Top TV Shows of the Decade

Yesterday was movies, today is top TV shows of the decade. In some ways, picking the TV shows of the decade is even harder, as what shows belong to the '00s? Should we count a show like Buffy, that spent half its time in the '00s but had all its best seasons in the '90s (I'm saying no)? Or what about a show like True Blood, which has already made an impression this decade even though most of its seasons will air in the '10s (again, no)?

In most other ways though, picking TV shows is a lot easier. You don't have to sift through previous lists to find the brightest gems; these are shows we've watched for years and spent countless hours obsessing over. So before I begin, I just want to explain a few high-profile omissions: The West Wing may very well deserve to be on this list, but I never regularly watched it, something I'll someday remedy on DVD. While I do love The Wire, the two seasons I've seen aren't enough to beat what's already on here. And finally, I've never seen a single episode of The Shield.

With that out of the way, let's get to it:

11. Freaks and Geeks

Ok, I'm cheating, but I couldn't leave Freaks and Geeks off. In only 17 episodes, Freaks and Geeks became the most believable high school show on TV, with kids that actually looked their age and problems they would actually face. And in one of my favorite storylines, the geek won his dreamgirl...only to immediately realize she's boring! The show would go on to launch the careers of Judd Apatow, James Franco, Jason Segel, and Seth Rogen, to name but a few, but on its own it's a high school show that anyone can relate to, even those of us too young to be there in 1980.

10. Mad Men

Mad Men may still be young in its run, but it's gone through so much in three seasons that it has certainly earned its spot. A historical show so compelling it actually got me to watch (unlike Deadwood and Rome), Mad Men makes 1960s New York come alive while also serving as a great character piece for any age. In every way it earns the title of "the next Sopranos."

9. Battlestar Galactica

It may have been set in a sci-fi universe, but Battlestar Galactica had more to say about our world than anything else on TV, and showed sci-fi can be a powerful way of making a statement. With fascinatingly dark characters and twists out of nowhere, BSG's four seasons stand as a fully realized vision complete with a great ending.

8. Farscape

Keeping up with the sci-fi theme, Farscape may be the least watched and least remembered show on this list, but it's also the first sci-fi show I loved and one of the first shows that showed me what TV can do. With cool plots, great characters, and muppets, Farscape was the kind of cult show you felt unique for watching, which just made its cancellation all the more difficult.

7. The Office (UK)

The American remake may have more viewers and has certainly had more episodes, but I still say the original 12 episodes + Christmas special of the British version accomplished more. Less cartoonish and more heartfelt, the original let Tim be as pitiable as he was likable and made Gareth the kind of rule-following dork you might actually find in your office (as opposed to Dwight's over-the-top buffoon). The second series finale is still one of the most depressing TV endings I have ever seen, and the Christmas special one of the happiest. That's some impressive range.

6. Dexter

Hard to believe a show about a likable serial killer could be one of the best shows of the decade, but with other shows glorifying killers like Tony Soprano and Vic Mackey, Dexter Morgan's killer with a code doesn't seem so bad. More importantly, Dexter started big with the Ice Truck Killer, and every year works to up the ante with the Bay Harbor Butcher and the Trinity Killer. With four great seasons, it's not only one of the most consistent shows on this list, but also the most addictive show to ever air on cable.

5. Six Feet Under

Further proof that Michael C. Hall has had a great decade: that he was equally convincing in the most un-Dexter part imaginable. You didn't always like everyone in the Fisher clan (in fact, I hated everyone for a full season each), but that just made their stories all the more compelling. It may have started as American Beauty: The TV Show, but by the time it reached its unforgettable ending it had evolved into something more.

4. The Sopranos

No show had more of an influence over the '00s than The Sopranos. Not only is it single-handedly responsible for the emergence of cable as a place for quality original programming, but it also led television to be taken seriously as an art form. Without The Sopranos, there would be no Mad Men, no The Shield, and no Dexter. And regardless of what you thought of the still-discussed finale, it had a pretty remarkable run.

3. 24

The Sopranos may have had the biggest influence on TV this decade, but 24 best represented the decade on TV. Premiering right after 9/11 in 2001, 24 brought the War on Terror to TV screens, and cemented terrorists as the new communists as far as action villains go. With its crazy twists and infamous character deaths, 24 is the reason every show goes kill crazy each May. And as much as I like Christian Bale's Batman, Jack Bauer is the real superhero of the decade.

2. Arrested Development

It may have only lasted three low-rated seasons, but Arrested Development is also the smartest and funniest comedy of all time. That's right I said it: Arrested Development is better than Seinfeld. After all, what other show do you need to watch five times just to get most of the jokes? Or features so many recurring gags that real fans always laugh harder than casual ones? With one of the looniest ensembles on TV and the most endlessly quotable lines, Arrested Development is a no-brainer for comedy of the decade.

