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Hercules Picks The Ten Best Scripted Hourlongs of 2006!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
HAPPY 2007!! Finished this up while I was a teensy bit drunk. A lot of last-minute changes with the ranking. If the ranking offends, kindly ignore the ranking and arrange these in alphabetical order. I remind all that if your favorite show is not on any of these lists, it was almost certainly number 11 on one of mine. I also remind you not to defy me.
I am – Hercules!!
Scripted Hourlongs.
10 (tie). Brotherhood (Showtime) A drama from a writer named Blake Masters, it’s about two ambitious Rhode Island brothers – a gangster and a politician - and it’s the best series Showtime has ever transmitted to its tiny subscriber base. It offered many a patently evil character you couldn’t help but love. It was sexy and gory and violent. Every scene attending the first season was woefully compelling. Annabeth Gish got naked a lot, and Gish is someone who looks very VERY good in her nakedness.
10 (tie). Kidnapped (NBC) Mark mine words! Jason Smilovic, who masterminded “Karen Sisco” on ABC before he created “Kidnapped,” has a mammoth career ahead of him, and it's probably a career writing and directing for the big screen. There’s no reason the American public would embrace Jack Bauer without embracing the likes of Latimer King, Virgil Hayes and Mr. Knapp. It makes me mental that NBC walked away from “Kidnapped” so readily (but one still has to give the network loads of credit for posting the show’s unaired episodes free to the Internets). This will come to DVD and I implore you to purchase.
9. The OC (Fox) Creator Josh Schwartz is said to be more involved with season four. So are the critics and not a moment too soon. Chris Pratt was hilarious as the naked enviro-guitarist Che, I’ve always been down with Autumn Reeser’s Taylor Townsend, and the Dec. 7 episode about the Minicooper’s alterna-party was one of the series’ all-time best. I shall never get how America prefers “Desperate Housewives” to “The OC” as its 21st century primetime soap of choice. Are Bree and Edie really more entertaining than comic-book nerd Seth Cohen and his feisty fast-thinking girlfriend Summer Roberts?
8. Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) It was the year of Pegasus and New Caprica and our first look at the Cylon’s inner workings. Loved how Pegasus couldn’t hang onto a captain. Loved how we skipped over all the idyllic and Cylon-free months under President Baltar. Was all excited at the prospect of finally seeing what was going on within the Cylon empire, but have to admit that familiarity has robbed the robots of perhaps too much of their mystique and menace. Still, can’t wait to see what’s left of Starbuck on Planet Algae.
7. Lost (ABC) I miss pretty Shannon Rutherford. She was mean and hilarious. Hurley used to be a lot funnier, and I think I liked Locke better when I thought he was a sinister badass. And I hate when the flashbacks don't tell us anything about Dharma Island. But all my bitching won't take away from the greatness of Ben Linus, Mr. Eko’s Mighty Mighty Jesus Stick, Michael’s return to Swan Station, and the continued promise inherent in the question, “Who’s James Ford?” The third-season opener, featuring our introduction to – among many other things - Juliet, was a five-star installment, likely the best “Lost” since 2004’s jaw-dropping pilot.
6. The Sopranos (HBO) A series I enjoy more with each passing season. The first half of six, which began with a gun in hand of a terrified Uncle Junior, may be best remembered as the tale of Gay Vito and Johnnycakes. A “recovering” Christopher got married, stalked Ben Kingsley and mugged Lauren Hutton, Johnny Sack endured a public wedding meltdown, Carmella and Rosalie Aprile went to Paris and Tony lusted after Christopher’s girlfriend, beat up his own bodyguard and put a helmet through the windshield of A.J.’s auto. The final eight episodes of the season and the series arrive in March.
5. Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip (NBC) A hugely entertaining look at network television (if perhaps not yet quite as entertaining as we were expecting given its “West Wing”-y pedigree). Jordan McDeere remains another of Aaron Sorkin dream presidents; you want to put her in charge of a real network, plus all the cable channels. If it did not start as strongly as “Wing,” it’s been lately compensating for its missteps, and introducing great new characters like Mark McKinney’s haunted comedy writer. The Christmas episode – with the punching and the sore fist and the hearts laid bare and the “To Catch A Predator” parody - was a spectacular way to close out its first calendar year.
4. 24 (Fox) It’s virtually impossible to surprise an audience when you’re mounting a show famous for mounting surprises, but “24” pulled it off routinely in season five, sporting some of the most cunning misdirection in the history of televised entertainment. The fifth season, the first to garner the best-drama Emmy, was the series’ most consistently compelling and suspenseful to date, and built with violent grace on the four seasons that preceded. It introduced us to Martha Logan, Lynn McGill and Christopher Henderson. It brought back presidents Palmer & Logan, Kim Bauer, Aaron Pierce, Chloe O’Brien, Edgar Stiles, Tony Almeida, Michelle Dessler, Bill Buchanan, Audrey Raines, Mike Novick, Curtis Manning, Wayne Palmer and James Heller. Plus, Chloe had to fend off a horny drunk while trying to save the world via some random bar’s WiFi connection.
