1.   A midseason series against the Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre suggested on Monday afternoon, feels more like an exhibition than a prelude to October.

2.   Midseason series are created to fill in the blanks.

3.   NBC also announced four midseason series ready to step into the breach.

4.   Still, the network has assembled an aggressive array of midseason series, and is determined to produce one good comedy this year.

5.   That excludes midseason series, movies and miniseries.

6.   The midseason series begins with a deft Bochco touch, the freak death of an overweight rhythm and blues singer.

7.   The prospect of a midseason series satirizing Martha Stewart is deliciously enticing.

8.   A pilot was shot last year for a midseason CBS series, but the concept was shelved.