And here we are, the top 10 things of the year, in my humble opinion. I hope you’ve enjoyed this feature, and please, comment.
10. The creative comeback of “Smallville” during season eight. Even a major fan of the show, I’ll be the first to admit that “Smallville” had gone off the rails in seasons six and seven. We viewers we’d be lucky to get two good episodes in a row. But then the show’s creators Al Gough and Miles Millar left. So did Michael Rosenbaum, Kristin Kreuk and John Glover. Most thought that the show would get even worse with all these changes, but I had faith because I knew that Gough and Millar were really holding the show back.
And I was right. With new showrunners Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Kelly Souders and Brian Peters in charge, S8 of the show has probably been the best since S3. Clark is now an adult working at the Daily Planet, he and Lois are working together and the villain this season has been awesome. Never has “Smallville” been serialized, but this season, you had better have watched each episode to keep up, and I love it. Too bad it’s a few years too late.
9. The Peter-Walter relationship on “Fringe.” “Fringe” might not be as good as I had hoped, but if there’s one that keeps the people coming back I think it’s the father-son relationship between Walter and Peter Bishop. Joshua Jackson and John Noble have good chemistry even when they’re supposed to be playing a dad and kid who don’t quite click on any personal level. Both of them keep the show fresh and funny on a weekly basis and I’m sure that their past will continue to be revealed.
Early Happy New Year everyone! Let’s ring in 2009 with the final two posts about the Top 50 of Everything in 2008. Here we go.
20. How “The Mentalist” more or less ripped off “Psych” and ended up being more successful. Listen, I like “The Mentalist,” I really do. But it’s just no “Psych.” Yet, I think it’s both funny and a bit sad that just because “Psych” is on USA that a show on a major network like CBS can basically borrow its premise and become the season’s only true breakout hit. I’m amused at the ignorance of network TV audiences, but I can absolutely respect “The Mentalist” as a show. Yeah, it’s riffed from another idea, but it definitely still works because Simon Baker can carry just about any lighthearted drama. Let’s say this, it’s the only drama on CBS that I don’t mind watching, so way to go “Mentalist!”
19. The increased use of the internet and all its possibilities by most good shows. Obviously, every show and network has a web site that fans can go to in hopes of chatting on a message board or looking at press photos, but this year seemed like the year that TV programs turned the corner with the internet. More and more shows are trying to use supplemental content like webisodes, comics, podcasts and whatever else in hopes of connecting with fans that want more than just the weekly program. And secondly, the overall acceptance of online streaming of shows has finally brought us to a good place where it’s okay to watch TV online.
30. Chuck Bass. I’m not on the “Gossip Girl” train as much as I once was, but there is really no denying that Ed Westwick is the clear standout player of the much-hyped about teen drama. Chuck Bass is just another ridiculous ingredient to an already over-the-top show, but man does Westwick pull it off.
Even when they try to humanize the character it works without being completely obnoxious. If you haven’t gotten into “GG,” and you’re looking for a reason to do so, Chuck Bass is probably the best place to start.
29. “Dirty Sexy Money.” Yeah, it’s being canceled, and yeah maybe season two hasn’t been as good as the first run of episodes, but man I will be very sad to see this show go. There’s just something about it that I can’t put my finger on that keeps me coming back for more even when I know that it’s not even close to being THAT great. Everything on “DSM” is over the top and out of control, but man, it’s funny and it has heart. Peter Krause is excellent, and the supporting cast is strong enough to keep the fun going. I’ll be sad to see it go, but I can understand why it never found an audience.
28. The epic failure of the “Knight Rider” reboot. Hahahahaha. Ha. Ha. This was such a horrible idea from the beginning. First of all, the dumb two-hour movie that aired early in 2008 was bad. I mean really bad. It was mostly a 90 minute commercial for Ford and featured horrible acting, production and really, really bad set design. There were absolutely no locations in that thing, all sets that were thrown together in 20 minutes. …And the series hasn’t been much better. After a couple re-toolings and horrible ratings, it looks like the show will probably be canceled. Unless the sad state of affairs on NBC keeps it on the air, which is an even bigger travesty.
