Two Tivos To Paradise 12.28.07: The Year In Television In Review, Part One

Posted by Al Norton on 12.28.2007

Did The Sopranos go out on top? Can anything top Battlestar Galactica? Is 30 Rock funnier than The Office? Did Ugly Betty have a sophomore slump? Is there room for new shows like Pushing Daisies and Mad Men? It's The Top 10 Comedies and Dramas of 2007 - plus a guide to a surprisingly packed week of television - as Two Tivos To Paradise presents the year in review, part one.

Hello friends. I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Christmas and that the rest of you enjoyed the day off from work. My holiday was not how I would have drawn it up but was very enjoyable nonetheless, and as usual I received more than my share of quality presents, including the complete Studio 60 set, multiple books, some clothes, and a much needed AMC Movie theater gift card; it has been an awfully long time since I went to a movie, so I am looking forward to being in the dark with total strangers again!

Today's Two Tivos is part one of my year in review, my list of the Top 10 Comedies and Dramas of 2007.

You can check out anytime you like but you can never news.

Top 10 Comedies
A very strong group this year, which is made clear by the fact that there were some funny shows I did not have room for (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, New Adventures of Old Christine). Let's get to it, shall we…

10) PSYCH (USA)
Last week's news that NBC would start airing PSYCH in March means that maybe next year I won't have to call it "the single most underrated comedy on the air right now", AGAIN. While some slam the show because it's too light, it's precisely that lightness that makes it so much fun; with so many crime solving shows that explore the darkness of the human soul, isn't there room for one that pokes fun at it, using it's razor sharp pop culture claws to provide us some great laughs? The comedy team of Roday and Hill shines brighter each season.

9) Samantha Who? (ABC)
Who knew that memory loss could be so funny? Christina Applegate gives cute a good name, surrounded by a cast of characters that are more than a bit quirky, but in a way that makes them that much more realistic. One of 2007's most pleasant surprises.

8) Everybody Hates Chris (CW)
There were two very good pieces of Everybody Hates Chris news this year, other than that the series continues to produce the same quality episodes it always does. First, ratings were up. Not a ton but enough to pretty much guarantee the show is in no way in fear of cancellation. Secondly, it was sold into syndication, which means that within a year or so, EHC will be on in reruns every day throughout the country. Maybe that will finally give what is still the best family comedy on TV the audience it deserves.

7) Ugly Betty (ABC)
If Betty thought living up to the hype was tough, now she had to deal with the lofty standards set by the show's freshman outing, yet here we are again, with the Suarez family and everyone at Mode Magazine on the year's best list. It's amazing how the show manages to be both funny and moving without ever compromising the integrity of either emotion.

6) How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Years from now people will look back at this series and wonder why How I Met Your Mother wasn't a huge hit, why Neil Patrick Harris went Emmy-less during its first three seasons, and why slap bets didn't become a 2007 pop culture phenomenon. Don't look at me because I don't know what people are watching Mondays at 8 instead of this.

5) Extras (HBO)
Your stomach for uncomfortable humor determines your feelings towards Extras; if you are anything like me you were squirming on your couch while laughing heartily. There were moments in the final season that I almost had to turn the TV off, and I intend that as the highest of compliments.

4) My Name Is Earl (NBC)
It may never get respect come awards time, other than the fabulous Jamie Pressly, but Earl continues to chug along as one of the most inventive comedies on TV, and one that is unsurpassed in its use of guest stars. Was there a moment funnier and more disturbing than when Randy got his arm pulled through the jail cell door? Ethan Suplee's facial expressions still haunt me, and I mean that in a good way.

3) The Office (NBC)
Just when you think the show can't get any funnier, along comes Andy, playing the banjo while singing The Rainbow Connection in pig Latin. If that sentence doesn't fully illustrate the genius of The Office, I don't know what to tell you.

2) Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Death has never been this charming or this beautifully filmed. Daisies almost overpowering sense of whimsy is not for everyone but I was hooked from the first minute, as much by supporting players Chi McBride and Kristin Chenoweth as by the leads. With a cadence straight out of His Girl Friday and the visual flourishes of a Busby Berkley musical, it's art come to life every Wednesday at 8.

1)30 Rock (NBC)
How do I pick the top comedy of the year? I went with the novel approach of picking the show that made me laugh the most, and it wasn't even close. Each week that goes by finds me thinking that Tracy Morgan is a genius (or at least some sort comedic savant), while Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin handle the heavy lifting. By any measurement possible, it's the funniest show on television.

