet whether this will be the final season of “Grey’s Anatomy.” There has been no announcement to that effect and the cast is signed through a 10th season — taking the show to May 2014 — so it seems likely it will continue.

Pity poor Pippa Middleton.

Her first book has been slammed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic, and sales have been so sluggish since its release Oct. 30 that Amazon in Great Britain has already slashed the price in half.

Even worse, parodies of “Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Family and Friends” have been springing up all over. Go to “pippatips” on Twitter and you’ll find such sage advice as, “If you fancy a bit of a laugh, watching, reading or listening to comedy can be an amusing way to bring the smiles.”

Usually a TV show’s genre is a pretty fixed thing. Yes, there are “dramedies,” but in general, programs are intended to be dramas or comedies.

But National Geographic Channel’s “Doomsday Preppers” (7 p.m. Tuesday) will be received either as a comedy or drama depending on the person watching.

For viewers with an addiction to fear-mongering, “Doomsday Preppers” will no doubt be serious drama. For others, it’s clearly a comedy that expects viewers to laugh at those featured in the show. Sometimes their loved ones even express doubts about the preppers’ obsessions.

Q: Is this the final season for “Grey’s Anatomy”? I was surprised that Eric Danes was taken off the show, as well as the actors who played Lexie and Teddie. Christina has left the hospital, so there are not many of the original cast members left. It would be a shame if this were the last season.

“Private Practice” is ending and “Desperate Housewives” is over. Both of them were among my favorites.

I am not a fan of “Scandal” and am trying to get interested in “Nashville” and “666 Park Avenue,” but they are just OK in my opinion.

Q: Do you know why they eliminated any mention of the Celia character (Elizabeth Perkins) from the series finale of “Weeds”? I had thought she left on good terms, and she was one of the best characters during the show’s first few seasons. It seemed like the elephant in the room, especially when every other significant character was either on the finale or mentioned during it.

A: I don’t know why Perkins was not asked back, but the two most logical reasons are that the writers couldn’t come up with a creative way to work the character back in or, perhaps, there were other reasons. In July Perkins was asked about it during a press conference for her new midseason ABC sitcom “How to Live With Your Parents for the Rest of Your Life.”