Is your show canceled? Keep flipping

This time of year can be especially depressing for serious students of TV series that are reaching the end of their first production cycle. Some of your favorite broadcast series are being canceled even as you read.

Still other struggling shows are being sent to Broadcast Purgatory, while the producers decide whether they are willing, in the interest of keeping their show alive, to add a love interest who happens to live in her talking Ford Focus, works at Target and is on a very strict all-Tostitos diet.

Sadly, even this kind of 2.0 thinking could not save such classics of creativity as CBS’ “The Ex List,” NBC’s “My Own Worst Enemy” and “Lipstick Jungle,” CW’s “Valentine” and Fox’s “Do Not Disturb,” to name some of this season’s fallen. But if your favorite shows are among them, do not despair —- we are here to help.

“The Ex List”

> CBS

> Cause of death: 20-something pals still lounged in baby pool? Really?

> Emergency backup show: “Samantha Who?” (ABC). 20-something pals hang in bars, as God intended.

“My Own Worst Enemy”

> NBC

> Cause of death: Stupid premise.

> Emergency backup show: “24” (Fox, returns Jan. 11). Equally stupid premise saved by really bad acting and really good pyrotechnics.

“Lipstick Jungle”

> NBC

> Cause of death: Shocking lack of size-zero blond lead.

> Emergency backup show: “Sex and the City” reruns (TBS). Better shoes, better writing, more blond.

“Opportunity Knocks”

> ABC

> Cause of death: Quiz show starred precocious moppets and parentzzzz …

> Emergency backup show: “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (Fox). Precocious moppets humiliate occasional celebrity —- now you’re talking.

“Do Not Disturb”

> Fox

> Cause of death: Retro without the funny.

> Emergency backup show: “Gary Unmarried” (CBS). Retro without funny plus Male Pattern Optimism equals Winning CBS sitcom formula.

“Valentine”

> CW

> Cause of death: CW promised a chick-drama based on Greek mythology —- teen viewers naturally assumed that meant “fraternity” soap.

> Emergency backup show: “Gossip Girl” (CW). Ultra-chick-drama without taxing Hellenistic references.

“Easy Money”

> CW

> Cause of death: Loan-shark drama too skanky for the “Gossip Girl”/”90210” crowd.

> Emergency backup show: “Sons of Anarchy” (FX). Motorcycle gangs are the new Mafia —- skanky-chic.