How do we explain The Wire, Mad Men, Six Feet Under, Weeds, Californication, Nip/Tuck, The Shield and other shows that aren't just good, but as intelligent, challenging, well-written, well-acted and critically acclaimed as anything in the last 10/20/50 years.

So, to me, the issue isn't niche cable's move to center (which is true), but rather the disappearing middle on TV. It's either great quality stuff, or unmitigated dreck. The perfectly serviceable still exists (2 and 1/2 men, CSI, etc.) but that seems to be getting smaller.