By MICHAEL HEWITT
The Orange County Register

Maybe you really do get what you pay for.

While the "free" TV people over at the networks foist unwatchables like "Fame" on us this summer, the folks over on the premium side at Showtime and HBO do their best to keep us entertained.

Two dramas in particular stand out. Showtime's "Out of Order" (10 p.m. Monday) seems to have found its way after a shaky first episode. HBO's police saga "The Wire" (9:30 p.m. Sunday) is much better in its second season.

This week, Showtime offers a promising series, "Dead Like Me," which debuts at 10 p.m. Friday. The comedy follows a motley crew of grim reapers, led by Mandy Patinkin, as they usher souls into the afterlife. The buzz on this one is very strong.

Reality bites

Trouble in Mark Burnett's paradise? The "Survivor" producer plans to make the eighth installment an all-star affair, but People magazine reports that past winners Tina Wesson and Ethan Zohn are balking at the paltry $2 million winner's purse.

Assuming Burnett can eventually round up the six winners, my choices to fill out the other 10 spots would be Gretchen (Borneo), Colby and Jerri (Outback), Lex and Kelly (Africa), Sean and Rob (Marquesas), Helen and Shii Ann (Thailand) and Rob (Amazon).

By the way, "Survivor: Panama" started filming this past weekend, according to reports on the Web.

I wrote about a month ago that Fox's "Paradise Island" might be good. I'd like to apologize for that.

"The Amazing Race 4" remains amazingly spoiler free. Last season, we knew well ahead of time that Flo & Zach and Teri & Ian had survived to the last leg. This season, despite the results being in the can two extra months, nothing has leaked out - yet.

This week's question: Can BFGs Steve & Dave hang on by their fingernails once more? The Watcher is betting not.

Top 10

What the Watcher is watching while saving up for his Showtime and HBO bill.

1. "Dead Like Me," 10 p.m. Friday, Showtime

2. "The Amazing Race 4," 8 p.m. Thursday, KCBS/2

3. "The Wire," 9:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO

4. "Ren & Stimpy Adult Party Cartoon," 10 p.m. Thursday, TNN (not Spike!)

5. "Out of Order," 10 p.m. Monday, Showtime

6. "What Not to Wear," 7 p.m. Tuesday, BBC America

7. "Lucky," 10 tonight, FX

8. "Project Greenlight" 10:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO

9. "Trading Spaces," 8 p.m. Saturday, TLC

10. "This Far By Faith: African-American Spiritual Journeys," 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, KCET/28.