Fiercely reminiscent of Lord of the Rings and at least as complicated, HBO's "Game of Thrones'" chronicles the genuinely epic story of seven noble families' struggles over control of Westeros, their mythical homeland. Observing all the properly epic conventions, and developing truly epic heroes and villains, "The Game of Thrones" was adapted for television from George Martin's fantasy novel, Song of Ice and Fire. The ten-episode series weaves together seventeen major characters' political and sexual schemes, mixing-in plenty of knightly sword-play and lots of nightly trysts. Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage, Iain Glen, Jennifer Ehle, Lena Headey, and Sean Bean lead a powerful cast. Shot entirely on location in Ireland, "Game of the Thrones" is as beautiful as it is complex and treacherous, and the landscape lends itself to The Game's mystic and horrible undertones. While the Lannister and Stark families challenge the Baratheon family's rule, "an ancient evil awakes," and only a band of renegade knights errant stands between Westeros and "the horrors beyond the realms of men." Somehow, in "Game of Thrones'" far away medieval realm, civil war and imminent apocalypse look a lot more noble, sexy, and glamorous than they appear in the post-modern world.

Ever wonder how many cops & soldiers TV series are succeeding on CBS in 2011-2012 season? OK, we'll give you a hint: six out twenty top television shows are cop or army related on this network. So, if you are tired and bored by numerous CSI /NCIS you should try this new one "“ NYC 22. Despite all the cons (we should count in an outdated flat and glossy picture that still is CBS's "signature" bobble) of another one police investigation drama, NYC 22 features some pros as well. Let's start with Robert De Niro as an executive producer, who brought in lots of diverse and twisted scenario turns and some decent cast: you'll unlikely see elsewhere on conservative CBS a romance escalating between a handsome black ex-basketball professional player Jayson "Jackpot" Toney portrayed by Harold House Moore (whose filmography includes Single Ladies, Necessary Roughness, Lie to Me and House of Payne) and Jennifer, a cute blonde white rookie nicknamed "White Horse", played by gorgeous Leelee Sobieski "“ you may know her as Lolita from The Elder Son or Chloe in Night Train and the most attentive would probably notice her in Public Enemy with Johnny Depp.

A stylistic and narrative departure from the other titles in the "CSI" franchise, the CSI: Miami edition strives to recreate the neon-drenched allure of South Beach. Veteran television viewers may recognize the show's natural affinity with the eighties hit "Miami Vice"; apparently, in Miami, the light always shines through colored filters and everyday events always have awesome soundtracks. As in all the "CSI" shows, a dedicated squad of forensics experts solves otherwise unsolvable crimes with the benefit of their daunting intellects and their dazzling technology. Plots follow Jerry Bruckheimer's tried-and-proven formula for "following the evidence" wherever it leads. The "pretty" one among the CSI brands, "CSI: Miami TV Show" features at least as much scientific could-be as it depends on forensic facts. Naturally, the characters are as pretty as their surroundings. David Caruso stars as Horatio Cane, the unit leader with a special gift for slowly and deliberately taking off his sunglasses and delivering pithy one-liners as if they were lines from Shakespeare. Emily Procter charms as ballistics expert Calleigh Duquesne, and the juxtaposition of petite southern belle with major firearms is not wasted on the show's primarily male audience. Adam Rodriguez plays the sometimes tormented "Delko," and Rodriguez tops fan polls as the show's most personable actor. Jonathan Togo and Eva LaRue round-out the show's collection of pretty people.

What can you do with a man who is powerful, in a power filled position such as mayor of a major U.S. city (Chicago), and apparently is losing his mental capacities? Maybe approach him carefully and make every attempt to keep his illness a secret from the public. Tom Kane has family, friends, and co-workers who are busy with their own lives and barely notice he has issues. Something is very wrong with Kane but only Dr. Ella Harris, his physician seems to know for sure. Kane has a neurological disorder that is degenerative which means he will only get worse as the disease progresses. Meantime he is trying to run a big expensive city, one that has engulfed lesser men with dirty politics and crooked dealings for decades. Stars Kelsey Grammar (Frasier, 30 Rock) stars as a Richard J. Daley style mayor in the Windy City. Kane's wife Meredith is played by Connie Nielsen (Law & Order: SVU). Kitty O'Neill is Kane's personal aide and played by Kathleen Robertson from 90210, CSI: Miami.

You could think of "Pretty Little Liars" TV show as "Gossip Girl" goes to the suburbs, except that the vapid world of Park Avenue apartments is, frankly, really boring compared to Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Based on a series of young adult novels by the same name, "Pretty Little Liars" shows the genuinely dramatic, morally-challenged lives of four teen-age girls, a cliquish little group"”Hannah, Aria, Emily, and Spencer. They could be renegades from the American Girls doll collection, except that they are frighteningly rich and more-than-tragically flawed. Hannah, for example, shoplifts, inviting her mother to complain, "I buy you everything you need to be popular," and leaving everyone to assume that's the last word on the subject. Conscience lives somewhere well beyond the city limits, exacting big penalties from those who transgress. As the show opens, Ali, leader and style-setter of the group, disappears a la "Blair Witch." The real action begins, though, three years after Ali's mysterious disappearance, when the "Pretty Little Liars" begin receiving text messages that very strongly suggest someone is watching them"”especially in their most compromising moments. Adding piquancy and spice to the digital displays, the sender signs them cryptically "A."

When "The Good Wife" premiered in the fall of 2009, insiders whispered that Alicia Florrick, the good wife, was modeled after Silda Spitzer, the remarkably resilient former spouse of Elliott Spitzer, former New York prosecutor who ended-up himself prosecuted on charges of using public funds to support his prostitute habit. In the first few episodes, Alicia stood mute and shell-shocked as her politician husband admitted to "indiscretions," was tried and sent to jail. With only mild irony, the good wife emerges as the amazing woman as soon as hubby gets fitted for his orange jumpsuit. Played with tremendous grace, style, and power by Julianna Marguiles, Alicia Florrick, a la Silda Spitzer, returns to her old law practice. A little out of practice after thirteen years as wife and mother, she wobbles before she restores her professional standing. As "The Good Wife" evolved, it outgrew its need for "ripped from the headlines" comparisons. Episode by episode, Marguiles quickened, toughened, and deepend Alicia's character. Her imprisoned spouse becomes simply a footnote or sidebar as Alicia struggles to keep her family intact and build her career in a law firm riddled with scheming, scandal, and intrigue.