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Favorites of 2008
Should the 2008 TV season be forgot and never brought to mind?
Well, yes, parts of it. But this is the most wonderful time of the year (or at least that’s what all the songs say) so let’s take a look at some of my favorites of 2008.
Favorite Scheming College Student: Frannie (Tiffany Dupont) on Greek
Favorite place to find a Mad Man: Rich Sommer as Pam’s art school friend on The Office.
Favorite place to find a Mad Woman: Christina Hendricks as Charlie's would-be step-mother on Life.
Favorite Go-To Mom: Jane Curtin who played a mom once again on Gary Unmarried
Favorite Ex-Boyfriend: Todd (Barry Watson) on Samantha Who?
Favorite Ex-Girlfriend: P.J. on My Boys
Favorite Family: The Suarez on Ugly Betty
Favorite Go-To Daughters: The Panabaker sisters. Danielle Panabaker was Shark’s daughter on Shark (and we just saw her last week on Eli Stone) while sis Kay Panabaker plays Catherine’s daughter on CSI and will soon play Tim Roth’s daughter on the new FOX series Lie to Me.
Favorite Go-To Brother: Seth Petersen delights as Michael’s brother on Burn Notice.
Favorite brothers: Sam and Dean on Supernatural
Favorite Couple that should probably never get together: Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair on Gossip Girl
Favorite Wedding to Look Forward to: Brenda and Fritz on The Closer
Favorite Reason to Stay Away from Wisteria Lane: Neal McDonough’s Dave on Desperate Housewives.
Favorite Bad Boss: Michael on The Office
Favorite Good Boss: Jack Malone on Without a Trace, even if does date one of his co-workers
Favorite New Character to give good quote: Walter Bishop on Fringe
Favorite Old Character to give good quote: Three way tie between Barney on How I Met Your Mother, Wilhemnia (Vanessa Williams) on Ugly Betty and Cappie on Greek.
Favorite duo to give good quotes: The Winchester brothers on Supernatural
Favorite Reason Not to Hold a Grudge: Perhaps it’s time to forgive and forget on the Rebecca is not a Walker story line on Brothers & Sisters.
Favorite Reason to Relive the 90s: 90210
Favorite Reason to NOT Relive the 80s: Knight Rider
Favorite Reason to go along with the wackiness: Boston Legal
Favorite Reason to blink and miss it drama: The CW Sunday night one-two punch of Valentine and Easy Money.
Favorite Reason to not blink and not miss it drama: My Own Worst Enemy
Favorite Reason to blink and miss it dramedy: The Ex-List
Favorite Reason to blink and miss it comedy: Do Not Disturb
Favorite Way to Introduce a New Character While Saying Goodbye to an Old One: CSI.
Favorite New Character on an Existing Show: Kevin McKidd as Dr. Owen Hunt on Grey’s Anatomy.
Favorite Partners: Charlie Crews and Dani Reese on Life
Favorite Ex-wife: Joy on My Name Is Earl
Favorite Ex-husband: Richard on The New Adventures of Old Christine.
Favorite Old Show to Populate Current Shows: Dawson’s Creek. James Van Der Beek appeared on One Tree Hill and How I Met Your Mother, Katie Holmes tried to boost the ratings of Eli Stone and Joshua Jackson still has that ever charming smirk on Fringe.
Favorite Go-To Dad: Michael Nouri was Summer’s dad on The O.C. and will reprise his role as Patty’s husband in the new season of Damages. And we just learned he is the twins’ grandfather on Privileged.
Favorite Recurring Character: Amy Aquino has been playing Dr. Janet Coburn on ER since the first season heartbreaker "Love’s Labor Lost."
Favorite Bizarre Place to find a Lostie: L. Scott Caldwell, Rose on Lost, as Ricky’s foster mom on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
Favorite Bad Place to Find Good Guest Stars: The Cleaner and Private Practice
Favorite Good Place to Find Good Guest Stars: Without a Trace
Favorite reason to Use Stunt Casting: Britney Spears on How I Met Your Mother
Favorite reason to NOT Use Stunt Casting: Lindsay Lohan on Ugly Betty
Favorite transition from an HBO Show: Tristan Wilds from the Wire to 90210
Favorite way to pretend that Arrested Development is still on the air: Watching Jessica Walter on 90210
Favorite places to find a star of Arrested Development: Tony Hale who popped up on Chuck, ER and Samantha Who? this fall. And the good news we’ll see him soon in the new FOX series Boldly Going Nowhere.
Favorite new series to look forward to in 2009: The one, the only Joss Whedon and his new series Dollhouse. And here's an early hint, I watched the Dollhouse pilot this weekend and the series has great potential.
