As much as I am enjoying my final moments in the company of The Sopranos, they do not compare to those spent with Dexter Morgan. I feel a bit disloyal making such a public admission, having been a huge fan of the New Jersey mobster drama for so long, but FX's Dexter is quite simply stunning. Now coming to the close of its first season, Dexter has quickly become one of my TV viewing staples and with the climax to the Ice Truck Killer saga in sight, I find I can barely contain myself.

Last night's penultimate instalment saw Dexter finally work out what we have known for a while: that Deb's creepy boyfriend Rudy is the hunted serial killer. He was slow to become suspicious and failed to recognise clues, but once he was on the trail you knew that Dexter was going to come good. After savagely attacking Angel, Rudy was left with a cut lip and this detail was one of a number that finally helped our anti-hero piece the jigsaw together.

The biggest television industry knees-up is just days away and already US websites are congested with speculation as to who will win. I also must admit a slight excitement. I know these things don’t really matter and that prizes for non-competitive pursuits like entertainment are questionable – but I am a sad sucker for all the red carpet arrivals, winner’s acceptance speeches and backstage gossip. The build-up started very early this year with many insiders outraged that Friday Night Lights didn’t receive more nominations, while I’m incredulous that Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Jason Lee (My Name is Earl) could fail to be credited for their impressive work.

And so we wonder: will the Sopranos be given a big send-off after its 15 nominations or will new kids on the block like Ugly Betty steal its thunder? How will the Brits fare in their various categories? Will Ryan Seacrest make a smooth transition from refereeing American Idol to suave MC and who will make the best and worst speeches? Further scrutiny will fall on the outfits, who’s wearing who, who has the most expensive jewels and who looks good and bad. As well as broadcasting the ceremony, E! will be covering the proceedings from the red carpet (Live from the Red Carpet, Sunday 16 September, 11pm.) Don’t worry if you can’t stay up for all the action, I’m sure E! will be dissecting the fashion mistakes for weeks to come, but for those of you who just have to be in the know prepare for a long night. Let’s hope it’s worth it.

Media secretary James Purnell MP has told broadcasters to move on from the controversies that have dogged the TV industry this year. Purnell, who was speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, said that TV produced in this country was something to be proud of, and that it was the content that would "win out".

Purnell urged broadcasters to draw the "right lessons" from recent controversies, commenting that they need to "respect their audience", who expect a certain standard from UK broadcasting. "You [broadcasters] need to put your house in order, and if you don’t there will be a clamour for Ofcom and the BBC Trust to take further action... I do think people feel let down. But you only get to feel let down if you hold something in high regard in the first place," he said.

- Quentin Tarantino has rejected an offer to direct an episode of Heroes as he hasn’t watched the sci-fi phenomenon. Articulate as ever, the Pulp Fiction director said: “They were trying to get me to do one. I haven't even seen the f***ing show. What the f*** is Heroes?" Have you not been reading TV Scoop Quentin? [The Sun]

- The BBC might not like her anymore but Moira Stuart is set to receive a special honourary salute from the Screen Nation TV and Film Awards. Known as the ‘Black BAFTAs’, Stewart will pick up the Edric Connor Inspiration prize when the ceremony is held next month. [Digital Spy]

- With Sky boasting most top-level sports and ITV nabbing the leftovers, the Beeb have announced plans to broadcast the Super Bowl. What was the tiddly-wink championship already taken? [BBC]

- New lads channel Nuts TV had a pretty underwhelming debut on Wednesday night, averaging 9,000 viewers. Though aimed at saucy young fellas the average age of the viewer was 42. That’s more dad than lad. [Broadcast Now]

After watching Road Wars, I decided to stick (as opposed to twist) and ended up watching Mile High (Sky Three, Wednesday, 11.30pm). Now, I won't blame you if you haven't heard of Mile High... I hadn't... and it's my job to know stuff like this. Basically, Mile High is a 'drama' series about a flight crew who work for a budget airline. Sucked in yet? It's trashy TV akin to Footballer's Wives and looks cheaper than a No Frills bean tin.

Now, I'm going to be going on looks a lot in this review. I have a small confession to make. Last night I was listening to records and decided to watch the show without sound. I figured it wouldn't make much difference... and I thought it might make for a funny review. I guess the latter is up to you. Now, come with me over the jump into a world of self imposed silence and the only TV review you'll ever read that purposefully pressed mute.

Like most blokes, I was watching the football last night so my regular viewing was shunted off into the weird twilight zone that only exists after there has been some kind of live event on the box. Last night was no exception. I ended up watching Road Wars (Sky Three, Wednesday, 10.30pm) watching the world's fools razz cars around with ver cops in hot pursuit.

Now, last night wasn't the first time I've watched this show. As some of you may know, I often gravitate to this kind of show in the vain hope of some real action. I almost view these like b-movies... and seeing as no broadcaster has got the balls to show some real trashy horror (apart from some Hammer Horror on ITV at daft o'clock) I have to settle on backward villains being chased by the boys in blue (no, not the Cannon and Ball film).

