Weeds

Let's be honest. There are really only four or five real contenders for this category, and most of them were nominated last year. But it's not like the talented Tina Fey (30 Rock), Mary Louise-Parker (Weeds), Julia Louise-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine) and America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) don't deserve the recognition. They all fit the bill, and most of their shows were damn good this year.

I'd be happy to see any one of them go home with the gold on Emmy night. I'd also love to see some recognition for Christina Applegate's work in Samantha Who?, a great show that got the ax earlier this year.

For a while there, it looked like Showtime, with buzzworthy shows like Californication, Weeds and Dexter, was dominating headlines and getting all kinds of praise. In response, their ratings were rising. Meanwhile, HBO had struggled to replace The Sopranos, Deadwood and Rome when all three left the airwaves in 2006-07. New "big" shows like John From Cincinnati and Tell Me You Love Me failed to make waves with audiences.

Really, it was Dexter that started swinging the ship toward Showtime, and in so doing, brought attention to the rest of their lineup. With HBO floundering, Showtime saw an opportunity and took full advantage, offering bold new entries. Apparently there's an audience that looks almost exclusively for premium cable original programming. And everything was going so well ... until HBO managed to snag a piece of America's current fixation on vampires.

(S05E06) "I've decided that we will get married." - Esteban to Nancy

Anyone know Spanish and can translate what that gal said to Esteban at the end of this episode? Because him proposing to Nancy sure seemed like a done deal -- well, as much as a done deal could be with him giving her a faux engagement ring that turned out to be the champion ring from the soccer team he owns, and then giving her the REAL ring later.

I would have been royally ticked at that lame proposal. But Nancy seemed to go for it. And then the babe rant came along at the end and the deal's off. What the heck? Maybe he's still married?

(S05E05) "These are very dark waters you're swimming in, even for you." - Andy to Nancy

Well, hmmm ... just when we all thought Nancy had gone completely over the edge and was unredeemable, she brings it back a little and becomes a mom again. ("I can't live like this anymore! Shane was a good kid! Now he's robbing his teacher!").

So she makes Shane go apologize for shaking down his English teacher (hey, the guy deserved it for driving off with Shane's weed) and shooting his bird. And then she goes all mama-bear by cutting off the teacher's air supply after he pushes Shane down.

The guy's a jerk. Give Shane back his weed! I'm sorry the bird got caught in the crossfire, though. I'm sure no birds were harmed in the making of this episode.

(S05E04) "They were going to sell my gallbladder to the Japanese. Fortunately, my body is a toxic pit." - Celia to Nancy, trying to convince her to let her move in

I know some of you will disagree with me, but I thought this was a really great episode. Maybe Jenji Kohan is listening to us, because it brought back the unique blend of fun and drama that I loved about the early seasons of Weeds. And oh, the quotes! Like this one, when Esteban meets Nancy and clan at the house, after they've been on the run:

Silas: "So you're the mayor of Mexico or something?"
Esteban: "Or something, yes."
Shane: "And you stuck your penis inside my mother at least once."
Nancy: "Ok, then. Good night, Shane. Go upstairs."

This week in Jane After Dark, I took a short break from The Wire, but don't worry, devoted Wire fans! I'm watching season three right now, and already writing next week's column in my head.

Since I'm covering season five of Weeds for TV Squad, I thought I'd better get caught up on season four. I'd watched episodes here and there, but not the entire season from start to finish. I just finished the last episode and have to say the series certainly took a turn in a different direction.

First of all, I really like the little vignettes at the beginning of Weeds episodes now (and last season). They're always related to whatever the episode is about, and this one featured a bar of soap. Nancy got her stinky "bodyguard" Sucio to take a shower in her outdoor shower, but then he disappeared, leaving blood stains in his wake. Much as I loved the "Little Boxes" theme song, it didn't really fit once the gang migrated south, and the new openers are very cool.

And much as I love Jennifer Jason Leigh as an actress, I'm not sure I'm loving her character of Nancy's sister, Jill. Maybe because I'd really like Andy and Nancy to get together, and with Andy and Jill doing it, that's just not going to happen -- at least not right now. Andy and Nancy are sort of perfect for each other.