3. Heroes (NBC) So get this. Before creating “Heroes,” Tim Kring’s big claim to fame was creating “Crossing Jordan.” Apparently Kring wanted to make a more serialized show for a while now. Successful high-continuity series like “24” and “Lost” (co-created by fellow “Crossing Jordan” alumnus Damon Lindelof) presumably gave Kring the opportunity, and we are lucky viewers for it. Kring is a master plotter. Eleven episodes in, he may have already engineered with this complex sci-fi extravaganza the finest streak of episode-ending cliffhangers in the history of television. Add to the mix writer and comedy genius Bryan Fuller, creator of “Dead Like Me” and “Wonderfalls,” and you’ve got one of the most watchable franchises on American airwaves. Cheerleader Claire, who is only invulnerable on the outside, and her gay nerd buddy Zach turned out to be the most endearing couple on TV. Sylar turned out to be one of the scariest villains anywhere. Oh, and a little love please for “WarGames” director John Badham, who knocked it out of the park with the year’s final visit with Eden.
2. The Wire (HBO) A tale of the cops, criminals, politicians and (in the 2006 edition) educators living and working in Baltimore’s inner city. It boasts more than 50 major characters – everybody from kingmaker and state delegate Odell Watkins to University of Maryland sociology professor David Parenti to junior hitman Felicia “Snoop” Pearson to Wendt-esque porn-loving homicide sergeant Jay Landsman. Credit this series its aggressive embrace of continuity, and the quantity of quality storytelling it packs into 13 episodes each season; every episode feels like the network equivalent of season finale. Episodes carry a density many have found daunting, but make for highly satisfying multiple viewings.
“Our tickets are in there, stuck in the mirror. Above her suggestion box and tip jar.”
1. Veronica Mars (The CW)
Masterminded by novelist and "Cupid" creator Rob Thomas, “Veronica Mars” is the best TV show in production, and it's about a witty, big-brained teen who solves crime. Comedy, drama, action, adventure, romance, betrayal, intrigue and class-struggle tied up in tidy, easy-to-adore package. Loved this series in its first season when it trafficked in mostly stand-alone installments; love it way more now that the plotlines that run between episodes are tightly woven together into a massively intricate whole.
The shock-happy second-season finale was a five-star affair, elegantly, excitingly and satisfyingly wrapping up every complex plotline of the second season, and - as a completely unexpected bonus - even a couple major ones from season one.
And the third season is shaping up to be the series’ best yet. Veronica’s efforts to track down a campus serial rapist has amusingly earned her the emnity of both the loutish residents of fraternity row and the shrewish Hearst College feminists. Keith boned the married. Sleazy P.I. Vinnie Van Lowe proved a hero. We saw Fitzpatrick-on-Fitzpatrick violence. And season three’s first-arc finale, memorably punctuated by a 7-year-old Fatboy Slim single, was by turns thrilling, harrowing, and laugh-out-loud funny.
Ratings are up and the CW has increased its third-season episode order to 20, 11 of which air in 2007.
Scripted Half-Hours.
10. The Loop (Fox)
9. 30 Rock (NBC)
8. Arrested Development(Fox)
7. Weeds (Showtime)
6. King of the Hill (Fox)
5. Entourage (HBO)
4. Wonder Showzen (MTV2)
3. The Office (NBC)
2. The Venture Bros. (Cartoon Network)
1. South Park (Comedy Central)
Reality Shows.
10. WifeSwap (ABC)
9. Can’t Get A Date (VH1)
8. Celebrity Poker Showdown (Bravo)
7. The Amazing Race (CBS)
6. The Real World (MTV)
5. Shipwrecked (BBC America)
4. My Life On the D-List (Bravo)
3. Survivor (CBS)
2. Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV)
1. Big Brother All-Stars (CBS)
Chat Shows.
10. Iconoclasts (Sundance)
9. Sit Down Comedy With David Steinberg (TV Land)
8. The Charlie Rose Show (PBS)
7. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson
6. Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
5. The Late Show With David Letterman (CBS)
4. Late Night With Conan O’Brien (NBC)
3. The Colbert Report (Comed Central)
2. The Daily Show With John Stewart (Comedy Central)
1. The Howard Stern Show (On Demand)
Whedon-y Goodness Under $20!!!!
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So when does the new 14-yr old girl take over for you? Or does that happen at the Equinox?
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But, when was that last season of "The Shield"? That was fucking amazing. And when does "The Shield" start up again?
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Not bad... for an emaciated demi-God.
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My year-long shift begins now.
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Wow, who knew?
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I remember El Cosmico. Nice dude, but Herc 1 built Coax to its prominence.
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...end of story.
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Must have missed hour 25 with all the zombie action.
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Jan 01, 2007 12:45:21 AM CST
The Shield was pure magnificence. Totally screwed over.
by the wrong guy
Then again, Herc's always hated The Shield, because he sucks. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is also lacking, but he hasn't seen it so I'll forgive him that.