Let’s keep it rolling with the Top 50 of Everything this year. I hope you’re enjoying this as much as I am.
40. The ratings renaissance of “How I Met Your Mother” throughout the fall of 2008. One of the best comedies on television sort of fell through the cracks during seasons two and three when it came to ratings, and was damn near canceled because of whatever dumb reason CBS had. Even though it has always done pretty well – never really dipping below like 7.5 million viewers – CBS has a higher opinion of what the ratings should be, “HIMTM” should have never even been close to cancellation.
This season, the ratings have been much improved, and the last episode that aired this month actually reached over 11 million viewers and hopefully that will continue. The show deserves to reach the widest audience possible, especially since it’s probably the second funniest show on TV.
39. The creative resurgence of “Entourage” during season five. Always a show that never really had that much going on that was really worth watching, S5 of HBO’s hit comedy really turned it around after a substantially weak S4. Hell, dating back to S3, the show had been in a slump that made it almost impossible to enjoy as much as the glory days of seasons one and two. But suddenly, this year the show debuted a plotline that actually went forward, made sense [for the most part] and completely gave me the opportunity to care about the characters again. For once in many years, “Entourage” dialed back on the dumb plots and Johnny Drama and gave us more Ari, a legitimate career path for Vinnie and even some lovable Turtle stories. This is the first time in a while I’m excited for a new season of the show and not just planning on watching because, well I’ve seen all the episodes so far.
I’m very thankful and excited for those of you who let me know that you read the first entries in the “Best of 2008″ series I’ve been working on, and now that hit parade continues. Over the next five days, I’ll roll out my “Top 50 of Everything” in TV, which contains basically any person, performance, event, episode, etc. that happened over the past year that I thought was awesome or intriguing.
This is just another fun little list that I’m loving writing, so I hope you enjoy it as well. Much thanks goes out to TV.com, who I more or less borrowed this idea from [though I planned on doing something similar, I swear!] Without any more build-up, let’s get to it. Read the rest of this entry »
I hope you enjoyed the first five shows on my list, but now it’s time to get down to brass tacks. The best shows of the year, in my humble opinion. Let’s get to it.
5. “House” – FOX, Currently in Season Five
I don’t want to hear all the bitching people have been doing since last fall about the new team. I think it’s the best move the show has ever made. Think about it, we had all reached a point during season three of the best procedural on TV when were like, “oh I know exactly what’s going to happen here.” And though the show was still very popular at the time, people would have eventually cried for a change. Just because “House” execs brought it to us before we maybe asked for it doesn’t mean it’s not a bad decision. The new team is damn good and nearly better than the old one. There I said it. Get over it.
Secondly, the season four finale, where House lost his memory and Cut Throat Bitch Amber ended up losing her life…was the most heart-wrenching two hours of TV all year. Aside from “Lost,” no show returned from the WGA strike stronger than “House,” and those two hours personified that beautifully.
This season things have been very good again, especially the House and Cuddy stuff. I don’t care [again] what the whiny message board folks say, I think this is something that we’ve all seen coming for a long time. It’s not like they’re married, the writers would never do that to House or Cuddy. Instead, they’re doing an excellent job at showing how two workaholics try to find love in one of the most screwed up places. I mean would you rather watch this or have a cop trying to put House in jail? That’s what I thought. “House” is the most consistently enjoyable view on a weekly basis, and that probably won’t ever change.
Finals are over and it’s time for a hiatus for students. However, since I have nothing to do at home over this break, I’ll be posting pretty regularly, so try to keep in touch, okay? Thanks. Links!
