Welcome to CraveOnline's Idiot Box Updates, where we run down all the latest TV news and separate the facts from the rumors and nonsense on and about the small screen.

Here's a list of the top 20 prime-time network shows by viewership numbers, compiled by Nielsen Media Research for October 12-18:

1. NCIS," CBS, 21.04 million viewers.

2. NFL Sunday Night Football: Chicago at Atlanta, NBC, 18.17 million viewers.

3. "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 16.79 million viewers.

4. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 15.38 million viewers.

5. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 15.38 million viewers.

6. "The Mentalist," CBS, 15.08 million viewers.

7. "60 Minutes," CBS, 14.32 million viewers.

8. "Two And a Half Men," CBS, 14.17 million viewers.

9. "Dancing With the Stars Results," ABC, 13.96 million viewers.

10. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 13.92 million viewers.

11. "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 13.79 million viewers.

12. "Desperate Housewives," ABC, 13.68 million viewers.

13. "House," Fox, 13.5 million viewers.

14. "CSI: New York," CBS, 13.4 million viewers.

15. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 13.27 million viewers.

16. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 13.07 million viewers.

17. "The Good Wife," CBS, 12.98 million viewers.

18. "Sunday Night NFL Pre-Kick," NBC, 12.0 million viewers.

19. "Survivor: Samoa," CBS, 11.78 million viewers.

20. "The Amazing Race 15," CBS, 10.92 million viewers.

Here's a list of the top 20 cable shows by viewership numbers, compiled by Nielsen Media Research for October 12-18:

1. NFL Football: N.Y. Jets vs. Miami (Monday, 8:30 p.m.), ESPN, 9.65 million homes, 13.13 million viewers.

2. MLB National League Championship Series: Philadelphia vs. L.A. Dodgers, Game 1 (Thursday, 7:59 p.m.), TBS, 4.93 million homes, 6.83 million viewers.

3. "Hannah Montana" (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.), Disney, 3.95 million homes, 5.71 million viewers.

4. MLB Division Series: Philadelphia vs. Colorado, Game 4 (Monday, 6 p.m.), TBS, 3.71 million homes, 5.2 million viewers.

5. "NCIS" (Wednesday, 8 p.m.), USA, 3.56 million homes, 4.87 million viewers.

6. MLB National League Championship Series: L.A. Dodgers vs. Philadelphia, Game 3 (Sunday, 8 p.m.), TBS, 3.45 million homes, 5.03 million viewers.

7. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 9 p.m.), USA, 3.41 million homes, 4.84 million viewers.

8. MLB National League Championship Series: Philadelphia vs. L.A. Dodgers, Game 2 (Friday, 4 p.m.), TBS, 3.34 million homes, 4.42 million viewers.

9. "WWE Raw" (Monday, 10 p.m.), USA, 3.27 million homes, 4.73 million viewers.

10. College Football: S. Carolina vs. Clemson (Saturday, 7:41 p.m.), ESPN, 3.26 million homes, 4.61 million viewers.

11. "Suite Life on Deck" (Friday, 8:30 p.m.), Disney, 3.18 million homes, 4.65 million viewers.

12. "ICarly" (Saturday, 8 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 3.11 million homes, 4.67 million viewers.

13. "Wizards of Waverly Place" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Disney, 3.07 million homes, 4.55 million viewers.

14. "NCIS" (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), USA, 2.995 million homes, 3.93 million viewers.

15. "Phineas and Ferb" (Friday, 9 p.m.), Disney, 2.990 million homes, 4.44 million viewers.

Katee Sackhoff, formerly Kara "Starbuck" Thrace on "Battlestar," will appear in a minor role in the Nov. 23 episode of "Big Bang Theory." Sackhoff is a series regular on the new season of "24," and will play herself in a cameo in the episode. 

Additionally, the Nov. 2 episode of "Big Bang Theory," called "The Cornhusker Vortex," features a scene in which Sheldon (Jim Parsons) makes himself a snack with the help of his trusty Cylon toaster. Yep, Cylon toaster. This isn't the first connection between the two shows; Michael Trucco ("Battlestar's" Sam Anders) played a love interest for Penny (Kaley Cuoco) last season. 

Fans of the recently-cancelled "Southland" may have cause for celebration: John Wells, executive producer of the recently canceled NBC drama, called actors on the show at the end of last week to tell them he's in talks with two networks about finding the series a new home.

Wells reportedly didn't name any specific networks, but TNT, corporate sibling of show producer Warner Bros. TV, has expressed interest in acquiring the series and is considered the most likely contender for the show's new home.

Whoever the buyer is would likely run the seven episodes from the first season and the six produced episodes from the second as a 13-episode freshman cycle, before moving on to new episodes.

The Bluth family returns! Well, kind of. The Independent Film Channel has picked up the rights to air the unjustifiably cancelled masterpiece that is "Arrested Development" and plans back-to-back airings on Sunday and Tuesday nights starting October 25.

TThe Emmy-winning show, which ran from 2003 to 2006, centers on a formerly wealthy and highly dysfunctional family. Its ensemble cast included Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Jessica Walter, Portia de Rossi and Jeffrey Tambor.

"Dollhouse" and "Firefly" mastermind Joss Whedon is evidently a big fan of the "High School Musical" ripoff show "Glee". So big, in fact, that he's accepted an offer to direct an episode.

Fox ordered the back 9 episodes of the season of "Glee," and Joss had this to say about the news:

“Hey kids and parents of kids and super-old, like ancestor-old-but-not-dead-yet-type people, just poking my oversized head in to say that the rumors are true… unless something very odd happens in the next few months, I will have the privilege of shooting an episode of 'Glee'. Why 'Glee'? Because I love cops, serial killers and gritty urban drama (I haven’t seen the show yet). Why me? Because they’re struggling and can’t afford real directors.“

The popular 80s television series "V" is making a return next month, and starting this Friday, ABC will be having skywriters create the letter V over 26 undisclosed landmarks.

Skywatchers should keep their eyes peeled until the series premiere on November 3rd, when the reptile people make their return. Here’s a listing of where and when you can spot the V skywriting:

October 23 — 9:00 a.m.          Boston, MA

October 23 — 9:00 a.m.        Minneapolis, MN

October 24 — 9:00 a.m.        San Francisco, CA

October 24 — 9:00 a.m.        Seattle, WA

October 24 — 9:00 a.m.        Orlando, FL

October 25 — 9:00 a.m.        Chicago, IL

October 25 — 12:00 p.m.        Hollywood, CA

October 25 — 9:30 a.m.          New York, NY

October 25 — 2:15 p.m.        Philadelphia, PA

October 26 — 12:00 p.m.        Tempe, AZ

October 26 — 9:00 a.m.        Atlanta, GA

October 27 — 12:00 p.m.        Dallas, TX

October 28 — 4:15 p.m.        Austin, TX

October 28 — 9:00 a.m.        Las Vegas, NV

October 31 — 12:00 p.m.        Hollywood, CA

October 31 — 12:10 p.m.        Hollywood, CA

October 31 — 12:20 p.m.        Los Angeles, CA

October 31 — 12:00 p.m.        Santa Monica, CA

October 31 — 9:00 a.m.        New York, NY

October 31 — 9:15 a.m.        New York, NY

October 31 — 9:30 a.m.        New York, NY

October 31                 New York, NY (throughout the morning)

November 3 — 12:00p.m.    Hollywood, CA

November 3 — 12:10 p.m.    Hollywood, CA

November 3 — 12:20 p.m.    Los Angeles, CA

November 3 — 12:00 p.m.    Santa Monica, CA