Network officials keep complaining about lower ratings. They really have no one to blame but themselves. Each move they make looks like some bizarre form of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

NBC has just announced the Monday night shows "Chuck" and "Heroes" will be bumped in January to make way for two reality shows. "Superstars of Dance," a lame attempt to find some of the ratings success of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," and "Momma's Boys" will fill Mondays starting Jan. 4. "Superstars" is two hours long.

"Momma's Boys" has guys trying to find the right girl. The twist is they will eventually have to make their own choice or go with their mom's selection. Don't wait for your mom to tell you this sounds like television's answer to a public flogging.

I admit neither "Heroes" not "Chuck" has been perfect this year. And they will be back in February. But when did originality stop mattering? Even a rerun of these shows through January sounds better than the new programs.

Fans of Superman comics know that there is a Bizarro World. In that world everything is backwards. We are facing a Bizarro NBC these days. "Heroes" and "Chuck" get pulled off the schedule. "Crusoe" and "Kath & Kim" remain. The network had major disasters over the years with "Supertrain" and "Manimal." Maybe they will come back.

NBC is not alone. Originality doesn't seem to matter at ABC. The network will produce no more episodes of "Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone" or "Dirty Sexy Money." "Daisies" and "Eli" were two of the most creative shows on television. That doesn't seem to matter.

ABC could be in big trouble next year. "Boston Legal" ends this year. That's four hours of prime-time programming to fill even if nothing else dies. And you know there will be other shows that fail.

Don't be surprised if in the next few years, one or more of the networks broadcast nothing but reality shows. When that happens, you better be a cable subscriber so you will have other options.