With “Pushing Daisies” now dead as a door nail, Kristin Chenoweth has lined herself up a gig in the new David E. Kelley show about…lawyers! Shocker. Either way, good to see Chenoweth get on board with a show that will probably last three more seasons than “Daisies” ever could have. [TV Guide]
Frank Miller is trying to put together a big-screen adaptation of “Buck Rogers.” I hate this idea for so many reasons, the most prominent of which is that someone needs to tell Miller he sort of can’t direct. If the early buzz on “The Spirit” is any indication, that’s becoming to fruition in the mainstream. He can write, hell yes. But this directing thing isn’t off to such a good start, Frank. Plus, Buck Rogers? Really? [THR]
Over 1 billion digital tracks were sold this year, up 28 percent from 2007. Damn. D-A-M-N. [Variety]
I call bullshit. IESB says that James Cameron is eying the “Forbidden Planet” remake. Cameron wanted the project so many years ago post-”Titanic,” but nothing really came of it. I just don’t see this happening though. [IESB]
Finally today is the freggin’ awesome “Lost” trailer than ran last night. This is absolutely the best trailer for a TV show that I’ve seen in a really long time. Locke speaking backwards! Sawyer almost crying! A pendulum! Some hooded figure writing equations! OH MY LORD!
After much discussion and hype [by only myself], so begins the end-of-the year lists from yours truly. Up first in this multi-day attack is day one of the Top TV Series’ of the Year. I’m counting them down today and tomorrow.
Now, these are shows that I personally find the best shows of the year. That claim comes with a few caveats. Yes, I am a bit of a TV expert so my opinion does come from a place of critical thought and not just bias.
However, contrary to belief, I do have a social life, so I can’t watch every show on at the moment, especially those on HBO, Showtime, AMC, etc. Therefore, you will not see obviously great shows like “Mad Men,” “Dexter,” “Californication” and “Breaking Bad” here, because I simply haven’t watched them. They’re surely awesome, but I just haven’t seen them [I'm trying to get through "Men" and "Dexter" over break] and I refuse to pretend that I know all about them.
With all that said, I still think all the shows I’m about to give props do deserve it. I hope you enjoy this list, and check out these shows if you haven’t seen them.
I like Funny or Die, but haven’t kept up with the site on a daily basis. However, this is one of the funniest videos I’ve seen in a while. Watch Denis Leary go through his IMDb listing and talk about all the shitty movies he has done over the years. Thanks to Slash Film, where I first saw this video.
One week until Christmas and I still have shopping to do. Fuck. Well, at least there aren’t any shows still on to keep me distracted for completing that, so there’s that. Look out for my best of the year post coming by the end of the evening. On to the links.
This is so true, but sadly it probably won’t change any time soon. The NAACP is after the TV industry because there are less than five shows that directly appeal to African-Americans. [TV Guide]
This is what EW does best. Check out the 31 shows that we loved and lost. [EW]
Kinda cool news here. Tim Robbins is in talks to play Tony Stark’s Dad in flashback sequences of “Iron Man II,” which could or could not deal with the creation of Captain America. Very, very awesome, though Robbins hasn’t done much recently. Interesting to see him in a summer movie for once. [MTV Splash]
A new study shows that Millenials watch a significantly less hours of television compared to other age demos. People ages 14-25 watch about 10.5 hours of TV a week, compared with 15.1 hours for those belonging to Generation X (ages 26-42), 19.2 hours for baby boomers (43-61) and 21.5 hours for real oldies (62-75). That’s real interesting considering we always here how kids need to stop watch TV before it rots their brain…well we aren’t. So choke on that! [Live Feed]
HBO has decided to pick up “Hung,” a show that is exactly about what the title sounds like. Tom Jane plays a guy with a big dong who is trying to find is way in life. It’s supposedly a dark comedy. This seems interesting, but the bigger question is here: what the hell happened to HBO? From “The Wire” and “The Sopranos” to this? [THR]
What the hell? NY’s Governor is trying to implement a 4% tax on digital downloads like stuff off iTunes. This could bring in lots of money, but still sucks. [Guardian UK]
December 31st, 2008 by 
Cory Barker
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