1. Lost

So many shows have tried to imitate it (cough FlashForward cough), and so many have tried to explain its roots, but the fact is that Lost is a true original, the kind of experience that can only come but once a decade, if ever. A cult show that finds room for oven ten million viewers. A mystery that asks three new questions for every answer it gives. And a character piece that regularly makes even the most minor supporting character seem fascinating after a few well-placed flashbacks. With some of the most iconic characters, images, and storylines currently on TV, Lost is more than a more popular Twin Peaks, a more serialized X-Files, or a more intelligent Gilligan's Island. It's the show of the decade.

So there's my picks. Some shows that just barely missed the cut include The Wire, Veronica Mars, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, Alias, The Office (US), and 30 Rock.

Which shows topped your decade? What am I overrating? What am I missing? And what do you think will make this list ten years from now for the 2010s? Let me know in the comments.

Top 5 Series Finales

With Battlestar Galactica and ER having recently ended, and the Scrubs finale coming up, I've been thinking about some of my favorite series finales. I've never seen the MASH finale or many of the others regularly mentioned, so I'm only talking about my favorites here.

It's so rare a show gets to go out its own way, without being cut too short to get the finale it deserves (Veronica Mars) or outstaying its welcome too long to have the right impact (Friends). Battlestar certainly belongs on this list, but I'll leave off this season's finales for now.

5. Twin Peaks
Actually, this was a terrible series finale. Canceled after its second season, the multiple cliffhangers seemed more of a "screw you" to the network than any way to end the show. But I'm including it because the entire sequence inside the black lodge is easily the weirdest thing I have ever seen on TV, making Twin Peaks' final hour one of its absolute best, series finale or not.

4. Arrested Development
Another show cut down too soon, Arrested Development somehow still got the finale it would have wanted anyway. With George Sr. cleared of all charges and Michael sticking by his family (on a boat!), the series came full circle back to the pilot. But it's on this list because of all of the awesomely crazy twists. Linday's adopted! Lucille was behind everything! Annyong's a mole! And to cap it all off, Ron Howard's single line that have kept us all going since, "Maybe a movie."

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Finally, an example of a show that went out at the exact right time. Sure, Buffy had long since faded from its season 2 and 3 glory days (e.g. season 5 villainess Glory), but season 7 was just enough of a creative comeback to provide a solid lead-up to an action-packed finale. It's hard to think of a more final ending than literally going into Hell to fight Evil, destroying Sunnydale in the process. Buffy may not have answered where they would go next, but with her mission accomplished, so was the show.

2. The Office (UK)
The real series finale may be the most depressing half hour of TV I've seen, between David getting fired and Dawn rejecting Tim. But all of that just makes the Christmas special all the happier. The special additionally earns its ending with some of the series' more excruciating moments, as David milks his D-list celebrity status and creates a hilarious music video. And in the end, David finds love, Tim and Dawn get together, and best of all, David finally tells off bullying "friend" Finch. I only hope the American version can find an exit even marginally as satisfying.

1. Six Feet Under
I'll be the first to tell you Six Feet Under's final season was borderline unwatchable. But all of that is forgiven due to what may be the greatest series finale of all time. The episode contains plenty of great finale-like activity, as Nate and Brenda's baby is born and David buys back the funeral home to again be Fisher and Sons. But it's the epilogue that makes the finale stand out, as we flash ahead to everyone's deaths, ending with Claire at 103. We see how life goes on beyond the scope of a TV show, and get real closure with each character to the tune of Sia's "Breathe Me" (well before every other TV show took it. Seriously guys, SFU has dibs). Far more than a gimmick, the ending let Six Feet Under die in the most natural way possible.

Top 5 Valentine's Day Episodes

Valentine's Day has led to some great episodes of TV. These may not be the best examples, but they are the ones I remember the most.

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"
In one of Buffy's best-ever episodes, a spell gone wrong causes every woman in Sunnydale (but Cordelia) to fall in love with Xander. As the spell gets stronger, Amy the Teenage Witch turns Buffy into a mouse, and Buffy's mom hits on Xander. Most holiday-appropriate: Cordy calls Harmony a sheep and gets back together with Xander.

2. Lost - "The Constant"
Airing last year on Valentine's Day, "The Constant" is already a Lost classic. Heading out to the freighter, Desmond catches time travel sickness and gets dislodged in time. The only thing that can keep him alive: his Constant, true love Penny Widmore. When Penny answers the call on Christmas, she doesn't just save Desmond's life, but creates the show's most romantic moment.

3. The Simpsons - "I Love Lisa"
I choo-choo-choose you. Ralph's misguided crush is elementary school Valentine's Day at its most embarrassing.

