Two of cable’s heavy hitters premiere tonight. Discovery Channel starts a new season of “Mythbusters” at 9 p.m., and Comedy Central has “South Park” at 10. Comedy Central also has “Secret Girlfriend’” at 10:30.

Investigation Discovery (for those of you who have it) has “The Bureau” about the FBI’s top cases, starting up at 9 p.m.

CBS will renew “Flashpoint” for at least 13 more episodes later this season. The Canadian import about a police “Strategic Response Unit” has been a rating success so far.

Bravo is expanding its “Real Housewives” brand with “The Real Housewives of D.C.” The cable network also renewed “New Jersey” for a second season.

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” had its best numbers in five on-and-off years on Sunday night, with 1.6 million total viewers at 10 p.m. for the “Seinfeld” reunion.

But the biggest news so far is this: “Monday Night Football” with the Vikings versus Packers gave ESPN the largest audience in the history of cable television and ESPN’s own best ranking in its history, attracting a 15.3 rating, or 21.8 million total viewers. It’s just a ridiculous number, as Brett Favre facing his old team boosted the game to a whole new level.

Brett Favre has informed the Jets that he plans to retire for the second straight year.

This would be huge news if he hadn’t already gone through his long, dramatic “retirement” last year. And even if he is serious this time, it seems as though the general public is ready for him to go away. At this point, the whole New York Jets experiment is nothing more than the answer to a trivia question. The Jets, however, seem to think it was worth it.

“I had a great conversation with Brett this morning” owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. “Considering that he came from a totally different environment and joined our team during training camp, his performance last season was extraordinary. As I spoke with people throughout the organization, they all told me how much they enjoyed working with him. Brett Favre is a Hall-of-Fame player, but he is also a Hall-of-Fame person. Brett, Deanna and his family will always be a part of the Jets family.”

After spending some $140 million on free agents, the Jets ended the season poorly on their way to a 9-7 record, which was surely not good enough to make the playoffs in the ultra-competitive AFC. Favre contributed his fair share to the disappointing season as he led the NFL in interceptions (again) with 22. And his 79.3 passer rating over the second half of the season was a big reason that head coach Eric Mangini got fired.

Favre should have just done the right thing last season and stayed retired. Instead, he cost people their jobs in NY and divided a locker room. It’s time for Brett to go away. He is overrated. For all the talk of how he is a non-mortal, he only won one Super Bowl, which puts him in elite company along with Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson and Mark Rypien.

Please, Brett, I hope you are serious this time. Stay retired and stop destroying teams and reputations.

We don’t have much information right now, but Jay Glazer of Foxsports.com says that the deal is done, and that Brett Favre is a NY Jet.

The Packers get an unknown conditional draft pick and the Jets will likely have to release a QB. According to Glazer, the most likely suspect will be Chad Pennington.

Stay tuned on this one.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Brett Favre (a QB who played for the Green Bay Packers for many years) currently plans to take the big-money “marketing” deal offered by the Packers. This would mean that Favre retired, un-retired and then retired again.

Schefter points out that the decision isn’t final. Sigh.

Profootballtalk.com says that they are hearing that if Favre does decide to show up, the Packers plan to put him on the bottom of the depth chart, continue to try to trade him and if they can’t, then cut him the day before the season opener.

UPDATE: I knew I shouldn’t have written this post in the first place. Now, according to several reports, Favre has been reinstated and is scheduled to head to Green Bay shortly. I was excited for Sunday night football, but now I see that’s going to be even more Favre-dominated than before.

It’s not yet known who the Vikings were tampering with, but I think it’s a QB. Brian Brohm? Probably not. Jay Glazer of Foxsports.com said it’s actually Brett Favre (gasp!) who was allegedly communicating with Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. The Packers have, per Glazer, officially filed tampering charges, and the Vikings have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Packers GM Ted Thompson has declined to comment as has NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

Bevell is a former Packers assistant and friend of Favre. If found guilty, the Vikings would be fined and docked a draft pick.

UPDATE: A league source has told PFT that the Packers believe they have the goods on the Vikings. There are rumors out there that the Packers could have cell phone records that would show communication between the Vikings and Favre. Stay tuned, this one just keeps getting weirder.

I have had no interest in reporting on this obnoxious story since Brett Favre announced his retirement. I have had it with all the rumors about Favre telling his cousin’s dog that he might come back, or that Peter King thinks Favre might come back and play in Canada. But, now I actually have something substantial.

According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Favre has asked for his outright release from the team.

UPDATE: The Packers have released a statement regarding Favre. The statement reads:

“The Green Bay Packers are aware of the latest developments regarding Brett Favre.

“Brett earned and exercised the right to retire on his terms. We wanted him to return and welcomed him back on more than one occasion.”

“Brett’s press conference and subsequent conversations in the following weeks illustrated his commitment to retirement.”

“The finality of his decision to retire was accepted by the organization. At that point, the Green Bay Packers made the commitment to move forward with our football team.”

“As a retired player, Brett has the option to apply for reinstatement with Commissioner Goodell. If that were to occur, he would become an active member of the Green Bay Packers. As always, the Packers will do what’s right and in the best interest of the team.”

“As with all Packers greats, Brett’s legacy will always be celebrated by our fans and the organization, regardless of any change in his personal intentions.”

“Brett and Deanna will always be a part of the Packers family.”

EA Sports confirmed that Brett Favre will be on the cover of “Madden XX” — Madden NFL 2009, the 20th anniversary of the football video game franchise.

Madden NFL Football and Brett Favre are sports icons who have set the standard and revolutionalized their positions within their respective genres,” said Madden NFL Executive Producer Dale Jackson. “Brett Favre is a perfect fit for the Madden NFL 09 cover, as he epitomizes everything the franchise has stood for the past 20 years – longevity, excellence, and a love of football.”

How do you defeat the Madden curse? Easy. Don’t play.

Blast has learned that recently retired Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre will be the cover boy for Madden NFL 09.

While selecting a non active player may sound like an interesting choice, this year’s edition of the gridiron goliath celebrates the franchise’s twenty year anniversary, and it’s evident that EA was looking for an athlete that could match that legendary status. It shouldn’t be hard for the 3-time MVP and 9-time Pro Bowler

While EA has been advertising Friday as the date of the official cover announcement, odds are we won’t have to wait that long. Last year, Vince Young announced that he would be on the cover of Madden 08 on an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show the night before EA’s broke word. Tonight — in a rare appearance — Favre will be the second guest on The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.

Madden 09 is scheduled to be released for all major platforms on August 12.