Decadeworthy - Television of the Decade

Here's my picks for the Best in Television of the Decade. Yes, it was the golden age of television. Where shows were able to further blossom, delve deeper, run archs that created emotionally satisfying stories that took advantage of using the longer format. Or, the opposite, where crime procedurals flourished.

And yes, while it may seem like I watch every show out there, I actually do not. Sadly, I had real jobs to do. So no, I still haven't started The Wire or Battlestar Galactica or Big Love yet, and while I petered out on Six Feet Under and The Sopranos, I never got back into them when they apparently resurged in quality.

So I've limited to picking the shows with their best season in this decade (so thus, The Sopranos S1 was 1999 and thus ineligible, as was S2 of Sex and the City. 1999 was a good year for HBO wasn't it?), and it can't have already been mentioned on my Decadeworthy: Best of Television 1 Season Wonders List.

I also started listing them in order but kept switching the orders for days that I almost went back to alphabetical, but decided to leave the ranking, but you can probably argue a different order especially from 11+ and I could agree. So don't put too much attention to the exact order.

So here's my Decadeworthy List for Television of the Decade:


1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC) - Season 3 (2008)

Right from the get go, Season 1 grips you into the lives of the residents living in Dillon, TX, but Season 3 is when the emotional culmination comes to full fruition in deeply moving stories that continue on in Season 4 as more characters are giving satisfying sendoffs while new players are rolled in, all with the central core of Tami and Coach Eric Taylor staying strong at its heart.


2. Lost (ABC) - Season 4 (2008)
Best Episode: "Through The Looking Glass" (Ep. 322)

The 3rd Season finale changed the game but also confirmed Lost was in fact, not completely lost, with Season 4 continuing the build on everything since the terrific first season, mixing the mystery and lore with deep looks into Oceanic 815 survivor's lives and their destiny.


3. Coupling (BBC2) - Season 3 (2002)
Best Episode: "Remember This" (Ep. 304)

A British version of Friends with Sex and the City thrown in, the show is cute and builds to comic perfection in Season 2, but Season 3 tops that with some genius devices including the "Split" and "Remember This". I would say 5 of the 7 episodes in the season are perfect and cannot be touched.


4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TheWB/UPN) - Season 5 (2000-2001)
Best Episode: "The Body" (Ep. 516)

Before the decade had begun, the show had already perfected the use of high school/college as allegory for bigger, more devilish themes, with a funny Scooby crew fighting off demons and vampires, but everything seemed to gather to an emotional and urgent climax to fight Gloria, as well as the incredibly moving and non-supernatural death of Buffy's mom.


5. Everwood (TheWB) - Season 4 (2005-2006)
Best Episode: "Foreverwood Parts 1 & 2" (Eps. 421 & 422)

Every season deepened the family drama about a successful surgeon and his two kids that he tries to know better after moving to the small town of Everwood, CO. Everwood managed to balance both a light and fun tone with deeper and more emotionally dark issues, all with characters we learned to love, and managed to cobble together one of the most satisfying finales despite having the show cancelled unceremoniously at the last minute.


6. Pushing Daisies (ABC) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "Pielette (Ep. 101)

A deliriously delicious romantic murder mystery that sort of defied genres. Part romantic comedy, part crime procedural, part fantasy, part gay wonderland, and all wonderful.


7. Veronica Mars (TheWB) - Season 1 (2004-2005)

A mystery film noir done for the high school set but was not for the high schooler, with the dark cases and witty repartees, Kristen Bell led a terrific cast in a sleuth show that constantly surprised with twists and turns that were both fun and actually puzzling.


8. Gavin & Stacey (BBC3) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "Episode One" (Ep. 101)

A great romantic comedy television show that wasn't schmaltzy or cliched and pushed forward in a dizzying pace with harsh realities without ever losing the dream romance at its core.


9. Arrested Development (FOX) - Season 1 (2003-2004)

O that zany Bluth family. There's no words to describe the hilarity or to make sense of it all.


10. Gilmore Girls (TheWB) - Season 2 (2001-2002)

Comfort TV at it's finest, and fastest with the witty banter between the close mother and daughter relationship of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, but the power in the Gilmore Girls was that it was really a 3-generations relationship with grandmother Emily. The quirky townsfolk of Stars Hollow just romanticized small town living to its finest.


11. Friends (NBC) - Season 9 (2002-2003)

Some said Friends went downhill in the later seasons, but while it had its up and downs, I thought things started picking up again once Chandler and Monica started having their secret affair post Ross' London wedding, and got back into a great groove near the end when Rachel had her baby, Joey had his crush, and things started to set up for the end in the following year. The comic timing between the tight cast were down to perfection by that point, and the writing got sharper again, using the years of character history to construct new comedy gold.


12. Mad Men (AMC) - Season 1 (2007)
Best Episode: "The Wheel" (Ep. 113)

I haven't seen the latest season yet, but the series is a fun and addictive look at the 60's lifestyle of these Madison Avenue men, but the heart of the show is still its women (Peggy, Betty, Joan). The show slowly draws you into the darker underlying tones that hide under the well tailored suits and flower patterned dresses.


13. Modern Family (ABC) - Season 1 (2009)

Welcome to the new age of the family sitcom!