Ryan Seacrest certainly is a busy boy. The American Idol host is due to host this year’s Emmy Awards on Sunday night and cover the pre-show build-up from the red carpet. How is this possible? Live from the Red Carpet and the Emmys themselves are both being broadcast by E! from 11pm on Sunday 16th, and the diminutive DJ is doing double-duty. I suppose that he’ll fit in as many celebrity chats and inane questioning of “and who are you wearing?” before dashing off at the last minute to spruce himself up for the ceremony itself. But such crazed running about begs the question: could no-one else have done one of these jobs?

Seacrest has a 3 year deal with E! for a reported $21million and so can’t really disappoint his home network. Likewise, the opportunity to host the most prestigious international awards for television excellence as watched by millions of viewers worldwide is a tough job to turn down. Being offered the Emmys gig is for many US presenters the pinnacle of their career, and in recent years has come to be a one-time affair that you’ve got to take when it comes around. He’s the youngest presenter for a few years and executives will be hoping that his popularity with teenage audiences will be evident in the viewing figures. And so do we think Ryan will do well?

An awards show might seem like an odd choice of TV fodder to review, but this year’s MTV Video Music Awards was surprisingly noteworthy. Celebrity car-crash Britney Spears has eaten up all the column inches with her opening ‘performance’, but there was more to this showbiz love-in than a ratty hair-weave, as the organisers tinkered liberally with the ceremony’s format.

Usually music awards bashes have some performances, the handing out of the prizes and some sheepish presenters fluffing their lines. These were all present and correct, but where normally there is one stage and one audience, MTV decided to be hip and experimental by introducing numerous stages. And when I say stage what I really mean is hotel suite. Confused? So was I – what was going on?

This week a new TV channel hits your digibox courtesy of Turner Broadcasting System and Nuts magazine publisher IPC Ignite. The director of programming for the production team ETV, Adrian Swift, also worked on Live TV prior to its demise in 1999. So having seen all those adverts for Nuts the magazine, and maybe even read it yourself if you're into the "lads mag" scene (God help you), what would you expect to see on a channel calling itself NutsTV.

Something exclusively laddish, presumably? Maybe a lot of gorgeous young women in various stages of undress, almost certainly pouting suggestively at the cameras and draping themselves over lucky celebrity guests from the world of sport, music and train spotting? If what Adrian Swift says is right, you might be slightly off beam with that interpretation...

Britney ‘car-crash’ Spears has confirmed that she will be making her big pop comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards in Las Vegas. The former wife of K-Fed will be singing/ lip-syncing (take your pick depending on whether you like her or not) her new single Gimme More as the opening act for the celebrity love-in. Stars will fight it out in categories such as most earth shattering collaboration and quadruple threat of the year with the likes of Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Rihanna and Justin Timberlake each up for numerous Moon Men (so named as the award is of an astronaut on the moon.)

These awards confuse me, as they only reward the singers starring in the pop videos rather than any of the other crew involved, such as the director. How much of an artistic contribution could Amy Winehouse possibly have made when so often the worse for wear? The same MTV favourites seem to be nominated in practically every category and often it is the one with the biggest budget that wins. And as per The Brit Awards pre-Russell Brand, the show is held the night before it is broadcast, giving the producers a chance to edit out the wobbly bits. But enough of my grouching. With the much touted return of one Britney Jean Spears the whole world will be watching – let’s hope it’s worth it.

It's always been a source of total wonder to me how popular football (or "soccer", as I believe they call it) is among women in the US. I was delighted when Beau Dure from USA Today sent me a link to this article - yes indeedy, as from 2009, the girls in America will be playing for pay again.

Over there, while the boys wear protective uniforms and run into each other while kicking the ball a long way, or use a big stick to hit a very hard ball a long way, girls are positively encouraged to play the beautiful game. Truly, football is an aesthetically pleasing sport - though it involves contact, it doesn't rely on brute force or speed - and as such it's ideal for the more graceful, gentler sex. And, since it tends to contain somewhat less diving than the men's game, it makes pretty good TV for sports fans as well.

The Emmys are coming later this month, but E! the entertainment channel has already handed out their honours to celebrate the best in today’s TV. The Tater Top Awards are voted for by the public and so are happily absent any nauseating industry back-slapping. The awards being American means that none of our top shows are present, but they do provide an interesting insight into what US audiences enjoy, and when we get most of their best stuff imported anyway – who’s complaining?

Plot spoiler warning: You might want to look away if you have not yet seen the most recent seasons of any of these shows: Lost, Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, The Sopranos, The Office, Veronica Mars, The Gilmour Girls, Battlestar Galactica. There are explicit details revealed and we would hate to ruin any future story-lines for you.

Why oh why is The Sopranos scheduled at the same time as Dexter? Surely the shows enjoy the same audience (both having questionable criminals as the lead characters, violent themes, etc.) and the stations are just splitting these numbers by competing with each other? The Sky magazine even suggests that if you enjoy The Sopranos that you should 'check out' Dexter. Oh, I have good people at Sky magazine and the more I see, the more I love it. Michael C. Hall is fantastic in the title role and now that we know the identity of the Ice Truck Killer, things are really getting interesting.

