TVnista Fall 2006 Mid-Season Awards!

First, I'd like to thank you all for taking a little time out of your day to read my blog. Stay tuned for more ramblings and good times next year. TVnista will be on vacation until January 2, 2007, but I won't leave you hanging.

Announcing the First Annual TVnista Mid-Season Awards:


BEST BRAND-NEW SHOW: STUDIO 60
I’ve never heard such clever, witty and intelligent dialogue before on TV. (Sorry, Dawson’s Creek, but most of that was pseudo-intellectual!) Studio 60 reminds me of that popular college course with the cool professor and the two-mile long waiting list. For the lucky few who make it in, after class your brain is alive and firing on all cylinders, and you actually feel smarter than when you entered the classroom.


RUNNER-UP: THE GAME
An admirable effort to replicate the lives of women involved with professional athletes. It could use a heavier dose of reality (get some real wives as consultants) but we’ll cut it some slack since it is a comedy, and is one of the few programs on TV today that make me laugh.


BEST RETURNING FAVORITE: THE WIRE
If you had asked me just a few years ago what my favorite TV show of all time is, I’d answer A Different World with no hesitation. Now, I’d have to qualify my answer. Yes, A Different World stands as the best show of my first 25 years, but right now, The Wire is the best show on TV, period, and will probably remain that way in my book for another 25 years, or longer. This gritty drama makes you flinch, but for good reasons, by turning a camera on the urban realities so many people live in quiet desperation. Often I have to pinch myself to remind myself that I’m not watching a documentary, but instead, a work of fiction.


RUNNER-UP: NIP/TUCK
This season of Nip/Tuck was uneven at best, but even on an off night, Nip/Tuck is still a fabulously written and acted show. I felt like we watched these characters really grow up this season. Julia finally stepped into a mother role, Christian put his playboy ways behind him (for now), Sean found a way to step out on his own, and Matt blossomed into a responsible, caring adult. Plus, we saw many memorable performances from guest-stars, from the hilarious lotto-winner Dawn Budge (Rosie O’Donnell) to the odd I-have-sex-with-my-dog, Shari Noble (Melissa Gilbert).


BEST REALITY SHOW: PROJECT RUNWAY
I’ll admit it…I was a latecomer to this show, but I loved it just the same. Not since the first season of The Apprentice has a reality game show displayed so many talented contestants. It really was neck-and-neck with the final four of Uli, Michael, Laura and Jeffrey. There was a nice balance between work and play and the judges were actually fair and knew what they were talking about.


RUNNER-UP: LAGUNA BEACH
While I did watch The Hills starring Lauren “L.C.” Conrad, I’d never before seen even an episode of Laguna Beach, but this season drew me in right from the jump. Whether it was Kyndra and Cami plotting schemes around the pool, all the girls in Laguna fighting over Cameron or Tessa and Raquel always being ignored at the parties, I loved all the drama and even now, I’ll sit down and watch episodes I’ve already seen, because I always pick up something new that I might’ve missed the first or second go-round.


BREAKOUT HIT: SHARK
I didn’t expect to watch or even like this show, but I did, thanks to ABC pulling the plug on Six Degrees. James Woods stars as a hotshot defense attorney who decides to play for the other side and commands an office full of impressionable, young, hot aspiring district attorneys. While the cases could use a bit more pathos we experience on other crime dramas, namely CSI and Law & Order, it always seems too easy for Stark to solve these crimes and get the bad guys. It’s still a solid hour of TV from start to finish, the way Law & Order used to be, and as long as the handsome Henry Simmons is on, I’ll be there for sure!


RUNNER-UP: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Here’s another show I didn’t expect to like, but I really do. It took a while to grow on me. I was bored the first few episodes, but I remember one night where I actually sat down and devoted my attention to it entirely (no phone, no computer) and I’ve been into it ever since. It’s a toss-up for me which episodes I like better – the ones with football action or the ones without. For me, it doesn’t matter since all the drama really happens off the field anyway. I’m actually rooting for these kids like it’s a reality show. Matt is such a sweetheart and his nervous stutter around Julie is such a throwback to old times, when guys actually made an effort to talk to girls they liked rather than just throwing them over their shoulders and carrying them off to the bedroom; and as much as we’d like to hate Lyla for cheating on Jason, we can’t, nor do we hate Riggins for taking advantage of her. Here’s another show, like The Wire, that can often feel like a documentary. It does have a film-like quality, but I could do without the shaky camera. It makes me a bit nauseous.


