Best of the 2000s: or how I learned to stop worrying and love televison

Since we are in the final day of the decade, I figured I couldn't let it end without some recognition of the period of time that made me love the medium of television. The 2000s weren't just a year of doctors, lawyers, and cops, but a decade of imagination and creativity. Ignoring the likes of Survivor, American Idol, and the other reality shows that have blinded much of culture from acknowledging the greatness of television in the decade, the 2000s reminded us that television can be as good as the films that are being produced and as inventive as it hadn't been before. Science Fiction was no longer bravados of machismo environments. Comedy evolved to no longer needing a laugh track to inform viewers that what they were watching they should be laughing at. With the prevalence of viewing television at your own pace and at your own time, with DVRs and internet streaming, long serial dramas were able to become something that they had never been before. This is my list of the best tv shows of the decade.

10. Dexter
Early in the oughts CSI ruled the screen with plot twists and intriguing scientists like we had never seen before, but the show never seemed to pierce the surface and attain the mindset of a serial killer like "Dexter" did. Showtime presented "Dexter" as a show about a serial killer who is also a crime scene investigator. Being on Showtime, "Dexter" was able to delve deeper into a character than FCC regulations would forbid any network station. We learned about why Dexter killed and what made him kill, something CSI never came close to.

9. The Sopranos
The 90s were filled with family dramas and comedies about the typical domestic life of suburban America. "The Sopranos" did that too, but this time that suburban life included organized crime. "The Sopranos" allowed the viewer to learn about a mob boss, his family, and how they don't live much different from the rest of America. Yea at the end of the day, my father doesn't kill anybody, but Tony went to a psychiatrist.

8. West Wing
In a decade of terrorism, conservative politics, and antagonistic attitudes, "The West Wing" created a utopia of a presidential office. The perfect presidents meets the imperfect world. At times President Bartlett seemed a little too quick witted, intelligent, and well perfect, but this allowed the series to focus on the staff that dealt weekly with the same issues that the viewer saw on the news.

7. 30 Rock
I was debating between "The Office" and "30 Rock" as to which one should be on this list. I do like both a lot. "The Office" was one of the first successful at creating single-camera non-laugh track series, but it's concept wasn't original. "30 Rock" creativity and ingenuity is great. It is hilarious and brings the viewer into the not so glamorous world of television sketch comedy show writing. Also, it doesn't hurt that pretty much every week a new A-list celebrity is guest starring and doing an amazing job at it too.

6. Veronica Mars
Teen dramas need a twist. Something that separates them from "The OC"s and the "One Tree Hills"s. "Veronica Mars" separates itself from the rest of its WB friends with an excellent film noir style and its intelligent witty script. You didn't tune in every week to see whether Veronica was finally going to get back together with Duncan, but you tuned in to see whether Veronica was going to solve Lily, her best friend's murder.

5. Firefly
Space Western. What? Space Western. Science Fiction can do that and with Joss Whedon it did it well. With "Firefly", Whedon created interesting characters and an amazing universe that wasn't beyond the viewer to understand. Yes, maybe because it was advertised as a space western was the reason for its single season, but it's popularity, cult status, and even feature film signifies that it was one of the best tv shows of the decade.

4. Lost
Creativity is what has kept Lost going for so long. Character driven plots of usually made shows fail. Network science fiction shows typically fail. Long story arc plots especially on network television fail. Lost didn't. It came at a time where viewers could by DVDs of tv show seasons, watch missed episodes online, and record past episodes to view again later. Lost would not have made it in the 90s. The plot is too intricate and its universe too deep, but online streaming, DVR, and other mediums have allowed Lost to stay alive and remain an amazing and thrilling experience.

3. Arrested Development
Oh yea, single-camera non-laugh track series, "Arrested Development was the forerunner. Yea it ran for only three seasons (which was only because of it's critical acclaim and awards success and not its ratings), but its originally is what makes it the best comedy of the decade. It broke from the Seinfeld sitcom model and created a new model that "The Office" and "30 Rock" used to create their present success.

2. The Wire
Long, plot driven, character driven, subject driven, intense writing. That is how you would describe the monumental, but mostly overlooked amazing series that was "The Wire". Each season delved into a different area of Baltimore life. From the school system, to the media, "The Wire" proved that television doesn't need to adapt to their viewers, but that viewers should evolve to accept great material like "The Wire". Even though it wasn't successful like its brother shows on HBO, it is superior in its ingenuity, creativity, and brilliant writing.

1. Battlestar Galactica
What is one show that made science fiction a cheap thrill and corny? Well that would be the original "Battlestar Galactica", but the revision of that show is amazing. It is the perfect example of viewers evolving to understand that science fiction isn't just cheap thrills, but allegories for our lives. "Battlestar Galactica" dealt with issues from genocide and racism, to understanding the mindset of someone in positions of power. It didn't shy from making you hate your favorite character or dislike a plot line. It had a purpose and even at the end, it had a goal to make sure viewers saw something more in science fiction television.

