Summer reruns and reality already getting you down? Meet NURSE JACKIE; Your guaranteed cure for the post-May season finale blues.

But don’t take our word for it, you be the critic by checking out the season premiere of JACKIE prior to its June 8th bow on Showtime. (After the jump)

Is Nancy Botwin really pregnant with her Mexican lover/ druglord’s baby? “Expect the unexpected,” is all star Mary Louise Parker is saying. Which is why it’s up to this TV Addict to say — well, show a little more, courtesy of these photos from the upcoming season premiere of WEEDS (June 8, 10PM on Showtime) featuring a first look at Nancy’s sister played by Jennifer Jason Leigh.

UNITED STATES OF TARA opens to the title character looking somber and peeved. And in the next scene, she’s T, a rowdy, horny, and suggestive teenager who proudly wears her thong outside her jeans isn’t afraid of thrusting her hips in the air while supporting herself on the kitchen counter.

Sometimes she becomes Buck, a gun-slinging, beer-chugging redneck – and a man. And when she needs an extra-feminine touch, she’s Alice, prim-and-proper ’50s mother with perfectly sculpted hair and impeccable baking skills. These personality transitions are done entirely without any explanation other than that we already know that Tara (played brilliantly by Toni Collette) has dissociative identity disorder, or as it was previously known, multiple personality disorder.

But she’s mostly just Tara Gregson, a Kansas mother who paints murals for the wasp set, struggles to figure out her teenage kids (Brie Larson and Keir Gilchrist), and looks to her astoundingly patient husband (John Corbett) to get her through the madness of everyday life.

So a mom – just with multiple personalities, or “alters.” It’s a family dynamic that’s strange, but works. We don’t see family dinners, but living room meetings where Tara takes record of everything an alter has done while she was away (she can’t remember anything any of the alters do while they are manifested), asking them what Alice baked or if Buck bought porn or – while still buzzing – if T did any drugs.

At the face of this is Toni Collete, whom without TARA would never work: while her character changes clothing to signify a personality change, we can see in Collete’s seamless change of expression who she’s become. All of the alters, though blatant clichéd stereotypes, are complete characters in their own, synced together convincingly. A feat worthy of an, ahem, award. And praise John Corbett, who plays Tara’s saintly, understanding husband Max. Their relationship grounds so much of the theatrical behavior of the alters with its organic, knowing conversations, rife with adoration and sarcasm.

While a fun, tender, clever, and sometimes hilarious half-hour, UNITED STATES OF TARA at the same time feels bigger than its pay-cable premise: if you didn’t have this projected metaphor for the roles women have to play, it would actually be better than it is.

Thank creator Diablo Cody for all of this, who in creating a strong family ensemble, also created a premise that seems to only truly exist to draw attention to itself. And like her pregnancy dramedy JUNO, she makes the kids so hipper-than-thou that they seem wittier than they actually should be – like making the pregnant teen call an abortion clinic on a hamburger phone, it sometimes tries a little too hard to prove just how nonchalant it can sound.

The upshot with a Cody production is that it always gets the reactions and behaviors just right: however outlandish Tara’s alter can sometimes be, the way both Tara and her family respond, be it in horror of being embarrassed, frustrated with her conscious disappearances, or enraptured by its peculiarity, everyone behaves (though not always speak) in real, human ways.

Hopefully like in Cody’s JUNO, if we can handle the first 15 minutes worth of stabilizing (or in this case the first four episodes), then we continue on through to the end, charmed by its heart and oversize brain.

UNITED STATES OF TARA premieres Sunday January 18 at 10PM (est) on Showtime

As the old saying goes; When you’re at the top of your game, there’s no where to go but down.

Which is why, following two excellent seasons that culminated in a thrilling face off between Dexter Morgan and Sergeant James Doakes, the downfall of DEXTER was inevitable.

Cue our painfully gruesome analysis after-the-fact.

