With the approach of May, our thoughts (and newsroom) start to buzz around “The Sweeps,” and the tube’s time-honored tradition of the season finale.

Some networks are jumping the gun this year, to our dismay (or relief, depending). “South Park” wound up last week, and “The Apprentice” (thankfully) last Sunday; “Pussycat Dolls” concludes tonight and our personal favorite newbie, “30 Rock,” rolls hilariously to a stop this Thursday.

While we do not endorse this early-bird trend, which works entirely against tradition, that’s an issue for another day.

The genuine sweeps-month finales of “Dancing with the Stars” and “American Idol” coincide this year with the finale of “Lost,” rendering the week of May 21 surely one of the most eagerly awaited this year.

Will “Lost’s” denouement yield the deus ex machina it surely needs to resolve the quagmire of questions raised this third season? Will Heather Mills whirl her way to a tiara on “Dancing” without crowning a judge with her prosthetic leg? Will “Idol” voters skew the balloting sufficiently to elect the most prominently talent-free git in the running? (Probably not, because Sanjaya finally got the kissoff last week.)

If these payoffs are, as we predict, the most hotly anticipated this year, the week of May 14 is certainly crammed the tightest with seasonal signoffs. Between Monday and Friday, no fewer than 28 series will call it a wrap for the year. On Wednesday and Thursday alone, mega-hits such as “Medium,” “Ugly Betty,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “CSI: NY,” “America’s Next Top Model,” and “The Office” will all have us hopping for blank video tapes (or staying up late to watch what we’ve Tivo-ed).

On the curmudgeonly late end, “House” doesn’t weigh in until May 29, in a competition-free timeslot directly after “America’s Got Talent.”

But enough about what we think. We visited Starbucks on a cheerfully sunny Sunday to learn what local folks are looking forward to most during this sweeps season.

“I really like ‘Lost’; it’s a good one. I have no clue what will happen. Things change so fast. I also like ‘House.’ Hugh Laurie is a really good actor.”

Brian Fuchs, 18

“I don’t usually watch season finales; there’s always more drama with a finale. I like ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’”

Monika Miroslaw, 25

“ ‘Heroes’ is so much fun. It looks like there will be a big plot twist.”

Roman Geigle, 27

“I only watch the classics, like ‘Twilight Zone,’ ‘Hogan’s Heroes,’ and ‘Wild, Wild West.’”

Ron Sives, 46

“’Dancing with the Stars.’ Heather Mills is pretty good but I think probably one of the guys will win.”

Ashleigh Thomas, 23

— Compiled by Pat Amacher