(S05E02) I learn something new every time I watch Weeds. Last week, I learned about flash mobs. This week, I learned that fish are used in the pedicure process and guys in prison get specific tattoos on their backs. You know the ones I mean. Yes, I lead a sheltered life.

Ok, so the fact is I found this episode really dark -- on my first time through, that is. I watched it again and decided it had lots of subtle funny moments.

The first one occurred when Esteban's goon was tasked with keeping Nancy company, and then got sucked into getting a pedicure. Big mistake because Nancy ended up ditching him on the guise of getting a bikini wax.

(S05E01) "Just because you've been a slutty, irresponsible, slutty slut and had unprotected sex with a Mexican doesn't mean we can't be friends." - Andy to Nancy

One of the things I love about Weeds is the show's ability to mix humor and drama in every episode. It leaned more towards the drama in season four, but hopefully, we'll get back to more humor in season five. It sure seems that way so far, even though I'm wondering how the heck Nancy is going to get out from under the Mexican mafia (literally), especially with Esteban's baby on board.

You have to wonder how many people watch Weeds as a Pot 101 primer. We've gotten some really good tips on what -- and what not -- to do in the pot-growing business. Now with Andy, Silas and Doug growing pot in a national forest, maybe our national forests will be covered with pot. I see lots of funny storylines ahead for these three.

It's about time Maria Bello got her own series, because it seems like she's always playing the wife of someone. She hasn't done a lot of TV lately, not since ER in the 1990s. But at the movies, she's played the wife of Viggo Mortensen (A History of Violence), Nicolas Cage (World Trade Center), Tim McGraw (Flicka), and Brendan Fraser (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), to name a few.

Maybe Bello finally realized that in order to front a series, she'd have to do it herself! She's signed a deal with HBO to executive produce and star in a new series, according to Variety.

The untitled hour-long project follows a woman who's forced into a life of crime to support her three teenage sons after her husband is killed (so, no husband whatsoever in this series).

One of the biggest victims in last year's Writers Guild strike was the Golden Globe awards. Fortunately, the SAG threats of a strike remain just that -- threats -- so the Globes are on and the nominations were announced this morning.

Unfortunately, there were few surprises among the TV noms. In fact, it's kind of worrisome that these nominations are way too similar to the Emmy nominations. Among the new network shows from this season, and last, very little.

NBC will broadcast the Golden Globes on January 11. For the complete list of the Globe noms, click here, and for some instant impressions on said noms, read on after the jump:

(S04E13) The final shocking revelation of the season--which wasn't so shocking, if you heard the rumors--made me want to write off the Weeds season finale as unimaginative. To offer up such a commonplace TV twist, and to do it in the last moments of the episode, was definitely not original.

As season finales go, this episode wasn't legendary (I'll never regard that word the same way again, thanks to Doug). However, there were a few scenes that gave us the Weeds we've always loved, and I'd like to believe that the show's distinct, dark humor will have a stronger presence next season.

(S04E12) A lot can happen in two weeks! Weeds took a short break and returned in the form of an action-packed drama. If this episode set the tone for next week, we can expect the finale to be a departure from the flaky, in-over-her-head Nancy from seasons past. Things have gotten serious on our little drug comedy.

Fortunately, there were some lighter moments. Naked Andy always mellows things out, and Celia gave us some laughs as well. Naturally, her rehab breakthrough came from a selfish place, which led to some hilarious backhanded apologies. Will there be any time for humor in next week's season finale?

(S04E11) The truth hurt almost everyone this week. The stress of having both a deflowered son and knowledge of the tunnel's other uses took its toll on Nancy. Harsh reality set in for the others as well. Doug's faults weren't lost on Maria, Celia's lack of insurance affected her recovery, and Bob Odenkirk made me lose confidence in commercial airline pilots. Where's Jimmy Jam when you need him?

(S04E10) Season four of Weeds has been a season of breakthroughs. Ever since Nancy left Agrestic and started over, she's been re-examining her life and coming to terms with her personal failures. The big question is: Will she ever truly change her behavior?

Her self-awareness has yielded some positive results, like her dinner table apology and her throwdown with Lisa, but we've yet to see any significant changes. Will this week's discovery make a difference?