Top 10 Dramas

10) Life (NBC)
Easily the show that improved the most over the fall, Damian Lewis and a strong supporting cast help this show embrace its inner weirdness. As odd as it can be, Life always seems comfortable in its own skin, which is not as easy as you might think. The quality of the series is a testament to pacing; by not revealing too much of the running "who set Charlie up and why?" mystery too early, it gave the audience time to care about the characters.

9) The Riches (FX)
I was sold from the pilot; how many shows could use Jesse's Girl and Shelter From The Storm in the same episode and have both feel like a natural fit? Minnie Driver's performance was almost shocking in it's depth and Eddie Izzard showed he is without peer at playing someone forced to think on their feet.

8) The Closer (TNT)
The Closer been the best police show on TV for a while now but this season it made the jump to become one of the best shows on TV, period. Kyra Sedgwick was her usual flawless self, with the supporting cast taking it up a notch; no small feet considering how good they were previously. The scene in the finale when Fritz opened up about his alcoholism while venting his frustration with Brenda was the kind that gets mentioned in lists like this.

7) Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
The overwhelming mediocrity of Private Practice proved that, despite all the haters, the mix of medicine and melodrama Grey's Anatomy pulls off each and every week is no easy feat. It took a few weeks this fall for the show to recover from Isaiah Washington's absence (personal feelings aside, the man has presence) but the recent sightings of Callie's spine (and personality, too) as well as the continued excellence of Patrick Dempsey (can I go back in a time machine to the early 90's and tell myself I will be writing about Dempsey's acting prowess, please?!?!?) have righted the ship.

6) Big Love (HBO)
Building on first year success, Big Love took it to the next level in season two, including Gennifer Goodwin, Chloe Sevigny, and Jeanne Tripplehorn giving truly sublime performances as the three very different, and very strong, women in Bill Paxton's life.

5) Lost (ABC)
The finale alone would have put Lost on this list, perhaps the best single episode that 2007 had to offer. It didn't so much press the reset button as turn things upside down and change the way all future outings will be watched and analyzed. While it was great to see Terry O'Quinn win an Emmy, Matthew Fox was robbed of the recognition he so richly deserved.

4) Mad Men (AMC)
Mix sharp writing, beautiful set design, top notch acting, and the sensibilities of a generation gone by viewed through modern eyes, and you've got the best first season of a series since The Sopranos.

3) Friday Night Lights (NBC)
It's not a show about football. It's about family, it's about marriage, it's about growing up, it's about breaking free of the shackles that are the expectations others put on you, it's about finding yourself, and it's about learning that it really is the way you play the game that counts. It's one of the best hours of TV each week and I can't believe you're still not watching.

(This is me ripping myself off, btw; I wrote a blurb about FNL for 411mania's upcoming year end piece –look for it on January 3rd - that I am really proud off but I didn't want to steal my own thunder, so what you see above is a short, paraphrased version)

2) The Sopranos (HBO)
Controversial ending aside, even fans who had jumped off the bandwagon were praising the quality of the final season. Was there a more shocking moment this season than when Tony suffocated Christopher? In a show known for its brilliant performances over the years, James Gandolfini and Edie Falco were never better.

1) Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
Here we are a year later and the decision wasn't even close; BSG is just that good. Highlights from this past season include Baltar's jail cell speech about where he came from (including slipping into a different accent), the brutal confrontation between Lee and Adama where Apollo resigned his commission, the multi-episode guest stint of Mark Sheppard as Baltar's lawyer, and the continued excellence of Katee Sackhoff. Since I am not really sure I will ever phrase my feelings about the show any better than I did in last year's summary, let's role the tape:

I am not sure how much more praise I can heap on a show who's creators must have had to buy a new house to store all their critical raves, but there is truly nothing else like this on television today, and maybe not ever. It's the best written, best acted, most intense show since Homicide: Life On The Street, which I consider to be the best show ever on television, and before it's done it may climb even higher. BSG continually takes on the important and weighty issues that come with war and does with an unblinking eye. Anyone who says, "there is nothing good on TV" is simply not watching this show.

Here, here – well said, old chum. Seriously, do your self a favor and use that Best Buy gift card you got this Holiday season to pick up BSG on DVD and find out what you've been missing.

