Can I plug these speakers directly into my TV?

No, most tv now does not have an audio speaker connection. Instead they provide you an optical audio output for connection to your receiver or home theater in a box. Beside that tvs does not have enough to power your speakers, if there was a connection to the tv you could burn out the amplifier on the tv. You can purchase a power amplifier that has an optical input (separate power amplifier are hard to find now except for the high end). Or you can purchase a receiver (stereo just to power your speaker). Best thing is just return the speakers you purchase and look at an Onkyo HT-S model you can find at Fry's Electronic. It is a separate 5.1 or 7.1 receiver and a set of speakers and you can upgrade later beside you can add other equipment to it. The home theater in a box are not flexible and when one item fails the whole system needs to be replaced. Hope this will help you out.