"Mad Men" midseason report: Better than ever?

The big TV news out there today, I suppose, is that "Homicide" creators David Simon and Tom Fontana are reuniting for "Manhunt," a HBO miniseries about the 12-day search for Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth. My mind reels at the possibilities of what they could do with that meaty topic, but here today it's all about the best show that HBO passed on.

After Sunday's pivotal "Mad Men," I had to check this morning to see if easily my favorite TV show on the air now was going to take some kind of midseason break. According to the IMDB, at least, such fears are unfounded and the show will air its full 13-episode run through the middle of October or so.

Which is certainly good news, since the show has settled into such a natural rhythm in season 2, offering stories with a little less urgency but just as much intrigue. My prediction: Peggy's developing relationship with the priest will finally force her to come clean, and she will reveal to Pete that he's her baby's daddy (if indeed he is) in the season 2 finale.

But before then, Sunday's ep, the slyly titled "A Night to Remember," finally delivered the breakdown we knew Bertie was headed for, and it was just as heartbreaking as expected. In true "Mad Men" fashion, however, it was also just darkly and seriously funny to see January Jones with her party dress losing all its luster as she can't bring herself to take it off for 48 hours or so.

Season 2 overall has brought the ladies behind the "Mad Men" to the fore, and Sunday's episode eight also offered the kind of comeuppance for Christina Hendricks' Joan that the show has made its signature. Even with her shoddy treatment of Peggy and genuine dismissiveness as the queen of Sterling Cooper, you had to feel for her as she found out firsthand just how little power women can expect to acquire at the ad agency.

And, as the show heads into Sunday night's Primetime Emmy Awards Show with like 800 well-deserved nominations, it's still filled with little moments that just make me smile week after week. My favorites from season 2 so far have been Bertie's early encounter with a former friend who is now a call girl, Peggy's attempt to join the boys club for a night on the town and Cooper's Rothko painting and his explanation of the economics of high art.

I can't wait to see what unfolds in the next five weeks, and if Matthew Weiner signs on for the three more seasons (I have to assume he will). If you're somehow not tuning in Sunday nights at 10 on AMC, I strongly urge to just give in now and get caught in this infectious show's web, and if you're as big a fan as me, please feel free to let me know if you agree that season 2 still has the show in top form. And flash back to the very beginning with clip of Joan giving Peggy the lay of the land at Sterling Cooper. Peace out.