Television has experienced quite an upswing in quality over the past decade. This is due largely in part to HBO and shows such as Deadwood, Rome, The Sopranos etc. While some shows seem to signal the end of an era (see NBC’s desperate attempt to cling to a post ER medical drama with Mercy), many others fill my confidence silo with great stories and compelling writing. For 2009, these are my favorites:
10. Modern Family/Cougar Town (ABC)
Along with The Middle, ABC has revived its comedy credentials with a spanking new Wednesday night full of dysfunctional laughs. Cougar Town’s Thanksgiving episode was a high water mark, but the consistent giggles generated by the odd lot on Modern Family stand out as a show with serious legs or at least critical acclaim a la Arrested Development.
9. Dollhouse (FOX)
Dollhouse really amped it up in its ‘”dead man walking” season two. If you watched the show last year, you know as soon as Alan Tudyk came on, things got really really good. In two they added a laundry list of great cast members including Summer Glau and Ray Wise as Whedon cements his legend status. Too bad it’s gone.
8. Big Love (HBO)
Way back at the start of 2009, America’s favorite polygamist family churned out their best season yet. I loved every second from the Henrickson’s pilgrimage caravan to the courtroom drama of the UEB. Even at 2 episodes lighter than seasons one and two, Big Love managed to pack in more drama than NBC’s entire Fall lineup.
7. Dexter (Showtime)
I only discovered the show this year on demand and thought it’d be hard to follow up the satisfaction of season 3 and Jimmy Smits, but season four’s Trinity Killer turns the amp to 11. John Lithgow home runs episode after episode as Dexter’s unknowing serial killer icon/prey, bringing a real big screen sense of drama to the small screen of pay cable.
6. Eastbound & Down (HBO)
“Who’s f’ing out now!!” Not this gem of a six episode show on HBO from Danny McBride about a down and out major league pitcher living with his brother and teaching P.E. till the bigs realize they made a mistake. It is awesome and Kenny Powers has some of the best quotes on TV.
5. Attack of the Show (G4)
Are you watching G4’s daily does of all that is nerd and geek? Then you need to reset your priorities. Olivia Munn is easily one of the top three funny ladies working on TV today and Kevin Pereira is equally hilarious. They have great reports that will keep you weeks ahead of the masses, cool guests, and robots!!
4. The Guild (online)
Not on regular TV, I love The Guild so much I thought I’d be all “new media” and include this online only mini-series from the most creative person you should know about, Felicia Day. Following a group of online fantasy game addicts (think World of Warcraft) who are forced to interact offline, this series is highly addictive and will crack your funny bone from overuse.
3. The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
The meek have inherited the Earth and prime time! This three season old sitcom continues to develop hilarious stories out of the not so ordinary lives of super nerds as they date, play Xbox, frequent comic shops, and of course, buy time machines on eBay. The science is real, but you don’t need to be in a doctoral program to find something to laugh about.
2. Castle (ABC)
This might be one of the boldest statements I’ve ever made. Nathan Fillion is the long awaited second coming of Cary Grant. Handsome, charming, and impeccable comedic timing, Fillion has breathed new life into the stale crime genre not seen since the days of Columbo. If you’re not watching Castle, you’re dead inside.
1. Glee (FOX)
Not much of a surprise, I think Glee will top a lot of lists this year. With the exception of one or two episodes, the story of a high school glee club and its battle with the cheerleading squad has proved more riveting than anyone could’ve imagined. The songs are great of course, but it is the ensemble of broken characters and your desire to see them succeed that really fuels this rocket.
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