Honorable Mentions:
Friday Night Lights, Big Love, Six Feet Under, How I Met Your Mother

The Emmys are over, so now I can make fun of them

Oh the Emmys. The award show that pretends that there is no other television in the world than the shows in America, and that there is no other television worth watching than the ones a bunch of people in the academy deem are good. Without further ado, here is my analysis of this years Emmys...

The Emmy for the worst opening monologue ever, and this includes every night Jimmy Kimmel believes he is funny goes to:

This year! Yeah, it's the Emmys hosted by 5 nominees that everyone knew was going to crash and burn, but who introduces the show first? That would be the lovely and not very talented Oprah Winfrey who apparently thinks she has the ability to be funny. No Oprah, you do not possess this ability and neither do the hosts of the show you are introducing. Heidi Klum, Ryan Seacrest, Tom Bergeron, Jeff Probst, and Howie Mandel attempted everything to make that monologue (or lack there of) funny. From pretending to not have anything prepared (which is exactly how it looks, so you win), to having Howie Mandel make quasi humorous comments about Sarah Palin, to making fun of Ryan Seacrest's failure which was hosting last year's Emmys. They even had William Shatner strip off Heidi Klum's clothing. The funniest part of the entire thing was when Jeremy Piven received the first Emmy commented on the tragedy which was the opening monologue. If Shakespeare would have written it, they would have all died at the end.


How do you make up for an atrocious monologue?

Have actual comedians introduce categories as often as possible to keep audience unaware that letting Ryan Seacrest host the Emmys two years in a row is a terrible idea. Comedians such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler will work nicely to fill the time with amusing material because them just saying hello in many different languages produced more laughter from the audience than the monologue did. Or even better, have Ricky Gervais introduce the most useless category where the winner of the award is actually directing the current programming. Conan O'Brien, Steve Martin, and Don Rickles will allow your show to not be a complete disaster.

The Emmy for the funniest category nominee introduction goes to:
Outstanding writing for a variety show blah blah, pretty much the shit that Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert do. Funny not because of the comedic stylings of Hayden Panettiere and Jennifer Love Hewitt (it that's possible), but because the writers for those shows actually came up their own introduction. Yeah it is funny every year, but it still amuses me, unlike 3 and a Half Men.

The Emmy for the most endearing acceptance speech goes to:
Tommy Smothers for still being the political and social commentator he was 50 years ago.


...and then there was Josh Groban...singing a medley of tv show theme songs...



that is already giving me nightmares

Emmy for the Biggest Dick move by the Emmy producers goes to:
When the Emmy producers interrupted Kirk Ellis who won for outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie while he was actually giving an interesting acceptance speech. we can listen to entire acceptance speeches by boring actors (yes Glenn Close, that includes you), but when an articulate, great writer is giving a well done substantive acceptance speech, you effing cut to commercial? Dick move.

Best Presenter/Winner/ Comedian goes to:
Effing Don Rickles Man. Anyone who can silence Kathy Griffen is talented because that is hard.


Emmy for the biggest upset goes to:
Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad. Yeah Jon Hamm, I see those tears. Hide them better. Yeah everyone and their brother pretty much thought you had that in the bag, but Bryan is amazing as a meth producing chemistry teacher. You are just an advertising exec who drinks all day and has other extra curricular activities.

Emmy for biggest winner:
30 Rock aka Tina Fey...yea they pretty much won everything


Emmy for biggest loser:
Lauren Conrad who managed to mess up the easiest part of being the announcer. Yes, when you are supposed to say "and the Emmy goes to". Go back to pretending you life is interesting and unscripted.

"I'm gonna make you a mix tape. You like Phil Collins?"

"I've got two ears and a heart, don't I?"

"Live every week like it's Shark Week"

Writing Emmy Nods

This is the one category that actually recognizes the greatness of television series. It doesn't just rely on popular programming such as Grey's Anatomy or Two and a Half Men. It realizes that many shows have great writing, even if they are not watched by mainstream audiences.

Outstanding Writing for Comedy Series:
James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie- Flight of the Conchords (episode: "Yoko")
Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky- The Office ("Dinner Party")
Bryan Fuller- Pushing Daisies (episode- "Pie-lette")
Jack Burditt- 30 Rock (episode- "Rosemary's Baby")
Tina Fey- 30 Rock (episode- "Cooter")


I enjoy 30 Rock and The Office keeps me entertained, but there is not surprise for these nominations. I was happy for Bryan Fuller because he deserves to getting recognition for being a great television screenwriter. The ATAS failed to realize the genius coming from Dead Like Me, so at least they have come to their senses and realized that Pushing Daisies is another great from Bryan Fuller.Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement's hilarious nature and obvious genius writing carried Flight of the Conchords for its entire first season. "Yoko" is a great episode about the Yoko-factor, when Jemaine starts to believe a girl named Coco is attempting to break up the band.