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WE SNORT OVERSEAS!!! WE SNORT OVERSEAS!!! WE SNORT OVERSEAS!!! WE SNORT OVERSEAS!!! WE SNORT OVERSEAS!!!Hopefully, that won't be the case this year.
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No love for Scrubs on the half hour list?
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Brotherhood wasn't all that, it was a solid show, but without the absolutely showstopping central performance of Jason Isaacs (who deserved an emmy nod at least for his performance here) and Gish being naked a couple times in the first few episodes, and a damn fine performance by the guy who plays Isaac's best (and only) friend (whose name sadly escapes me right now), it was pretty standard by the numbers stuff. That said, still one of the better new shows for the season regardless, and a hell of a lot better than The Sopranos was this year.I mean seriously, Sopranos had easily it's worst and most useless and pointlessly drawn out plot lacking season ever. It's a season where almost nothing of any consequence happened, and it happened very, VERY slowly, while half the cast phoned in their performances while seemingly making other plans. I know, let's watch Carmela wander around Paris for fourty fucking minutes looking wistful for no particular reason or plot or character advancing purpose whatsoever. Huge disappointment, especially after waiting so long for this new season.Veronica Mars I've never seen, so can't judge, but the OC is utter trendy pretty people soap opera crap of the worst kind. Kidnapped I enjoyed, one of the better 24 clones that have popped up, damn shame it didn't get a chance to at least air out it's whole season, it deserved that much at least. Still wouldn't rate it top ten material though. Studio 60 I really quite enjoy, but that wouldn't quite make a top ten list for me either, despite being one of my fave new shows of the season. Ditto for Heroes and the unjustly fucked over Day Break.Just off the top of my head, and in no particular order, my own top ten of the year just past would be something like: Deadwood, 24, Lost, Rescue Me, The Shield, The Wire, Dexter, Battlestar Galactica, The Unit and House. Entourage, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Doctor Who, Prison Break, South Park, Hustle, Extras, Nip/Tuck and Stargate meanwhile all remained fun (if not exactly deep or remarkable) popcorn entertainments as well for me. What? No one care what I think? Nah, me either.
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Which I would have replaced with "House." Also, 24 is one of the biggest piece of shit shows on television - mostly for it's frequent use the Deus Ex Machina to move the plot forward... and yet, I continue watch. Religiously. Seriously though, if I had turned that junk in to one of my scriptwriting classes I'd have been set a corner and decorated with a pointy cardboard hat.
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The premiere I thought was a little blah, but Ge-AWD DAMN! It's really shaping up to be one of th best seasons EVER! that near-figh between Davis and Tyrie? Jenn flipping out? And most importantly, one of, if not THE funniest moments in Real World history, Brooke breaking down after he "ghetto" experience. I wasn't ROTFL, but I was LMFAO.
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And "The OC"... because soaps - even primetime soaps, piss me the fuck off. I live right smack in the middle of Orange County and fuck me if the people or places look anything like they portray in that show. So cut "The OC" replace "Kidnapped" with "House", and you have the perfect list.
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And if so, why ain't it on your list because it's better than at least half of those listed. 11 ain't good enough for Paul Sr.Oh, and FOR THE LOVE OF CLAIRE BENNET'S REGENERATING HYMEN where's Dog The Bounty Hunter?
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Why no "Deadwood"? McRaney was brilliant, and the story line this season was fantastic. "Rescue Me"? "Nip/Tuck" was better than last season. C'mon Herc, you can't tell me "The Sopranos" was better than "Entourage", "Deadwood" or "Rescue Me". C'mon.
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Lame as all hell not to have the best tv show of all time not included.
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Deadwood should be #1, followed immediately by Battlestar Galactica at #2. The third season of Deadwood ties with the second season of MillenniuM for the finest season of television I've ever seen. Stunning stuff. Every script was perfect, every performance amazing -- from big guns McShane as Swearengen and McRaney as Hearst to the little folk, like Harney as Steve, Gant as Hostetler and Cleo King as Aunt Lou. BSG crafted two of the finest and boldest episodes of TV of the new millennium this year -- "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II" and "Exodus Part II." The death scene in the second installment of "Exodus" made me weep like a little child with a skinned knee...and syphillis. And any half-hour list that doesn't include the final nine episodes of Justice League Unlimited is not worth the bandwith it takes up. Everything -- from Lex's brain-switch with Wally West to the return of Darkseid to the surprisingly heroic sacrifice in the finale (I guess Captain Marvel was right all along?) -- was amazing. The three best shows on TV this year, easy.
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Heroes should have been #1. It was the best show of the year. And Lost wasn't deserving of a slot on there- absolutely nothing happened in those six episodes! Luckily Heroes has corrected Lost's mistakes and at the end of the first episode we saw the subject of the presumed season finale.
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Scrubs should have had a stron slot of the half hour slot. I agree with you ObieWanBrodie. And 30 Rock should have been higher.
