TV Junkie: Monday

In the mind of the TV Junkie, last night's Emmy Awards were a vindication of the cutting edge programming happening on cable, both premium and basic. With the exception of reality programming and vague miniseries that nobody has heard of, the big networks came up mostly empty other than NBC's fantastic "30 Rock".
Yes, Jeremy Piven (left), won an Emmy, but it was largely undeserved as there were better performances on other shows, and the character of Ari is becoming more of a caricature as the seasons of "Entourage" drag on. Congrats to Bryan Cranston for "Breaking Bad" and Glenn Close for "Damages" (here's LAist's interview with Close from last year). "Mad Men"'s win of Best Drama was a definite topper, even if the show is about New York and not LA. Congrats to all the winners.
Lots of season premieres tonight. Here's the TV Junkie plan: "Top Gear"; "Heroes"; Letterman; Conan.
8:00pm Top Gear BBC America - Season Finale
8:00pm Gossip Girl The CW - Serena notices Dan cozying up to Amanda, the new girl in school, Blair and her minions decide to befriend Amanda and sabotage her budding romance.
8:00pm Dancing with the Stars ABC - Season Premiere. Two Hours.
8:00pm The Big Bang Theory CBS - Season Premiere
8:00pm Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles FOX - Sarah and Derek are put to the test after Cromartie kidnaps Charley's wife
8:30pm How I Met Your Mother CBS - Season Premiere
9:00pm Heroes NBC - Season Premiere. Two Hours.
9:00pm Two and a Half Men CBS - Season Premiere
9:00pm Raising the Bar TNT - On at new time
9:30pm Worst Week CBS - Series Premiere
10:00pm Boston Legal ABC - Season Premiere
10:00pm CSI: Miami CBS - Season Premiere
11:35pm The Tonight Show With Jay Leno NBC - Actress Charlize Theron; Little Britain; My Morning Jacket performs.
11:35pm Late Show With David Letterman CBS - President Bill Clinton; author Bob Woodward; TV on the Radio performs.
12:35am Late Night With Conan O'Brien NBC - Actress Diane Lane; comic Patton Oswalt; Little Feat performs.
Pic of Jeremy Piven at HBO Post-Emmy Party via the AP