Where did 2004 go? Let’s dispense with the honors this year and settle down to the serious business of year-end roundups for the networks. Here’s a TV report card, from worst to first:

• Whatever happened to NBC? The No. 1-rated home of “must-see TV” has become a sick network held together by “Law & Order” incarnations and repeats of “Fear Factor.” The creative energy of General Electric-NBC-Universal appears to be in the acquisition of new companies not new hit shows. Watch out, NBC: Viewers are developing the habit of not watching your shows. And that’s not good.
• I have one piece of advice for the WB. Avoid reality TV shows at all costs. Every reality series you’ve ever aired has been rotten and has tanked in the ratings. Meanwhile, Fox (with “The O.C.”) has stolen your bread and butter, the buzz-worthy primetime teenage soap.
• Fox may coast along on attitude, but the network has been flat-lining of late. The network went hog-wild for reality just as the genre began to mature. And the choices have been dreadful. Face it, without “American Idol” and the World Series, you’re left with “Cops” and “The Simpsons.”

But how can you stay mad at Fox, what with the new “House,” “24” returning and “Arrested Development” still airing in spite of weak ratings?

• UPN has improved its prospects with the talked-about “America’s Next Top Model” and the two competitive dramas “Kevin Hill” and “Veronica Mars.” Now it’s time to develop some comedies that don’t scrape the bottom of the barrel.
• You can’t argue with CBS’ ratings success. But then again, that’s my job. It didn’t take long for even a Jerry Orbach-less “Law & Order” to overtake “CSI: NY.” Meanwhile, “CSI: Miami” has become a joke and even “CSI” seems to be running out of demented demimondes to discover. “Survivor” is beyond tired and “Raymond” is retiring.
• ABC has both the critical winner of the year (“Lost”) as well as the hit “Desperate Housewives.” But it still can’t get out of its own way. They cluttered their sweeps with so many dumb specials and episodes of “The Bachelor” that they lost opportunities to air popular series. ABC has a habit of airing shows beyond their expiration date, so look for “The Bachelor” to linger.