Well, it’s been fun, guys, but the semester is coming to a close and this is the final TV Watch before summer break. Here’s a quick update on all the shows I’m watching and what I’m hoping for their finales.

‘American Idol’

Fox, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

Two words: Bo Bice.

‘The Amazing Race’

CBS, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

Uchenna and Joyce for the win, dude! Next to Meredith and Gretchen (and I am constantly in fear that one or both of them will have a heart attack and/or stroke) they are the only team actually enjoying the race, and their strength and love for one another is apparent every moment they are onscreen. They made this race fun for me, and here’s hoping they make it to that finish line first, right after Rob stumbles over Am-buh during the footrace.

‘Alias’

ABC, Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

Getting better mostly due to Jack becoming a mutant and Sloane getting an “evil” double. I’m actually looking forward to Jennifer Garner directing an upcoming episode, but I still wish someone would just shoot Vaughan and put him out of his unshaven, brooding misery. Please.

‘Desperate Housewives’

ABC, Sundays at 9 p.m.

And just as I was about to write this show off, it gets better. Still nowhere near the excellence it had at the beginning of the series, but the producers have suddenly realized they need to close at least a few loose ends before the end of the season. Now if only the Housewives actually said more than two words to one another in a given episode…

‘Lost’

ABC, Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

Despite Claire having her baby, I just don’t care about the show anymore. All this buildup and mysteries upon mysteries, and I can’t remember the last actual payoff that explained something. Unless the season finale wows me beyond belief, I won’t be watching next season. Sorry.

‘The O.C.’

Fox, Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Not much different than the last time I checked in. Summer and Seth are fighting again (surprise) and Ryan and Marissa are kissing again (surprise). But if the producers play their cards right, they can have almost the exact same season finale as last season. Theresa can come back, this time with the baby, and lure Ryan back to Chino. This would cause Seth to go into a tailspin and take off again (hopefully, he would rename his boat first). Marissa would be left alone in her castle drinking, Summer would be all alone again and the Cohen parents would shed tears again. Wow, we’ve come so far since then! You do realize I wrote that last sentence with complete sarcasm, right?

‘24’

Fox, Mondays at 9 p.m.

Finally! The show is back on track! Palmer is back in action, Chloe gets her moment to shine again (with a machine gun, no less), and Jack has one of those immediately-classic moments where he has to choose between love and duty and chooses, of course, duty. Still not up to par with the end of season three, but color me happier than I’ve been all season.

‘Veronica Mars’

UPN, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.

This week’s episode, in which Veronica finally found out who raped her all those months ago, had me crying openly. I haven’t done that with a TV show since the “Buffy” finale. This is the best, most dramatic, witty, wonderful, perfect show on television, and it never fails to leave me awestruck at just how good television can be.

Contact Pop Arts reporter Robert Taylor at [email protected].