"Glee" may look like an unassuming show about a bunch of high school dorks, but it's a killer. Seriously. Throw anything at it and the Fox show comes out on top.

The latest proof comes courtesy of NBC's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was foolish enough to cross the little show that could. If you are among the small band of desert-island dwellers who have not yet heard, allow us to recap: The entire cast of "Glee," including stars Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, was invited to perform at the Nov. 26 event. This could have been a great promotional opportunity, given that last year's parade averaged 21.7 million total viewers, according to the Nielsen Company, or about three times what "Glee" has been doing.

But note that we said "could have been." Alas, it never was. Apparently parade organizers had extended the invitation without checking with NBC first. And surprise, surprise -- network executives thought it was a terrible idea. Since when does a network help promote a rival show? So before you could hum the opening riff of "Don't Stop Believin'," the "Glee" crew's invitation disappeared.

Others might have cried, but this is where the "Glee" people got tough. Stories started appearing everywhere. Deadline Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke opined that NBC was staffed by "morons." Observers started asking why "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta was allowed to sing at last year's parade. And then "Glee" executive producer Ryan Murphy kicked in with a public statement to Entertainment Weekly: "I completely understand NBC's position, and look forward to seeing a Jay Leno float." Take that, Jeff Zucker! 

NBC has gotten totally drubbed in the media, which these days isn't that unusual. The network has probably made matters worse by not talking publicly about its decision. But the thing is, it does have a point. As an NBC insider says, it's standard operating procedure for networks to avoid showing talent from rival programs. The sole exception is news programs and late-night talk shows, and even there uneasy truces are easily broken, as we've seen recently with "The Jay Leno Show." And since the "Glee" performance was likely to be a virtual infomercial for the show, it's understandable why the thought made NBC programmers queasy. 

But the real point here is an object lesson in how "Glee" -- probably the most ingeniously and tirelessly flogged new show this season -- turned what could have been a minor reversal into a major PR windfall. As Jon Stewart might say, "Well-played, sir. Well-played." 

--Scott Collins

Twitter: scottcollinsLAT

Photo: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

It now looks like Jon & Kate Gosselin are riding off into the sunset with their large brood and may never be heard from again.

Kidding! You didn't think this pair would disappear that easily, did you? 

Published reports have stated that TLC has halted production on the reality phenomenon "Jon & Kate Plus 8," after estranged dad Jon said the show was harming his kids and had his lawyers issue a cease-and-desist order.

But the reality, if you will, is a bit more complicated. Producers have for now stopped shooting footage of the couple's eight children, but they are still filming mom Kate alone. They also have previously unaired footage of Jon and the kids that will probably turn up in future episodes, according to a person close to the show. So fans may not notice much difference in the days ahead.

Beyond that, however, the future gets murky. TLC has evidently not decided whether to proceed with earlier announced plans to rebrand the show next month as "Kate Plus Eight," leading some observers to conclude that the cable channel may soon wash its hands of the whole sordid situation. A network spokeswoman declined to comment. 

Meanwhile, Jon's representative, New York attorney Mike Heller, said any filming of the show comes as news to him. "As far as I know," he wrote in an e-mail, there is "nothing being shot."

It's all a confusing mess -- which may be good news for tabloids that have feasted on the domestic drama for months. Kate is developing a solo show with TLC, as well as a talk show with a syndicated unit of Warner Bros. Jon also remains under contract to TLC, but is reportedly developing a reality-show idea with Lindsay Lohan's father, Michael Lohan, called "Divorced Dads Club."

--Scott Collins

The blackmail scandal is already having a beneficial effect on David Letterman's ratings.

On Thursday, numbers for "Late Show with David Letterman" surged 22% based on preliminary estimates, according to the Nielsen Company. Letterman spent part of the program discussing a recent $2-million blackmail attempt and admitted that he had had affairs with female staffers on his show.

The program scored a 4.4 rating/12 share in household "overnight" numbers, handily beating "Late Show's" 3.6 rating/9 share so far this season. (Complete numbers, including total-viewer figures, will not be available until later.)

However, the Thursday show did not come close to a record. On Sept. 21, with President Obama as the sole guest, "Late Show" delivered a 5.6 rating/14 share. And when Oprah Winfrey appeared Dec. 1, 2005, the program hit an all-time high of a 10.1 rating/24 share.