14. 30 Rock (NBC) - Season 2 (2007-2008)

While the overall story arcs are sometimes left at the wayside for the side-splitting insanity within each episode, but when it's that insanely funny, what's really the problem with that?


15. Glee (FOX) - Season 1 (2009)
Best Episode: "Pilot" (Ep. 101)

Do I need to explain my love for this high school musical with a black humour streak? Just don't stop believin'!


16. Desperate Housewives (ABC) - Season 1 (2004-2005)
Best Episode: "Pilot" (Ep. 101)

At it's best, the show, and especially the pilot, was a great dark satirical soap opera on the suburban lives of these desperate housewives and while it had some hiccups, the five year flashforward reinvigorated the show. Still, the first season, with the 1st mystery arc and the dark humour, worked great together.


17. The Office (NBC) - Season 3 (2006-2007)

For once, I thought the Americanized version of a show actually bettered the original UK version. I know purists will disagree but the original was TOO painful and awkward. Fascinating yes, but painful. The American version really got into its own groove in the second season mixing painfully awkward humour with a more powerful emotional impact by making it easier to relate to the office drones. By season 3, the balance had been perfected and the show really became its own entity.


18. Grey's Anatomy (ABC) - Season 2 (2005-2006)

When it was great, it was melodrama at its best.


19. Alias (ABC) - Season 1 (2001-2002)
Best Episode: "Truth Be Told (Ep. 101)

Things could not be more complicated for Sydney Bristow (a star making turn by Jennifer Garner) and the pilot episode was a wealth of information and twists and turns into her world as a secret spy living as a grad student by day. In comes spy daddy (the terrific Victor Garber) who may or may not be on her side, plus a cast of great characters in her spy world and at home, and it was the beginning of a totally wild and action packed series that eventually fell off the tracks, but boy was it fun while it was still hot.

20. The Amazing Race (CBS) - Season 2 (2002)
Best Episode: "Help Me, I'm American" (Ep. 202)

First season was brand new, but they perfected the race in the 2nd season with a perfect mix of racers including Tara and the Weasel Will, Cute brother and sister team Blake and Paige, the fabulous Danny and Oswald (who actually stopped racing to go shopping in Hong Kong AND still beat the others to the airplane), and the hunky Boston boys. Plus it's where the racers played it boldly, including the first time a team was brave enough to ask strangers for help and when the race still ended in a footrace that ended with teams so close together that it went down to the wire. Exciting and hilarious.

21. Ugly Betty (ABC) - Season 1 (2006-2007)

22. Once and Again (ABC) - Season 2 (2000-2001)

23. Entourage (HBO) - Season 2 (2005)

24. Weeds (Showtime) - Season 1 (2005)

25. Nurse Jackie (Showtime) - Season 1 (2009)

26. So You Think You Can Dance (FOX) - Season 2 (2006)

27. The OC (FOX) - Season 4 (2006-2007)

28. Better Off Ted (ABC) - Season 1 (2009)

29. The United States of Tara (Showtime) - Season 1 (2009)

30. Damages (FX) - Season 1 (2007)

31. Supernatural (TheCW) - Season 1 (2005-2006)

32. Burn Notice (USA) - Season 1 (2007)

33. Angel (TheWB) - Season 4 (2002- 2003)

34. Survivor (CBS) - Season 1

35. Bones (FOX) - Season 4 (2008-2009)

36. American Idol (FOX) - Season 1 (2002)

37. Top Chef (Bravo) - Season 6 (2009)

38. Project Runway (Bravo) - Season 4 (2007-2008)

39. Chuck - Season 1 (2007-2008)

40. Six Feet Under (HBO) - Season 1 (2001)

41. Southland (NBC/TNT) - Season 1 (2009)

42. Scrubs (NBC/ABC) - Season 2 (2002-2003)

43. Ed (NBC) - Season 1 (2000-2001)

44. Gossip Girl (TheCW) - Season 1 (2007-2008)

45. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) - Season 1 (2005)

46. 24 (FOX) - Season 1 (2001)

47. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - Season 2 (2008-2009)

48. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - Season 2 (2006-2007)

49. Without a Trace (CBS) - Season 1 (2002-2003)

50. Men In Trees (ABC) - Season 1 (2006-2007)


Best Shows I Started Watching But Am Only Finished or Partway Through the First Season So I Didn't Feel I Watched Enough to Properly Place A Ranking For It But They Are So Awesome I Need to Acknowledge Them Somehow:

Breaking Bad (AMC) - Season 1 (2008)

Dexter (Showtime) - Season 1

Fringe (FOX) - Season 1

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl (SHOWTIME/ITV2) - Season 1

Shows I Know Are Good But Have Yet To See and Still on my Pile of Shows to Watch:
Big Love
BattleStar Galactica
The Wire


______________________________________

Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders

Best of 2009 Lists: Coming soon
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009

Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List

Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List

Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List

Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005



Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Pushing Daisies, Back From The Dead, Just Before It's Going To Die Again

I'm not sure what Pushing Daisies ever do to the ABC network execs but they're getting punished and banished forever starting tonight (May 30th 2009), when it returns at 10pm for the final 3 episodes over the next 3 Saturdays.