4. Arrested Development - "Ready, Aim, Marry Me"
There's plenty of potential couples in this romantic getaway-themed episode to choose from - Lindsay and Uncle Jack (guest star Martin Short), Lucille 2 (Liza Minelli) and Buster, or Michael and Sally Sitwell. But the best one is Michael and Tobias. Tobias' self-recording leads to some of his best-ever unintentional double entendres.

5. Veronica Mars - "Ruskie Business"
Not much love for V in this episode. She helps new-friend Meg find her secret admirer....only to find out it's her ex, Duncan. She helps a Russian mail order bride find her husband...only to find out she's Russian mafya looking for someone in witness protection. Still, dressing up as Madonna for an 80s-themed dance? Awesome.

Merry Christmas TV!

I covered movies on Monday, so for Christmas I'm listing my five favorite Christmas-themed TV episodes. Now, I've never seen the Festivus episode of Seinfeld or the West Wing episode where Toby plans a funeral for a homeless veteran. So I may not know the classics, but here are some new classics for you.

5. "How Lily Stole Christmas," How I Met Your Mother

It can't hold up to the Thanksgiving episodes, but this Christmas episode has plenty of holiday gold. There's the Christmas miracle of Marshall delivering all the packaged presents. Ted's trip to his religious cousins' presents-free celebration. And the many uses of "grinch" as a euphism. Plus, who can't get behind beer as a unifier?

4. "An Echolls Family Christmas," Veronica Mars

The main plot involves a poker game gone wrong, but the B-plot is all Christmas. As Keith investigates a death threat on A-list movie star Aaron Echolls, we get to see what the Echolls' Christmas party looks like. With murderous Christmas cards, deranged pumpkins, and a vengeful server, this darker Christmas tale is a nice balance for all the cheesy Lifetime specials.

3. "Afternoon Delight," Arrested Development

Arrested Development took a trip to The Office as GOB used his role as Bluth Co. president to insult all of his employees. But this episode's best remembered for teaching all of us what the song "Afternoon Delight' is really about. The moment when Michael/Maeby and Lindsay/George-Michael realize what they're dueting about? Hilarious.

2. "The Best Chrismukkah Ever," The OC

It's a tough call between this and season 2's "The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't," but I have to go with the episode that coined the word. No "yamaclauses," but a simple explanation of Seth Cohen's Christmas/Chanukah hybrid. Also, Seth's identical gift packs to Summer and Anna, leaving him with neither by the end, helped bring out the show's best love triangle.

1. "A Benihana Christmas," The Office

This hour-long episode was The Office at its best. Michael's cluelessly creepy Christmas card to Carol inserting himself into her family. Jim and Pam's CIA prank on Dwight. Dwight and Andy fighting over Michael while drinking at Benihana. Michael marking his date with a marker to remember which one she is. The date riding off on Michael's bike. And the beginning of Michael and Jan. The holiday brought out the best in every character, creating the perfect blend of awkward and hilarious.

Bad News from ABC

Well, the day we all feared has finally arrived: Pushing Daisies has been canceled. They've already shot the 13 episodes ABC ordered, so we still get 7 more episodes. I have to assume the decision was made for how much the show costs, because the ratings were bad, but not that bad. Maybe this was a case where an Emmy win for comedy would have made a difference. But with nothing else on TV like it, there isn't any other show that can easily fill the void. Creator Bryan Fuller has tried to put a hopeful spin on it. He says he plans to finish the story through comic books. That's great in theory, but I can't say I've read a single issue of Buffy Season 8. He talks about a movie version, but so did Rob Thomas after Veronica Mars was canceled. And as for reports that he'll be going back to Heroes? A couple watchable episodes of Heroes doesn't make up for the loss of a much better show.

But Pushing Daisies wasn't the only show canceled yesterday on ABC. Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone got the plug pulled as well. I didn't watch either show, so I can't say if the cancellations were warranted. The Dirty Sexy Money pilot didn't do it for me, and those advertisements with George Michael were enough to lose my interest in Eli Stone. But I do know both shows have a lot of passionate fans, if not to the same extent as Pushing Daisies. And as a television viewer, it pains me to think that ABC let these three go while keeping Private Practice.

But the TV news isn't all bad today. A few sprinkles of good news:

Mitchell Hurwitz and Ron Howard are making a deal with Fox Searchlight for an Arrested Development movie. That's right. It's no longer just Jason Bateman saying it would be cool. It is actually happening. Now we just need the cast to gang up on Michael Cera and force him to join in.

Also, a new promo for the new season of Lost:



Sure, The Fray isn't the most obvious musical pairing for Lost, other than that the word "lost" is in the song. And yes, nearly all of the clips are from previous seasons. But after 6 months with no new Lost, I'll take anything. Only two more months from today!