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Lost:
With an emmy win for Best Drama wrapped up, multiple
Golden Globe nominations, hype that is becoming almost terminal (like
the hype that Housewives had
last season), it's collective performers named Entertainment Weekly's
entertainers of the year, ratings up by big proportions over last
season (if you take out the repeats, of which it's already aired way
too many), nothing can stop this show. So does it live up to the hype?
Yes, every single minute of it does. Emotionally gripping and draining
(seriously, who did not cry when Rose and her husband were reunited,
despite the fact that we know very little about either of them?), never
afraid to try daring things (like killing off attractive characters,
but making the decidely unattrative Hurley one of the most loved
denizens of the island), never afraid to confuse or irritate viewers,
"Lost" has seasons of possibilities ahead of it, and I will be there
for all of them. The is the
show to watch.
 Veronica Mars: Okay, so season two has been somewhat
less amazing than season one, but I am confident that as the season
progresses, the show will get back into top form once again. It's not
that
it's not good now- it's better than 98% of television, but it can be so
much more, as the final few episodes of last season demonstrated.
Arrested
Development: Has it been
officially cancelled yet? Not quite- there hasn't been a rash of
suicides by despondent fans across the nation. Perhaps the most
feverently cult tv series ever, season two was downright, astoundingly
hilarious, and season three has just about lived up to that. There are
scenes and lines on this show that make you crack up days after
watching a the episode, which is the true test of comedic genious. Word
is that Showtime will pick up the show, but will cut the cast from 9 to
6 or 7. Who will it get rid of? Honestly, thinking through the
characters, it would be a crime to cut anybody. Bar none the best
sitcom of the year with the best performances to boot.
Robson
Arms: It's the obligatory
Canadian entry, and like last seasons "Corner Gas," "Robson Arms" was
impeccable television. Brillantly dramatic and funny at the
same time,
it took us into the world of a Vancouver apartment complex and its
flawed inhabitants, baring their souls to everybody who was watching.
Unfortunately, not many people were watching, hence the use of the past
tense in the opening sentence. There's been no word of a second season,
and the show seems to have simply faded from the radar. Pity.
The
Amazing Race 7: Hardcore
TARflies wanted none of Rob and Amber when they learned that the
Survivor duo would be racing around the world on their favorite series,
but dammit if they didn't make for some compelling television. The most
vicious, hardcore, scheming race yet saw the good guys, Uchenna and
Joyce, come out on top, thanks to getting on the same flight as Team
Ramber (a huge controversy in itself). If only all reality television
could be this good.... Unfortunately, it isn't, and for proof of that,
see "TAR 8" on the losers list.
 My
Name
Is Earl: Just when the
sitcom genre needed a savior (a high quality series that actually drew
good numbers), "Earl" came along. Hilarious and sweet at the same time,
"Earl" sets just the right time to keep viewers coming back for more.
Hopefully they'll follow it to Thursdays, too.
Everybody
Hates Chris: Speaking of
Thursdays, it finally has a good sitcom again. Although everybody knew
it was going to be a big hit for the UPN, it was surprizingly good. It
and "Earl" are sitcoms essentially cut from the same cloth- sweet and
funny without being cloying, Now that both are airing on
Thursdays (starting next week), viewers looking for a good laugh have
something to watch other than "ER."
Grey's
Anatomy: Okay, so I don't
watch it. But if the screams coming from the living room while my
roommate watches it are any indication, this must be a great tv show.
Other viewers seem to like it too.
Desperate
Housewives: Yes,
season two has not been as good as season one, but it's still one of
the best series on tv. Despite a slow start, the show ramped it up
during sweeps and is now firing on all cylinders. Particularly amazing
are Marcia Cross (but isn't she always amazing?) and surprizingly, Eva
Longoria, who seems to get better and better every single week.
Passions: So no, I don't
really watch it that much anymore, but I wanted to pick at least one
series from daytime for this list, and this show is "Passions." Once
you get over trying to take the show seriously, it one of the most
(un)intentionally hilarious series on tv, something which crested again
this summer with its tasteless tsunami disaster. But if any series
could make it work, "Passions" could, and it did.
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