"Justified" recap: Oh, this is going to be very, very bad

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

"Justified" recap: I will always tolerate you

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

"Justified" recap: 'You pick the devil you run with

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

"Lights Out" series finale recap: "War"

Spoilers for the final episode of FX's "Lights Out" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

Every parent's nightmare: Reviewing "The Killing"

Given that its subject matter includes murder, political intrigue and youthful depravity, AMC's new drama "The Killing," debuting with a two-hour episode tonight at 9, seems curiously muted.

"Justified" recap: Holding the bag

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

'Shameless' season finale recap: 'Father Frank, Full of Grace'

Spoilers for the first season finale of "Shameless" below - don't click through if you don't want to know.

Heal thyself: Reviewing the new season of Showtime's "Nurse Jackie"

I should probably be harder on Showtime's "Nurse Jackie." I should probably chastise it for its flaws, including characters who are constantly shifting personalities (is Anna Deavere Smith's Gloria Akalitus a pompous buffoon or a capable administrator? Is Paul Schulze's Eddie a decent guy or a borderline psycho?). I should probably argue that it's frustrating that we're at the third season -- debuting Monday at 10 p.m. -- and the title character, played by Emmy winner Edie Falco, has evolved so little. Yet, it's hard to bring myself to criticize the show.
That's because "Nurse Jackie," for all its flaws, is just terrifically entertaining. At some point, that might not be enough but, right now, it is.

"Justified" recap: Louder than a bomb

(Late) spoilers for last night's "Justified" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"Justified" recap: See Mullens run

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

"Justified" recap: Mags Bennett is your number one fan

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

'Justified' returns -- and damn, it's good

As far as I'm concerned, FX's "Justified" was one of the TV highlights of last year. A well-acted, tightly written, witty drama about a deputy U.S. Marshal in Kentucky who battles criminals and his personal demons, the show was something you rarely see this days: a truly adult drama, light on gimmicks and heavy on sharp dialogue and interesting characters. The series returns Wednesday at 10 p.m. and fans will be happy to hear that it's better than ever.

FX's "Lights Out" packs a major punch

In the opening minutes of FX's fantastic new drama "Lights Out," (premiering Tuesday at 10 p.m.) we're introduced to boxer Patrick "Lights" Leary (Holt McCallany) on a particularly tough day. His face has been broken and bloodied during a brutal fight, but Lights is less concerned about his injuries than the fact that he lost a fight that he should have won. He was robbed, he tells his wife, Theresa (Catherine McCormack) who is far more worried about the shattered state of his body. She can't go on watching him withstand this abuse. She won't watch him die. Either he quits fighting, or she quits him.
So he quits. It's a powerful, devastating scene and it automatically announces that "Lights Out" is something special.

"Bob's Burgers" doesn't go down easy

Of all roughly nine zillion new shows premiering on Sunday (actually, it's four, but who's counting?), "Bob's Burgers" is the one about which I have the least to say. The series, debuting at 8:30 p.m. on Fox, is part of the network's "Animation Domination" cartoon block, and centers on a wacky family that runs a burger shop.

"Shameless" offers satisfying family drama

I've never seen the British series that's the basis of the new Showtime drama "Shameless," premiering Sunday at 10 p.m. So, when I viewed the three preview episodes sent to press, I went into it with no preconceptions; no idea whether this was a re-invention or a carbon copy; no clue about whether it had the potential to be better or worse than the original.
All I can tell you is, based on its own merits, Showtime's "Shameless" is an entertaining, well-acted and wholly satisfying drama, featuring breakout performances by some amazing actors.

LeBlanc great fun on Showtime's "Episodes"

Celebrities playing themselves onscreen generally go in one of two directions: realistic or cartoon. In the former, the celebrity generally plays a version of himself or herself that's as close to the real thing (or, rather, the media image of the real thing) as possible. In the latter, the celebrity plays as broad an image of himself or herself as possible (with Neil Patrick Harris's work in the "Harold and Kumar" movies the obvious example).
 When I heard that Matt LeBlanc of "Friends" fame was playing a version of himself on the new Showtime sitcom "Episodes," premiering 9:30 p.m. Sunday, I thought for sure he'd go the cartoon route.
After all, this is the man who gave us Joey Tribbiani. Sure, he's funny, but subtle he ain't.

Boardwalk Empire season finale recap: "Return to Normalcy"

Spoilers for the first-season finale of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

"The Walking Dead" season finale: "TS-19"

Spoilers for the season finale of "The Walking Dead" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.

Soliciting your help...

As 2010 comes to a close, many TV writers are preparing their lists of the year's best shows. I am no exception, but this year, I wanted to add another year end "best" list.
So many of the shows I love are made special by their dialogue. After all, what would "Mad Men" be without the wit and wisdom of Roger Sterling? Would "Glee" be as gleeful without the lacerating put-downs of Sue Sylvester? And would "True Blood" be as much fun without the reliably dumb observations of Jason Stackhouse?
So I'm asking you to help me put together a list of the best quotes of the year. Feel free to post your suggestions below, or e-mail them to me at iscreenyouscreen@gmail.com. I have ideas of my own, but I'd love to hear what you have to say.

"Mad Men" season finale recap: "Tomorrowland"

Spoilers for the season four finale of "Mad Men" below. Don't click through if you don't want to know.