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RSSPlaying favorites . . . my picks for this year's top 10 shows
You might have noticed that I am calling my end-of-the-year lists "my favorite" instead of "best of." With all the shows on TV these days, more than any other year, I had to quickly make decisions about new series. You guys swear that both True Blood and Sons of Anarchy got better with time --- but I wrote both shows off after three episodes. Based on all the emails I received, I definitely plan on catching up with them in the future.
And, as I always say, being a TV critic really comes down to my (hopefully interesting) opinion and my personal preferences. Because in the end I gravitate towards and keep up with the shows I like the best. So even though Dexter may be a brilliant show, a series revolved around a serial killer isn't a show I want to watch on a regular basis. I've tried but it's too dark and disturbing for me (strange I know coming from someone who watches CSI each week but the TiVo wants what the TiVo wants). And unfortunately when both The Wire and The Shield came back for their final seasons, I didn't keep up with them. (Insert your exasperated sighs here.) That doesn't mean they didn't end on a fantastic note. It just means I didn't make time to take them on.
If you read my column regularly, I'm sure none of my picks will surprise you. But here are my 10 favorite shows of 2008.
1. Mad Men (AMC): Watching this series is such an evocative experience, that I almost feel like I've smoked a cigarette when it's over. It pulls you in their world. And it's also a series where every character gets to shine -- from Bryan Batt's sad, repressed Salvatore Romano to Mark Moses' scheming, struggling Duck. Every moment of Mad Men is one to treasure.
2. Lost (ABC): I remain more convinced than ever that Lost will be remembered as on of the best TV dramas of all time. It continues to challenge the conventional wisdom of how TV tells a story and going into its fifth season remains just as compelling as it was in the pilot.
3. How I Met Your Mother (CBS): When this show first premiered, I thought it could be the next Friends. I'm not sure why it didn't become the pop culture phenomenon I thought it had the potential to be but it will always be legendary in my mind. No show so perfectly captures the easy, funny dialogue that exists among friends. And I want to give an honorable mention to The Big Bang Theory, a show I like more and more every time I watch it. So much so that it almost made my list this year.
4. Eli Stone (ABC): By now you know why this beloved series is on my list. I totally heart this series. And it has become almost painful to watch the episodes knowing that each hour with this lawyer/ prophet may be my last.
5. House (FOX): I have my concerns (that's a big no on the potential Cuddy/House romance) and I still want the series to figure out what to do with Cameron and Chase but I can't deny that each week I look forward to watching House solve the case. The series was one of the few to come back from the writers strike with some of its strongest story lines yet.
6. 30 Rock (NBC): Wacky as ever, no show can seamlessly weave in so many laughs per second. I have yet to watch an episode that didn't make me laugh outloud. But I do have one request -- more scenes with the writer's room please.
7. Everybody Hates Chris (CW): Perhaps TV's most underrated series and representative of something we don't see any more -- the family comedy. Funny, poignant and featuring the best child actors on TV, this series is a gem. If you're not watching it, you should be.
8. Greek (ABC Family): The dramedy is the pitch-perfect mix of romance, humor, pop-culture references, timely topics and angst without ever taking itself too seriously. There's a genius behind all the frothy fun that deserves to be recognized.
9. The Office (NBC): Sure sometimes the show is way too awkward and uncomfortable (I still shudder at the thought of Jan and Michael's dinner party) but there are still so many bright spots at Dunder Mifflin. And special bonus points for letting Pam and Jim's relationship evolve like it would in life.
10. Privileged (CW) and Life on Mars (ABC): Okay I'm totally cheating by putting two shows into one slot but this is a tough time for scripted hour long series so I definitely need to recognize my two favorite new shows of the fall. Privileged slipped right into the void left by Gilmore Girls and Life on Mars spun a story that left me confused, captivated and wanting more episodes. And both thrive because of their leading characters.
Those were my favorite shows of 2008. What are yours? Talk about it below.
Ask TV Gal
I just moved to where I have cable that includes AMC. I've been dying to see Mad Men -. Are you aware of any upcoming marathons I could watch so I could start at the beginning, the relative beginning, or even watch enough to know who's who and what's going on? Thanks! Jan
Sorry Jan I check with the folks over at AMC and they don't have any marathons planned right now. My guess is that we'll see a marathon closer to the start of season three next year. In the meantime, I definitely recommend renting the first season on DVD.
Where Have I Seen Them Before?
Erin Cahill was Ted's sister on How I Met Your Mother. We saw her a few week's ago as the fiancé of the missing man on Without a Trace (the episode that took Jack and Sam to LA). Cahill was also Amber in the short-lived FOX series Free Ride.
Robin Weigert was the wife of the woman whose cancer had come back on ER. Weigert was, of course, Calamity Jane on Deadwood and Lt. Karen Davis last season on Life (she returned for one episode this season). Weigert was also Juliet's sister Rachel on Lost.
Gloria Garayua is doing double duty on medical dramas. She's one of the interns, Graciella, on Grey's Anatomy and was the pregnant woman INS was after on ER.
It was a familiar faceapoolza on Private Practice. Brian Benben was Sheldon, the psychiatrist who thought he was out of Violet's league. Benben was Martin in the HBO series Dream On. Sarah Drew was the pregnant college student who wanted to give her baby up for adoption. Drew was, of course, Hannah on Everwood and we've seen her this year as Kitty Romano on Mad Men and Megan's best friend on Privileged. Ione Skye was the woman who wanted to adopt the baby. Skye was Diane in the movie Say Anything.