If this summer’s DARK KNIGHT illustrated anything, it is that a hero is only as good as his nemesis. And with Doakes out of the picture, so to was the only real threat to Dexter’s extra-curricular activities. Not to mention, all the suspense, nervousness and edge-or-your-seat-excitement that came with Dexter always having to think one step ahead of well, everyone.

Instead, we were left with Miguel Prado played by “Special Guest Star” Jimmy Smitts. Putting aside the obvious fact that having Miguel played by Smitts was akin to hanging a “dead man walking” sign on the actor from the moment he entered the scene, was the disappointment that came when Miguel’s story-line went in the complete opposite direction of where we were hoping. Sure, Dexter learning about friendship was an interesting and important road to take. And yes, having Miguel take a liking to Dexter’s special brand of justice was entertaining. But then to ruin it all so quickly by having the two fast friend become enemies over the span of mere episodes. What’s Spanish for “boring” and “predictable?”

Frankly, a far more fascinating option, not to mention where we were hoping things would go would have been to have Miguel secretly be in cohoots with lawyer Ellen Woolf in an effort to bring Dexter down. Just imagine if Miguel’s friendship was simply a ploy to get close to Dexter and gather enough evidence to charge him with murder. Would not a perfect cliffhanger have come from Dexter getting arrested just as he finished uttering “I Do” to Rita? Now that’s what we call a season finale!

But moving along from our CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: DEXTER EDITION comes another major flaw from season three. The supporting players and their stories. While we enjoyed the character growth shown by Batista, Laguerta and Masuka, we couldn’t help but tire of another Deb relationship gone bad. As well as the show’s futile attempt to create a red herring surrounding Quinn. DEXTER is not an ensemble show. And peripheral story-lines only work when they help contribute to Dexter’s journey.

Which bring is to the complete and utter pointlessness of “The Skinner.” What made the Ice Truck Killer work so well was Rudy’s deep, mysterious and ultimate familial connection to Dexter. While Doakes was a success thanks to the seeds laid out in the show’s pilot in combination with a season and a half of build up. In other-words, if one were to replace Dexter being kidnapped in the finale’s closing twenty minutes with Uncle Jesse and a broken-down tractor you’d pretty much get a very special wedding episode of FULL HOUSE.

Again, please keep in mind. We critique because we love. And to prove it, here are a few suggestions for next season.

Dexter (and by extension, the audience) need to be scared again. After defeating the Ice Truck Killer, Sft. Doakes, Miguel Prado and The Skinner, America’s favorite serial killer (to the detriment of the show) is 4-0. Which is why DEXTER needs to return to the formula that made it so successuful to begin with. Isn’t it about time someone Dexter works with, preferably Deb, but we’ll settle for Laguerta, discover Dexter’s secret? Because at this moment, we can’t help but feel the show is treading dangerously close to SMALLVILLE levels of ridiculousness. You know, how it’s almost laughable that Lex took seven years to piece together Clark’s secret identity.

Another suggestion, and fare warning, this may get a little gruesome. But it’s time to stop looking at Dexter as the hero. The guy after-all is a serial killer and as such, it’s about time he should face some serious consequences for his actions. Let’s put a stop to Dexter’s journey down the path of normalcy and kill Rita. Since the creative team is so intent on having Dexter experience fatherhood with Rita, how does fatherhood times three sound?

Final thought. DEXTER needs an endgame. While Showtime isn’t going to want to us calling for the end of the show that’s put them on the map. The network needs to take a page from ABC and allow the writer’s to end the series on their own terms. That or risk subjecting DEXTER to the most menacing villain of all; audience indifference.

Photo Credit: Dan Littlejohn/Showtime

At the recent Television Critics Association Press Tour, DEXTER star Michael C. Hall was kind enough to take a few minutes out of his busy schedule to discuss the upcoming third season of Showtime’s critically acclaimed thriller DEXTER.

On the books: “I read the first book as the first season was based on it. But I haven’t read subsequent books because seasons two and three have all been based on what the writers have been able to come up with.”