In last night's episode, Dexter found that he had been left a house in the will of Joe Driscoll, a man claiming to be his biological father. Dexter was dubious at the news as foster father Harry had assured him as an inquisitive youngster that his real father had died long ago. But as he was the named beneficiary, he made plans to go and pack up the dead man's house and perhaps find out a little bit more about how he had come to inherit it.

The E! Channel airs celebrity gossip-based programming around the clock, but shows on featuring Britney Spears is sleeping with or how many shots Lindsay Lohan downed before getting behind the wheel has never been the fare of the mainstream. Five will be hoping to change all that now they have picked up Hollywood Uncensored for its Five Life digital channel.

The show is hosted by EL Woody (pictured right), the ‘king of paparazzi’ and has a news-magazine format for all of its gossipy goodness. For those familiar with the aforementioned E! Channel, this show could be of interest as it promises similarly saucy scoops and Hollywood buzz. The 26 episode series will broadcast in the autumn, which looking at the weather outside my window is pretty much now – ggrr.

[via Broadcast Now]

Last night's episode saw Angel and Debra arrest the suspected ice truck killer - but have they got the right guy we wonder? If you are lucky enough to have seen all of season one, and can smugly nod or shake your head on reading this question - please can I ask that you don't give the game away and reveal what happens next. For those of us new to the Dexter experience, every instalment is a new toy to be loved with and cherished and last night's episode was no different.

Having pieced together some initially rather incidental information, Angel and Debra found someone who could be the ice truck killer, Neil Perry. He had the right car. He had photographs of the corpses, oh and they caught him mid-murder. Finding a young woman bound and gagged to a motel bed, the duo busted their guy and dragged him back to the station. The evidence was mounting in their favour, but Dexter steadfastly refused to believe that this was the man. After all, he had idolized the ice truck killer only to find him a fan of weird taxidermy - not exactly what he had hoped for in a mentor. But could the Miami police get that all-important confession out of him?

I could be accused of being too limited in my viewing habits but I have found that the opening sequences of some shows seem very familiar. I find myself wondering where I’ve previously heard the music or been dazzled by reminiscent imagery – the similarities can seem so obvious and yet so elusive. I cannot answer why this is the case. Maybe there is a dearth of creative talent when it comes to producing the best televisual introductions. Maybe there is a formula for success that designers and composers adhere to like some special set of criteria. Maybe they simply recycle bits’n’bobs to save starting from scratch.

Whatever the reasoning behind the phenomenon it cannot be dismissed. Just take a look at the opening 90 seconds of axed (boo hiss) HBO drama Carnivale and the recently finished Rome. Both share composer Jeff Beal. Both share title designer Angus Wall and both were firm favourites of mine.

Hands up if you've seen Coast (UKTV History, Wednesday, Midnight)? Chances are, everyone in Britain has seen Coast at least once when flicking through the channels. It's been on the Beeb (BBC2 if I remember rightly) and now, it's on all the time on UKTV History. Coast, unsurprisingly, travels around the coastline(s) of Great Britain, looking at sunken U-Boats, nature, smugglers coves and lots of moody looking rocks... if a rock can look moody. Out moodying them all however is host Neil Oliver.

Neil Oliver is the most Celtic man you'll ever lays eyes on. No, that doesn't mean he's ginger, wears a kilts and does reels to fiddle-de-dee music. Oliver is more Celtic than that. On the occasion, Neil Oliver sports a black overcoat and stands facing the oncoming wind to yells in thick Scottish brouges. Seeing as we're in the mood for learning (are we?), the word brogue comes from the Irish word "bróg", meaning shoe. Apparently, the term was coined by an Englishman who met an Irishman whose accent was so thick that he spoke "as though he had a shoe in his mouth". What's this got to do with Coast? Everything you muppet.

The Virgin Diaries (TMF, Tuesday, 10pm). Yeah? Man, dem bwoy try an' git with me yeah? *sucks teeth* I don't want no boy y'getmeh? I need a man yeah? Someone peng! PENG! I know amma virgin yeah? I ain't gonna be no nun right? Yeah? Y'getmeh? Raas. I'm lookin' for a boy dem bum! BUM BUM! Oh my days! Oh my gosh! Boys only be wantin' the zoomzoom... but... naaah... respectahgyal. Yeah? Y'getmeh?

Watching a episode of The Virgin Diaries, at times, is like trying to solve out the inner workings of the Rosetta Stone. The yoof of today certainly know English, but as ever, have created a divide with a bastardisation of it, leaving anyone over 25 scratching their head and wondering what all that noise was that hit your ears. Yeah? One advantage that I have is that I run a website called GrimGraf, which alerted me to many of the phrases used in last night's show. If someone is "bum", they are cool. It's more like "Booom!" than, well, arse.