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

Countdown to BSG Return

Sci Fi Channel's Press Release from last week concerning the return of Battlestar Galactica:

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA RETURNS ON SCI FI
JOURNEY’S END DRAWS NEAR FOR ACCLAIMED SERIES

Final Episodes to Begin January 16, 2009

New York, NY – October 16, 2008 – On Friday, January 16, 2009 at 10PM ET/PT, SCI FI’s critically acclaimed drama series Battlestar Galactica will return with the remaining episodes of its 4th and final season. The 10-week run will culminate with the series finale on March 20th.

Picking up from last June’s jarring cliffhanger – the Colonial fleet and their new Cylon allies led by Admiral Adama and the Galactica crew discover Earth to find it a barren nuclear wasteland – the finale season promises to be rife with drama, action and revelation.

Battlestar Galactica is the gripping saga of humanity's last remnants and their struggle to find a new home while fleeing from their deadly Cylon enemies. Redefining the space opera with its gritty realism, Galactica’s intensity, issues-driven topicality, and command performances have garnered it numerous awards, including three Emmys and the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award. The show was twice recognized by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most outstanding programs of the year. The series is executive produced by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick, and the outstanding ensemble cast is led by Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park.

Being the loser that I am and totally pumped for the return, I created this (but totally stole the idea from The Chicago Tribune)

I am that fracking cool!

Only 8 Days until Halloween

Linking if over to LOL Cats and fun

I am totally late on these, but after finding Star Trek LOL Cats I had to post the Battlestar Galactica ones because they are hilarious.

Battlestar Galactica LOL Cats Part 1
Battlestar Galactica LOL Cats Part 2
Battlestar Galactica LOL Cats Part 3

Oh you think we are done, hellz no. Star Trek LOL Cats also amused me, so here are some more links to that shiz

Star Trek LOL Cats

Happy Thursday fun everyone

"I just don't respond to the title 'Doc.' "

"A dock is a platform for loading and unloading material. My title is "Doctor" or "Mr. Vice President," if you don't mind."

Law and Order: London?

For the past 18 years, ever since 1990, the Law and Order universe has pretty much had a monopoly over American law drama. It is played at least 5 times a day on cable and has three currently running series on NBC. Now Dick Wolf in his effort to pretty much take over the western world has decided to create a Law and Order: London. The premise of Law and Order: London will be the same as the original, except they are going to rework scripts to make them relevant to British Law. So pretty much, Dick Wolf wants to take his claim on British television along with his dominance of American television. Right now the series will air on ITV in Britain, but will most likely air on American television on Bravo or USA.


The series will be headed by Chris Chibnall, lead writer and co-producer of Torchwood. Fellow Torchwood producer, Richard Stokes will produce the series. Keeping it in the Doctor Who family, Freema Agyeman is casted to play the main prosecutor (or barrister, or whatever they call them over there), with Jamie Bamber from Battlestar Galactica as a police officer.


Not quite sure what to think of this yet, but I have watched every other series that has come out of the Law and Order universe, so this probably won't be that different. I really want to see how the writing is going to be with Chibnall as the lead writer because Law and Order and Torchwood don't really have similar writing styles. Maybe this will be an improvement for the franchise, or maybe it will just continue the creation of more mundane shows spewing from Wolf Films. I still like SVU you though, everything else just seems like the same mediocre thing.

The series is slated to premiere in Britain in 2009.

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.

Caprica

For anyone who is sad that Battlestar Galactica is ending after this season have, of course, heard about the prequel Caprica. Set 50 to 70 years in the future, Caprica is supposed to take place during a time of peace within the Twelve Colonies. It has been said that it is going to give the back story to the creation of the cylons and where the name 'cylon' originated from. The show will focus on Joseph Adama (Admiral Adama's Father and Apollo's Grandfather). Joseph Adam is a renowned civil liberties attorney who investigates the activities of the Graystones, the owners of a computer company who is doing some very suspicious activities with large machines that have red like eyes (the cylons? I don't know...). Right now it is not scheduled to air until this December as a two-hour miniseries-like pilot on Sci Fi, but if the show gets picked up for an entire series, it might get pushed back to 2009.


If you are as excited as I am, well you better watch this trailer:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcfT-dZziOQ

TV Badge

Top 10 Dramas

In my continuation of the Emmy's Top Ten Best ... Lists, I will now dwell on the chosen dramas. Oh television drama; filling my life with pointless plots, depthless characters, and terrible writing. I still love it all. This list is well...eclectic...:

Top 10 Dramas:
Boston Legal
Damages
Dexter
Friday Night Lights
Grey's Anatomy
Mad Men
House
Lost
The Tudors
The Wire

Unlike my last rant, I will start with what I like to call "you better recognize these great, but underrated shows". First, Friday Night Lights. This show is amazing. As someone who doesn't like sports, it doesn't matter. For someone who does like sports, it might be a bit artsy for you. The acting is great, the writing is amazing, the film editing is ingenious. The viewership, is quite lackluster. For the ATAS to recognize this show is an example of how America doesn't watch good television, they watch shit, like Grey's Anatomy, but I will come to that later. I will hold on to you Friday Night Lights for as long as possible, just like I did with Firefly, Freaks and Geeks, and Veronica Mars.