BEST ACTRESS: CHANDRA WILSON
Whether it was shouldering the fall-out from Denny’s death or disciplining her wayward interns, Dr. Bailey does it all with grace and a take-no-prisoners attitude. But she does have a soft side, as she displayed at the end of one episode where she called home to sing her son a lovely lullaby, “God Bless the Child.” That alone should sew up her Emmy win next year.


RUNNER-UP: BRITTANY DANIEL
Yes, her previous acting roles included being one of the Sweet Valley High twins and starring in the movie White Chicks, but you’d never know that watching Kelly on The Game. She has a natural comedic timing I’d liken to that of Lucille Ball. But she really knocked it out the park with her pole dancing routine. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. Work it girl!


BEST ACTORS: TRISTAN WILDS, JULITO McCULLUM, MAESTRO HARRELL, JERMAINE CRAWFORD
Collectively known as the “corner boys” on The Wire, these young actors were the brightest spots on TV this year. Michael, Namond, Randy and Dukie showed America what it’s like to grow up on the streets and how it changes and defines you as a person.

Congrats Tyra!

The Tyra Banks Show, which is in it's second season, has been renewed for two additional seasons, through the end of the 2008-09. I'm really happy for her. I much prefer her talk show to America's Next Top Model. I don't get to watch often since it's daytime programming, but whenever I am home on a weekday, I definitely make sure I tune in. And since I'll be on vacation for almost 2 weeks, I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of Tyra!

Taye Diggs on Black women.

So, Taye Diggs' show Day Break is ghost and he's lashing out. Apparently, Black women refused to watch and support his show since his love interest was non-Black. I'm used to the television, make that the entire entertainment, industry turning it's back on Black women, so it was no biggie to me, but I can certainly understand why Black women would be upset about the casting.

Well, in last month's issue of Rolling Out magazine he talked about why black woman are more accepting of Will Smith and Denzel Washington:

“What [black women] were happy about was that [Eva Mendes’ character in Hitch] wasn’t white; she was Latina,” Diggs explains when asked why Will Smith’s role in the film didn’t draw as much cultural ire as some of the choices he’s made on- and off-screen. “That’s what they were happy about, if we’re gonna be real. That’s how the scale goes. First off, if it’s a dark brother and the dark brother isn’t with a dark sister that causes issues. … After that, if you’re going to date outside the race, then they go down the list of how poorly other minorities have been treated after blacks. [So] after that, you have Latino. … Like, I’ve had people say that about my wife: ‘At least she looks Spanish.’ Like that makes it a little bit better. So that’s why people accepted it. If Will Smith had been with a lily-white woman, it would’ve been a completely different situation in the black community as far as females are concerned. I guarantee you that.”

It sounds to me like he's hatin' on Will and Denzel. Are you sad your career hasn't blown up like them, huh Taye-Taye? And he cops a major attitude when the writer pointedly asks about his wife, a non-Black woman:

“I’m too far along in my life and in my career to really give a question like that any type of dignified answer,” says Diggs, who was raised in black, middle-class Rochester, N.Y., intones. “When I was in high school, maybe. College, maybe. But I’m a grown-ass man and if people have a difficult time dealing with that, then I welcome them to see a movie with Omar Epps or Denzel Washington or some of those other brothers that have chosen to spend the rest of their lives with sisters, as you say. I just don’t have time for it. You can’t make everybody happy. And for the fans that are out there that are into me; they don’t really give a f— what’s going on with my personal life.”

Sounds to me like Taye Diggs' career is done, at least in the eyes of Black women. I can't see Black women (yes, myself included) supporting him in another movie or television show. I knew there was a reason I wasn't such a big fan of his - he always seemed a bit disingenuous - but I had been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Well, not anymore. He seems waaay to defensive for a man who would like to give the appearance that he's secure in his "blackness" and personal choice to marry a non-Black woman. He's forgetting his fan base, the women who went out in droves to support him in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Best Man and Brown Sugar. For the complete article, go here.

