Luther

CHICAGO – Idris Elba is stunning in BBC’s excellent mini-series “Luther,” recently released in a 2-disc set on DVD-only (which is a shame since every program this strong deserves a Blu-ray release). He does work as strong here as anything he’s ever done in his career, including his highly-acclaimed work on HBO’s “The Wire.” After being nominated for an Emmy for the first season, one can assume he’ll get another for his even-superior work in the second series.

CHICAGO – How do those guys on “C.S.I.” and “Criminal Minds” sleep at night? Do they? BBC America’s riveting “Luther” presents a man torn apart by the violence he’s prevented along with how much it has destroyed his personal life.

CHICAGO – Before getting too deep into what the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences did wrong this year, they deserve a few moments of high praise. First-time Best Series nominations for “Boardwalk Empire,” “Game of Thrones,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “Parks and Recreation” — those were stellar choices to fill those slots.