Oh and apparently, only the first showing of the Mad Men finale will be commercial free - and will have some footage of the wrap party. (Read this over at TWOP.)

Is the Mad Men finale this week? I usually DVR the second airing, but I'll make an exception for commercial free.

yes. it is the finale.

Thanks! I have the entire season recorded, but I just haven't been able to get to it yet. Luckily, I'll be able to plow through the whole thing once I do get started.

Grr -- BOTH The Office and Grey's Anatomy are running over time, so I can't schedule the first showing of Mad Men! I hope I remember to hit record after they're over, so at least I can catch the extra stuff.

Edit: Or I could just watch Grey's online, which I guess is fine.

Futon Critic has scheduling announcements for The Closer and Saving Grace:

A two-hour "The Closer" special, comprised of the final two installments from its third season, has been booked for Monday, December 3 at 8:00/7:00c.

-- Said presentation will lead into the return of "Saving Grace" that same night at 10:00/9:00c. Additional episodes will also run on Monday, December 10; Monday, December 17; and Tuesday, December 18 - all at 10:00/9:00c. The four installments complete "Grace's" initial 13-episode order. New 15-episode seasons of both "Closer" and "Grace" are then targeted for June.

I thought The Closer's last episode this summer was the finale. Saving Grace's last episode felt kind of off for a season finale and I guess I know why now.

I'm glad both are returning before the summer, even just if it's for a few episodes.

Mad Men: I'm disappointed that Peggy turned out to be pregnant after all.

And I loved the ending.

Just watched 2.5 times. (Umm, twice, plus some strategic rewinds. Full-season rewatch scheduled for the weekend. Sadly, can't do tomorrow.)

Sumi, I can't say I'm disappointed, if only because I never for a moment expected anything different. This show (or I guess I should say, Weiner) has been an absolute master of the not-really-a-redirect all season. Of *course* Peggy was knocked up. Of *course* Dick's secret shame was class. Of *course* there was a real Don who died in the war -- all of it was there from the first moment, and the brilliant thing was how he made what we always knew was coming... not at all a surprise, because there really wasn't much redirection, but it's still new, maybe because of the lack of pointers and anvils and over-explanations. Kennedy won, and yet the show played it differently than I've ever seen it.

Youth culture is winning. Clearasil and Bob Dylan. OMFG BOB DYLAN -- not played for Pete, or Peggy, or already incredibly dated beatnik dude, or anyone else who represents the upcoming generation: for Don, because Dylan at 20 had that regretful thing going already, and because Don can't escape it.

(I've been veering back and forth between Dick/Don for weeks, but, no, Don.)

Damn, Don. Fucker made me feel for him, like I always knew he would. Not with the carousel presentation, which was sheer amazing ad-man slick, but with the callback to the earlier staircase moment. Stairs are the domain of lonely children.

Damn, Betty! Absolute triumph of playing the shrink. I share JZ's tiny-fist-shaking rage at the people who see her as a child. Love me some Betty.

Next season.

OMG NEXT SEASON. CAN'T WAIT.

The footage from the wrap party cracked me up, because the three stooges have exactly the same vibe in life as on the show. And because Morse and Slattery are so completely made of awesome. And can I take home a Jon Hamm of my very own please?

I loved how Betty played the shrink. Really excellent.