Season 2 of How to Get Away with Murder

The second season of How to Get Away with Murder was very powerful, dramatic and almost Shakespearian in terms of its plot complications at times.

Viola Davis again turned in an Emmy-worthy performance this season  Turns out Annalise is Wes's birth mother, which he only learned after he shot her in the stomach! The British Alfred Enoch is not only a brilliant young actor, doing the American accent masterfully, he's nice eye candy, too, and often has shirtless moments. The Harry Potter kid is all grown up.

Cicely Tyson was back for the season finale as Viola's mom. Wonderful seeing them together again at the end of the season! Great chemistry and acting tours de force! Tonight found Annalise in Tennessee with her mom and family, which opened old emotional wounds.

As my friend Kevin predicted, a series regular was dispatched from the show ~ in an ugly way, too.

And Framke Janssen is always a pleasure, featured prominently throughout this year, though not in the finale .

The show came to a gratifying close tonight. Shonda Rhimes is a brilliant producer and the writers are top-notch, driving the ever-complicated storyline. Great show, great finale!

Looks like my Thursday nights are free again until the fall. A mixed blessing.

Video Beaverhausen: TV's Scream Queens

Like American Horror Story, Scream Queens comes to Fox TV courtesy of some of the same talent, most notably Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. They are also the guys behind Glee. It debuted last week and airs its second episode tonight, September 29th, just as Halloween is in the air.

The premise of sorority girls terrorized by a man in a mask may make you think of the Scream series of films. But, whereas that franchise was more of a straight-faced if tongue-in-cheek recreation of the genre, Scream Queens is totally, leeringly satirical. 1970s-80s scream queen Jamie Lee Cutis plays the college dean. 'Nuff said?

Yes, it's campy! Completely over-the-top, shot in New Orleans, with a serial slasher on the loose wearing a devil's costume, it's a complete send-up. There are plenty of mean girls one hopes will get their just desserts, and characters named Chanel through Chanel #5.

Ariana Grande appeared in the debut episode in what was essentially the Drew Barrymore role in the late Wes Craven's Scream. She demonstrates the dangers of texting -- most especially by messaging with someone who's right in front of you in the very same room. Nick Jonas is in the cast as a gay student, looking rather buff while shirtless.

Buddy B recommends this series to all. It's parody skills are... ahem... very sharp indeed. Like American Horror Story, it displays an encyclopedic knowledge of film genres, though with far less subtlety. You'll never listen to the song "Waterfalls" the same way again after watching this.

Gotta go now. Episode 2 is about to begin! And it's raining out there -- the perfect weather to watch.