May sweeps officially began last Thursday night, and, by now, are in the full swing of things. In addition to being treated to the usual stunts networks pull out for the ratings period that determines advertising rates, viewers can also look forward to more salacious than usual local news stories. Local ABC affiliate WJLA kicked off their sweeps stories with an expose on “The Ugly Side of The Picture Perfect Body”. On Monday, they broadcast a tear jerker piece on roadside memorials. Tonight, the I-Team starts investigating where your tax dollars are ending up. NBC 4 stepped out on Thursday with a popular and not at all alarmist piece on the Bird Flu. Last night, they asked the critical question, Are Smoothies Really Healthy? We assume WUSA has managed to scare up some sweeps action of its own, but even we can’t make it that far up the dial. The best overall broadcast/affiliate network sweeps synergy goes to FOX 5 though, for taking a hint from the hit medical drama “House” and asking Have You Been Diagnosed With A Medical Mystery?“

Every week on the FOX show “House”, Dr. Gregory House puts together the pieces of a medical puzzle. His roster of medical cases are the inexplicable ones other doctors can’t solve. House and his team of young medical experts work together to find the answers to these diagnostic mysteries and save lives. Have you been diagnosed with a medical mystery? Send us an e-mail and tell us your story.

So shameless, and so exactly what sweeps are about. Well done, FOX 5. Anyway, it’s going to be a long, disaster filled May so brace yourselves. Here’s a full list of season finales and times. Hopefully, we’ll at least get some partial nudity out of it.

Image of “House” from Fox 5