Thank goodness for Primetime on Demand (Time Warner channel 199). Otherwise, 8 p.m Thursdays would be extremely difficult for me.

The timeslot has four shows I regularly watch: "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "CSI" (CBS), "The Office" (NBC) and "Supernatural" (The CW).

My DVR, though, only allows me to record two at a time. Fortunately, "The Office" and "CSI" are available on Primetime.

It's a good thing because if I had to choose, "CSI," "Grey's" or "The Office" would fall by the wayside.

But not "Supernatural," which will be part of my end-of-the-year top 10 list.

Really? Yes, really.

What started as a "kill-the-demon-of-the-week" drama, "Supernatural" now has evolved into one of the most layered shows on television, teeming with religious and social themes.

Sadly, this season, its fifth, may be its last. Creator Eric Kripke never planned to go beyond five, with this year's angels-versus-demons apocalyptic storyline as the end to it.

There's hope, however, that it could go on - stars Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki are under contract through a sixth season. We'll see.

Anyway, for the uninitiated, "Supernatural" has been one of The CW's mainstays, along with "Smallville" and "One Tree Hill."

Most fans of Joss Whedon's "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel" are fans of this as well because the writing is similar, featuring a mix of drama, horror and humor.

The first three seasons chronicled brothers Dean (Ackles) and Sam (Padalecki) chasing the demon responsible for their mother's death. Harry Dean Morgan (Denny in "Grey's") had a recurring role as the brothers' father.

The past two years have revolved around archangels - Michael, Gabriel, Rafael and the most notorious of them all, Lucifer, who is on Earth hell-bent on destroying humanity.

The brothers are trying to stop him and, in the process, save their own sometimes strained relationship.

Ackles and Padalecki are the draws here. The show has other things going for it - Dean's black 1967 Chevy Impala, the classic rock soundtrack, etc.

(The music, by the way, is much more appealing than the angsty alt-rock on "Grey's" that often drowns out the actors.)

If you haven't watched, go back and catch the first few seasons on DVD. You have time: This season won't resume until Jan. 21.

Across the remote

*NOT taking a page from the Lou Dobbs' handbook-on-leaving, TV icon Oprah Winfrey announced this past week she'll ride into the sunset at the end of 2011.

I guess this will give us two full years to lament her exit. I predict her final year will be a long farewell tour of some sort. My big question is: What will I watch when I'm home sick?

*Before you e-mail me and ask, many of your favorite shows will be on hiatus during the holiday season and will return in January, February and, in some cases, as late as March. Blame the Winter Olympics for that.

*"Grey's Anatomy" fans will want to check out the show online at ABC.com, where the network has begun to roll out original webisodes featuring cast members. The first went up on Thursday. The next will air Dec. 3.

* Hospital operations manager Peggy Black of Orange, Conn., won the contest to create a character for "The Simpsons." Her winning entry - ladies' man Ricardo Bomba. He'll debut on the Jan. 31 episode.

* ESPN signed Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden to a multiyear contract, insuring he'll stay in the booth for a while rather than return to the sideline.

It's a good move. I like Gruden as an analyst because he breaks down the game well.

I have few complaints about him other than he tends to call every player "great."

And sometimes, it's hard to distinguish between him and fellow analyst Ron Jaworski because they have similar speech patterns.

* Mark your calendars, the broadcast and cable networks have released premiere dates for several shows, including:

"Chuck" (NBC), 8 p.m. Jan. 10

"American Idol" (Fox), 7 p.m. Jan. 12

"24" (Fox), 8 p.m. Jan. 17

"Caprica" (Syfy), 8 p.m. Jan. 22

"Burn Notice" (USA), 8 p.m. Jan. 28

"Psych," 8 p.m. Jan. 29

"Lost" (ABC), 8 p.m. Feb. 2

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.