'The Vampire Diaries' takes a bite out of my expectations

I think you know my television pet peeve is when I'm able to play predict-a-plot. You know when ten minutes into a crime drama, you say "that's the killer" and you turn out to be right. Or to pick a very current example, you think you already knew what was up with the new neighbors on...

"Private Practice" had probably the most memorable season finale last year. But not necessarily for the right reasons. In a dramatic shift in tone, Violet (Amy Brenneman) was kidnapped by her crazed patient (Amanda Foreman) who performed a violent, certainly not medically approved c-section so that she could take Violet's baby. The finale was gory, unsettling,...