Desperate Housewives is past the sensation stage of its life cycle, which is probably a positive thing for the series. Without having to worry about shocking people all the time, it has settled in as one of the more reliable entertainments in prime time, albeit still with its share of bizarre happenings such as the demise of Nicollette Sheridan's Edie.

The fifth season ends Sunday (ABC, 9 p.m.) with Gaby welcoming her niece to the neighborhood (sounds like a nice setup for future seasons), Orson threatening to create major problems for Bree, Tom making an announcement that bothers Lynette, and Dave making clear the nature of his plans for revenge against Susan. There is also an end-of-the-episode twist, something we have come to expect after last season's conclusion zapped us into the future.

Also this week:

Monday: The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 8 p.m.): The second-season finale finds Leonard (Johnny Galecki) preparing to embark on a coincidental three-month scientific jaunt, at exactly the time he and Penny had agreed to see where their relationship was going. Dude, there will always be another expedition. Have you seen her?

Tuesday: Fringe (Fox, 9 p.m.): The one bright spot in the Fox sci-fi lineup ends its first season with a timely casting coup, as Leonard Nimoy drops by as William Bell, the till now unseen Massive Dynamics kingpin. David Robert Jones (the always entertaining Jared Harris) is back as well. And, one would think, a cool monster or two.

Wednesday: America's Next Top Model (CW, 8 p.m.): Aminat, Teyona, and Allison are the final three this time around, and one would think Allison, despite being lovably weird, is in some trouble due to not having a strange enough name. After the traditional cosmetics shoot and final elimination, the last pair hit the runway before Tyra Banks makes her final, and no doubt inscrutable, call.

Thursday: Bones (Fox, 8 p.m.): Now this is a very special season finale, as the team looks into a murder at a club where Motley Crue is playing. The band appears as their wastrel selves, Zach (Eric Millegan) is back as the cherubic Squint gone bad, and oh yeah: Brennan and Booth and sex. I'm man enough to admit defeat. Treat her well, David Boreanaz.

Friday: Prison Break (Fox, 8 p.m.): After a four-year run, more than three of which took place after the event that gave the show its name, Prison Break airs its two-hour finale. So what will I make fun of now? Michael (Wentworth Miller) takes his final stab at destroying the Company, and rumor has it that there will be at least one shocking death -- and since it's the end of the series, a permanent death for a change.

Saturday: MADtv (Fox, 11 p.m.): The show that gave us the Vancome Lady, Mrs. Swan, and the best Obama impersonation in late night ends its run after fourteen seasons. The venerable Fred Willard emcees a sketch called "MADtv Gives Back," and several former cast members return to reprise their favorite characters one last time before Wanda Sykes takes over this time slot.

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