31.   NBC made no further commitment, probably because after two weeks the November sweeps month begins and the network may try to fill the night with special programming.

32.   Networks try to appeal to a broad range of people, and that often invites backlash from the so-called cultural elite.

33.   Nevertheless, last fall the other networks tried to do just that, and the result seems to have been a yearlong alienation of older and younger viewers.

34.   Of course, the networks will also try to distract you with specials, which sometimes are big and sometimes just long.

35.   Only four episodes of the series were ordered, and they aired in the dead of summer, when networks generally try to burn off bad shows.

36.   Padden said the network tried to weave soccer story lines into the afternoon soap operas, but the U.S. team was chosen too late.

37.   So the network will try to remain cool and at the same time mature.

38.   Some networks are trying to rework deals so that two or three episodes a season can be withheld from syndication, to be repeated in the future.

39.   So the cable networks are trying to take advantage of their new-found popularity by more aggressively seeking advertisers.

40.   Still, the networks are trying.