[Televisionary]

There has been a lot of discussion of late about the creative differences between broadcast and cable, between what's possible at the legacy networks and at the basic cable upstarts. This conversation can really be traced back to the launch of Shawn Ryan's The Shield in 2002. The gritty cop drama singlehandedly transformed the fortunes of basic cabler FX, establishing it as a home for thought-provoking, challenging fare. That legacy continues to this day, amid a proliferation of original programming at the basic cable networks as AMC, FX, TNT, USA, and others shake up the foundations of television, bridging the gap between the FCC-controlled broadcasters and the wild landscape of premium cable. Nearly ten years after the premiere of The Shield , creator Shawn Ryan has another cop drama in The Chicago Code , which premieres tonight. But unlike its predecessor, The Chicago Code isn't headed to cable, but rather to FOX. In doing so, Ryan offers up what's easily the best ...

Winter is coming... Well, not that winter, not just yet. While we continue the long slog until April when HBO launches its adaptation of Game of Thrones , there's quite a lot of new and returning television series to keep us entertained in the meantime. Over at The Daily Beast, I offer "16 Shows to Watch This Winter," a round-up that includes such series as Episodes, Shameless, Big Love, Downton Abbey, Parks and Recreation, Portlandia, Off the Map, The Chicago Code, Lights Out, Archer, Justified, The Killing, Body of Proof , and others. In other words: quite a fair bit coming up. Which of these new and returning shows are you most excited about? Head to the comments section to discuss.