Off Pitch

The Wednesday Playlist: Southland, Suburgatory Finales,Idol, Real-Life Glee

Without question, the hour of TV I have been most anticipating — and dreading — this week is the season, and for all we know, series finale of TNT's remarkable, brutal, bleak yet gripping cop drama Southland (Wednesday, 10/9c). Anticipating because each week, this series somehow raises the dramatic stakes for its characters, in a grueling but rewarding tour of duty through the socio-ethnic sprawl of Los Angeles. Dreading because Southland has almost always lived on the verge of ratings extinction, from the time TNT rescued the show after NBC dumped it before its second season could even premiere, and I fear (as do many) that this fifth season could very likely be its last hurrah. (Several of its stars have signed up for new work during this pilot season, perhaps seeing the writing on the wall.)