Favorites of 2006: Television
03-01-2007
by Aaron Dicer

Making a favorite TV list is much easier than movies for one reason, DVR. I've already got my recording priorities set on my Tivo (well technically DishDVR but you know what I mean), so it's almost as simple as looking to see if two shows went head to head which one I'd rather record. Now explaining why, that's more difficult.

But I'll give it a shot.

15. Jericho

Is Skeet the new Keifer? uh... No. Though both have those hippie-cool first names, Sutherland out-broods Ulrich easily. It's probably not fair to compare any show to 24 but that seems to be the feel Jericho is going for. What they get is more Prison Break than 24. Like Prison Break last season Jericho ultimately succeeds mostly in plot, as in, I can't wait to see where the story goes next. And much like Prison Break this season Jericho could get very boring very quickly once the main conflict is resolved (who is behind the attacks and why). I'm not sure how they will keep my attention after that as I'm just not invested in the characters except for possible the outgoing Mayor/father figure Johnston Green (played wonderfully by veteran Gerald McRaney). Jericho could easily be a one season show that outlives it welcome quickly, but for now I'm in.

14. CSI

Still doing quality work, even if the over-saturation of the genre has run them a little thin. The miniature making serial killer storyline was engaging, intelligent, and creepy, the three keyingredients to a good CSI (well that and the occasional gross bugs eye view of a human cadaver). Grissolm and the gang are still my favorite CSIs around and if I ever die in Vegas I'm glad they will be there to find out how it happened.

13. The Simpsons

Later this year The Simpsons will hit episode 400. It's an astonishing number for any TV Show, but when you stop and think about this one in particular it's hard to believe. A cartoon satire? Really? Smart writing and some amazing voice work get you so far, but the longevity of this show is simply unexplainable. Just think about it, after a couple seasons this show went up against The Cosby Show my friend, you know, the Huxtables. When this show started I was in JR. HIGH! Though there have been ups and downs in quality it remains one of the best shows on television and despite the many imitations, there is still nothing quite like it.

12. Monk

Not the highest quality show on TV, but maybe one of the funniest. Tony Shaloub is an absolute genius in this series and deserves every award he gets. I'd tune in just to see his portrayal of our favorite OCD detective but I'm often engaged by the intricate mysteries as well. This is proof that sometimes a show just needs a place to live and breathe (in this case on cable outlet USA) to find an audience. The networks could learn a lot from this show (and if they do, maybe the next Freaks and Geeks or Firefly will be with us a bit longer.)

11. American Idol

The most watched show on TV. Though I'm increasingly disturbed by Paula Abdul's erratic behavior I'm increasing impressed by the variety and quality of entertainment on this show. I was one of many Taylor fans last season and knew just how Mr. Hasselhoff was feeling when he won. The thing about AI is that it found it's winning formula and has strayed very little from it since. I believe that most of us could stand to be a little more Simon and a little less Paula, and that there is nothing wrong with helping people identify what their gifts are and even more importantly aren't. This rant is, of course, sure to be followed by you telling me, "blogging just isn't your thing", and "Stick to the talking Mr DJ, leave the writing to the professionals." Never mind, forget I said anything.

10. My Name is Earl

Writers should study this show as a perfect sitcom specimen. Solid concept, stellar cast, great stories, and a positive message. All of this in a show that trusts it's audience to know when to laugh on their own (RIP laugh-track, you were both annoying and unnecessary, glad to see you go). Sure, I have a bit of a problem with the mixed up spirituality of the show, but to have a show that honors the power of doing the right thing is nice to have on TV. Did I mention the show is hilarious?

9. Mythbusters

There is something contagious about the sheer giddiness of Adam and Sam as they explore, in as explosive and destructive ways as possible, urban legends and commonly held beliefs. I consider this show part "Mr. Wizard", part "That's Incredible" and part "The Odd Couple" As funny and entertaining as it is educational. Thank you Discovery Channel for existing so shows like this can see the light of day, and then prove how that light can be focused through a block of ice to make fire.

8. The Lost Room

The what? Yes, I know. It's a shame more people didn't catch this 6 hour mini series on Sci-Fi when it was on last November. But it was one of the most thought provoking, quirky, entertaining, and well done things on TV all year. It got enough attention that Sci Fi is mulling doing another batch and it's certainly a world worth exploring. "The Lost Room" refers to a Hotel Room that is locked in another dimension that is only accessible by having "The Key", a hotel key that when used on any door will take you to the room at which point you can exit the hotel room into any other door in the world. "The Key" is only one of many objects that originally resided in the hotel room that now have strange powers in the real world (Think X-Men except it's every day household objects instead of mutants that have strange powers.) The real power of this show though is in the end, as in, IT HAS ONE. I'd forgotten how satisfying actual resolution to a TV mystery could be. We need more shows with set ends so we can get somewhere. Are you listening Prison Break? Lost? I'm talking to you!

7. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Best written show on TV, easy. Of course, that shouldn't be a surprise when Sorkin is holding the pen. I fell in love with his style on Sports Night, and am still smitten with it today. With the quickest wit possible Sorkin paints the backstage world of a "Saturday Night Live" type show (man, I wish real people talked the way he writes.) A prominent Christian character inhabits this universe as well, and guess what, she's actually likable and funny. The show stumbled to find it's way out of the gate with the characters being more humorous than the show they were making. But they moved away from that fairly quickly, and now the show seems to be finding it's stride very well. So smart, so funny, Studio 60 is worth a glance.

6. House

Hugh Laurie is an acting genius. He has created a character that is so compelling and real that he has taken an otherwise gimmicky and often predictable medical show, and made it feel like the best thing on TV. Don't get me wrong, I love the show (there are only 5 others I love more) but beyond his performance there really isn't much else to this thing. Of course, what else do we need really, the show is after all called "House" in the same way that 24 really should be called "The Jack Bauer Power Hour". I'll keep tuning in every week just to see what this caustic, unethical, yet somehow strangely lovable doctor will say next. Thank Hugh, Thank Hugh very much.

5. Survivor (Exile and Cook Islands)

It's a bit of a cheat to include both Survivors from 2006 as one, as each really does stand on it's own. But the two editions this year were about the same (though I was much happier to see Yul win than Aras). Survivor continues to be the best Reality Show on TV even if American Idol gets all the attention and Amazing Race gets all the awards. They craft some great stories from these stranded strangers and I think Jeff Probst may be the most underrated host on TV. They also deftly mix the exploring of human nature with fierce competition, making the show compelling on philosophical and emotional levels as well as engaging on a week to week "root for your favorite" level as well. If this list were ranked by how much I yell at my TV, Survivor would easily be number 1.

4. 24

I'm not sure any season of 24 will ever match the place season 1 has in my heart (Am I the only one who still says "on the day of the California Presidential Primary", after Keifer does the intro?) . The show was so fresh and the style so risky, and I was so invested, that the first season plays like a lucid dream to me sometimes. Having said that, Season 5 of 24 has come the closest. So many great moments and great characters. I'm always amazed at how these guys continue to up the ante, kill off people we love (Edgar... sniff, sniff), and write in the most over the top plot points and somehow it just works and we love them even more. By the way, just once I'd like them to go to commercial with Jack Bauer saying to someone, "By the way, Where's your bathroom" and then straight to the beep, click, beep, click. Oh and in case your wondering my full ranking probably looks like this 1,5,3,4,2.

3. The Office

From the most intense show on TV to the funniest. I'm not sure I can justify this one much beyond saying it makes me laugh. Like seriously laugh... a lot. Yes, Steve Carell as Michael is great, and yes, Dwight Schrute is a great Kramerish sidekick, but what makes this show for me is John Krasinski (Jim). The show is shot in a documentary type format so that fourth wall (that separates the audience from the action) comes down and Jim's response to the insanity of what happens around him is often a direct wink, smile, or nod to us. Often times I laugh more at Jim's reactions than the actual gag itself. So yeah, this show makes me laugh... out loud... a lot.

2. Heroes

I'm really not sure how the creators of Heroes got away with such a blatant X-Men rip-off, but I'm glad they did. This show locked me in with it's first four jaw-dropping, twist ending episodes, and has kept me around with some decent character development and story lines. Since the beginning of the year the show has been consistently besting 24 in the ratings and I have a feeling it could be with us a while. It's a difficult thing to keep such a serialized, sci-fi, character driven show fresh so I wish them the best, I'll be watching.

1. Lost

Speaking of serialized, sci-fi, character driven shows and staying fresh. Maybe you are in the seemingly growing group that thinks Lost has jumped the proverbial Dharma tattooed shark. Me? I think it's stronger than ever. I still love the characters, I still want to know what is up with that insane island (er islands?), and I still would rather watch this show than anything else on TV. I also love the fact that it's creators are doing everything within their power to set an end date for the series so they can wrap it up in as satisfying way as possible (I still weep at how poorly the X-Files exited) and I think once they commit to running uninterrupted seasons (like 24) the stage will be set for an spectacular finish to the best 42 minutes on TV every week.

"Rollin' with Dice" is a weekday Movie, TV, Music, Gaming, and general pop culture blog through the eyes of one of those crazy Christians you've heard so much about. Visit RollinWithDice.Blogspot.com for more.