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Seriously, the hype this show receives, for a show that's viewed by as many people who watch Robot Chicken is beyond me. I do agree about the confounding taste of the American viewing public. Who would pick 4 ditzy bitches over the awesomeness that has been and has returned to being...the OC. Nevertheless, always an interesting list each year Herc, and much dap to you for giving some love to the Venture Brothers. Easily one of the finest shows on TV.
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It may be an entertaining show, but it's due to the concept, not the writting, but I suppose it's debateable. Obviously glad to see Arrested Development on there, I was rewatching the show today and just remembered how fucking perfect and rewarding it was.
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As Rob Thomas has stated there will be no third mystery this season, and ALL of season 4 will be standalones. This will honestly kill the show. The show IS good because of the payoffs, and connections, and foreshadowing, and if this turns into Alias season 4, I'm going to be so pissed, because I LOVE this show, and I'm starting to even hope it doesn't get another season, so I won't see it get shitty. I hope Thomas listens to the fans, and scraps this idea. Turning one huge mystery into 3 is fine, but removing any big mystery at all for ratings is going too far.
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Although Dexter is one of my absolute faves this year I agree with most of that list - although I haven't really watched The Wire as it is shown after midnight in Aus.
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Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire. Wire.
Seriously, you've waited this long. -
= a big sigh from me, Herc. never seen Veronica Mars, but I like the rest of your big list.leaving off Scrubs is unconscionable...honestly...big big sigh...
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And would have placed Battlestar Galactica way higher (like #2), and at least higher than LOST. Glad to see Heroes on there, and VM is fine as the number one spot.
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House should have made the list. And "South Park," while still earning a chuckle here and there, is a lesser show when compared to 'Venture. Especially when you consider the recent outings compared to glories of South Parks past.
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It's like a Zucker bros. comedy without timing or engaging performances- or jokes for that matter. And Zach Braff is an iritating emo douchebag. His cult is an absolute mystery to me. And does no one watch Top Chef? Both seasons have been riveting portraits of clashing egos aflame. You can't watch that show on an empty stomach, the food looks so good. Maybe it's because most geeks rarely cook anything more advanced than Hot Pockets. It took me years to get out of that rut myself.
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zucker bros. comedies never have any touching moments, which scrubs does. although since you implied that Zuckers also get "engaging performances", I guess you were probably joking. I love a good Zucker Bros. flick, but come on, it's nothing alike.and liking scrubs doesn't have to mean you think Braff is the second coming of Kaufman. he fits the part and the writing fine. my guess is that most of the people that hate on scrubs haven't really seen a lot of the episodes,especially the first few seasons. it's truly very funny stuff. the problem is, most people waste their time watching producers pit morons against each other on reality TV shows. oh wait, but Top Chef is really much better than the rest (rolls eyes)...plus, I gotta laugh when talkbackers on here go out of their way to paint themselves in a good light...you all eat hot pockets! er...I don't do that anymore! you're all virgins....er, I had some sex last night so clearly I am not one of you! even as I am engaged in a talkback about the silver surfers eyes, etc. etc.old news, playahatersball...kiddie stuff. coupled with the use of "emo" as a huge insult (when most people I know over the age of 24 barely know what the fuck that even means) put you in the doofus category. don't worry though. I think they serve hot pockets there...
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If it was my list, I'd remove the OC and Studio 60 and slot in a couple FX shows -- the Shield and Rescue Me. I'd also add It's Always Sunny... to the half-hour list. They re-ran a batch last night, including the hilarious abortion rally episode which guested the chick on the OC. Lastly, I'd rather see Veronica Mars cancelled at the end of S3 rather than continue as a product of continued network-meddling for S4.
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Easily one of the best in 2006. I can't believe it hasn't been covered more on this site.
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I never said it before, but...fuck you, Herc!
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I would have
1. The Wire
2. Veronica Mars
3. Battlestar galactica
4. Deadwood
5. Dexter
6. The Unit
7. The Boondocks
8. It Always Sunny.....
9. Bones
10. Brotherhood
These were my favourite 10 shows last year. I think VM really hit a stride and should be mnadatory viewing for everyone. Lost has become dreadful and has replaced character development, storylines and atmosphere with stupid gimmicks, lame mysteries and non-sensical flashbacks. The writers have totally lost the plot and I have stopped watching all together. The sopranos had a very bad season....nothing much happening (how dare HBO cancel the brilliant Deadwood, Six Feet Under and Carnivale for The Sopranos and Big Love). South Park has become a parody of itself and become far less interesting and just a soapbox. Deseprate Housewives was only great for 1 season and has been awful since. 24 is fun and enjoyable, but instantly forgetable.
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Mm-hmm. Aren't "storylines" and "gimmicks" just words people throw around to sound clever? Howsabout you own up to being personally dissatisfied with the lack of answers you're receiving and stop trying to rationalize it with a bunch of vague buzzwords?
