From left, John Goodman, Steven Weber and Bradlely Whitford have a confrontation in the fictional "Pahrump Sheriff's Office" in tonight's episode of "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

If you think the November sweeps are feeling a little less sweepy so far, you're not alone.

The annual ratings period usually has all manner of big events bouncing around the schedule like Rush Limbaugh during his oh-so-tasteful Michael J. Fox impression.

But this month, the networks are largely relying on their regular series instead of the mutually assured destruction that often saw the biggest stunts, specials and movies going head-to-head each night.

That's not to say some of the episodes won't be special, at least for Southern Nevadans.

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (10 p.m. today and Nov. 13, KVBC-TV, Channel 3) hits the road for a two-part episode. Destination? Pahrump.

Tom (Nathan Corddry), one of the stars of the show-within-the-show, is jailed in Pahrump, but the judge (guest star John Goodman) isn't a fan and won't let him out in time for that night's show. So it's up to his co-star Simon (D.L. Hughley), producer Danny (Bradley Whitford) and network boss Jack (Steven Weber) to come get him.

"Studio 60" creator Aaron Sorkin is quite possibly the only person on the planet with a more romanticized view of TV than mine, but surely the head of an entire network -- not to mention two key players in putting together a live national broadcast -- has better things to do than a last-minute jaunt to Pahrump.

And on "Bones" (8 p.m. Wednesday, KVVU-TV, Channel 5), Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Booth (David Boreanaz) come to Las Vegas after the five-year-old remains of a federal prosecutor are found in the desert. When a tip leads them to an underground fight club, Booth, naturally, steps into the ring.

Coming just six days after Ryan's (Ben McKenzie) stint as a cage fighter on "The O.C.," I'm sensing a new Fox pattern that hopefully won't stop until Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) joins the UFC.

Here's a look at some of the other November offerings, and, as always, times and dates are subject to change:

FINALES

As if killing off Mr. Eko (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) last week weren't enough, now "Lost" (9 p.m. Wednesday, KTNV-TV, Channel 13) is airing its final episode until Feb. 7. And "Prison Break" disappears for a few months as well after its "fall finale" (8 p.m., Nov. 27, Channel 5).

"Dancing with the Stars" crowns its third champion (8 p.m. Nov. 15, Channel 13) and Prince Lorenzo chooses a princess as "The Bachelor: Rome" comes to an end (9 p.m. Nov. 27, Channel 13).

SPECIAL EPISODES

"The Simpsons" features guest voices by Kiefer Sutherland (8 p.m. Sunday, Channel 5) and authors Gore Vidal, Michael Chabon, Tom Wolfe and Jonathan Franzen (8 p.m. Nov. 19), while "Family Guy" (9 p.m. Nov. 19, Channel 5) has Gary Cole as the school principal and David Cross as a reverend(!).

Paget Brewster joins the cast of "Criminal Minds" (9 p.m. Nov. 15, KLAS-TV, Channel 8) and Wayne Brady guest stars as Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) brother on "How I Met Your Mother" (8 p.m. Nov. 27, Channel 8).

"Medium" (9 p.m. Nov. 15, Channel 3) returns with a two-hour episode.

"My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and "30 Rock" get 40-minute super-sized episodes, with some "Earl" scenes filmed in stop-motion animation (8 p.m. Nov. 16, Channel 3).

And "Crossing Jordan's" Jill Hennessey and Jerry O'Connell visit the Montecito for yet another crossover episode of "Las Vegas" (9 p.m., Nov. 17, Channel 3).

MUSIC SPECIALS

"The 40th Annual CMA Awards" (8 p.m. today, Channel 13) includes performances by Brooks & Dunn with Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans and Faith Hill.

Beyonce, the Dixie Chicks, Gwen Stefani and Tenacious D are among the performers at the American Music Awards (8 p.m. Nov. 21, Channel 13), hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Tony Bennett gets a little help from Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera and others for "Tony Bennett: An American Classic" (8 p.m. Nov. 21, Channel 3).

And "Madonna: The Confessions Tour Live" (8 p.m. Nov. 22, Channel 3) marks the singer's first network concert.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS

Charlie Brown rings in two holidays in a little over a week with "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" (8 p.m. Nov. 20, Channel 13) and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (8 p.m. Nov. 28, Channel 13).

And Aguilera pops up again, along with Sting, Bette Midler and Taylor Hicks, for the annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" (8 p.m. Nov. 29, Channel 3).

MOVIES

Good news for anyone who still watches movies on network TV: Fox has the "world broadcast premieres" of "Cheaper By the Dozen" (8 p.m. Nov. 22, Channel 5), "Spider-Man 2" (8 p.m. Nov. 23) and "Bruce Almighty" (8 p.m. Nov. 24).

And CBS reaches into its "Hallmark Hall of Fame" bag for "Candles on Bay Street" (9 p.m. Nov. 26, Channel 8), starring Alicia Silverstone and Annabeth Gish.

Christopher Lawrence's Life on the Couch column appears on Mondays. E-mail him at clawrence@reviewjournal.com.