Hope You Need My Love Babe, Just Like I Need You
I was planning on having the Top 10's of 2007 be the only content in this week's column but the next week of TV is surprisingly packed, so here is a run down on what you need to know, and more importantly, what you need to watch!

Tonigh
Champs Sports Bowl: Boston College vs. Michigan State (ESPN, 5 pm)
Emerald Bowl: Maryland vs. Oregon State (ESPN, 8:30 pm)
Singing Bee (NBC, 8 pm)

Normally I would not advise you to tune into what amounts to televised karaoke but tonight's new Singing Bee is an "all TV themes" episode, so it may be a bit more entertaining than usual. Being based in Boston, the Champs Sports Bowl holds some interest, in particular to see if B.C. can keep its seven bowl game winning streak alive.

Saturday
Broken Trail (AMC, 8 pm)
Samantha Who? marathon (ABC, 8 pm)
Meineke Car Care Bowl: UConn vs. Wake Forest (ESPN, 1 pm)
Liberty Bowl: Florida State vs. Mississippi State (ESPN, 4:30 pm)
Alamo Bowl: Penn State vs. Texas A&M (ESPN, 8 pm)

For those of you who are befuddled by my feelings for Samantha Who?, tonight's four episode marathon is a great way to find out for yourself if Christina Applegate is as endearing as I suggest. Broken Trail is AMC's excellent mini-series staring Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden Church and directed by Walter Hill; chances are it's the highest quality TV event of 2007 that you haven't seen, so set those Tivos! Also, more bowl games.

Sunday
Deadliest Catch marathon (Discovery, 9 am)
Flavor of Love marathon (VH-1, 7:30 am)
Independence Bowl: Alabama vs. Colorado (ESPN, 8 pm)

If you're like Mrs. Tivo and you've seen all the Deadliest Catch episodes already, today's marathon still has appeal as they are offering clips of this spring season 4 mixed in. If you want to spend your Sunday watching Flavor of Love, I can't help you. Also, more bowl games.

Monday
Entourage marathon (HBO, 7 pm)
South Park Goes Out With A Bang (Comedy Central, 9:30 pm)
Twilight Zone marathon (Sci-Fi, 8 am)
Law And Order: Criminal Intent marathon (USA, 9 am)
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. California (ESPN, 12:30 pm)
Humanitarian Bowl: Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech (ESPN2, 2 pm)
Sun Bowl: Oregon vs. South Florida (CBS, 2 pm)
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Florida State (ESPN, 4pm)
Insight Bowl: Indiana vs. Oklahoma State (NFLNET, 6 pm)
Chick-Fil-A Bowl: Auburn vs. Clemson (ESPN, 7:30 pm)
New Year's Eve Live (Fox, 11 pm)
New Year's Eve with Anderson Cooper (CNN, 11 pm)
Tila Tequila's New Year's Eve Masquerade 2008 (MTV, 11)
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2008 (ABC, 11:35 pm)
New Year's Eve with Carson Daly (NBC, 11:35 pm)

HBO's Entourage marathon is 20 episodes long, with a midnight interruption for a special episode of Cathouse. Sci-Fi's Twilight Zone marathon has become an annual event – it's actually two days, and features an incredible 84 episodes! A brief rundown of the various New Year's Eve special's entertainment: Fox (Cat Deeley, Spike Feresten, Lifehouse, Jordin Sparks), MTV (Perez Hilton, Mary J Blige, Kid Rock), ABC (Ryan Seacrest, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Akon, Natasha Bedingfield, Sean Kingston), and NBC (Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys). Also, more bowl games.

Tuesday
The Biggest Loser, season premiere (NBC, 8 pm)
Dirty Jobs marathon (Discovery, 9 am)
Law And Order marathon (TNT, 6 am)
Monk marathon (6 am, USA)
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee (ESPN, 11 am)
Cotton Bowl: Missouri vs. Arkansas (Fox, 11:30 am)
Capital One Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida (ABC, 1 pm)
Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Texas Tech (CBS, 1 pm)
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal vs. Illinois (ABC, 5 pm)
Sugar Bowl: Hawaii vs. Georgia (Fox, 8:30 pm)

The Biggest Loser kicks off a new season that features teams (couples, friends, family members) for the first time. TNT's L & O marathon goes old school, featuring first season episodes with Michael Moriarty, not to mention multiple pairs of cops. USA has 21 hours of Monk. Also, more bowl games.