Favorite place to see the stars of October Road: Life on Mars
Favorite Psychiatrist: Sweets on Bones
Favorite Recurring Gag: Rotating interns on Bones
Favorite Voice Over: Kristen Bell on Gossip Girl
Favorite Bad Show: One Tree Hill and Private Practice
Favorite Geek: Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory
Favorite Place for a Roseanne Reunion: The Big Bang Theory
Favorite Reason to always have hope: Friday Night Lights and Scrubs both return in January
Favorite Reason to not to try to justify what you have no business watching: The Secret Life of the American Teenager
Favorite example of putting 7th Heaven behind them: David Gallagher who showed up on Bones, Without a Trace and Saving Grace this year.
Favorite Place to Work: Buy More on Chuck and the Work Bench on Reaper
Favorite Man of the Cloth: Colin Hanks as Father John Gill on Mad Men
Favorite Place to hear Huey Lewis and the News: Chuck
Favorite guest star we are always happy to see: Melinda Clarke who reprised her role of Lady Heather on CSI, was seduced by Chuck and recently performed the dark truth on Eli Stone.
Those are some of my favorites of 2008. What are yours? Talk about it below.
Highlights of the Week Ahead
All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for December 22-28
I have to confess I gave up on these guys awhile ago but fans will still want to tune into the fall finale of Prison Break Monday at 9 p.m. on FOX.
Christmas Eve is a time for classics old and new. NBC airs It’s a Wonderful Life at 8 p.m. and the 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story begins at 8 p.m. on TBS.
USA repeats all of its holiday themed episodes of Psych and Monk beginning Thursday at 6 a.m.
That’s all for today. I’m back on Wednesday with favorite quotes of the year so now is the time to get your quote nominations in. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
Favorite Character with Heart: Eli Stone
bruce | Dec 22, 2008 12:42:57 PM | #My favorite partners will ALWAYS be Stabler and Benson or Greene and Brisco.
Maggie | Dec 22, 2008 12:46:59 PM | #Favorite characters you can rely on to *ALWAYS* give good quotes: Emerson Cod & Olive Snook
Those who know, know. And those who don't, didn't watch and missed out. 'Nuff said.
Frank | Dec 22, 2008 12:51:22 PM | #Amy - Have to disagree on the favorite man of the cloth - Brian Darling, hands down.
Will | Dec 22, 2008 12:53:28 PM | #Favorite new characters: Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) on The Mentalist and Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) on Life on Mars.
Sue | Dec 22, 2008 1:30:29 PM | #Favorite blond who proves that not all blonds are dumb = Penny on The Big Bang Theory
Terry | Dec 22, 2008 1:30:34 PM | #Favorite show that is finally being noticed: NCIS
Craig M. | Dec 22, 2008 1:33:38 PM | #I don't know why everyone is ganging up on Easy Money. If anyone had watched it they would have seen that it was a pretty decent show. That's saying something when only like three aired!
Michael | Dec 22, 2008 1:39:12 PM | #AMY: You have a very comprehensive list of some great TV shows! :-)
Here is my short list of TV FAVORITES:
1)Favorite Voice-Over: Kristen Bell is good on GG, but Jeffrey Donovan wins, hands down, as Michael Westen on 'Burn Notice'. What other TV show narrates how you can make cheap spy gadgets from supplies bought at Home Depot and old cell phones?
2)Favorite Geek: The Buy More employees on 'Chuck'. OOOPS! I meant to say, they are my favorite NERD Herders! :-D
3)Favorite Good Show for Guest Stars: 'Chuck'-- on this season alone: Michael Clark Duncan, John Larroquette, Melinda Clarke, Nicole Richie (Yes, she was pretty good in her episode), Ben Savage, Tony Hale, Gary Cole, Jordana Brewster, Reginald VelJohnson, etc.
4)Favorite Partners: Chuck/Sarah/John Casey on 'Chuck'.
5)Favorite Guest Star We Are Always Happy to See: Dean Winters! Last seen as Sam Tyler's dead beat dad on 'Life on Mars' and a dirty cop on Law & Order:CI. Previously seen as recurring characters on 'Oz', 'Rescue Me', 'CSI:Miami', '30 Rock', 'Terminator', and more.
6)Favorite Parents: Eric and Tami Taylor on 'Friday Night Lights'.
7)Favorite Adopted Family: The Traegers on 'Kyle XY'.
8)Favorite Recurring Gag: Casey and Sarah telling Chuck to STAY IN THE CAR!
9)Favorite Place to Work: The phony company set up by Nathan Ford on 'Leverage'. You get to work with hot guys and beautiful women. You also get to take money from greedy corporations and help out poor people. In addition, Nathan's team kept millions of dollars from their first con job. ;-)
10) Favorite Bad Show to find Guest Stars: 'Secret Life of the American Teenager'-- L. Scott Caldwell (already mentioned), Ernie Hudson ('Oz'), John Schneider ('Dukes of Hazzard' and 'Smallville'), Josie Bisset ('Melrose Place'), Steve Schirripa ('The Sopranos').
11) Favorite Wedding We Look Forward to: Ellie and Devin from 'Chuck'. It definitely will be A-W-E-S-O-M-E !
