"True Blood" recap: Sun, sun, sun -- here it comes

Spoilers for this week's "True Blood" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"Mad Men" recap: It's an honor just to be so drunk you black out and lose your award

Recap of this week's "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

My Emmy picks

I think we can all agree that this year's Emmy nominations, while overlooking a lot of great shows and performers, were a bit better than normal. After all, the academy finally gave nods to eternally snubbed "Friday Night Lights" leads Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler, and gave lots of love to some promising newbies, like "Glee" and "Modern Family."
But, no matter what they say, it's the win that matters. When the awards are handed out on Aug. 29, who will win? Here are my predictions on who will win in the major categories -- and my thoughts on who SHOULD win in the major categories.

Mad Men recap: Flora and bladed weaponry

Roger Sterling expresses some mild displeasure over WWII with Mr. Saito.

 Spoilers for this week's "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"True Blood" recap: Sookie's a ... what? Really?

Hi, I'm Mike Calia, the special guest blogger who's filling in for "TV Writer" on this week's "True Blood" recap. If you like what you read here, I invite you to stop by my site, cynicbytrade.blogspot.com, where I blog somewhat occasionally. And if you don't like what you see here, then I still encourage you to stop by my blog to berate and badger me.

Okay, now that I'm through with the shameless self-promotion part of this post, it's time for the obligatory Spoiler Warning. So, unless you want this week's episode of "True Blood," entitled "I Smell a Rat," spoiled for you, don't read beyond the jump.

A matter of housekeeping

Just wanted to let you know that I'm taking a much needed week's vacation, during which I will be more or less blog free. Don't fret, though -- I've already assigned a pair of dogged guest bloggers to write this week's "True Blood" and "Mad Men" recaps, and I've loaded up a piece about my Emmy predictions, which will run next Saturday. I should be back on the blog in time to write next week's recaps.
In the meantime, please go enjoy the rest of your summer.
Oh! And go vote in the I Screen You Screen alternative Emmy poll if you haven't already!

"Mad Men" recap: Good news, bad news

Spoilers for this week's "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"True Blood" recap: Bring me the fangs of Russell Edgington!

Spoilers for this week's episode of "True Blood" are below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

Winning Linney makes "C" worth seeing

Could anyone other than Laura Linney make us love Cathy Jamison, the tightly wound heroine of Showtime's new dramedy "The Big C," premiering Monday at 10:30 p.m.? 

Reminder: PLEASE vote in the I Screen You Screen Alternative Emmy Poll

Only one more week to vote in the I Screen You Screen Alternative Emmy Poll, folks -- and it seems as though virtually no one has voted.
Come on! You know you have an opinion about which shows were cheated out of a nomination! So go click some buttons!
You can vote in the poll by clicking here and feel free to list any write-in candidates below. Go!

"True Blood" recap: Love shouldn't have to hurt

Spoilers on this week's "True Blood" below, so don't click through if you don't want to know.

"Mad Men" recap: Rediscovering Godzilla

Spoilers for this week's episode of "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want know.

Not for review: ABC's "No Ordinary Family"

"Not for review" is an occasional series of pieces in which I offer my thoughts on the pilots for this year's new shows. These are not reviews, as many of the pilots sent to press aren't final versions. Roles can be recast; scenes can be re-edited and many other changes can be made. These are simply my first impressions based on watching early versions of the shows.

"Friday Night Lights" season finale recap: "Thanksgiving"

After a sabbatical from the "Friday Night Lights" recap, I'm making a grand -- albeit brief -- return to recap the fourth season finale, "Thanksgiving."
Spoilers below, so don't click through if you don't want to know.

Not for review: The CW's "Nikita"

"Not for review" is an occasional series of pieces in which I offer my thoughts on the pilots for this year's new shows. These are not reviews, as many of the pilots sent to press aren't final versions. Roles can be recast; scenes can be re-edited and many other changes can be made. These are simply my first impressions based on watching early versions of the shows.

"Mad Men" recap: Merry Christmas? I don't think so.

Spoilers for this week's episode of "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"True Blood" recap: Kicked in the face by love

Spoilers for this week's episode of "True Blood" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.