It's time to check in with the three newest talk shows out of the gate: The Megan Mullally Show, The Dr. Keith Ablow Show, and The Greg Behrendt Show. Clearly, you have to be good with names to give a shit. Times TV scribe Alessandra Stanley clogged up her TiVo – or, quite likely, simply asked friends if they'd seen the shows – to offer today's review, which firmly places her allegience with Greg Behrendt (he of the "He's just not that into you" fame). The Sex and the City hanger-on's gimmick? "Minor celebrities promote their latest projects by helping people overcome petty problems." Almost like The Tyra Banks Show, except with Behrendt, the minor celebrities are the guests, not the host. Over at Megan Mullally's set, things aren't going so well, as viewers are trying so hard to identify with Will & Grace's Karen, not this sweet-voiced commoner whose mug is, most likely, filled with virgin coffee or water. And at Keith Ablow's circlejerk, where real people have real problems, you've got a discount Dr. Phil interviewing the likes of faux JonBenet Ramsey killer John Mark Karr, otherwise known as ABC's failed get. Which all makes for a lovely way to spend an afternoon — if you don't get SOAPNet.

Being Chatted Up, With the Whole World Watching [Alessandra Stanley, NYT]