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It's a unrealistic, winking at itself, underrealized teen afterschool special. It pales in the subtlety of what Buffy was. Face it. It's not a good show. It's a show you wish so hard to be good that you ignore the fact that it's just not.
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that pic of Mary Tyler Moore is hot! I never realized she was so...so...shu-wahka!
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24? OC? Studio 60? Please Deadwood and Nip/Tuck were far better than those.
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The Mrs. and I adore Heroes as the absolute, no doubt, completely locked #1. Not since Twin Peaks fever have we been so completely tweaking between eps of a television show. Past that, we dive right off the trends with Herc's list and the feedbacks so far. Criminal Minds remains an extremely well scripted ensemble piece that did what so few series do: instead of a sophmore curse, they fix everything wrong in the first season. Supernatural has issues (less gore, a lack of the classic rock that permeated season one and set the tone of the show) but still remains a helluva good ride week in and week out. Eureka proved to be an insanely smart and well-written sci-fi series with a basis in everything from slapstick comedy to high drama. Psych was eventually honed into one of the funniest shows on television. We'd almost written off the original CSI, due in no small amount to the icky Sidle/Grissom pairing, but then the show pulled us back in with a riveting serial killer arc (the 'miniature killer') that ended in a very non-Bruckheimer non-TV non-CSI kind of way. In short? I couldn't care less about the completely accurately named 'Lost' or the OC, or any of this other drivel, so I guess that makes me a nerd amongst nerds.
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1. The Wire
2. The Shield
3. Nip/Tuck
4. The Sopranos
5. Huff
6. Dexter
7. Deadwood
8. CSI:Crime Scene Investigation
9. Heroes
10.Criminal Minds -
I agree pretty much with Herc's list. I believe that 'Veronica Mars" is one of the best in production. I think "The Sopranos" had a stronger than expected season. Though for the life of me, I can't understand why some love "Studio 60...." Where is the writing? Acting? Isn't this essentially "The West Wing" on a stage?
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Good choices Herc, especially on Veronica Mars. Even is no-one is watching these days it's still one of the best things on TV.
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Best show ever, period. though i do agree with most of the shows you've picked that i've actually seen.
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That was the best series of 2006. Forest Whitaker was robbed of an Emmy. Not even mentioning the Shield on one of the 10 positions is a big joke.
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Don't defy you, indeed. The last time I disagreed with you, you deleted my comment. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you, so I guess we will just have to get used to each other. Oh and by the way, SNL sucks.
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Over Letterman, Stewart, Colbert and O'Brien? The question remaining is what KIND of retard are you?
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shield definitely deserves to be in the top half of that list and the OnDemand function on his cable box just gives Herc an opportunity to squeeze Howard Stern into his side of the website again. Next to Stallone I don't think anyone gets more press on this site than when Howard Stern does something, usually having nothing to do with television.
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The Countess frpm the classic Jim Carrey vehicle "Once Bitten" was robbed by Christopah? And I thought it was Lauren Bacall.
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1. the wire, 2. the office, 3. deadwood, 4. the sopranos, 5. the shield, 6. heroes, 7. entourage, 8. 30 rock, 9. weeds, 10. battlestar galactica
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Since when have Entourage, The Office, Weeds, and 30 Rock been an hour.
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the series started to suck during Season 2. Let's all admit it. Plus season 4 was a total washout as well, and featured a complete waste of Glen Close's talent. Seasons 1,3,5 were great, and I hope that perhaps Herc will check out the latest season whenever it comes out on DVD. It was the most intense 13 hours of TV in a while.
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that said, it is still very watchable. but i can't believe the number of geeks in here who are bemoaning the lack of plot movement on "lost" and then, in the same breath, praising "heroes" as the best show on television. almost nothing has happened on that show in its first half-season. we've basically been introduced to a bunch of characters, each with their own special powers. beyond that, nothing of consequence has happened. now, if the people behind the show would allow the introductions to end and the actual plot to move along, it might be top-10 worthy. and not that anyone cares, but here is my top 10 for 2006: 10) kidnapped, 9) the office, 8) the sopranos, 7) big love, 6) south park, 5) house, 4)the shield, 3) 24, 2)lost, 1) deadwood. narrowly missing the list are "nip/tuck," "heroes," "the first 48," "justice" and "prison break."
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Obviously you're not watching the show to make a comment like that. Not only has the plot moved forward with the saving of the cheerleader and the capture of Sylar, but TeaserTrailerMan (aka Isaac) has already shown us exploding people and dinosaurs! If Heroes was Lost, Hiro and Ando would be in Tokyo airport, waiting for to check their luggage for the flight over to the US...and they'd be landing in the US five episodes from now.
Ok, I have no idea if that last analogy is valid because I don't watch Lost, I created it based on others' complaints. Was it valid? -
Easily this season's best show
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Shouldn't be in the top ten, much less at the top. Has-been.
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I agree with you, and its nice to see the love for such a chronically underappreciated show. Even the less than stellar third season had its merits. I have found it pretty much a must watch this season.
