Watching the final scene of The Shield last night, as Vic Mackey walks alone down the street looking as if he wants to tear somebody apart and then go home to hug his daughter, looking like he’s just suffered betrayal at the hands of his boss and his best friend, not even aware that his ex-wife is falling for a hated colleague…seeing that look on his face while the …Trail Of Dead song “Will You Smile Again?” played just confirmed it for me…this is the best (non-HBO) show on TV, and Mackey is the most interesting and compelling character to come along in years. He’s Tony Soprano without the guilt, Jack Bauer without the patriotic furor, Jimmy McNulty without the self-pity.

That Michael Chiklis doesn’t win an Emmy every year is an absurdity.