Overall, however, Letterman is on a ratings roll. Long the No. 2 player in late night, the program has been on the upswing since June, when Conan O'Brien took over NBC's "Tonight Show" from Jay Leno.

During the first week of this season, "Late Show" logged an average of 5 million total viewers, up 28% compared with the same period last year. "Tonight Show" plunged 49%, to 2.4 million viewers.

-- Scott Collins

Alleged Letterman extortionist said he needed to 'make a large chunk of money'

Letterman's blackmail scandal boosts ratings 22% 

David Letterman on extortion attempt: 'I felt menaced by this'

Photo: This September 21, 2009 file photo shows US President Barack Obama (L) with David Letterman during a taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman" in New York. Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

CBS has revealed that the person accused in a $2-million blackmail plot against talk show host David Letterman is a network employee who works on the true-crime show "48 Hours."

At a taping of tonight's "Late Show," Letterman told the studio audience that an unnamed person had approached him and threatened to reveal details of the host's sexual liaisons with female staffers unless a payment of $2 million was received. Letterman said he admitted to the sexual relationships during grand jury testimony.

In a statement late Thursday, the network said: "CBS was made aware of an ongoing police investigation involving David Letterman and an employee at '48 Hours,' who was subsequently arrested earlier today on charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree." The employee had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, the network added.

"Mr. Letterman addressed the issue during the show's broadcast this evening, and we believe his comments speak for themselves," the network said in the statement.

--Scott Collins 

Letterman Top 10 list: Extortion and sex scandal edition

Alleged Letterman extortionist said he needed to 'make a large chunk of money'

Letterman's blackmail scandal boosts ratings 22%

In this Jan. 17, 2008 file photo, television talk show host David Letterman walks out of The Ed Sullivan Theater in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)

Talk host David Letterman said Thursday that he was the victim of a $2-million extortion attempt related to his sexual relationships with staffers on CBS' "The Late Show."

During a taping for tonight's broadcast, Letterman told viewers that three weeks ago he was approached by a person who claimed to have information about the host's affairs with female staff members. This person, Letterman said, threatened to expose the relationships unless payment of $2 million was received. The CBS star approached the Manhattan district attorney's office, which began an investigation that culminated in today's arrest of the person, whom Letterman did not identify.

According to the website TMZ, the alleged extortionist is New York businessman Robert Halderman, 51.

Letterman, 62, said that during his grand-jury testimony he admitted to the sexual relationships.

"My response to that is, yes I have," he told his studio audience. "Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps." However, he added: "I need to certainly protect my family."

Given that Fox's new high school show "Glee" has already attracted a cult following, there was considerable speculation about how it would do in its official premiere Wednesday night.

Turns out the show passed a key audition, but it's still too soon to tell its ultimate fate. "Glee" attracted 7.3 million total viewers and won its time slot among the adults aged 18 to 49 demographic, with a 3.3 rating/9 share, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research.

That put "Glee" -- a kind of cross between "High School Musical" and "Freaks and Geeks" -- a strong No. 2 to NBC's "America's Got Talent" (9.7 million total viewers) for the night. And the Fox show easily beat "Talent" among young adults (3.3 vs. 2.1).

But Wednesday was an unusual night for prime-time TV, so there's no telling where "Glee" will ultimately settle. The other broadcasters -- but not Fox -- opened the evening with coverage of Pres. Obama's speech about health care reform, which disrupted normal viewing patterns (ratings for the speech will be available later). And since the fall season doesn't officially start for nearly two more weeks, the real competition hasn't yet weighed in. "Glee" will eventually face off against two crime shows with solid fan bases: NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" and CBS' "Criminal Minds," plus two new ABC comedies.

Fox is betting that "Glee" can be its breakout hit this fall. The network aired a special preview last spring behind "American Idol," and showed another episode to rabid fans this summer at the Comic-Con in San Diego. The network pointed out that "Glee" this week delivered Fox's highest rating for a fall scripted premiere in two years.

Wednesday also saw the season premieres of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" (6.5 million) and the CW's "America's Next Top Model" (3.2 million). Both series underperformed based on their past results, with "Top Model" dipping to its lowest-rated premiere ever.