Wednesday
Power of 10 season premiere (CBS, 8 pm)
Law And Order season premiere (NBC, 9 pm)
Gossip Girl (The CW, 8 pm)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 pm)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 pm)
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia (Fox, 8:15)

All eyes will be on NBC's late night programming as Jay and Conan return tonight minus their writing staffs Look for both to address why they are crossing the picket lines to go back to work. I wish I had better things to say about the new season of Law and Order, I really do. I mean, Jeremy Sisto is a Two Tivos favorite and Linus Roache is a fine actor as well, but the script for the first of tonight's two episodes is god awful, making for some seriously painful melodrama. Gossip Girl kicks off a two part episode tonight that also happens to be its last two completed episodes. Also, more bowl games.

Thursday
Iowa Caucuses (press coverage begins at 4 on CNN and follows on most news networks at 7)
ER (NBC, 10 pm)
PGA Tour Gold: Mercedes-Benz Championship (Golf, 6 pm)
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kansas (Fox, 8:15 pm)

Celebrity Apprentice was supposed to debut tonight but was bumped back a week to avoid the last new episode of Grey's Anatomy, which was supposed to serve as a lead-in to the new series, Cashmere Mafia. Now The Donald's new season starts a week from today, Cashmere Mafia got moved till next Sunday, and at deadline time it was not clear if ABC was going to leave the Grey's episode in it's current slot or bump it a week also. The Iowa Caucuses represent the real start of the 2008 election race. Hey, golf is back, kicking off its 50 week season with the Mercedes-Benz Championship from Maui. Gloria Reuben reprises the role that won her two Emmy nominations (and a Golden Globe nod, too) when Jeanie Boulet returns to ER. Also, more bowl games.

TV Pick Of The Week
I know I have a clear Boston bias but there is no way that anything other than the Patriots quest for perfection could be the TV Pick of the Week. I was off the Pats bandwagon after Coach Bill Bellichick was caught breaking the rules in game one. Actually, it was a combination of him breaking them plus the arrogance for him to think that since he interpreted the rule differently, it was ok. Hmm, how about that memo that went around in the off-season, Coach, letting everyone know it was going to be strictly enforced this year? Not that cheating is shocking from a guy who was married and carrying on a long term affair with another man's wife, right? But the Flying Elvi soon had me back shaking pom-poms like a cheerleader over with the quality of their play and the personality of the players. Saturday's game gives all of us who have significant others who think we watch too much football a great excuse; "But honey, this is history." Don't miss the Patriots-Giants game on CBS, NBC, and NFLNET this Saturday night.

Two Tivos To Paradise, Weekly Update
30 Days, The 4400, Aliens In America, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Antique Roadshow, The Apprentice, Battlestar Galactica, Best Week Ever, Big Love, Bionic Woman, Bones, Boston Legal, Brothers And Sisters, Burn Notice, Chuck, The Closer, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Dead Zone, The Deadliest Catch, Desperate Housewives, Destination Truth, Dirty Sexy Money, Entourage, Eureka, Everybody Hates Chris, Flipping Out, Ghost Hunters, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, The Hills, House, How I Met Your Mother, Jericho, Kid Nation, King Of Cars, Last Comic Standing, Law And Order, Law And Order: Criminal Intent, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, Lost, Mad Men, Medium, Moonlight, My Name Is Earl, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Next Food Network Star, Nip/Tuck The Office, One Tree Hill. Project Runway, Pushing Daisies, Psych, Real Time With Bill Maher, Reaper, Rescue Me, The Riches, Rules Of Engagement, Run's House, Samantha Who?, Saturday Night Live, Scrubs, Shark, Shear Genius, The Soup, Supernatural, Top Chef, Top Design, Ugly Betty, Welcome To The Parker

Additions :None
Deletions :None

People Love You When They Know You're Leaving Soon
Here ends another edition of Two Tivos To Paradise. I hope everyone has a fantastic and safe New Year's Celebration. We'll be back next Friday with our first annual Top 10 TV Entertainers of the Year Awards, plus an update on the strike.

Have a great week, see you next year!

Feedback is encouraged at [e-mail].

Sources for this week's column include but are not limited to Daily Variety, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and Hollywood Reporter (plus the web sites for those publications) as well as Aintit.cool.com.