Girlfriends spoilers.

In a new interview with TVGuide.com, Golden Brooks (Maya Wilkes) sheds a little light on what's to come later in this season of Girlfriends.

Here's an excerpt:

TVGuide.com: Are there any surprises coming up?
Golden Brooks: Yeah, there are a lot of fun little surprises. I don't know if I can say, but there's a big wedding coming up. Maya and Darnell have been trying to have a baby, and there's going to be some surprises as to why it's not happening. And there's a big surprise at the wedding.

Hmmm...well, we know that the wedding in question is between William and Monica. But what's the surprise that happens at the wedding? I think it may involve Joan and Aaron. I'm just taking a wild guess here, but perhaps he'll propose to her at the wedding. Though what I (along with other Girlfriends fans) hope is that Toni will return, but I'm not holding my breath.

You can read the full article here.

The First Ever TVnista Mid-Year Awards

In the spirit of the approaching awards season, I've decided to hand out my own awards to recap the Fall 2006 season to the mid-year point. Coming on Wednesday. Stay tuned....

And the nominees are...

I'll skip the film nominations (hey, this is all about TV!) and give big shout-outs to the Black actors nominated for Golden Globes for their television performances.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Sophie Okonedo — Tsunami, The Aftermath

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Andre Braugher — Thief
Michael Ealy — Sleeper Cell: American Terror
Chiwetel Ejiofor — Tsunami, The Aftermath

I'm mad that Chandra Wilson was not nominated for Grey's Anatomy, though the show did earn a nomination for BEST DRAMA. And big-ups to America Ferrera for garnering an acting nod for Ugly Betty, which also picked up a nomination for BEST COMEDY.

For a complete list of all nominations, visit the Golden Globes official website.

The awards will be handed out on Monday, January 15, 2007 (MLK Day!) on NBC at 8pm. Since this will be our first awards show together, I may have to do something special...like a live play-by-play chat as the awards are handed out! Stay tuned....

Tsunami: The Aftermath

Did anyone else catch this on HBO Sunday night? I didn't think I'd be into in, but the stellar performances of Sophie Okonedo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Toni Collette, immediately drew me in. The repeat of Part I in on tonight at 8pm and Part II airs Sunday night at 8pm. I'd highly recommend you watch. After Hurricane Katrina, the devestation from the tsunami will seem all too familiar (though the tsumani happened months before Katrina). Whereas Gulf Coast residents had forewarning about the approaching hurricane, there was no warning for those on the coast of Thailand. But, many factors are the same - apathetic leadership, a lack of relief coordination and a government cover-up. The echoes to Katrina are striking. For example, a young Thai is the only person to survive from his village and tries to prevent developers from swooping down to seize the land his village is built on; and a leading Thai meteorologist is forced to recant an earlier report detailing the inevitability of a tsunami hitting the area that was ignored. I was stunned during one scene in particular when the monks were burning the bodies of unidentified victims. Sophia and Chiwetel play a married British couple on vacation at a posh oceanfront resort when the disaster hits and their five-year-old daughter Martha is lost. It's worth watching just to check out their performances.

Nip/Tuck Season Finale.

From the hype I'd heard and read about in the weeks leading up to last night's season finale, I was expecting something very unexpected and dramatic to happen. That was not the case. I was actually pleasantly surprised that rather than shock and awe, Nip/Tuck went out with a more subtle and well-acted bang. There was one death, but it was much deserved. I'm so happy that Escobar is finally gone. They dragged his storyline out way to long and he definitely overstayed his welcome in Sean and Christian's lives. I did think for a second there that Liz was going to shoot him, but it was a better fit for his wife to do so. And did you recognize the actress playing Escobar's wife? It was Idalis DeLeon, the former MTV VJ. I'm really excited at the prospect of Nip/Tuck shifting to the West Coast next season. It certainly makes sense to me - though Miami is a very sexy locale - L.A. is the capital of plastic surgery. I expect McNamarra/Troy to rule Rodeo Drive. Besides, like I said before, Sean and Christian need each other, so I knew that separation would be short-lived. Michelle is gone for now, but since we know that Sanaa Lathan signed up for another 12 episodes, she'll be back next season to try to get back with Christian. And let's not forget about Liz. That was a real bonding experience between her and Sean and Christian last night as they disposed of Escobar's dead body. I'm sure she'll be joining the team out in L.A. as well. My favorite moment last night surprisingly came from Kimber, when Sean confronted her with the fact that she doesn't love Matt. Kimber admitted that she was "trying" to love him, and Matt is fully aware that she only married him to get back at her one true love, Christian. I'm curious to see what happens to them. Based on the "back-to-the-future" episode, we know that Matt did take some of the money Sean gave him to go back to school to become a doctor, but what about their baby? Overall, it was a very satisfying fourth season of Nip/Tuck. See you back (probably in 2008) for the fifth, and final, season! (Check out this L.A. Times article to read what the show's creator has planned for next season).