On portraying America’s favorite serial killer: “I was making a joke earlier [at the DEXTER TCA Panel], but I must say that certain members of my family seem to be more comfortable with me simulating serial murder than simulating a gay relationship with a black man [on SIX FEET UNDER].”

On working with Jimmy Smits this season: “It’s been great. He’s not only a great actor, but a consummate professional and a really kind man. As was the case with Keith Carradine coming on board last season, it’s a real shot in the arm that the show can attract someone of that calibre.”

On the future: “As much as I’d like to mix it up and do more films, I don’t like to get too specific about what the future might hold. Certainly when I finished SIX FEET UNDER, I didn’t see DEXTER on the horizon. And I imagine, or at least hope that there are things to come that I can’t conceive at this moment.”

DEXTER returns to Showtime this September 28, 2008. [TMN in Canada]

Talk about Showtime!

The little network that could, or as we around theTVaddict.com are now calling it — HBO 2.0 — decided to pull out all the stops my rolling up the WEEDS, CALIFORNICATION, DEXTER and BROTHERHOOD panel into one enormous joi…. ummm fantastic panel.

Heck, even one of the executives joked, “This is the Showtime mixer!” Granted, I’ve never seen Brotherhood, but at least I hear it’s good. The other shows I can vouch for. And I admittedly had a chill go up my spine when Michael C. Hall walked onto the stage. How can people not be afraid that this guy is going to stick a knife in their backs?

What’s really impressive was how much everyone looked like they had tried to dress like their characters, except Michael C. Hall who wore a sharp suit. David Duchovny was wearing a black button up shirt with a wrinkled black sportcoat, and Mary Louise Parker had on a sharp little cocktail dress and looked radiant in her gleaming white skin. How she’s lived in California all this time and not become tan, I’ll never know. She’s sitting on the far left, right next to David Duchovny, who’s sitting next to Michael C. Hall, who’s sitting next to Jason Clarke in an awesome row of Showtime star power.

Here’s what we learned from the panel:

Jimmy Smits is joining the cast this season on DEXTER as an assistant D.A. in Miami with great political ambition, and becomes the “first adult friend” to everyone’s favorite serial killer/blood splatter expert. When asked how he felt about that, Michael C. Hall remarked that he “now feels really short.” Ka-zing! He’s changing up his approach to the character a bit, as he did when he faced Keith Carradine last season. It’ll be hard to wait to see what he ends up tweaking.

Albert Brooks only appears in four episodes of WEEDS this year, so if you’re been keeping up and watching what’s already aired, shalom Mr. Brooks.

Tom Kapinos (creator and executive producer) said that this season of CALIFORNICATION will be all about the mystique of happy endings. Hank got everyhing he wanted last season, and now they’re going to investigate what happens to someone when they get what they’ve been striving for.

When asked about the fact that their shows are all critically acclaimed, but reach relatively small audiences, Blake Masters (creator and executive producer of BROTHERHOOD) said “Britney sells about a million more albums than Tom Waits does, but I listen to Tom Waits.” I get what he’s saying, but what a weird analogy.

Jenji Kohan of WEEDS said they felt like they’d covered all of the territory they could while poking fun at life in suburbia, which was why they decided to burn down Agrestic / Majestic and move the Botwins and her clan to a new locale entirely, which is why they’re living beachside now. In fact, Mary Louise wanted the show to begin the fourth season with the same old theme song, but to have a needle scratch suddenly cut it off midway through and eventually have the record break.

On whether on not they were planning anything big this season, Duchovny responded with: “We’re having a big WEEDS / CALIFORNICATION crossover.. and it starts right now. Next question.”

On playing Mulder again in the new X-FILES movie, Duchovny said he’s trying to play Mulder from 2008, and not from six years ago. “I can’t play in the same sandbox, I don’t walk as fast.”

Michael C. Hall related how he was exposed to CALIFORNICATION. “I was really hung over a few months ago, and I watched all of CALIFORNICATIONS first season over the course of one afternoon.” Duchovny: “And then he was admitted to the hospital.”