12) Favorite New Character to Give Good Quote: Detective Ray Carling ('Life on Mars'). Michael Imperioli's mustache is enough reason to tune in!
13) Favorite Old Character to Give Good Quote: John Casey -- (paraphrased) "This coming from someone who can't keep her chocolate out of Bartowski's peanut butter."
14) Favorite Old Show to Populate Current Shows: HBO's 'Band of Brothers'-- Matthew Settle ('Gossip Girl'), Damian Lewis ('Life'), Kirk Acevedo ('Fringe'), Jason O'Mara ('Life on Mars'), etc.
Paige | Dec 22, 2008 2:59:30 PM | #Don't forget that Michael Nouri also played Ziva's dad on NCIS
Donna | Dec 22, 2008 3:28:35 PM | #Actaully, my favorite place to hear Huey Lewis and the News was on 'The Office' (although Michael thought it was Bruce Springsteen).
Rick Shaw | Dec 22, 2008 4:00:44 PM | #I'm with Michael. Easy Money may have gotten the lowest ratings of any show this fall--and I can't fault the CW for dumping it on that basis--but it was actually one of the best new shows of this lackluster season.
John | Dec 22, 2008 5:15:25 PM | #Here, here. I'm with Michael and John in wishing that I could have seen more Easy Money. Only the first four episodes were broadcast locally. The show wasn't perfect, but it was interesting. Jeff Hephner & Laurie Metcalf were great.
Elizabeth | Dec 22, 2008 5:53:37 PM | #Sorry, the whole reason they de-Walkered Rebecca was to hook her up with Justin, which hasn't worked at all. They are a terrible couple-having a fight and then making up every episode. Its made both their characters completely unlikeable. Therefore, I am still holding a grudge.
ferretrick | Dec 23, 2008 5:38:29 AM | #Melinda Clarke did a great guest shot on Reaper as well as the Devil's mistress!
C | Dec 23, 2008 7:02:01 AM | #oooh, oooh, oooh -- Sooo glad to hear that Amy liked the Dollhouse pilot. This is the one, the only, new show to watch in 2009.
A few favs of 2008:
Favorite lead male in a non-cop show (yes, there are still a *few* of those around): Johnny Lee Miller / Eli on Eli Stone
Favorite lead male in a cop show: Damien Lewis / Charlie Crews on Life
Favorite female lead in a non-cop show: America Ferrara / Betty Suarez on Ugly Betty
Favorite female lead in a cop show: Kyra Sedgwick / Brenda Johnson on The Closer
Favorite show more people need to watch: Burn Notice (would have been Eli Stone, but sadly, I think it's doomed)
Favorite supporting actors who make the show with tuning in: Becki Newton & Michael Urie / Amanda & Marc on Ugly Betty
Finally, best dialog that is not written by Joss Whedon: the very clever Pushing Daisies. Another shout-out to Emerson & Olive, indeed.
Favourite show that was completely left off this list: 30 Rock.
Mitch | Dec 23, 2008 8:14:31 AM | #Kristen Bell on Gossip Girl does a better VO than Jim Dale on Pushing Daisies? No, no, no. I have to disagree. Jim Dale is the king of voiceovers, hands down.
Ephiny | Dec 23, 2008 9:01:40 AM | #As much as I loved Buster on Arrested Development, Tony Hale hasn't really impressed me all that much on Chuck. Though I guess he has had good moments "I should never have had that second wine cooler."
Now that Kristen Bell is off Heroes, , she needs to get her own show again. Anyone heard about future plans of hers? Maybe she'll do more movies (I know about the VM movie, but I think that's a long way off, if it happens).
Billiam | Dec 23, 2008 9:53:19 AM | #Favorite old show that always stays fresh: Arrested Development
Jen | Dec 23, 2008 9:55:44 AM | #I agree with Will, best man of the cloth is Brian Darling.
Kathie | Dec 23, 2008 3:27:13 PM | #Favourite shows that are going off the air: Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies.
zed | Dec 23, 2008 4:57:55 PM | #Best TV show that critics don't seem to fully appreciate...Supernatural (not necessarily Amy). The "Wishful Thinking" episode featuring the suicidal teddy bear ("Why am I here?) with Lollipop disease still makes me laugh just thinking about it. Clever, clever writers.
Runner up: NCIS (Abby is my favorite forensics/lab person)
RLL | Dec 23, 2008 5:08:02 PM | #Favorite non-human character: Cameron on Terminator:TSCC.
I have to give "Favorite Brothers" to Tommy, Kevin and Justin Walker on "Brothers & Sisters".
(Also, why is "Private Practice" considered such a "bad" show? The medical storylines of season 2 are improved over season 1, and this show in general is exceptionally better than its jumped-the-shark-about-8-times-already parent show, "Grey's Anatomy".)
Cory | Dec 24, 2008 7:48:54 AM | #
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