Olive? I know! So Shocking! And you so don't deserve that kind of treatment, especially after bringing such technicolor whimsy into our lives. And you Kristen Chenowith, were even able to bring song and a particular brand of perkiness/snark onto our television screens and make it LOVABLE.

And now we get no more. And your new pilot Legally Mad wasn't even picked up. A sad time it is. (Maybe you'll have time to go back to Broadway? At least you'll guest on Glee! Maybe it could be permanent?). Still, sad time it is for Pushing Daisies.

I know Emerson. I know Ned. Such undeserved treatment, especially since you guys were doing so well pre-writer's strike. Then ABC held you back and off the schedule for almost 9 months (if not more).

And here you two are, playing detectives despite death, and making it fun and funny? And for once, Chi McBride, you weren't annoying. In fact, your dry condescension WORKED for Emerson here, and helped counteract the candy coated colours on the sets.

I know Chuck, such sadness. It's okay, you have a big movie coming out. It looks stupid, cause you know, it's Will Farrell and it's Land of the Lost but at least you're getting roles. Including Breakfast at Tiffany's in the West End.

And of Aunts Lily and Vivian. You don't have to put on a brave face. You were both iconic actresses before, and you'll remain so.

The final 3 episodes of the series Windows Dressed To Kill, Water and Power and Kerplunk airs from tonight through June 13th. They never even really get a chance to wrap up the series. At least the S2 DVD's will come out this summer.

On a final note, in some weird cosmic reminder that only I would manage to link it as a reminder to Pushing Daisies (because that's how my mind works), I bumped into Tyron Leitso at a bar last night. And yes, he's as yummy in person as he is on TV. More. Tyron Leitso always looked like he could be Lee Pace's brother. Plus both Leitso and Pace co-starred in Bryan Fuller's pre-Pushing Daisies series Wonderfalls. Yes, that's really how my mind works. I'm like a Six Degrees In IMDB game at ALL times.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Get ChenoWith It!

Almost numbs the painful death of Pushing Daisies! (Which returns in 9 days on Sat. May 30th at 10pm on ABC for their final three episodes)

Seriously, Kristen Chenowith is just awesome!

For more awesomeness from Broadway, I've updated my post on Gavin to include the videos of Audra McDonald, Cheyenne Jackson and Gavin Creel and Hair performing at last weekend's Broadway Impact rally.

Seriously, wouldn't Audra, Cheyenne and Gavin be PERFECT to ALSO guest star on Glee?

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Best Duos

Scooter rounded up some of the TV bloggers for a Best Duos on TV list (as a sequel to last years Best Character list). It could be any duo from any show with new episodes since last June 2008. Just any duo that sparks up the screen, whether it be friends, enemies, lovers, family, anything. And if looking back at last year's single character list and this years duo list, it's that we bloggers really do love our Friday Night Lights. Plus, the buzz on The Big Bang Theory is really picking up this year.

Here was the compiled list of the Top 25 Favorite Duos, along with my own Top 10 picks that I submitted at the end of the post:

1. Coach Eric and Tammy Taylor (Friday Night Lights)
2. Liz Lemon and Jack Donagy (30 Rock)
3. Sheldon Cooper Ph.D. and Penny (The Big Bang Theory)
4. Jim Halpert and Dwight Shrute (The Office)
5. Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons (Damages)
6. Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Special Agent Seeley Booth (Bones)
7. Emerson Cod and Olive Snook (Pushing Daisies)
8. Blair Waldolf and Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl)
9. Shawn Spencer and Burton “Gus” Guster (Psych)
10. Chuck Bartowski and Special Agent Sarah Walker (Chuck)
11. Sam and Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
12. Marc St. James and Amanda Tannen (Ugly Betty)
13. Barney Stinson and Ted Mosbey (How I Met Your Mother)
14. Bill Adama and Laura Roslin (Battlestar Gallactica)
15. Landry Clark and Tyra Colette (Friday Night Lights)
16. Ben Linus and John Locke (Lost)
17. John “J.D.” Dorian M.D. and Dr. Christopher Turk (Scrubs)
18. Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton (True Blood)
19. Jeff Patel and Lester Barnes aka Jeffster (Chuck)
20. James “Sawyer” Ford and Juliet Burke (Lost)
21. Homer and Marge Simpson (The Simpsons)
22. Bill Adma and Saul Tigh (Battestar Galactica)
23. Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell (Legend of the Seeker)
24. Earl and Randy Hickey (My Name Is Earl)
25. Michael Westen and Fiona Glenanne (Burn Notice)

Submitted by Voters: Dan, Ducky, Kath, Matt, Sandie, Scooter McGavin, TVFan, Vance

And here's my list that I submitted, though I must say now that I've seen the results, I'm so ashamed of myself for completely forgetting about Pushing Daisies. I also had a few on my list that I was highly considering but at the last moment, switched off for other picks.

1. Tami and Coach Eric Taylor - Friday Night Lights
2. Ben and Locke - Lost
3. Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock
4. Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl
5. Penny and Sheldon - The Big Bang Theory
6. Bones and Booth - Bones
7. Tyra and Landry - Friday Night Lights
8. Amanda and Marc - Ugly Betty
9. Dean and Sam Winchester - Supernatural
10. Megan Smith and Charlie Hogan - Privileged

I had also highly considered: Marshall and Barney (How I Met Your Mother), Michael Westen and Fiona (Burn Notice), Sawyer and Juliet (Lost), Cappie and Casey (Greek), Chuck and Sarah (Chuck), really any pairing on Friday Night Lights would have worked, and I seriously had to withold myself in picking a top 10 solely from this show alone.

And I should have also considered: Earl and Randy (My Name Is Earl), Any pairing from Pushing Daisies.

I also considered those from The Office but deemed it worked best in ensemble moments (and I got irritated by Michael and Dwight this season, which was my initial duo to pick)

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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A Message From Olive To Ari

Kristin Chenowith is AWESOME. She SO could take Jeremy Piven.

Thanks to Alicia for finding the video I kept hearing about.

"Stop eating fish"
"Do not ever sign on to do a Broadway my friend. It is haarrrd!"
"It can kick your ass!"

Love, Olive

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Best of Television 2008

The writer's strike may have screwed up the first half of the year, but there was still a lot of great stuff to watch on TV. Here's my picks for the Best of Television for 2008

(With the ranking from the two previous lists (Best of TV - Fall 2007/ Winter 2008 Season, Best of TV 2007) in parenthesis.)

1. Friday Night Lights - NBC/DirecTV (3, 1)

They may have taken a misstep in Season 2 but the second half (that aired at the beginning of 2008) was great and all I can say about Season 3 (currently only showing on DirecTV), especially for those of you who will finally get to see it on NBC in the new year, is that it is PERFECT. I can't wait for y'all to see it because the show has never been better, never been more emotional, more fascinating, more thrilling and more soulful. The continuing growth of the characters living in small town Dillon, Texas, along with Tami's new career, a new star player and his overbearing father, the goodbyes to Smash and Jason Street (make sure you have hankies in hand to mop up the tears), Tim Riggins new hidden maturity, Tyra's attempts to redirect her life, Landry's new band, Matt Saracen's new homelife, Buddy Garrity's new situation, Lyla's future at stake and much much more, is all just astoundingly astute and amazingly profound. All the intertwining lives and the little details of regular life are what make this show the most affecting show on TV.


2. Lost - ABC (1, 4)

Honestly, at this point, I have NO IDEA what's going on. But boy it sure is a fun and emotional roller coaster ride. What makes this big puzzle mystery work is that at its core, it is still about the lives and humanity of the people trapped in this netherworld.


3. Pushing Daisies - ABC (2, 2)

From the zippy dialogue, the cast that can pull it off with charm to spare, within sets and camerawork that dazzles the eyes, all the senses are working on full drive when you're watching Pushing Daisies that you can almost smell that pie baking in the oven. The mysteries are constantly surprising, the sight gags hilarious, the lines are a hoot and yet it's still romantic to boot.


4. Gavin & Stacey - BBCAmerica (New)

A romantic comedy set in a dryly depressing reality of British life. The sarcasm and the realism balance out the fantasy like romance in a show that shouldn't work but totally does. Much of the credit goes to the charming leads and hilarious sidekicks (who in real life wrote the script) and some crazy (yet strangely realistic) family characters that surround Gavin and Stacey as they make their whirlwind romance move through the paces at lightning speed.


5. 30 Rock - NBC (4, 5)

No amount of crazy can help describe how crazy 30 Rock has become and how funny it all is. The ensemble is fantastic and Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin have become an unlikely great comic duo and all the crazy stunt guest star casting has only helped enhance their rapport.


6. Mad Men - AMC (5, 10)

A deceptively intricate series that slowly reveals the layers beneath all those 1950's styles. While the men may rule the office, the women have become the heart of the show, with Peggy slowly inserting herself into the boys club, Joan (who would be ruling the office if it were present day) trying to keep her dignity and image up, and Betty finding out that the perfect picket-fenced life at home isn't all that perfect, and it all slowly pulls in the shattering effects society has managed to twist their way on everyones lives.


7. Ugly Betty - ABC (9, 3)

Sometimes the story threads meander and get too loose and they seem to throw outrageous ideas out to see what sticks, but when it does, the show sparkles with a vividly colourful energy much to the credit of some zany one-liners and a fab cast that can deliver them with pizzazz (and sometimes with jazz hands).


8. Privileged - The CW (New)

Cute and charming can usually only buy you so much respect but this show manages to outcharm everything else with a darling cast (led by the superadorablycharming JoAnna Garcia) that mixes frothy soapy stories with moral lessons that avoids condescension and banality. It may look silly and vapid on the outside, but it's deceptively clever and witty and even with all the hot cast members around, strangely wholesome in a heartwarming way.


9. So You Think You Can Dance/So You Think You Can Dance Canada - FOX/CTV (8, 11/New)

New choreographers on the American version (especially Napoleon and Tabitha) and some great guest judges/choreographers (Adam Shaknman, Andy Blankenbuehler) managed to keep things interesting as the level of dancing reached a plateau that it became hard to pick a favorite from the talented bunch. The Canadian edition surprised as well with an amazing array of dancers that were so strong that every cut was painful.


10. Chuck - NBC (12, 9)

A smart alec take on the spy show that feels fresh and fun. The spy games always have neat twists and turns, the jokes are spot on (including some great visuals including my favorite of the year: the new fro-yo store "Orange Orange") but they keep the emotions somewhere within it all so that we actually care about the characters and care about each missions outcome.


11. Gossip Girl - The CW (17, 18)

Never has watching pretty people doing very bad things felt oh so good. And in fancy smashing outfits no less!


12. Aliens in America - The CW (11, 9)

Sadly no one really bit into this biting satire of both American politics and American society and the truly underrated cast seriously milked the comedic gold from its witty and intelligent scripts. Here's hoping the show finds itself a new life on DVD and people get to discover this gem that only lasted one hilarious season.


13. Desperate Housewives - ABC (18, 20)

Even before jumping ahead 5 years, the show was getting back on track with the balance between suburban satire, black comedy and soap opera antics but the leap ahead gave the show a clean slate to play with the desperate women of Wisteria Lane and gave us a fresh new look on a show that once seemed destined for the dustbin. Maybe a little housecleaning IS all that is needed and this show proved it can be done!


14. Top Chef/Project Runway - Bravo (Not ranked/13, 14)

The drama never ends when creative types compete to be the "best" in a qualitative field. While the end of the "Christian" season might have been the end of Project Runway's high, Kenley-withstanding, I liked the recent season that may have had less "characters" but still offered up actual practical creative people to root for (go Leanne!). Meanwhile, I finally fell in love with Top Chef.


15. Bones - FOX (15, 15)

The Gorgamon twist that was rushed through because of the shortened writers-strike-affected season didn't totally gel but it didn't matter because despite the over-arching mystery that fell apart and the individual mysterious in the procedural series, the ongoing moments with the cast of characters we've grown to love on the show is what keeps this show humorous and humane.


16. The Office - NBC (14, 10)

Inconsistent at times, but when it started to come back together at the end of last season and the addition of guest Amy Ryan this season, the series was on a high again. They need to be careful with some of the crazier more unbelievable antics and remind us again that this is just a typical office in middle America so that we can relate again to our favorite office folks but at its core, they've built up enough of a base for us to love that even when the show goes off kilter, it still can be pretty funny.

17. Burn Notice - USA (7, New)

While season 2 didn't seem to have the cohesion the first season did, as Michael looked further into his own burn notice, the general light vacationy feel and sarcastic overtones makes this the sunnier male version of Veronica Mars.


18. The New Adventures of Old Christine - CBS (Not ranked, 17)

And they said the four-camera sitcom was dead. Not when they cast like this show! And not when they write funny scripts like this show!


19. Weeds - Showtime (6, 6)

The Botwins moved to the beach and got in some even bigger trouble. While the series felt a little dry at first (with no help from guest Albert Brooks who bogged down the light yet edgy feel to the show), they recovered with some help from a Mexican kingpin and his really long tunnel (what did you think I was going to say?).


20. The Big Bang Theory - CBS (Not ranked)

It may be the Sheldon show but at some point, his rapport with Penny gave the show its biggest boost in coalescing into an actual worthy comedy series. The fact that Howard and Rajesh seemed to become sidekicks of their own, and that Sheldon and Penny seemed to move onto greener pastures as friends are all bonuses.

Almost on the list (in no particular order): How I Met Your Mother, Greek, My Boys, Entourage, The Amazing Race, Everybody Hates Chris, Worst Week, The Mentalist, Eli Stone, Survivor, Men In Trees, Supernatural, Brothers & Sisters, Corner Gas

Best Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie: Britz

Best TV Mini-Series or Made for TV Movie That Wasn't Actually On TV: Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I Know I Should Have Be Watching (My bad): Battlestar Galactica, Dexter, Skins, Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Tudors, Big Love, Leverage, True Blood, The Paper, Architecture School

New Shows That Didn't Quite Hit My High Expectations At First But Was Slowly Building Its Way There:
Eli Stone
Fringe

New Shows That Turned Out Better Than Expected:
Privileged
The Mentalist
Worst Week
The Secret Life of An American Teenager
The Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Raising the Bar
Miss/Guided

New Shows That Turned Out Worse Than Expected:
My Own Worst Enemy
90210
Lipstick Jungle
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
The Ex-List
Welcome to the Captain
Swingtown

New Shows That Land Right In The Middle (Shows I like but sometimes I don't know why):
The Starter Wife
Kath & Kim
Gary: Unmarried
Rita Rocks
Cashmere Mafia
Life on Mars
Britannia High
Valentine
East Money
Carpoolers
High School Musical: Get In The Picture
Flashpoint
Do Not Disturb

New Shows I Didn't Even Bother Giving A Chance:
Knight Rider
Stylista
Crusoe
quarterlife

Shows That Deserved Better Deaths:
Men In Trees
Aliens In America
Miss/Guided
Back To You
Notes From The Underbelly

Shows That Might Deserve Death:
Heroes
Dancing with the Stars
Private Practice
America's Next Top Model
Prison Break

Shows That Don't Deserve Death But Have Seen Better Days:
ER
House
Grey's Anatomy
Samantha Who?
Scrubs
My Name Is Earl


Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of 2008 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List

Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List

Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List

Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005

More After the Jump...

Pushing Daisies - Finding Nemo's Mother's Killer

Pushing Daisies - Lighthouse - Ep. 209

A yellow raincoated Alexander Gould (Nemo in Finding Nemo, Shane Botwin in Weeds) shows up at The Pie Hole with his jar of pennies asking for help to find his mother's murderer, who was a lighthouse keeper in search of their missing-at-sea sea captain father. Would this have made him Captain Nemo? Captain Nemo Merle was found by a family gay cruise (oley!) but now he's missing, the child is crying and mommy is dead.

Olive and Emerson take on the job because Chuck and Ned have their own problems. Plus Olive Snoop just fits the job of a private investigator. How come I've never noticed that before?

Ned is angry at Chuck for keeping her father alive but accepts it and helps hide them from Aunts Lily and Vivian (although at this point, shouldn't we stop calling her Aunt Lily?). Charles Charles shows his thanks by threatening to keep Chuck from Ned if Ned doesn't help Charles Charles. In fact, Charles Charles becomes the concerned father needling Ned to stay away from his daughter. Charles has no problem in outing the couple, Ned tries to keep Charles trapped in the apartment, they fight, Chuck must side with her father and the age old story of girl meets boy, father meets girl's boyfriend and tries to keep them apart, girl is torn, except that father had been dead for 20 years and blames boy.

You know, same old same old.

Anyways another week, another convoluted (and I mean that in the bestest sense!) case with developers, nice but creepy lady, and a singing quartet of raincoated men oh my.

I wonder what raincoat I would wear? Hilarious!:

Yes, those are olives on Olive's raincoat and those are cod's on Emerson Cod's raincoat. Love these little and totally absurd details!

So with only one more episode for the year, Charles Charles has decided to run off with the knowledge of the secret (well, that and being a dead alive himself) as he leaves behind a dumbfounded Ned and Chuck.

More After the Jump...

November Sweeps - Doing Some TV Blogging Clean Up in December

It's been a while since I've TV blogged so I'm doing some massive clean up with November Sweeps stuff and some of this week too. Yes, I know it's already December. Deal with it.

Pushing Daisies - Oh Oh Oh... It's Magic - Ep. 206, Robbing Hood - Ep. 207, Comfort Food - Ep. 208

More about the half-brothers, a dead Magician Fred Willard and Jennifer Elise Cox as a gold digging widow! Plus was it me or was there FINALLY an opening title sequence with wooshy names flying over the fields of daisies for Pushing Daisies, and just as the show gets cancelled (which I'm not even going to really accept or acknowledge right now or else I'm going to start crying, plus I'm hoping Ned can bring the show back alive with his special touch)?

And just as Chuck's little secret had been found out AND we dig up Charles Charles (Josh Randall! Ed)!

Then little Ned is baking a lot of pies for the all the hungry boys at school.

I'm really hungry for pie again now. I did have a craving for fried chicken until the Colonel started eating himself. Ew. But boy, Ned was super cute as he was seeking the secret recipes (of 500 herbs and spices! KFC beat THAT!). I'm going to miss seeing Lee Pace's super cute face on TV everyweek. BOO ABC.

Meanwhile, killing Dwight by keeping Charles Charles alive was almost as funny as anything Olive says. And brilliant plotting. (And I haven't even gotten to the "Eternal Flame" part!)



Holy, Lee Pace's hand is HUGE compared to Kristen Chenowith's.


Privileged - All About Insecurities - Ep. 109, All About Overcompensating - Ep. 110, All About Love, Actually - Ep. 111

For a cute fluffy show, things are advancing quite steadily with Charlie moving in with Mandy, Laurel finding her old flame Miles (and the true father to her daughter), Will gets a job, loses the job and makes and breaks up with Megan (wait, where did it end off again? Are they on or off? I lost track) and Rose cheats on her exam and Megan catches on and follows through. All that plus a new cook is in the kitchen and he's intriguing Sage!

Okay, it doesn't sound like much but leave it to Privileged to make it all wonderful to watch. Bonus for tending to go on the moral high ground without sounding preachy or being boring.


More on Bones, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, 30 Rock, The Amazing Race, Survivor: Gabon, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, Brothers & Sisters, Worst Week:


Bones - The Con Man in the Meth Lab - Eps. 408, The Passenger in the Oven - Eps. 409, The Bone That Blew - Eps. 410

Okay, the killer was so obvious on the airplane but still. Ew. But do airplanes really work that way? Why do shows and movies always show the galley downstairs?

I did love Bones reacting to the clapping for solving the case when Booth points out it's for landing the plane. Why DO people do that?

As for Booth's brother (the always hot and adorable Brendan Fehr from Roswell and CSI: Miami) showing up and kissing Bones? Awesome! Apparently some people didn't like him but I'm for his appearance and according to The TV Addict, will be back! Yay Dan for finding that out! Plus it's just all practice for the REAL Bones Booth kiss!


Ugly Betty - Tornado Girl - Ep. 308, When Betty Met Yeti - Ep. 309, Bad Amanda - Ep. 310

Still continuing to balance high camp with some actual depth of emotions, I'm still loving this season. So much goodiness and the Tornado episode felt extremely cinematical with some great camera shots. All the location shooting within New York is certainly helping.

Who knew Ralph Machio is looking so good these days? Loved that Marc got to bring the bad news to Betty that she got the Yeti slot because she was the token ethnic which brings a bit of harsh reality into the boldly coloured world of Betty. The hilarious turn as Betty and Amanda try to con their way out of a restaurant bill that switches over to the drama between the two new roomies is the whiplash in tone that makes this show work at its best.

Plus seeing Broadway's Aaron Lazar as one of the two Italian lotharios conmen is pretty wicked.

That and Justin. More Justin please! I mean, how could he even CONTEMPLATE not going to see Wicked when Randy blows him off. Yet still Justin is AWESOME! Along with Claire with Angela Bower... er. I mean Judith Light rocking the three lines she has each week. Like I've said time and time again, this show has excelled in throwing numerous stories and snappy lines to all its cast members except for poor Christina who at this point has become therapist to an Emmy-deserving Vanessa Williams as Wily.

Still, the ensemble is so strong that any pairings usually work wonderfully (though I still wish for more Justin and Wily). And while I love Amanda, Marc and Betty together, I thought the Amanda and Betty roommate seemed a little contrived, even by Betty standards, but it seems to be working and I'm totally loving it.


Grey's Anatomy - These Ties That Bind - Ep. 508, In the Midnight Hour - Ep. 509, All By Myself - Ep. 510

It's not even that I'm bothered by the unpopular storyline of Izzie and Denny making ghostlove. It bothers me most is that Denny Duquette is always used to save the show when the show is letting all the other storylines fall apart with loose ends (Callie and her disappearing girlfriend Erika, interns cutting up interns, pig patients, that I don't even know or care where in the relationship Mer and Der are in, that Dr. McSteamy seems like a glorified extra at this point as they try to usher in new cast members including a ridiculous Mary McDonald with Aspergers (the actress deserves better than leftover Boston Legal plots), the always unpopular Melissa George, the hot but at this point misused Kevin McKidd, all as they've just kicked off the well-integrated Brooke Smith). I mean, LOVE Jeffrey Dean Morgan and now that he's become a slightly bigger star thanks to his initial Denny run and that he's still willing to return just as The Watchmen opens early next year, he's becoming the crutch the show relies on to boost any emotional connection we have left with the show and to remind of us the better times of Season 2. Come on Shonda, you can do better than that (Or maybe she actually can't, especially considering how mediocre Private Practice is). Still, I'm willing to see where she plans to go with this Izzie and Denny thing since she apparently HAS a plan. She has a plan right?


The Office - Business Trip - Ep. 507, Frame Toby - Ep. 508, The Surplus - Ep. 509

Thanks to my friend Tony, the trip to Winnipeg wasn't filled with stereotypical Canadianisms. Actually, it was filled with barely any of Canada at all and basically one giant plug for hotel concierges, the modern day geisha!

And yay! As much as Michael hates it, Toby is back! Yay! I always loved Toby/Paul Lieberstein. Am I the only one that considers him cute and endearing?

Not as endearing as Pam putting lipstick on to win her way to new chairs with the new surplus. Love that Jim got the shivers as Pam bossed him around.

Okay, Dwight and Angela getting married all under Dwight's secret plan? Weird and shocking and creepy and kinda funny actually, especially since Andy was watching on. Creepy for sure but I had to admit I laughed.


30 Rock - The One with the Cast of 'Night Court' - Ep. 303, Gavin Volure - Ep. 304, Reunion - Ep. 305

This season has been pretty great so far but I just noticed, has Judah Friedlander or anybody from the writing crew been on at all?

Meanwhile, as they are stuffing every episode with a special guest star (Jennifer Aniston! Steve Martin! Janel Maloney! Okay, she's not so big but I liked her from The West Wing, some of the cast of the same NBC time slot owner from my childhood Night Court!), Kenneth is still making me laugh the most with his little bits (usually involving the elevator for some reason, with him crying with the girls reunion (with Aniston) and telling jokes outdoing Tracy and Jenna).

Though Jenna as the wolflawyer was pretty good. And Aniston was pretty good as Liz's crazed ex-roomate. Though I think I loved her crazed ex-high school classmates at the reunion even more for hating Liz for being the geek hater. Who knew Liz Lemon was the MEAN GIRL!?

I love/don't care for Steve Martin. I actually find his old SNL stuff usually bleh but I LOVE LOVE LOVE L.A. Story but I found him annoying here on 30 Rock and was more entranced by Liz and Jack's interplay. Though the twist was amusing for a moment. But the episode was really great (and this whole season for that matter) because of the great duo Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin have become. Who would have first thought way back when?


Survivor: Gabon - The Brains Behind Everything - Ep. 1708, Nothing Tastes Better Than Five Hundred Dollars - Ep. 1709, I Was Put on the Planet for This Show - Ep. 1710, The Good Things in Life Aren't Easy - Ep. 1711

Randy so had it coming and it was AWESOME!

I can't believe Kenny is still in the running. At this point, I'm almost hoping for Sugar to win. Or Bob if he makes it to the end and doesn't get blindsided himself.

I know the point is for the weaklings to outmaneover the strong players and usually I like the underdog but I've got no attachments to most of this sad lot. Corrine is annoying. Kenny is annoying. Crystal is annoying. At this point, doesn't the gang realize they need to blindside Kenny and vote him out? Seriously, I don't feel sorry for this lot.

Though I do feel bad for Matt. Until he proposed. Seriously, isn't he like only 24? I know he and his now fiancee look in their 30's but still. 24. So young. Really? (No offence Linz)

Boy. Corrine's post-elimination speech. Bitter a little? What did Sugar ever do to her? I liked her "team" but I never liked her. Still, I only feel bad about this because this leaves Bob alone out there now.


The Big Bang Theory - The Panty Piñata Polarization - Ep. 207, The Lizard-Spock Expansion - Ep. 208, The White Asparagus Triangulation - Ep. 209

Sara Rue! Oh yey!


And yes, we all know Sheldon IS the show but can I say that they have finally integrated Penny into the show really well? and her repartees with Sheldon are superb and hilarious right now. Even more than Sheldon and Leonard. Though maybe not as funny as Howard and Rajesh.


How I Met Your Mother - Not a Father's Day - Ep. 407, Woooo! - Ep. 408, The Naked Man - Ep. 409

Woooo! Jamie Lynn Sigler! In a role that seems a bit small for her but whatever! And WOOOO! Nakedness!.

The recent episodes seemed to have unified the gang and the show as a whole again so while it still isn't as funny as some of their best episodes, it seems to be floating in enjoyable territory.


Worst Week - The Vows - Ep. 107, The Cake - Ep. 108, The Wedding - Ep. 109

Okay, Sam's kissing mom was a little much but Fred Willard is always welcome and grandma Olympia Dukakis just simply kicks ass!

Still, they finally got to the wedding! Now what? I thought they would have milked it for a whole season (or show) like the failed Big Day but that's probably why I love this show because as one note as the show sounds, somehow it manages to move forward and seem reasonable. Okay, sometimes I smack my head at what happens, but still, I guess I do everything at home in my bare feet too so I guess I can't totally blame Sam for taking out the bags of broken crystal glasses and then spilling it EVERYWHERE.

But for all the outlandish things that can happen, it's still more likable, realistic and sympathetic than any Ben Stiller movie.


Gossip Girl - The Magnificent Archibalds - Ep. 211, It's A Wonderful Lie - Ep. 212

Never a fan of Vanessa's, she's only palpable when she's with Nate. Well, anyone is palpable when they're with Nate (see the Duchess). Still, how the heck is she with Nate again and we are to feel sorry for her when poor Jenny is left on the block?

I'm officially over Aaron and anything related to prolonging this silly game of keeping Serena and Dan apart which has become futile and boring.

On the other hand, using Bart Bass to keep Lily and Rufus apart just revs up the sexual tension and amps up the opportunities for spies, backstabbings and Chuck walking in on Serena so I'm all for it.

I'm also in full support of a guest star Emmy nomination for Dorota!


The Amazing Race - I'm Like an Angry Cow - Ep. 1308, That Is Studly - Ep. 1309, You're Gonna Get Me Killed - Ep. 1310

I almost teared up when Dallas and Toni were eliminated from the race. I almost teared up when Dallas talked about how great his mom is. Who knew Dallas would turn out to be the stud of the race and not the crazed Gino his hair first led us to believe?

So now that my favorite team is out, I'll throw my support back to Nick and Star. Even Ken and Tina aren't annoying me now but I can't believe Andrew and Dan are still in the race. What the?

Granted, Andrew and Dan's marching segment in Russia was possibly one of the funniest things I've seen all year.


Desperate Housewives - City on Fire - Ep. 508, Me and My Town - Ep. 510

Okay first I didn't see the Porter/Anne baby coming, then I didn't see the baby not coming... coming. THAT was a nice twist! I only wish we were more invested in guest Gail O'Grady's Anne to have made it an even bigger shock.

Ditto with the reveal of Andrew's new boyfriend doctor (Todd Grinnell). I know there's probably something with the doctor/patient confidentiality but it could have been a funnier reveal if Todd ranted about Bree and Orson and not just making it seem like they were just another random bickering couple. Still, yum for the future eps!

Eva Longaria's been on a role with Gaby who must get her groove back now that Carlos will probably be able to see again, and Marcia Cross is still rocking Bree. Even Teri Hatcher has been hilarious and enjoyable (loved her comment about her high metabolism when Gaby was feeling fat) but in the end Felicity Huffman is still turning in another emotionally fulfilling performance as Lynette as she tries to solve all of Porter's problems (and a slight reminder of Tilda Swinton in The Deep End).


Brothers & Sisters - Going Once... Going Twice - Ep. 308, Unfinished Business - Ep. 309

If I had one criticism with Desperate Housewives, it was the wasted opportunity to use Steven Weber properly. Well, he apparently just had to wait one hour later on ABC and return back to Brothers & Sisters to surprise Sarah and her new fratboy co-workers to close the business deal. Well, maybe not just business. More like "bidzness" ya know!?

On the other hand, I'm still not sure if Dave Foley was properly used here as Justin's anonymous friend who Justin tries to set up with Saul. That was awkward. I know they meant that on purpose but still. Awkward. Love the Kid in the Hall but he's also looking a little sad.

I'm always in support of a storyline that will bring in an architect so I'm actually liking Nora's new house purchase story more than I thought I would, but I'm SOOOO tired of the evil Holly at this point that even while she's justified at hiring Rebecca in the former Walker's family business, it still seemed to blatant to unnerve Tommy and gang that it just became unbelievable.

More After the Jump...