Someone asked David and Tom if everything had been resolved with the Red Hot Chili Peppers (there was a legal squabble over the name of the show, which is also a Chili Peppers song), and Tom said he’d been too busy making the show to even find out. One of the Showtime execs popped up to let us know that it’s all been resolved, to which Duchovny quipped, “The show will now be called ‘Hank Moody.’”

Zinger of the panel: Someone asked Michael C. Hall how his family felt about him portraying a serial killer. He replied “Hey, as long as I’m not kissing a black man!” Which of course got a big round of laughter. However, a reporter somewhere behind me said “What’s wrong with that?!” (and yes, he was African-American), which was pretty damned funny. Hall came back with “Absolutely nothing!”

Most clueless question of the panel: “David, I enjoy watching Evan Handler and Pam Adlon in your show. Who else do you and the rest of you enjoy watching?” I mean, do we really expect anything other than the party line from these actors? Of course they enjoy watching all of the other actors on their shows, which is what they said. Although kudos to Mary Louise Parker for saying that Hunter Parrish “Keeps growing every day as an actor.” He’s one of the best child actors I’ve seen working… spinoff Showtime!

Runner up:I s Dexter a sociopath? That was the basis of the question that some reporter asked. Simple enough, right? Well, he kept reiterating what he was asking, over and over, and before too long that turned into a rambling, long, ten minute diatribe. Michael C. Hall cracked up everyone by simply answering, “Yes.”

TheTVaddict.com is thrilled to offer up a first look at the original poster Showtime has commissioned graphic artist Shepard Fairey to create in honor of DEXTER’s first appearance at July’s upcoming San Diego Comic Con.

If the style looks familiar, it’s because Fairey just so happens to be the talented artist behind this now iconic Obama poster.

And on the off chance you were concerned, the TV addict has it on good authority that no actual blood was used in the creation of this poster! Phew.

In celebration of tonight’s second season premiere of THE TUDORS, theTVaddict.com is thrilled to be giving away a copy of the series first season on DVD. To enter, simply post your answer to the following question in the comments below.

Question: Which premium cable show has the most historically accurate sexiest take on world history:
A) THE TUDORS
B) ROME
C) JOHN ADAMS

A winner will be notified via email in one week. That said, please be sure to use a valid email address so that if you win, you’ll actually receive your prize! And don’t miss THE TUDORS second season premiere tonight on Showtime at 9PM

In anticipation of Sunday’s L WORD finale, Showtime was kind enough send this TV Addict the complete fourth season of the L WORD to give away to one lucky reader.

In order to win, all you have to do is help spread a little TV Addict love by either (a) adding theTVaddict as your friend on Twitter or (b) becoming a Fan of theTVaddict on Facebook.

A winner will be randomly chosen on Monday and notified via either facebook or twitter. And don’t forget. THE L WORD ends its fifth season Sunday March 23 at 9PM on Showtime. You know, the network who’s motto should be, it’s not TV, it’s not HBO, it’s better!

In anticipation of DEXTER’s upcoming second season premiere — this September 30 at 9PM on Showtime — theTVaddict.com is giving away the first season of DEXTER on DVD. To qualify to win, all you have to do is take a look at the season two cast photos [click the link below] and guess which of Dexter’s friends, family and/or co-workers will fall victim to Dexter’s ’special brand of justice’ this coming season.

For the record, our guess is Sgt. Doakes. Having seen the first two episodes of the season, we have a feeling he’s getting far too nosey for his own good.

Can’t wait until September 28 to find out if you’ve won? Why not check out DEXTER on iTunes. At $1.99 per episode, it’s a killer deal [pun indented].

Jennifer Carpenter as Debora Morgan

Jaime Murray as Lila

Keith Carradine as Lt. Frank Lundy

Lauren Velez as Lt. Laguerta

James Remar as Harry Morgan

Julie Benz as Rita Bennett

Erik King as Sgt. Doakes

David Zayas as Angel

JoBeth Williams as Gail

C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka