The ingredients for Alan Ball's gumbo: bayou vampires, social commentary, a waitress who reads minds, and a crackling murder mystery. Tastes bloody good.
2 of 13 Frank Ockenfels/AMC
Best Show You're Not Watching: Mad Men
With the second season over, new fans can watch all the episodes at once, without the usual agonizing wait. We're jealous.
3 of 13 Virginia Sherwood/NBC
Best Show You Are Watching: Law & Order
Through changes in the cast and the DA's office, the show perseveres because of what former star Benjamin Bratt calls "the construct that Dick Wolf created": "The production value is incredible, it's shot on location in New York City, the show runners are brilliant, the writers are brilliant, for the most part the actors are brilliant." Well said.
4 of 13 Kelsey McNeal/ABC
TVHighlights-LeastSurprising-DWTS10
Least Surprising Moment: Kristi Yamaguchi wins Dancing with the Stars
Wow, the champion figure skater is just as good when she's not on thin skates and slippery ice? Who knew?
5 of 13 John Shearer/WireImage.com
Best Awards Speech: Daniel Day Lewis
With grace and humility, the best actor winner for There Will Be Blood dedicates his Screen Actors Guild award to Heath Ledger.
6 of 13 Cliff Lipson/CBS
Best Surprise: The Mentalist
A fresh concept, sexy stars and a dash of humor make this show stand out from the crime-solving pack.
7 of 13 Eric Liebowitz/ABC
Breakout Actor: Jason O'Mara
The Life on Mars star manages several feats at once: playing a modern-cop swept back to 1973, holding his own in scenes with Harvey Keitel, and nailing an American accent. Must be the luck of the Irish.
8 of 13 Carin Baer/AMC
Breakout Actress: Elisabeth Moss
We don't know if Moss' Peggy Olson is the hero of Mad Men or the villain who'll ultimately take over the firm and fire everyone who ever smoked and drank in the office. Which is part of why Moss is so good.
9 of 13 Mary Ellen Mathews/NBC
Best Couple: 30's Rock's Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy
Fine, so they won't kiss even to curry favor with the soap-opera obsessed Kathy Geiss. Why ruin a perfect relationship?
10 of 13 screengrab courtesy HBO
Best Sex Scene: Amy and Jason on True Blood
Yeah, the one where they're tripping. V looks like some crazy stuff.
11 of 13 screengrab courtesy HBO
Worst Sex Scene: John and Abigail Adams in John Adams
The lights go down, and the wig comes off. No one likes to think about their parents having sex, and it's kind of the same with the founding fathers (and mothers).
12 of 13 Monty Brinton/CBS
Best Reality Show: The Amazing Race
While some other reality shows — okay, every other realty show — seems to bring out the worst in humanity, this one highlights the best. And oh, those locations.
13 of 13 Mario Perez/ABC
Most Shocking Death: John Locke on Lost
So many questions about this one: Is he really dead? How did he die? And who on earth managed to kill the toughest guy on the island?