--Scott Collins

Plenty of daytime shows are hurting for viewers. But the audience is positively fleeing the Daytime Emmys.

Sunday's 36th Annual Daytime Emmy telecast -- which aired for two hours in prime time on the CW -- skidded to an all-time low of 2.2 million total viewers, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. That's a 58% plunge from last year's show on ABC.

The closing days of summer seldom produce blockbuster audiences, and on Sunday what viewers there were flocked to an NFL pre-season matchup between the Bears and the Broncos on NBC (9.9 million). But the Daytime Emmys have been drooping for years, and this year's results are likely to raise questions about the ceremony's future.

Those daytime fans who did tune in saw the hosts of ABC's "The View" upset repeat winner Ellen DeGeneres in the talk-show host category, while "Sesame Street" took home a lifetime achievement honor.

-- Scott Collins

Grabbing "Project Runway" is beginning to look like a triumph for Lifetime.

The fashion design reality series began its long-delayed sixth season Thursday, delivering 4.2 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That's the program's highest premiere number yet and a whopping 45% increase compared with last summer's Season 5 launch on Bravo.

"Runway" is being closely watched because the move to Lifetime resulted in a nasty lawsuit between NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, and Weinstein Co., which makes the show. NBC said that in cutting the deal with Lifetime, Weinstein had violated its contractual rights. The suit was settled this year after Weinstein agreed to pay NBC an undisclosed sum.

The settlement finally cleared the way for Lifetime, which had been barred by a court injunction from airing the series.

Andrea Wong, president and chief executive of Lifetime, said in an interview today that the network was thrilled with the ratings and that "Runway" will be a "key part in the evolution of our brand, to bring more relevance and a more contemporary feel" to the network.

The network worked hard, she added, to make sure existing fans of "Runway" could still find the show. At the same time, Lifetime wanted its core female fan base to sample the series, which had plenty of ups and downs in the ratings during its stint on Bravo.

Those efforts appear to have paid off -- and may damp speculation that the Lifetime move and the resulting lawsuit had permanently damaged the "Runway" franchise.

-- Scott Collins

Nadya Suleman, a.k.a. "Octomom," may be a tabloid sensation, but a TV star she is not.

Fox got plenty of advance PR for its two-hour Wednesday special "Octomom: The Incredible Unseen Footage," which purported to offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the La Habra woman who gave birth to octuplets this year. But the program averaged just 4.2 million total viewers, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research, giving it a fourth-place finish in the time slot. By comparison, the night's most-watched program, NBC's "America's Got Talent," averaged 10.3 million during the 9 p.m. hour. 

The broadcast networks have slogged through their worst summer ever this year, as new shows have bombed and viewers continue to flee to cable. But the "Octomom" flameout suggests that viewers have simply grown tired of the relentless coverage surrounding Suleman. Critics trashed the special (MSNBC.com called it "repulsively grim"), which featured interviews in which Suleman, among other things, trashed reality star Kate Gosselin and claimed that her house is haunted. 

-- Scott Collins  

Jay Leno is still tinkering with the format behind his new 10 p.m. talk show that premieres next month. But viewers should get ready for one change: There'll probably be less Jay than on "The Tonight Show."

Leno told reporters during a press conference in Burbank today that "The Jay Leno Show" will still start with a monologue tied to the day's news, and he'll still have familiar segments like Jaywalking and weird headlines. But -- in lieu of the interviews that occupy most of "Tonight" and other late shows -- Leno will spend a lot of time highlighting taped pieces by younger comics such as D.L. Hughley, Liz Feldman and Mikey Day. It's an impresario-like function that Leno believes TV used to perform in the 1960s and '70s.

"I hope we can make some stars in this," Leno said. "I hope people become famous and get offered shows. If they replaced me with a guy we discovered, I mean, that would be great."

Early taped segments will include Feldman trying to teach seniors how to use Twitter and Hughley coming up with off-the-wall ideas to help rescue California from its financial woes.

"This is a way to use young comics in a new way," Leno said. "They essentially go out and they shoot the stand-up piece they're talking about." 

Viewers may notice less Jay in another way too: The 59-year-old host says he's kept off about 10 pounds he lost this summer. He said he'd even finished off a two-mile run before heading over to the NBC lot to meet reporters.

-- Scott Collins

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images