It's that time of year again....
I hate to be one of the "list people" at year's end, but i can't deny it, i live all year for countdowns, top 10s, best of's, anything that can remind me of what is left behind and to bring us into a new year. This tv era is surely one of the best we've had in a long time!
Of course, I have my top 10 tv shows of the year, but first, some great things to remember from the past year. First I have to acknowledge that it's been a great year for comedy, from cable fairings like Entourage and Weeds, to now mainstream shows like The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock (yes, I LOVE 30 Rock now!). 2006 has been a year when comedy has had a comeback.
Even though there were only 4 episodes aired this year (all on the same night!), Arrested Development made a splash with its last episodes that capped off the series, truly marking it as one of the greatest comedy series of all time. Scrubs returned for a non-stop season early in the year, The Office thrived in the second half of its second season and has continued its hillarity this season. Newbies like Ugly Betty and 30 Rock have become much better than originally thought, and cable has brought us very clever comedy in HBO's Entourage and Showtime's Weeds.
But all this hasn't pulled the drama out of television. Although some have 'lost' their mojo, others have thrived, growing and growing into top-notch apointment television. What is interesting is that most of the best this year are currently in their 3rd seasons, like Battlestar Galactica, LOST, Veronica Mars and Grey's Anatomy (comedies like The Office and Entourage also coincide with this).
So with that, I give you my take on tv in 2006:
Biggest Flop Season to Season: Prison Break. After a thrilling first season, this fall it's turned into a ridiculous man-hunt that's now pointless and predictable.
Best Improvement Season to Season: How I Met Your Mother. This series shows how comedy has grown in this past year, now in its second season, especially with the "slap bet" episode, it has matured into one of the greatest laughers of the year.
Biggest Disappointment: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. After giving it a B+ initially, i now have to give this season a C. This show started off good, but the moment Sorkin decided to make it too political and self referential, it annoyed and basically lost its coolness.
Biggest Surprise: 30 Rock. After loathing the first couple of episodes, i gave this show another chance and it clearly delivered. Alec Baldwin has to be one of the greatest hidden comedians out there, he can deliver a line with style and still make you laugh out loud. The character development has improved amazingly and the stories have now turned into Arrested Development-style running gags.
Good thing i gave this show a chance: Ugly Betty. I was completely not interested until every single critic was praising it, so i decided to at least give it a try, and now i'm sure glad i did. It's incredible how they incorporated a Latin American soap into a US series so well and with such great performances from all of the ensamble. Makes you laugh, makes you care, makes you cry, just one note of advice, keep Salma behind the camera on this one!
Fall Favorite: Heroes. Simply put, the best new series of the Fall season.
Continued reality favorites: The Amazing Race & Survivor, which keep reinventing themselves season after season, and keep bringing to us incredible characters to enjoy watching play these games that we all know and love now.
Shows that ended their run too early in their tv lives: Invasion, Sons & Daughters, The Nine.
And the shows that will be missed that ended this year: Arrested Development, Everwood & Alias.
Now.... drumroll please.... my top 10:
1. Battlestar Galactica - My discovery of 2006 delivers great frakking television.
2. The Office - The most deserved Emmy ever (Jim-Pam, woohoo).
3. Grey's Anatomy - After the Super Bowl (tick-tock), there was no way but up.
4. 24 - All those shocks (Palmer & Edgar die!) and thrills made it the best day ever.
5. Scrubs - Zanniest hospital ever.
6. LOST - They're getting rescued! just get them all together again...
7. Heroes - Save the Cheerleader, save the World. And NBC during the process.
8. Entourage - Ari got fired!
9. Weeds - Try getting out of that pickle, Mrs. Milf Weed.
10. Everwood/Brothers & Sisters - Family drama at it's best (first half and second half of 2006).
* special mention to Veronica Mars.
** Notice the one-word titles that dominate the list!
Of course, I have my top 10 tv shows of the year, but first, some great things to remember from the past year. First I have to acknowledge that it's been a great year for comedy, from cable fairings like Entourage and Weeds, to now mainstream shows like The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock (yes, I LOVE 30 Rock now!). 2006 has been a year when comedy has had a comeback.
Even though there were only 4 episodes aired this year (all on the same night!), Arrested Development made a splash with its last episodes that capped off the series, truly marking it as one of the greatest comedy series of all time. Scrubs returned for a non-stop season early in the year, The Office thrived in the second half of its second season and has continued its hillarity this season. Newbies like Ugly Betty and 30 Rock have become much better than originally thought, and cable has brought us very clever comedy in HBO's Entourage and Showtime's Weeds.
But all this hasn't pulled the drama out of television. Although some have 'lost' their mojo, others have thrived, growing and growing into top-notch apointment television. What is interesting is that most of the best this year are currently in their 3rd seasons, like Battlestar Galactica, LOST, Veronica Mars and Grey's Anatomy (comedies like The Office and Entourage also coincide with this).
So with that, I give you my take on tv in 2006:
Biggest Flop Season to Season: Prison Break. After a thrilling first season, this fall it's turned into a ridiculous man-hunt that's now pointless and predictable.
Best Improvement Season to Season: How I Met Your Mother. This series shows how comedy has grown in this past year, now in its second season, especially with the "slap bet" episode, it has matured into one of the greatest laughers of the year.
Biggest Disappointment: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. After giving it a B+ initially, i now have to give this season a C. This show started off good, but the moment Sorkin decided to make it too political and self referential, it annoyed and basically lost its coolness.
Biggest Surprise: 30 Rock. After loathing the first couple of episodes, i gave this show another chance and it clearly delivered. Alec Baldwin has to be one of the greatest hidden comedians out there, he can deliver a line with style and still make you laugh out loud. The character development has improved amazingly and the stories have now turned into Arrested Development-style running gags.
Good thing i gave this show a chance: Ugly Betty. I was completely not interested until every single critic was praising it, so i decided to at least give it a try, and now i'm sure glad i did. It's incredible how they incorporated a Latin American soap into a US series so well and with such great performances from all of the ensamble. Makes you laugh, makes you care, makes you cry, just one note of advice, keep Salma behind the camera on this one!
Fall Favorite: Heroes. Simply put, the best new series of the Fall season.
Continued reality favorites: The Amazing Race & Survivor, which keep reinventing themselves season after season, and keep bringing to us incredible characters to enjoy watching play these games that we all know and love now.
Shows that ended their run too early in their tv lives: Invasion, Sons & Daughters, The Nine.
And the shows that will be missed that ended this year: Arrested Development, Everwood & Alias.
Now.... drumroll please.... my top 10:
1. Battlestar Galactica - My discovery of 2006 delivers great frakking television.
2. The Office - The most deserved Emmy ever (Jim-Pam, woohoo).
3. Grey's Anatomy - After the Super Bowl (tick-tock), there was no way but up.
4. 24 - All those shocks (Palmer & Edgar die!) and thrills made it the best day ever.
5. Scrubs - Zanniest hospital ever.
6. LOST - They're getting rescued! just get them all together again...
7. Heroes - Save the Cheerleader, save the World. And NBC during the process.
8. Entourage - Ari got fired!
9. Weeds - Try getting out of that pickle, Mrs. Milf Weed.
10. Everwood/Brothers & Sisters - Family drama at it's best (first half and second half of 2006).
* special mention to Veronica Mars.
** Notice the one-word titles that dominate the list!
posted by bto at
11:23 PM
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