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Who can watch that shite ? You know something is wrong with this world when shite like that is popular.
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Nice friendly post. Happy New Year to you too. You're the man dude. You got me. The ironic thing is its not that popular. Read Herc's post. And please find a way to use the word "shite" one more time in your next post it makes you sound really cool.
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"the oc" ISN'T popular, so you can rest assured this world isn't as wrong as you think. also, the show's first season was pretty good. everything since has been progressively worse. on numerous occasions, the girlfriend and i have agreed to stop watching the dreck, but we're stupid and watch it anyway.
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Best TV for years - and there's been some *fantastic* TV these past few years. Really, really awesome show.
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sorry, but if a list that claims to be "The Ten Best Scripted Hourlongs of 2006" and doesnt contain dexter, this list is truely falsified.
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Glad to Venture Bros. so high on the list, but come on, we all know it's #1.
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Dexter and the apocolypse Waltins show - Jericho? But the Venture Brothers and Galactica make life worth living.
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For this "news" to exist, that's all.[p]
Write a few obvious general favorite shows, mix with some personal choices, skip some sounded ones... all for the sake of once again mentioning a series (no matter how "charming, witty and fun" it was) that was cancelled not just because, it died because it's sponsors were losing hundreds of thounsands of dollars from the lack of interest and wanted out and fast.[p]
Last chance was DVD sales, but that, didn't went well enough for a revival...and even so, as an actor, I wouldn't hold up for this to make a comeback, you know, having to eat and stuff. -
Bollocks. Dexter, bland?? It's the most taut, most beautifully crafted show for ages. And if you think Heroes has bad writing, you're really just not getting the joke.
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It's the slowest-moving thing EVER, but they haven't even begun to show their hand. Tho' it wouldn't surprise me if it DID turn out to be crap. Studio 60 started poor, but it's gotten better, and the actors are great; they'll carry it a long way.
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Kidnapped over Dexter AND Rescue Me??? This is the gayest list I've ever seen. The Sopranos SUCKED this year. Probably the worst season yet. Lost blows now too. And The OC? Cmon...did anyone here see that absolutely lame christmas episode? That show is a joke now.
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Probably my two favorite shows right now (though House has lost something lately). I also really dig Boston Legal and Medium, two great shows no one has mentioned.
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...kind of sucked this year, last year was way better, nice snub of Leno though heheh. Also Byran Fuller rules, i want more wonderfalls.
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The dialogue alone puts Deadwood on any "Best Scripted" list. ... And The Sopranos was great in Season 1 and it has been sliding slowly downhill ever since. Far, far, FAR too many plot threads that have nothing to do with Tony's emotional stability have polluted the series.
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Herc, while I don't like DH, you fail to realize the extreme hatred many have of shows starring whiny, beautiful, rich teenagers and their problems. As I grow older my dislike of the typical generic teenager continues to grow. Which is why I can't watch Friday Night Lights... As for The Wire it deserves all of its hype and should get more. Maybe someone may not care for the subject, but the depth, detail and heartbreaking realism of the show makes it one of the best things ever seen on television. Though the more casual a viewer you want to be, the less you'll like the show.
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Reality shows of any quality are the bane of our popular culture. Most of VH1's lineup should be considering crimes against humanity.
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Don't call it that.
Not listing Scrubs is par for the course with how that show is treated. It's like most critics/NBC Execs/whomever forget that it's still even on. A completely underrated show. -
I honestly believe more people would like this show if they didn't know Sorkin wrote it. If people had no idea that the guy who wrote it also did the West Wing, I bet a lot more people would find it easier to tone down the hyperbole about how bad they think it is. It's not his fault his last endeavor was so wildly popular and that expectations were probably blown off the roof by NBCs promo monkeys. I will say this: Even though I've been a fan since episode 1, those who only watched a few episodes before deciding for eternity that it was a bad show should give it another whirl; Herc is right, the last few episodes have been much better than the beginning few.
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Much love to those mentioning Deadwood and Scrubs as being underrated. Much as I love Sorkin-dialogue, the repartee of Deadwood's residents is better, if only for the constant cussing...
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Flames on Jack Bauer Power Hour = Nipples on Wire.
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Really, truly, the finest season of television this year. If the show has to ride off into the sunset, what a way to go out. Also, props to THE SHIELD, especially Whitaker's amazing work. But otherwise, a decent list, Herc.
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24 is cool, but it wasn't the "best season evar". they just killed a bunch of character in shocking ways, that's all. But the entire plot regarding the president was horrible, full of exposition and boring. At least they could have put a bunch of 'aids' around the guy, so he wouldn't have to do all overacting himself.