Meredith Monroe, Andie on Dawson's Creek, was the woman with ovarian cancer who didn't want to have the surgery Addison recommended. Jay Harrington was the rival doctor treating her. Harrington must like playing doctors on TV. He was Susan's boyfriend Dr. Ron McCreadie on Desperate Housewives, Dr. Simon O'Keefe on Summerland and Theo on The Division. I was about to place the always charming Harrington in my "deserves his own show" file but I don't have to. We'll see him soon as the title character in the new ABC series Better Off Ted.
Kerr Smith was Paul the lawyer who assigned Maggie to the nonprofit case on Eli Stone. Smith was Jack on Dawson's Creek and Tom on the FOX series Justice, which also happened to star Victor Garber.
Jack, Kim and Tom were the first of many readers to be so excited to see Reginald VelJohnson as Big Mike's cousin Al Powell on Chuck. He was Carl the father in Family Matters but more importantly Sgt. Al Powell in the Die Hard movies. It was one big inside joke as both Als have a thing for Twinkies.
Visual Inside Joke of the Week
Zac paid special attention to the jerseys people were wearing at the Minnesota bar on How I Met Your Mother. Robin's jersey said Fryman on the back. Pamela Fryman is an executive producer on the series and has directed every episode. Another man at the bar had a jersey that said Smulders on the back. Cobie Smulders plays Robin on the series.
That's all for today. I'm back on Friday with quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.
Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®
Actually Al was only Big Mike's cousin on Chuck which was dumb since they look like brothers
Al Powell was Big Mike's cousin, not brother.
My top 10 shows:
1) Chuck - this show constantly delivers. Sure it's not deep like Mad Men, but hands down it's the most fun. I am always entertained after an hour of Chuck and isn't that what TV is really about?
2) 30 Rock - I second everything you said.
3) Bones - this show just keeps getting better and the NotZacks are hysterical.
4) Psych - Also fun and wildly entertaining and never makes a misstep (unlike my beloved Chuck)
5) The Closer - don't think I really need to explain why.
6) Burn Notice - USA really has the 'Characters Welcome' down. Love this show, it's got a little bit of everything - comedy, drama, family drama (which really deserves it's own category) and action.
7) The Office - It's awkward at times but so my job so I guess art imitates life. (and speaking of life)
8) Life - the pilot of the show didn't really grab me but since pickings were slip last year I gave it another shot and it's pretty good. The cases are riveting and the relationship between Dani and Charlie is great. (One serious blunder for me though is Dani and her boss..just don't see it)
9) Eureka - I usually just skip past the SciFi channel like it's not even there but Eureka has the perfect mix of (barely) sci-fi, comedy and drama that it just works.
10) Colbert & The Daily Show (yeah that's cheating but really can't think of another TV Show I would add here).
My favorite 10 shows of 2008:
Supernatural
NCIS
The Office
30 Rock
Friday Night Lights
Eli Stone
Life
How I Met Your Mother
Bones
Pushing Daisies
My favorite shows (in no particular order):
1. Chuck
2. Life
3. Pushing Daisies (already in mourning)
4. Heroes (which has improved dramatically this season)
5. Lost
6. Big Bang Theory
7. Doctor Who (I know, BBC, but still a *great* show)
8. Secret Life of the American Teenager (it's a terrible show but I can't stop watching!)
9. The Office
10. Ugly Betty
I just couldn't quite get on board with any of this season's new shows, unless 'Secret Life' counts. I was a huge fan of House in the past, but the show lost its sparkle for me. I have resumed watching ER this year, after a several-year hiatus, just because it's the last year, but it didn't make my 'fave' cut.
What about "Deperate Houswives" and "Weeds"?
Bones, Bones, Bones!
And Supernatural.
And while I am currently a Lost fan, I can also forsee it going down as one of biggest screw-ups in TV history if they don't pull it off right. Everything that I'm amazed that they do now totally depends on future reveals, so I always consider this show on the bubble in terms of greatness/disappointing. I just won't know until it's all over.
My top 10 would be:
1)The Shield-I know it's gone, but it was the best while it was on.
2)Lost
3)Mad Men
4)Friday Night Lights
5)Heroes-Not as good as it was, but still a lot of fun to watch
6)The Office
7)How I Met Your Mother
8)30 Rock
9)Dexter
10)Big Bang Theory
I'd also include Damages but it wasn't on this year.
Bays and Thomas were 2 other jerseys at the bar.
AMY AMY AMY,
What No "ER" on your list?? This past season "ER" has done an Incredibly Gr8 job, that will only make me miss it more when....that thing happens next year. It is definitely number one on my list of top 10's
Here are the others...
2. Eli Stone (Another Gr8 episode last night)
3. Psych
4. Brothers & Sisters
5. America's Funniest Home Videos (What can I say...I'm a laugher)
6. Amazing Race
7. Bones
8. Knightrider (Okay, I like to see the car morph--that's it-I promise!)
9. Chuck
10. NCIS (My sister forced me to watch this show and it's really good!)
Happy Wednesday!!
Pietro
My list also has a retired setion on it for shows I just can't let go. lol.
1. Lost (perfect)
2. Supernatural (Never fails with its mix of supernatural, comedy, drama)
3. Smallville (last 2 seasons have been incredible)
4. Psych (always hilarious. Hello emmy's)
5. Pushing Daisies (SAVE IT)
6. Heroes (better this year)
7. The Simpsons (still consistently funny)
8. Terminator (not just action, character)
RETIRED BEST SHOWS:
1. X-Files
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Futurama.....kinda