The TV Zone

Before I get too far away from the actual event - and now that the hugely disappointing seventh season of "DWTS" has been washed from my memory cells - one last tribute to "The Shield." It ended the other night, as everyone is well aware, in a 90-minute ball of fury that ended in something profoundly unusual for this show - silence.

Though not in the habit of doing this, here's my review, if you missed, in which I called this one of the greatest finales in TV history. And indeed it was. And a final note (for now) on that finale: Did anyone notice the obvious similarity with "The Wire" closer? Beyond the fact that both were directed by Clark Johnson (who also appeared in both?) God knows, there were endless differences between both shows - beginning with (and ending with) "Wire" creator David Simon's compulsion to EXPLAIN what he was doing and why. But what's also noticeable is the fact that both Vic and Marlo Stanfield - also immunized - were cosseted in suits at the very end - suits as metaphors for social constrictions and conformity. Well, Marlo loses his tie, and hits the street, and Vic jams a gun under his belt. Both melt away, maybe even back to their previous lives, threatening their immunity, and no doubt losing it. The lesson - leopards can't change their spots, character is eternal.

Great finales, great shows. Now, nothing really to replace them.