And Dexter was awesome. -
Way to display a distrubing lack of taste with your impassioned defense of hot pockets and Scrubs. Way to be a champion of the middle brow. And Top Chef is a better reality show than most, as it is a test of an actual skill (cooking, which if your lack of taste is any indication, is a skill you haven't even attempted) whereas most reality shows have people competing in summer camp team-building exercises or horse penis eating contests, which is what makes it better than a gulty pleasure like Beauty and the Geek or trash like Survivor. Maybe you have to be a professional chef/cook to apreciate, but don't lump it in with the other crap you seem to have mistaken it for. Oh, and my point about scrubs is that it isn't funny. At all. everytime I try watching it, stoned or sober, I haven't found myself cracking so much as a smile. The humor is utterly juvenile, and the medical "drama" stuff is crap. My wife the doctor will watch almost anything on TV relating to hospitals- save for the timewasting crap which is Scrubs & Grays Anatomy. Oh yeah, I'm 27, the emo "movement" started when I was in junior high (Sunny Day real Estate, Weezer) and if Zack Braff isn't the fucking mainstream posterboy for sustained adolescense and male pussification (read: emo) then how the fuck do you explain his two feature films he wrote & directed? To quote Defoe, your taste is in your ass.
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I think that people shouldn't judge Scrubs from what they see on TV this season, and bits of last season. The first threee seasons were spectacular, honestly some of the best stuff on TV. It has gone downhill in the last two seasons, but it is still some of the best stuff on TV. And half of the humor on currently comes from knowning the characters.
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I'll take the darkknight's word and give scrubs another chance when I can. I'm going into this new year attempting to keep my instigation to a minimum. Maybe i'll kick back with a cool Coors 16 ouncer and a value box of Hot Pockets, badMrWonka is invited to my house to join me.
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Without it, it just looks bad on your part Herc. And shut the fuck up about that first episode when Mackey beats the guy in the interrogation room. Aceveda WANTED Mackey to to it, thus, that tape would never see the light of day, and is not, a plot hole.
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just didn't like the use of them to distance yourself from fellow talkbackers out of the blue.
I've watched top chef a few times at the behest of women, and yes, the food looks good, as does almost all food on TV, but beond the fact that it's food, and not other challenges, it's the same as the rest, in my opinion. the people are fatter and uglier (fine by me) but other than that, it's bickering, egos, and producer-designed personality conflicts ala, top model, real world, survivor, bachelor, etc, etc, etc, etc,as for Scrubs, I have every episode on my computer, and I watch them often. I like the humor, the hospital stuff is fairly glazed over, I'll admit, but it's not really about that too often. when it is, it's more about using that particular profession to make statements about 20somethings and their relationships, careers, etc. I like it, I think it's funny, and occassionaly, very touching. if you can, somehow, watch Season 3, Episode 14, "My Screwup". it's probably the best written and most touching of all of them. not sure how funny you'll find it without a pretty good knowledge of the characters. but it's well done, and the ending (even with "emo" music) is pretty damn good.segue to the emo discussion! admittedly I Was out of the country for a while, but I'm 27, and I had never heard the term "emo" until I started teaching a class last year that had some high schoolers in it. I didn't know it was a musical term until they explained it to me, I only heard them use it in a bejorative way to describe someone with a certain style. maybe it's regional and didn't make it my way (Seattle) til after I was gone.at any rate, sorry for being pissy, I just really love Scrubs, and though I don't really care one way or another about Braff, I liked garden state alright. haven't seen the other one, since it involved paul haggis, I'll DL it for free at some point.at least we can agree that Coors is awesome. -
Sure it's 'high concept' as all get out but Jason Lee is the fucking man, Ethan is hilarious and Jaime Pressly is the tits. Come on, really.
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because aparently, Jason Lee is a scientologist- or so I heard. Might not be true. I was joking about the Coors, I haven't drank that since i was twelve, but the gesture of goodwill stands- let's ALL jump aboard the silver bullet.
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Yes! Thank you! "Veronica Mars" was the best scripted show of 2006 hands down. Don't worry about the dissenters. They obviously don't watch the show or they would see for themselves how awesome it is. You rock!
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I don't really like Coors at all! I like Corona, or Jack Daniels...can't drink anything at the moment for some health reasons, which was AWESOME (read: horrible) for new years...anyway, god, jason lee is a scientologist? no wonder he got giovanni ribisi to guest star, he's a wacko scientologist as well. as is his sister, who's married to beck, who is as well. it's a goddamn nutty conspiracy. how can a cult this big not get more shit for abusing their power all over the place. Crash for best movie, anyone? FUCK HAGGIS!!!
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Missing:
Rescue Me
Dexter
It's Always Sunny in Philly
Greys Anatomy
Scrubs
Earl
Lucky Louie(Fuck anyone who denies it) -
is the hottest b*tch on TV. I keep hearing everyone talk about that fucking cheerleader, but lets face it, she has nothing on Ms. Larter.
And Veronica Mars has been really mixed this season. I'm not arguing it's top 10 placing, it just doesn't deserve #1. -
Sure Beck's kooky enough and I wouldn't put it past Ribisi but there's just something wrong with the mental picture of a skateboarding superdude being a scientologist with no irony or sarcasm attached. Damn you Tom Cruise!
