It seems like your "long ...

Question: It seems like your "long overdue" vacations happen about four times a year. How can you leave us during finale week?!

Answer: Did I say I went on a vacation? I misspoke. I actually had a, um, er, unforeseen family emergency. Yeah, that's it. You know I'd never go MIA during the most important week of the year unless it was an unavoidable matter of critical importance. Thanks for understanding. If it's any consolation, I spent the entire weekend getting caught up on all the big finales to ensure that you guys get the closure (read: my two cents) you were so desperately missing last week. So, without further adieu, here are my better-late-than-never, hit-and-run critiques of this season's big cappers:

Grey's Anatomy: B+ (Ellen Pompeo has never been better. Ditto Justin Chambers. Loved the final shot. Shonda Rhimes, consider thyself redeemed.)

Ugly Betty: C (As I feared, ABC is looking at those sagging ratings and fixing what ain't broken. I'm all for refocusing the show around Betty, but does it have to come at the expense of the funny?)

Gossip Girl: A- (Blair to Georgina: "Havent you heard? Im the crazy bitch around here. Have fun in reform school" 'Nuff said.

House: A+ (Is it too late to amend my Dream Emmy Ballot to include Robert Sean Leonard, Anne Dudek and Hugh Laurie? It is? Crap.)

Bones: B+ (Zack? WTF? Just kidding. I knew all along. Still, cool twist!)

How I Met Your Mother: B+ (Stella's so the mother I think. Josh Radnor and Sarah Chalke are magic together I know.)

Desperate Housewives: B+ (Even without the flash-forward twist, this ep was a knockout.)

Brothers & Sisters: B+ (If I've said it once, I've said it a million times: Faux incest is best!)

The Office: A+ (Inspired comedy from start to finish. Best ep of the season.)

Lost: A+ (So what if I haven't seen it yet? Based on everything I'm hearing, it's going to be awesome!)