Black TV Night.

I dedicated myself to watch the entire Black Block on CW last night.

Everybody Hates Chris was cute. But, that’s a show I can only watch every once in a while since it has the tendency to be very gimmicky. Aside from the very funny lines, no episode is really indistinguishable from the other. From the beginning to now, it’s pretty much been the same. We get it – the family is poor, but can it not be beaten over our heads every single episode? I’d like to see the show evolve and move on to explore some other themes.

However, this show is still a lot of fun. Julius as “cheap” Santa almost came close to topping Sean McNamarra’s “drunk” Santa on Nip/Tuck two weeks ago. “Do you know how much that costs?” he quizzed the kids when they sat on his lap and stated their wish list. My favorite line was when he told a blind boy, "Eyesight? Hmmmm…sounds expensive."

The angry White guy “Chris” played by the scary Richard Lewis was very odd. He came and went unexplained. I guess we haven’t moved beyond the cliché of a Christmas TV show featuring a ghost of some sort. I’m still chuckling from when Julius handed Chris the layaway receipt for $35, and the grown-up Chris adding: “And he was serious!” Or when Julius explained to Drew and Tanya that they wouldn’t be getting any Christmas gifts and that they should appreciate the fact that everything from living in their own home rent-free to the “pink carpet” is already a gift. I’m sure many of us can recall a similar speech from our own parents: “Everyday is a gift, so what you need presents for?” I guess that’s why Everybody Hates Chris relies on the poor angle so much – often, that’s where the best jokes are.

All of Us was dry. I dozed off toward the end, only staying awake long enough to laugh at Dirk’s reindeer games. Tony Rock is the only bright spot on this show.

Dirk to Robert: “You can be Prancer.”
Robert: “But that’s the gay one.”
Dirk: “Well, what about Dancer?”
Robert: “That’s his partner.”

I didn’t know there was such a thing as gay reindeer. I guess they live on Brokeback Mountain!

Now, let’s get to the good stuff, Girlfriends and The Game.

I don’t know if that was the first episode of Girlfriends Debbie Allen directed, but I hope it’s certainly not the last. All throughout the episode I was having a feeling of déjà vu, back to the good-old-days of A Different World. Debbie seems to really bring out something extra special from the actors she works with – it’s very intangible – but it’s there. I was happy to see Aaron. Just based on what I’ve seen so far, he seems to be the best match for Joan. I’ve never liked any of her previous boyfriends on the show. Sean was too passive, Ellis was too soft and Brock was too selfish. I think Joan has finally met her match. I could tell that Aaron was testing her to see how he would react to his “poorness.” But, at least he was upfront about his situation with her, and I’m glad Joan agreed to talk about money with him. She’s right – couples are so scared to talk about money and eventually, that’s the one thing that ends up driving them apart. For a second there, I though “old” Joan was back, when after the first phone call, she had already had the wedding, was pregnant with twins and had a Golden Retriever named Coco. Thanks goodness for Lynn, who was there to pull her back to reality. Since I have a feeling this is the last season of Girlfriends, I want Joan to end up happy not only with herself, but with a mate, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for her and Aaron. I’m sure she’s going to keep messing up, but he seems like he’s in it for the long haul. But if she don’t want him, I’ll take him. Richard T. Jones is definitely my type – I was salivating over him the entire episode!

