Television is a vast alien landscape of shows, programs and other watchables. So the odds of a really good show not getting special recognition are about as good as Michael Chiklis' chances of his noggin being mistaken for a shiny, beige Brunswick in a bowling alley.

The Emmys also tend to favor younger shows rather than the oldies that have had their chance to win some awards because the best stuff on television is always fresher out of the gate. It's just the beast of the cycle. Great movies age like a fine cheese. Great TV shows age like spray cheese.

The Shield, however, got totally snubbed from this year's nomination list. And is that something the Academy really wants to do to a guy with a hair trigger anger who considers a Smith and Wesson as his "backup piece"? (I should ask myself the same thing after that bowling ball noggin joke.)

(S03E03) It seems as though everyone wants to be Michael's boss. Everyone but the CIA or the NSA or some other international spy agency, including whatever organization burned him in the first place. But characters like Carla last season or the rogue Management group at the start of this season, as well as Brennen, tonight's guest handler, they're all for Michael.

Seth Peterson was back as Nate, Michael's brother with a propensity for great-rich-quick schemes and getting into trouble. This time, though, he was a pawn in Brennen's game to get Michael to do his bidding.

It's been more than three weeks since The Shield ended its seven-year run, and I still find myself wanting more. Not just wanting it. Craving it, needing it, willing to do anything for it -- the way one of Vic's CI junkies would gather intel on the One-Niners in the hopes he'll get to trade it for a taste of the sweet liquid heaven of Maxwell's Silver Hammer.

The ending isn't my problem. In fact, it's one of the better series endings I've seen in my lifetime. The show didn't go out all guns a blazin' in a fiery final showdown, with Shane or Vic waking up next to Suzanne Pleshette and realizing the entire season was just a dream that took place in an autistic child's snow globe.