1st annual Surveillanceys

Much like the semester, the TV season is coming to an end.

We have always looked forward in this space – to the next week, to the next month – but as everything winds down, it is always fun to turn around and peer backward.
Therefore, enjoy the first-ever Surveillanceys.

The best and worst moments of the season are here, with the caveat being many awesome or horrendous moments could take place in the final hours of programs this year.

Biggest story of the season
Ratings, ratings, ratings

Across the board, ratings are down, and even though some progress has been made, the networks and TV powers-that-be still use the same measuring criteria. CBS is the only network improving, which will most likely lead its peers to producing more broad procedurals.
Other contenders: NBC’s failure, cable’s push.

Best couple
Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, “Friday Night Lights”

These two will never get the credit they deserve, but if you ask any “FNL” fan why you should watch the show, Chandler and Britton will be reasons No. 1 and 2. They definitely have the most realistic TV marriage in recent memory.
Other contenders: Lily and Marshall, “How I Met Your Mother,” House and Wilson, “House.”

Worst couple
Tie – Jack and Kate, Kate and Sawyer, “Lost”

The love triangle (now a quadrangle with Juliet involved) has rarely worked on this show, partially because fans want more from the show and partially because Kate sucks. No offense to Evangeline Lilly, but her character has been the show’s worst since the middle of season two, and the constant waffling between these two men angers millions to this day.

Best new show
“Fringe”

With most new shows bombing, the only candidates are “The Mentalist,” “Fringe” and “Southland.” If we knew for sure “Southland” would return for more next season, it’d have more of a shot, but for now “Fringe” takes it.

Worst new show
“Knight Rider”

Reality shows don’t count here, so it has to be “Knight Rider.” What the hell was NBC thinking?
Other contenders: anything else NBC put out there that wasn’t “Southland” or “Parks & Recreation.”

Best comeback
“24”

After a sixth season that featured every single story cliche the program had created over the years and an extended break due to last year’s writers strike, “24” is solid yet again.

The writing is crisp, the swerves somewhat make sense and the focus is actually on Jack, giving Kiefer Sutherland something to work with. Let’s just hope the love for this season isn’t because the show was gone for so long.
Other contenders: “Smallville.”

The show that will probably be canceled but deserves to return
Tie – “Chuck” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”

Though “Chuck” still has a chance to return next year for NBC, things look bad for “Terminator” – but that’s what happens when no one important watches your show.
But both of these sophomore programs deserve another go around because they are in the top five on television in terms of writing, each having been praised here on a few occasions.

“Chuck” is as fun and enjoyable as “Terminator” is dark and dense.
It’s a damn shame that “One Tree Hill” gets a seventh season and these two probably won’t get a third.
Other contenders: “Dollhouse,” “The Unusuals.”

Worst network
NBC

NBC runs away with that one. Aside from “The Office” and “30 Rock,” the network has failed to maintain an important scripted hit all season long (and it took NBC whoring out Tina Fey 24/7 to make the latter successful). Additionally, it has so much invested in “Heroes,” a show that’s been off-the-rails since May 2007, that it couldn’t successfully market the best show it has (“Chuck”), which will probably be canceled now.

Quick hitters
Most overrated show: “Grey’s Anatomy”
Most underrated show: “Castle”
Show that used to be underrated but I’ve harped about it so much now that it  is properly rated: “Supernatural”
Best drama: "House"
Best comedy: “How I Met Your Mother”
Best whatever it is: “Lost”

There you have it, folks. A few of those categories might change with an explosive finale moment or two, but for the most part, this is what has defined the 2008-09 season.