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He's still a cool actor and I still love that show. Leni Reifenstahl was still a great photographer and Lou Reed is a nasty old fuckwit but the songs are still good. Know what I mean? Earl's not suddenly crap in my little book.
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Crown Lager for me.
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i mean, how does one pick 24 over Heroes, or vice versa? however, my personal top 5 for this past year...
1. The Wire (best show of all time)
2. Heroes (most intriguing new show in ages, and i'm putting that above Lost)
3. Veronica Mars (i was late to the bandwagon, but it's great noir with the most clever writing on tv)
4. 24 (the 5th season was good, but a bit more far fetched than usual...which is saying alot)
5. Lost (the series is spiraling downhill, yet i can't stop watching...the intrigue runs too deep)
honorable mention: Deadwood (Swearangen + Bullock + Hearst + Starr = gold), Supernatural (Buffy-type genre + fantastic classic rock soundtrack = gold)
as for sitcoms, NBC has the monopoly. the four best sitcoms currently airing are all on NBC thursday night. in order, i'd rank them 1. Office, 2. Scrubs, 3. 30 Rock, 4. My Name is Earl...well, that is if you don't count Entourage, which for me is battling The Office for the funniest 30 minutes on television. -
1-10: The first 10 episodes of BSG season 3. Boo to this list.
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best show of the year easily. Brilliantly written. Should have made the list, but hey, it's just one person's opinion... although I really don't get why veronica mars is there. Anyway. Dexter has second season ordered for end of 2007! hurrah. wish I didn't have to wait that long!
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I'd finish off the list with Prison Break and Smallville though... both have been stellar this and last seasons.
Scrubs a glaring comedic absense. -
1) Heroes
2) The Shield
3) Criminal Minds
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If you don't think so, you've obviously never seen his On-Demand show. Richard Christy getting Man Waxed is the 2006 equivalent of Letterman in an Alka-Seltzer suit being dipped into water.
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BSG belongs on the top of that freakin' list. No question. I love Veronica Mars, but the show has weakened. I thought that the 2nd season finale that Herc praises so much was a total mess, completely out of left field and almost killed the show for me. We're supposed to suddenly believe Beaver is a self-hating, gay mass murderer and rapist? Come ON. The third season has had moments of brilliance, but I am leary of this no story arc decision. It could either ruin or save the show. We'll see. Rescue Me definitely belongs on that list. Although I will agree with the praise for Kidnapped. I finished watching the eps online and I was very satisfied with the way the story was resolved, even though it was cut short. I didn't see the twist coming until just before it was revealed. That was a great drama with interesting characters, nice atmosphere and a tightly structured, almost Mametesque plot. Absolutely everything, from episode 1 on, was paid off. Something you can't say for most serialized shows these days. I do hope it has life on DVD, because I feel it like it will really shine in that format.
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I agree that the first few seasons of Scrubs are some the best half hours ever put on television (2nd only to Sports Night). Funny, emotional, amazing character work, some sheer brilliance. I haven't seen the recent seasons, but if you doubt, rent the damn dvds. You won't be sorry.
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How is this on the list while The Shield, Dexter, and Deadwood (never seen it, but I've heard nothing but good things) aren't there? Plus, The Wire should have been #1.
Also I keep hearing that Sopranos was craptacular last season. -
Usually I more or less agree with you, but I can't for the life of me figure out why one of the top three reality series of this last year was left off your reality list. Where's the love for "Who Wants to be a Superhero?" Excelsior!
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amen
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24, Battlestar Galactica, Big Love, Deadwood, Dexter, Entourage, Gilmore Girls, Lost, Rescue Me, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, The O.C., The Shield, The Sopranos, The Wire, Veronica Mars
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That's all.
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Wow, has the show gotten that bad? I only started watching this year because of the conviently placed time slot before VM but Herc always had nice things to say about the show and I have been lurking since Buffy wild feeds. Makes me sad for Herc-y if its fallen that far.... -
This WAS the best show but network tinkering and the Aerie girls have turned it to crap faster than you can say Buffy Season 6. Veronica has turned into a shrill and annoying version of herself and the plot holes are large enough to drive an MTV Entertainment Tonight host through.
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"Mm-hmm. Aren't "storylines" and "gimmicks" just words people throw around to sound clever?"
Not when it actually describes the show....the lack of answers is not the problem, it's the abundance of pointless flashbacks and stupid mysteries that's the real problem. I really don't see Lost having a dignified end and rather just finishing on a whimper when everyone gets sick of it. -
One is a gritty and thrilling action-packed drama about terrorism and the responsibility of government with incredible cliffhangers, full of badasses. The other is an action fantasy, about a world that superficially looks like ours but is quickly revealed to be almost unrelated, and the people that inhabit it, fighting an enemy that is as often as not revealed to be themselves. Can you guess which one is Battlestar Galactica, and which one is 24? Interesting, isn't it? And yet, one gets ten times the viewers of the other...
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