It’s that time of year. Here are my 15 favorite television shows of 2009. Please don’t confuse “favorite” with “best”
15. Party Down
14. 24
13. Glee
12. Modern Family
11. Curb Your Enthusiasm
10. Breaking Bad
9. Damages
8. Burn Notice
7. Torchwood: Children of Earth
6. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
5. Battlestar Galactica
4. Friday Night Lights
3. Sons of Anarchy
2. Lost
1. Mad Men
Now, let me just say off the bat that I do not believe these are the 50 best shows of this decade (although some certainly are). These are just the 50 television shows that brought me the most entertainment, the ones that I am most fond of when I think back on the decade. I contemplated doing this in order of love/respect but then this post would never get done so I’ll do a Top 10.
I decided to leave off The Simpsons and South Park because they’ve been on for so long (and I needed any excuse to make room for other shows) but they both had great episodes in the 00’s and if I didn’t need the room, they’d make the cut.
I tried to stick with shows that had at least two full seasons under its belt unless the show had been canceled like Freaks and Geeks.
And, no, I’ve never watched The West Wing or ER and that’s why they aren’t on the list.
Since Thanksgiving knocked out the nine (!) shows I watch on Thursdays, this week’s list will have shows that will probably never make it back.
Worst Show of Last Week: V (Episode: “It’s Only The Beginning”) – It’s sad that I’ve actually missed 90210. I hope they Scott Peters, the new showrunner, turns it around in March
The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers)
10. Ugly Betty (Episode: “Level (7) With Me”) – I’m glad we are done with the Community of the Phoenix AND the Nico fake blackmailing storylines.
9. Californication (Episode: “Mr. Bad Example”) – Probably the most boring episode of the season but Hank Moody is always good for one or two good laughs
8. How I Met Your Mother (Episode: “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge Of The Slap”) – Not as good as the first Slapsgiving but how can I be mad at an episode that has Chris Elliot and Alyson Hannigan revisiting her days as Evil Willow
Worst Show: The Cleveland Show (Episode: “Ladies’ Night”) – I watch The Cleveland Show afraid that if I miss it, they will finally have a funny episode. I’m still waiting for that funny episode.
The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers)
10. How I Met Your Mother (Episode: “The Playbook”) – While I enjoy Barney’s single shenanigans, I’m still slightly bothered how the Barney/Robin relationship which the show invested us all in has dissipated so quickly.
9. Parks and Recreation (Episode: “Hunting Trip”) – This is slowly becoming my favorite show on NBC Thursday nights.
8. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Episode: “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System”)
Worst Show of Last Week: V (Episode: “Pilot”) – There wasn’t any particularly bad television this week but this was more like a lost opportunity. They rushed so much of the show’s premise robbing the show of any tension or character development. I think it’s more of a lack of faith in a TV viewer to stick around to see where’s something going without spelling everything out right away.
The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers)
10. The League (Episode: “The Bounce Test”) -I think FX has finally found a show to follow It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I wonder how many eskimo brothers I have.
9. FlashForward (Episode: “The Gift”) – I was ready to give up on this show but this was the best the show has been since the first half of the pilot. The suicide is a bit of a game changer so now what?
8. Community (Episode: “Home Economics”) – I officially have a crush on Alison Brie (she has also been great as Trudy on Mad Men). I hope this isn’t the last we see of the Pierce/Vaughn war. Read the rest of this entry ?
So I decided to give myself a new project. I’m going to try to rank the top 10 shows I watched on a week by week basis. Since I usually don’t finish watching a given week’s shows until Sunday, this will probably run late. (I watch over 25 hours of TV a week).
Worst Show of Last Week: Cougar Town (Episode: “A Woman in Love (It’s Not Me)”) – The scary thought is that before I remembered I watched Cougar Town (which will probably always be the worst show I watch every week), I was going to say 30 Rock.
The Power Rankings: (may contain mild spoilers) Read the rest of this entry ?
This was easily the hardest TV schedule I’ve ever had to put together. I actually thought I was going to be watching less television than ever but then I got to Thursday. Thank God for Hulu and bittorrent, otherwise I don’t know what I’d do*.
First let’s say goodbye to the shows that won’t be returning from the last schedule: Read the rest of this entry ?