Speaking of others shows that need to be given their worth, and ATAS is helping them out here: The Wire. Even if most people aren't even aware of its existence, you should be because it is a great show. The Tudors, another good choice ATAS. I do enjoy watching King Henry shag everyone in sight. Another thumbs up to you for Dexter. This show is finally being recognized for its great... uh everything. I was getting tired of worn out cop shows like CSI and Law and Order, but then Showtime gave us the other side; the serial killers side. I have been happy ever since. Finally Mad Men, I love this show and you should too.

I am, I guess you could say, ambivalent about the sudden obsession with law dramas. Boston Legal and Damages are very good shows. They entertain me... sometimes. Actually, I can't stand Denny Crane and anything with Glenn Close in it. But they are both better than The Practice and Ally McBeal (yea go cry about menopause with that stupid dancing baby).


Now to my rant about Grey's Anatomy. Why is this a great show. The first season was entertaining, the second season kept me intrigued, ever since the show has been terrible. Yes Katherine "I'm a Bitch" Heigel. I agree with you! This show has no right to be on this list. What was great about this season: nothing. Nothing has been great about this show for two years. Emmy's, stop holding on to this show. It is giving us nothing anymore. Seriously, how many times can Meridith and McDreamy get back together? Ross and Rachel blew that fuse 7 years ago.

Snubs: uh, Battlestar Galactica? Just because it is on SciFi doesn't mean it isn't a great show. The writing is amazing and the characters actually have depth, unlike McDreamy, McSteamy, McFlurry, Mc Griddle, and what ever effing nicknames they have on that show. Please recognize this show next year. It is all it has. Big Love also a snub. Breaking Bad was also a great show that the writers' strike effed over. Well at least Desperate Housewives is not on anything. God that show is annoying.

My Favorite Shows Currently On Air

10. Mad Men
I am excited for the premiere of the second season starting in July. This show was an unexpected suprise last summer and carriered on being a great show all the way to the season finale. Who doesn't love the great age of constant smoking and constant drinking of the 1960s. Yes women were only secretaries and men were total douche bag misogynists, but Mad Men doesn't shy from showing the viewer exactly what life was like in the advertizing world in 1960s. I was like a show that doesn't try to avoid political incorrectness.


9. No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain I love you. Who wouldn't love a bad ass chef who travels the world and has a great time doing it. I watch a lot of shows on the travel channel (I love you too Samantha Brown), but Anthony rocks them all with his carefree attitude and constant reckless adventures. New Season starting in two weeks and I can't wait.

8. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Pretty much Seinfeld in a bar and more funny. The episodic nature of the show is what pulls you in. You don't have to watch the entire season to know what is happening in each episode (but I would still recommend watching the entire season). The writers of this show, who are also the actors, don't shy away from any issue regardless of its taboo nature. It just finished up its third season with the addition of Danny Devito joining the acting cast.





7. Top Chef
As someone who can't cook this show makes me want to get up and go make something. As much as I would like to do that, I know that isn't going to happen, but we can wish. Each season is pretty much the same, but I still love it. Bravo and their professional job shows are great. I like reality television that has actual accomplished chefs competing and not the shitty ones that are on Hell's kitchen.

6. The L Word
Ahh, who doesn't love the L Word. Probably my guilty pleasure, but the show is great. It is Sex and the City with Lesbians (what could be better?). Going into its 6th and final season I will miss the girls of West Hollywood and their sex obsessed selves. Besides, we know we will all miss Shane. From beginning to end, I think I can only name one bad season ( erm ..4).



5. Friday Night Lights
This was one of the best shows to air for the 2006 Fall lineup but still people don't watch it. It is about football, but the show is excellently written and the direction is amazing. I don't think NBC knew how to market it and that was why the show never really got the audience it deserved. The show is on hiatus write now and will air in the fall on some obscure cable channel. Then NBC is going to try to air it on regular programming again in January.

4. Torchwood
Never had a show been so unbashful about homosexuality. Yes pretty much the entire cast has had a homosexual experience, but that isn't the focus of the show. Focuses on the Doctor Who organization Torchwood that investigates alien activity on Earth. The Characters have so much depth and the writing is great. Also any show that brings in James Marsters as a guest star (aka Spike from Buffy/Angel) has my vote. Also British television is so much more risque than American, and who doesn't love a Welsh accent.





3. Battlestar Galactica
Who ever though a Military Space Show would be so addicting. Just finishing the first half of its fourth season, the show just keeps you pulled in as Galactica trys to find the mysterious Earth. Every year the Academy of Television Arts ignores BSG for its top ten drama list, but it still have one of the biggest cult followings of modern science fiction. Now going into its second half of the fourth and final season, we will all be excited to see whats in store for the crew of Galactica. After its done, what the frack are we gonna do then?

2. Flight of the Conchords
After an amazing and hilarious first season, HBO scored it big for this eccentric comedy. About two guys from New Zealand who sing in a band, Flight of the Conchords has pleased fans and critics alike. With a second season starting soon, Flight of the Conchords is still flying high after last weeks Emmy top shows list came out with Flight of the Conchords suprisingly (and well deservedl) gitting a spot on the top ten comedies of the year list.





1. Doctor Who
The fourth season finale is on Saturday and with the major cliffhanger they left me with last week, it looks like it is going to be amazing. If you haven't seen this show you are either not british or not really into sci fi. Well too bad. Because you really don't have to be into either to enjoy it and get addicted like every other whoniverse follower. Space travel had never been so much fun since the introduction of the tenth doctor. He better not be regenerated after last week's cliffhanger!