BAD RECEPTION: It’s been an unlucky season...

BAD RECEPTION: It’s been an unlucky season for TV shows with Ventura County ties. . . . “Angel Falls,” the CBS soap opera filmed in Santa Paula, was canceled in October. This week, CBS put away “Family Album”--which starred Peter Scolari of Ojai--after it tied for 86th place among 102 shows. . . . That’s better than “Against the Grain,” also taped in Santa Paula, which tied for 91st. NBC has yet to pull the plug on that one, though it’s being preempted until Dec. 17. . . . Even “Murphy Brown” has slipped since Ojai’s Scott Bakula became a recurring character. Last season’s No. 4 show, “Murphy,” finished 18th last week.

STILL FLYING: That strike by American Airlines flight attendants (A1) has not disrupted American Eagle flights out of Oxnard Airport--those 19-passenger planes don’t require flight attendants. . . . Although the six flights from Oxnard to Los Angeles went smoothly Thursday, “LAX is a different story,” American spokesman Dan White said. Many flights out of LAX were canceled, he said, possibly delaying Ventura County passengers making connections. . . . His advice to American ticket-holders: Call first.

PLAYOFF HOPES: Newbury Park’s offense has scored points at a dizzying pace this football season. But the team’s fate in postseason play may depend on defensive coordinator Doug Dagan’s troops (C10). . . . In last year’s playoffs, the Panthers’ defense blew a 20-point lead and gave up more than 500 yards rushing in a 50-36 loss.

MAIL DROP: Two Ventura County agencies want to cut the cost of taking out your trash (B1). Thousand Oaks wants to cut the amount of trash you receive. . . . The city is distributing postcards that residents can send to junk-mail senders, asking to be taken off mailing lists. “They’re required to remove your name,” said Grahame Watts, the city’s recycling coordinator. . . . Five big companies account for most junk mail, which Watts called “a major portion of the waste stream.”. . . In another trash-reduction effort, the city is offering door decals saying no thanks to handbill distributors.