I could definitely feel Debbie’s hand guiding the confrontation between Darnell and Maya at The Home Depot. I don’t have many examples of strong Black married couples, or relationships in general, in my life, but I definitely look to them for inspiration. I love them as a couple and admire how they’re able to communicate and work through their problems amicably. My favorite line was when Maya said about their Christmas-decorating obsessed neighbors: “If they don’t see lights, they’ll think we’re Nation of Islam!”

All I can say about Tahj Mowry on The Game is wow! He didn’t even look or sound the same as when he was on Full House or Smart Guy. I’m really getting old, huh? Overall, it was a pretty solid episode. I was a bit disappointed in Melanie though. Let me preface this by saying that I’m a huge sports fan, of football in particular, and I was just shocked that she could be so blasé about Derwin making it to the playoffs. She should have put aside going home to visit her parents and stayed home to support her man. And while Derwin is usually the one being selfish, this time it was Melanie. I felt so bad for him when everyone else was celebrating with their wives, girlfriends, etc. and Derwin was all alone. But, to his credit, he wasn’t upset at her for not being there. Melanie has to know that when you date a football player, there are some things that come with the territory. Yes, you have to go to games and yes, you have to participate in community events. And sometimes, you have to put off a trip because your guy’s team is in the playoffs. I just wish she could be more knowledgeable about this stuff, but I guess it’ll come eventually. I know one thing for sure, I want her brother Cameron to come back. I was cracking up when she asked him, “So I guess we have to talk to each other?” or when he picked up the present and said it was heavy, and Melanie said, “Maybe your personality is in there.”

Other funny moments from last night’s show:

Melanie: “There’s something about eggnog that makes people want to talk.”
Malik: “Yeah. Rum.”

Melanie (trying to convince Derwin to fly home with her to Connecticut): “I know it’s cold, we won’t be able to sleep together in the same bed and my parents hate you, but it’ll be fun.”

At the Sunbeams meeting, Kelly suggested the women give up something in solidarity with their men who had given up taken showers for the week.
One wife said: “What about alcohol?”
Kelly: “Why don’t you leave?”
Tasha: “Slow your roll Betty Ford.”

Tasha’s comment on Melanie’s choice of headgear: “You come in here wearing a What’s Happening? beanie and you call us crazy.”

Malik confiding in Jason about his OCD-
Malik: “If I don’t take a million showers a day, I’m all messed up.”
Jason: “Your water bill must be out of this world.”

But the hand-down-funniest moment of last night’s episode was when the guys ran out into the pool and Tasha discovers Kelly sucking Chardonnay straight out the bottle through a straw.

ABC is not playing around.

First it was Six Degrees, then The Nine. Now comes word that Taye Diggs' thriller Day Break won't make it into the New Year. Per Variety, Day Break will either be dropped after its Dec. 27 airing or shuttled to a new night. And in another switcheroo, when Lost returns on Feb. 7, it will air at 10pm instead of 9pm, to avoid competition with Fox's American Idol. There you have it!

News & Notes...

I just found out that the first season of Girlfriends will be released on DVD on February 27, 2007. The cover art is cute...and I'm glad to see Toni. It's a bit reminiscent of the Sex and the City DVD's, right? (Don't forget, the first season of Martin on DVD is coming out next month. I'm still waiting for word on Living Single and New York Undercover.) I wonder what extras the Girlfriends set will have? - depending, it may be worth the purchase, despite the fact that BET beats the reruns into the ground day after day!

Tahj Mowry, the younger brother of Tia Mowry (remember him from The Smart Guy?) will be a guest-star on his sister's show, The Game, on Monday's special Christmas episode. I can't wait to see how he's grown up from the little guy who used to be Michelle's playmate on Full House.

