TVSquad

Would you like to see more nudity and profanity on network television?

It's no secret that the networks are losing ground to the cable channels when it comes to original scripted programming, especially dramas. Just take a look at the Emmy nominations for Best Drama this year and you see that three of the six nominated are from cable: Mad Men, Damages, and Dexter). And the three that are from the networks are shows that have been a while and are (arguably) on the back nine when it comes to their life: Boston Legal, Lost, and House. While the network shows obviously get more viewers than cable, cable (and online) is the place to go for more creative content and buzz.

Wired's Epicenter blog has a piece about how the more free world of cable television is hurting network TV.

A roundup of TV people from in front of the camera and behind the scenes who have passed away.

• Hiram Bullock: He was a veteran session guitarist probably best known to TV fans as being a guitarist in Paul Shaffer's band during the first couple of years of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC. He also played on classic albums by everyone from Billy Joel and Steely Dan to Barbara Streisand and Sting. He died in New York at age 52.

So here we are at the end of another television season. We're all exhausted from watching all of the finales, whether it was American Idol or The Office or Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives (there's still one biggie left to come next week: Lost!), and we're ready to take the summer off and enjoy cheeseburgers and the beach and fireworks and road trips, making sure we don't turn on our televisions unless it's for the news or maybe some daily soaps.

Of course, television doesn't really work that way anymore. There is no complete summer hiatus on the networks anymore. They all have reality shows and new scripted shows too, both network and cable. Here are the four shows that I'm most looking forward to watching this summer, and - God help me - there's one reality show in the mix.

(S02E06) A couple of commenters last week mentioned they thought Harry could possibly be Dexter's biological father. Someone else mentioned that Dexter actually had a blood test done to prove who his father was, and I seem to remember that myself as well, though for some reason I can't remember the details.

In any case, Dexter continues to question how honest Harry had been with him when he was alive. In fact, he's getting pretty angry at him. It seems to me that, along with Lila's influence (whether positive or negative), Dexter not trusting what Harry taught him is just going to cause Dex to become even more sloppy.

(S02E04) A lot of commenters mentioned the change in Rita this season. I think it's understandable given what she went through with Paul, and then him dying in prison and her kids being affected so much. I think she maybe be finding she needs to keep her guard up more than ever now, to make sure she's doesn't make the same mistake again.

(S02E03) As if the last two episodes weren't enough to make you realize how great this season's going to play out, Dexter's new foray into "addicts" anonymous is a brilliant storyline. And that it got Doakes off his tail is even better. Could a 12-step program really put a dent into the kind of addiction Dexter suffers from? Perhaps indirectly, it seems.

One thing that's so completely frustrating and, honestly, uninteresting to me is the Lt. Pascal storyline with LaGuerta. Obviously everything can't be about Dexter, and we need to make the other characters human, which is the only purpose I can find for this so far.

(S01E06) Samyutta 11:10* The line separating the bad guys and the worse guys gets further obliterated this week. Caffe brother Michael does a favor that taints those involved. Poor brother Tommy, meanwhile, already torn up inside after having to ask his father-in-law for help last week, now has his lovely mother Rose rub his nose in it at the weekly family dinner. Just when was almost beginning to sympathize with her. Never again, she's foul.

(S01E04) A big chunk of Blade's past is revealed when the daywalker gets captured by survivors of a street gang that had rescued him as a homeless kid years before. Blade then spends the entire episode chained-up, getting the bejesus beat out of him. Turns out the gang - now called the Bad Bloods - is where Blade got his signature look. His tats are gang tats.

Blade repaid his adopted bro's by turning them all into vampires. Not nice -- but remember he was just a kid. The ganstas don't let him forget that, and keep calling him "little one" which has to hurt at least as much as does the beating he takes. Also, seems getting turned by Blade makes you persona-non-grata in the undead community - so these dudes have been hunted into near-extinction by Chthon and the other vampire Houses. Now the Bloods want to trade Blade to Marcus in exchange for peace in our time. Great! Just what I needed, another faction to try and keep track of. But it's a pretty cool wrinkle added to Blade's history, and anyway, the gang looks to be history itself after tonight.

Meanwhile, Krista, for her half of the episode, is still pained, conflicted, and smoking hot.

(S01E02) In the opening shot of this one we see Detective Boon (Bill Mondy) yanking out one of his newly-acquired fangs and poking his way through the plastic baggie that has imprisoned him. Right away, I know we're in for more twists. Boone was a goner last week, when he awoke bagged and tagged for Aurora testing. Now, why the dude has to pull out his tooth to rip the plastic with it, I don't know. Nor do I know why House of Chthon researchers don't ship their test subjects in fang-proof packaging. Anyway, Boon is back -- doubling the tally of series regulars that are newbie-vampires.

Kirk Jones (the-artist-formerly-know as Sticky Fingaz) doesn't have as powerful a screen presence as Wesley Snipes, and sometimes disappears into the background of the show (and even to get overshadowed by his own leather get-up). But kudos to the creators for going with a guy that has his own style and is no Snipes wannabee. Blade does seem like he is only making cameo appearances in his own show so far. I guess calling it Krista: The Television Series doesn't have the same recognition factor.