I'm thrilled that my favorite summer shows—like True Blood and Weeds—are finally coming back. But one thing is increasingly clear: There are a lot of desperate shows out there. And they're all resorting to the same tired tricks to try to make themselves fresh again.

A one-time reality also-ran is now getting the chance to be in the spotlight twice. Also today: trouble at The X Factor, three actors spark up doobies over at Weeds, and Oprah is bigger than ever.

Last night's season finales of The Big C and Weeds demonstrated what HBO's oft-wayward younger brother does best. They make compelling, if ridiculous, drama about middle class women in precarious tight spots.

This was possibly the best episode of Weeds in two years. We saw the return of Esteban and Guillermo, a resolve to story-lines that have been dragging on for two seasons, and finally got a little bit of closure.

We're not sure exactly who watches Weeds anymore, but Eric Lange (Radzinsky from LOST) has been featured in the past few episodes. In this episode we see that he has been staying in motel room 108.

The designer drinks Andy made have been a success at the club, and for Mr. Schiff (Richard Dreyfuss). Unfortunately for Nancy though, some reporter is trying to get a book deal writing about Nancy's various journeys through criminal wilderness.

After returning home to Detroit, Nancy finds out that she can't sell hash to kids who just want to dance. Of course, she finds another way to make a living...but nothing is ever easy is it?

Today at Gawker.TV, Audrina Patridge shimmies around to The Hills' theme song, the mother to Bret Michaels' children likes to box with the Rock of Love girls in mind, and we're introduced How I Met Your Mother's Mother! Finally.

Just like every other episode of Weeds, I'm excited for what happens on the next one. Looks like Nancy goes back to her hometown to see her crazy sister and...Richard Dreyfuss?

Today at Gawker.TV, George Clooney recalls being spit on in Sudan, Cuddy goes bare on House, Pauly D on the Tonight Show, and How I Met Your Mother decides what it takes to become a real New Yorker.

Pastor Randy and family found a place to park their camper and live as the newest religious leaders in town on Weeds. Andy is a fitting pastor, Nancy a fantastic choir leader, and Doug the perfect creepy family friend.

During next week's episode of Weeds, Mark-Paul Gosselar plays a bartender that Nancy encounters. One might think that it's okay to smoke in a small-town run-down bar, but Zach Morris thinks otherwise—and that Nancy deserves to be punished.

That Nancy Botwin is always starting trouble, she's like the seemingly sweet girl in school that your parents inexplicably didn't want you around. At least tonight on Weeds she brought the family to Montana for some fun at the fair.

The life-cycle on Weeds continues: start a new life, destroy said life, run away, rinse, repeat. The Botwins got sucked into another escape route, and it looks like they'll be visiting an amusement park in the near future.

Today at Gawker.TV, Bill Clinton proposes a new way of looking at green energy for NYC, HIMYM features baby drama and lesbians, Hillary Clinton's hair disaster, and what happens when you dub Kevin from The Office's voice over Cookie Monster?

18-year-old Indiana teen Andrew Conley confessed to strangling his 10-year-old brother. Prosecutors are blaming the crime on Conley's desire to be like the serial-killing main character on Showtime's Dexter. Why couldn't he have just been a stoner really into Weeds?

The Newmans did stupid things, the mommies in the park were onto Shane, Silas still loved college, and Cesar was close to getting Nancy. The episode culminated in a ridiculous spiral fitting of this season. These spoilers are NSFW!

Things were looking up for the Newmans; Andy got promoted, Nancy found customers, Silas got to be a college kid, and Shane joined the mommies in the park.

Today at Gawker.TV, Millionaire Matchmaker's Patti Stanger has a Christian Bale-sized freakout, David Letterman celebrates 17 years on CBS, and Joan Rivers and the Fashion Police deem Neil Patrick Harris and Anna Paquin the worst dressed at the Emmy Awards.

While we are left missing the theme song, Nancy and the newly-named "Newmans" are left missing their lives of comfort in Mexico.