My newest addiction is reality shows about weddings and babies. Does anyone else watch Who's Wedding Is It Anyway? on The Style Network? It's fabulous! It follows two wedding planners and couples through their nuptials. You get to see all the backstage drama and things that often go wrong and unseen by everyone else. I can literally spend hours in front of my TV on the weekend watching a marathon...and yes, I will re-watch episodes I've already seen, it's just that good, and entertaining. Well...last night I caught a new show on Style called Married Away that focuses on the very popular destination weddings. The Black couple got married in Curacao and it was so beautiful...made me want to call up Delta and get a flight to the Caribbean stat! The bride-to-be and the Black wedding planner was beefing (did anyone recognize the groom? - it was Teddy from MTV's The Shop). And with the other couple in Hawaii (another one of my favorite destinations), the wedding dress was like 3 sizes to small. I guess the bride went on an eating binge between her last fitting and the wedding day, because they basically had to use Crisco and some fishing line to get her in that dress. What a roast! And then the babies...anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm petrified of childbirth, but why can I not even blink when watching Birth Day on Discovery Health? And they show it all...the baby's head popping out, the C-section incision, the doctor reaching into the open stomach to pull out the baby, the blood, fluids, everything. But I love it!

Sexy Back.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was cool. I'm glad there was more runway action this time around. Last year, I think the girls did two twirls down the runway, and the rest was filled with performances. It looks like they also had a bigger budget - the production value was so much better. My favorite section was the Pink Collection, and, of course, the Angels finale. Justin did a really good job - his acoustic version of "My Love" sounded even better than the original (but where was that sexy little man, T.I.?). I may need to go check Justin out in concert. I've seen him perform live before - when he was out on tour with Christina Aguilera and The Black Eyed Peas a few years back, 2003 I think, and he's awesome live. And his dancing is so cute. Did you see the look on the face when one of his female dancers slapped him on the butt? I don't think that was rehearsed.

Yes, I missed Nip/Tuck, but I caught the last minute or so, when Michelle was in the car with Escobar. I'm not surprised that he's behind the kidney theft scheme. This show is like Lost - everyone and everything is connected. He mentioned that "now that James is gone" so I'm assuming that she's dead (TV Guide.com said that she shot herself). From the previews for the season finale next week, it looks like Sean wants to walk away from the McNamarra/Troy partnership - again! I don't buy it - how many times have he and Christian called it quits, only to end up back together in the end? Face it, Sean, you need Christian, and he needs you. I have to catch a repeat just to see Gina again. I hear she made some inappropriate comment about Michelle being Black. Can it be worse than what Michael Richards said?

Well, tonight is the season finale of America's Next Top Model. Thank goodness! I don't think I'll watch, and in fact, if what I've heard is true, we already know who the winner is. Wikipedia (yes, not the most reliable source) reports that Eugenia is eliminated first, which leaves the two blondes, Melrose and CariDee, with CariDee winning it all. Who cares?

Friday Night Lights was cute, as always, last night. I know Matt and Julie's date would be a disaster. I was mad that she ran away from him after he kissed her on the field after winning the game, but from the preview for next week's episode, looks like they're back to being kissing buddies. But, of course, now Coach is trying to block. Stay tuned...

Repeats.

Last night were reruns of Girlfriends and The Game, but lucky for me, those were the only episodes I hadn't seen so far this season.

Studio 60 was new last night, and I loved every second of it. I heart Danny and Jordan together. How cute for him to go with her to her ob/gyn visit? And then, at the end, when he told her that he's falling in love with her, and that it's OK to run, but she better get a head start because he's coming after her, I literally swooned. The Hurricane Katrina angle was a nice touch, and thankfully, they didn't overplay it. Did anyone else see smoke coming out of Harriett's ears after Matt laid that smooch on her? I know my ears...and mouth...would have been smoking for sure! So ironic that Jewish Matt had all the Christmas spirit...meanwhile the Christians were sooo over it.

Now we're coming up on repeat season. We already know that Grey's Anatomy is done for the year. A few other shows will be riding out with reruns until early to mid-January. Tonight is the second-to-last episode of Nip/Tuck (next week is the season finale). I cannot wait to see Courteney Cox's new FX show, Dirt, premiering Janaury 2. It looks like it will be a fine replacement for Nip/Tuck.

I know it'll be hard to turn away from Nip/Tuck tonight, but let's watch The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Justin Timberlake is performing. Tune in to CBS at 10pm. See you there!

Countdown to The Wire

There's only one episode left of The Wire and I'm know it's going to be a real doozy. From spoilers I've read on other websites, a favorite character is murdered (his name starts with a B), but I'm more so looking forward to the fallout from the bodies turning up in the vacants, but I'm sure we won't know the full extent of that until next season. I hope that HBO doesn't keep us in suspense another two years for the fifth, and final, season of The Wire.