I am holding out for these two nods in September, but the Office and 30 Rock will probably prevail again.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series:
Michael Angeli- Battlestar Galactica (episode: "Six of One")
Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman- Damages (episode: "Get Me A Lawyer")
Matthew Weiner, Robin Veith- Mad Men (episode: "The Wheel")
David Simon, Ed Burns- The Wire (episode: "-30-")


This is finally a category for writing that realized that there are great shows out there that aren't just on network television. First The Wire finally gets recognized in a writing category even though they completely ignored them for Outstanding Drama Series in its last season when it has been one of the best Drama series on television. Also Mad Men continues with its domination in drama categories for this years Emmy nods. First with a nomination for the pilot and another nomination for "The Wheel".

Finally, we have the first writing nomination for Battlestar Galactica. This was one of the things that made me excited about the nominations when they were released. This show has had great writing from the beginning, but ATAS still seems to think that Sci Fi Channel shows should only be nominated in technical categories. Well in your face. This show is good and the writing is amazing. Maybe next year you will realize that the acting is great also.

Emmy Nominations are out and I am sort of pissed...but not suprised

well here are the major catagories...I will remark about them at a later date:

Outstanding Comedy Series:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
The Office
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men

Outstanding Drama Series:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
House MD
Lost
Mad Men

Made for Television Movie:
Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
A Raisin in the Sun
Recount

Outstanding Mini-series:
The Andromeda Strain
Cranford
John Adams
Tin Man

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Jon Hamm (Man Men)
Hugh Laurie (House MD)
James Spader (Boston Legal)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Tiny Fey (30 Rock)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures for Old Christine)
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Glenn Close (Damages)
Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters)
Mariska Hargitay (L&O: SVU)
Holly Hunter (Saving Grace)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Kevin Dillon (Entourage)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Rainn Wilson (The Office)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Ted Danson (Damages)
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Zeljko Ivanek (Damages)
William Shatner (Boston Legal)
John Slattery (Mad Men)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies)
Amy Poehler (SNL)
Jean Smart (Samantha Who?)
Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)
Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Candice Bergen (Boston Legal)
Rachel Griffiths (Brothers and Sisters)
Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy)
Dianne West (In Treatment)
Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)

I left out Reality Shows and Miniseries for now, but I am happy the Tin Man was recognized.

Top Ten Comedies...Thus said Emmy

Ok, I know the Emmy noms came out yesterday and this entry is like...3 weeks late, but I have been busy and I need to complain about the choices that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences made for their top ten lists for dramas and comedies. To begin this little adventure, we shall start with the much loved and sometimes unexplainable comedies.

Top 10 Finalists for Best Comedy:
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Family Guy
Flight of the Conchords
The Office
Pushing Daisies
30 Rock
Two and a Half Men
Ugly Betty
Weeds

To begin this rant I will start with the one show I never really understood why it has been a success since its induction into the CBS comedy hour (or is it two hours?). Why the hell do people like Two and a Half Men. Ok, I will admit when it first came on I might have let out a yelp seeing my beloved 1980's New Wave cool dude Duckie, but then I was put in my place when I then realized that Duckie had become a chiropractor. What would Andie say?

The show has its moments like other annoying shows such as scenes with Joey in them from friends and that dog on Fraiser. Other than that, the show is annoying, deals with the same issues constantly (that kid doesnt do his homework, Charlie Sheen sleeps with a lot of women, and Jon Cryer has no life). ATAS, get over this Two and a Half Men obsession and recognize good shows like Flight of the Conchords (good job, no really I am quite suprised), 30 Rock (again great decision), and It's Always Sunny in Philadeplia (I will forgive you this year).

There are even better shows in that CBS Monday line up that deserve that position more than Two and a Half Men, like The Big Bang Theory. Gotta love those theoretical physicist nerds. Or even better, How I Met Your Mother. Neil Patrick Harris is great on that show, along with Willow and Nick Andopolis, I mean Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal. Charlie Sheen is not funny, Duckie is a sell out, and that kid (does anyone actually know his name?) I think may be getting fatter as the series continues, which I think think might take away the halfness of his manness (?).
The rest of the shows are ok, I guess. Ugly Betty stills annoys me, but its second season is nothing like its first. I wasn't expecting much though. Gotta love marijuana dealing moms on Weeds. But come on, Family Guy? Are you trying to make a statement that cartoons can be great comedies too? I mean, I don't disagree, but you chose Family Guy. Curb Your Enthusiasm is still on the air? Oh yeah! Entourage is still pulling in audiences with mediocre writing, but I still love to watch the show. Turtle makes me chuckle. Good job with Pushing Daises too. Who doesn't love pie, pie shops, and bringin' back people from the dead?