Here are a few of my observations:

1. What a change in character for Michael? The way he wailed on Kenard last night, and then slapped his boy Namond, all I can say is, wow! What a difference a contract killing makes?!? I figured that once he went to Marlo with this stepdaddy problem, he'd owe Marlo big time, but I didn't expect him to sell his soul to the devil like that. Some have speculated that this season is kind of a prequel to Season 1, because Michael and Dukie seem to mirror another best friend pair - Avon and Stringer. Even though next season will be focused on the media, I don't want to loose track of these boys. I predict that Namond is going to end up living with Bunny. De'Londa is the worse excuse for a mother I've ever seen in life.

2. If the cops knew Randy was in danger, why didn't they move him out of the city? He and his foster mother were just sitting ducks and I saw that attack coming a mile away. I felt a little sorry for Carver when he visited Randy at the hospital, but at the same time, the police should have been more proactive in protecting Randy and his family.

3. As much good as Daniels is trying to do, I see the Rawls is going to be a problem. He wants to be the police commissioner, but realizes that B-More can't have a white mayor and a white police commissioner. Besides, it's obvious that Carcetti favors Daniels.

4. Most shocking moment from last night: when Cutty was shot in the knee. I didn't expect that. But I did see Sherrod's death coming from the poisoned drugs in Bubbles pocket. So unfortunate!

5. Funniest moment from last night: it's a tie between Cheese's retelling of Omar's robbery to Prop Joe ("S*** was unseemly.") and when Freamon approached Kima, who was talking on the phone about some "hot chick" with her feet up on the desk (How're you liking homicide?" he asks. "Love it. Why?" Freamon shrugs and walks off.)

Get ready for next week's season 80-minute finale. Or for those lucky ducks with On Demand, you can watch it now.

The last Grey's for 2006.

Let's have a moment of silence for Grey's Anatomy since we won't have new episodes until January 2007.

But, what a way to end the year with a bang. Last night, Grey's was back in full swing. I couldn't figure out why they dragged out George's father's surgery over the course of three weeks and I was annoyed it was taking so long to wrap it up. But the scene between George and his father (with Callie as a silent observer) was illuminating. George had been on a rampage, screaming and snapping at everyone and finally, Mr. O'Malley had to confront him about his behavior. Mr. O'Malley asked George why he was so angry at everyone, "especially when the person you're really angry at is me." Wow! I actually felt for George when he was too scared and nervous to watch his father's surgery, so Dr. Burke stepped him to narrate it for him while his back was turned. I figure this episode was taped post-behind-the-scene fight, so it was interesting to see those two together, awkwardly trying to pick up the pieces, both on- and off-camera.

I don't think Dr. Bailey needs to worry about Burke and Cristina not getting punished. I think they're both suffering enough as it is. Burke is facing a career crisis, because if McDreamy can't fix the tremor, he's done. And Cristina has to deal with a soiled reputation at work, plus the demise of her relationship with Burke. At the end of the day, there's nothing the Chief can do that's worse than the personal demons they're already fighting. But since Cristina jumped on the elevator with Bruke and McDreamy, she can prove to Burke that she's still on his side and has his support. Maybe they can find a way back to each other.

I was Meredith last night, and like I said earlier this season, she's been growing on me. I've been in her shoes, confronted with a stepfamily that you don't know and who certainly don't know you. Some may think it was harsh for her to tell her "stepmother", Molly, "You are not my family" but it's true. Meredith is dealing with enough drama taking care of her real mother, there certainly isn't time or space to care about some people she just met and a sister who doesn't even know she exists. My favorite scene came at the very end, when Meredith told Cristina, "you're my sister, you're all I've got." Yes, even though she may have a sister linked by blood, that doesn't mean anything. You can't choose your family, but you can certainly choose your friends. And more often than not, your friends know you better than your own family.

Funniest moment from last night: Alex calling Izzy a "candy striper."

It's going to be a long December with no Grey's, but I'll find a way to manage. I guess I'll pick up with The O.C. again. I was a fan of The O.C. long before Grey's came around, and with new episodes airing through January, I'll be watching.