Okay, I am not a big TV fan, because lets face it, most TV is trash. I could care less about CSI:Hoboken, Hospital Drama 403, or any of the truly rotten reality/competition shows. I will not waste a lot of time directly attacking any lame shows but anyone with a room temp IQ thought American Idol was interesting but lame the first season, and it completely fell apart after that. The only way Survivor is going to start to be interesting is if they truly make it the last Survivor winning, and all other rules off. Three different CSI shows is a sign of bad television not good television. The fact that Dancing with the Stars is actually shown on anything other than direct to home video proves any point I could make about bad television.
I want people to stop paying attention to what is in the top ten and start looking at good television, but first let me start that the brain candy provided by Discovery and BBC4 is probably the single best bet for quality television. But Discovery waters down its broadcasts, and is guilty of the constant reiteration after every commercial that makes shows on channels like TLC unwatchable.
Here is my Top Seven in no particular order:
BattleStar Galactica– No this is not the BattleStar of the 70's this is a fast paced, excellent show with great dialog, actual character development, and they manage to make you actually CARE about what is going on. Strong female characters that are usually rare on television really add to the value and each actor seems to be very well chosen. I would highly recommend getting the Season 1 DVD and planning a BSG fest! Katee Sackhoff made me enjoy the idea of a female Starbuck ( yes I admit as a kid I was a BSG junkie, but having recently rewatched it, I find it was tripe by comparison) Edward James Olmos could probably carry the series by himself, but the lovely and versatile Tricia Helfer is not to be missed.
Col. Saul Tigh: This is a military vessel, we have rumors for every occasion.
Desperate Housewives– Okay, this show is popular and I waited until the second season to try it, but I was really impressed. I really think Teri Hatcher is painfully overrated, but the rest of the cast makes up for her lack. Marcia Cross is a wonderful actress and bloody well gorgeous to boot, Eva Longoria is believable and certainly easy on the eyes. Ricardo Chavira as Carlos really makes me enjoy each scene he appears in and I love the interaction Between Ricardo and Eva.
Bree Van De Kamp: Reverend, I don't mean to criticize, but it sounds like you're giving up.
Reverend Sikes: Well, we can't force him on the path of righteousness. He himself has got to want to make the journey.
Bree Van De Kamp: Well, then, what do we do, just stand by while he starts dating boys?
[to Andrew]
Bree Van De Kamp: And by the way, the correct word is not “gay.” It's “sodomy.”
Rex Van De Kamp: We're in the middle of dinner.
Bree Van De Kamp: So?
Rex Van De Kamp: So, can you at least wait until desert before calling our son a sodomite?
Bree Van De Kamp: How you can sit there and be so casual is beyond me.
Rex Van De Kamp: For starters, I knew this dinner was a bad idea the moment you suggested it.
Bree Van De Kamp: Well, at least I'm trying to be pro-active!
Reverend Sikes: Please, there's no need to get upset.
Bree Van De Kamp: I am upset because there is a problem here and no-one seems to notice it but me.
Rex Van De Kamp: As far as I'm concerned, if Andrew is happy with who he is, then it is our job to support him!
[brief silence]
Bree Van De Kamp: [to Andrew] Your father is into S&M.
Rex Van De Kamp: Bree!
Bree Van De Kamp: He makes me beat him with a riding crop and I let him. It's no wonder you're perverted. Look who your parents are.
[Bree gets up and leaves]
Rex Van De Kamp: Excuse me.
[Rex leaves too]
Andrew Van De Kamp: [to Reverend Sikes] What a fun night. You know, we should really do this again sometime.
The L Word– I am a hetero 6'3 250lb adult male, in a lifelong marriage to a gorgeous woman, and this show is a perfect example of why TV does not have to be poorly written. If your mind is open enough, you will enjoy this show. Amazing acting, fun, silly and sometimes serious writing makes you empathic for the characters, and it all seems very well thought though. I will admit that if they entirely eliminated all the angsty-overdone-semigoth-semiemo stuff with Mia Kirshner the show would double in quality. But the actresses on this show other than her are almost universally believable. Of course I realize lots of straight people, or people being controlled by their local deacon may have a problem with this show, but the first is ignorance and the second is the same. Those people have CSI 1,2 and 3 to watch. I will admit to having a geek crush on Sarah Shahi as a honest disclosure.
Alice: Some of us have it worst, Dana, you know. Some of us are dating lesbian men.
SmallVille– Okay first let me say that this show has jumped the shark, but the camera work, the attention to set details, the overall good feeling of the show remains. I would recommend getting the DVD's and starting from the beginning. Tom Welling makes a great young Superman and him not being in the movie is why I predict the Superman flick will tank. The show has some very silly moments, some tear jerking moments and overall is worth the time spent on watching. John Glover plays the most magnificent bastard I have ever seen on television. The show has tons of eye candy, and I will admit that Erica Durance makes a Lois that I could fall for if I was Superman.
Chloe: Can you fly?
Clark: I'm an alien, not a cartoon.
My Name Is Earl– Jason Lee is “Teh Funny”. This show is what a half hour comedy SHOULD be, simple fun, light and occasionally thought provoking. The gorgeous Jaime Pressly is enough of an actress that the second she moves or speaks she exudes trailer trash like Republicans and Democrats exude hypocrisy, becoming unappealing without being vulgar instantly. Nadia Velaquez plays the siren with the worlds most screwed up past to a tee, and Ethan Suplee makes a great foil for the usually dry and sarcastic wit of My Name. Some of the guest appearances have in and of themselves been great television, Brett Butler made me laugh until I had tears in my eyes. Eddie Steeples plays Darnell and I would be glad to add his character to my personal group of friends.
Randy: [Earl and Randy are tied up in their hotel room] Maybe if you call Karma it'll come and help us.
Earl: It's Karma, not Lassie.
How I Met Your Mother– Okay I must admit that if this show completely sucked I would still watch it because Cobie Smulders is so drop dead beautiful that she would be second only to my wife in any group of a thousand women. But Jason Segel is great and if you remember him from Freaks and Geeks you will appreciate him even more (My wife says he has become “Much sexier”). Alyson Hannigan may be typecast a little as a vixenish and sexual creature but she has really solid comedic timing. Neil Patrick Harris, well, I hated Doogie, but my what an excellent member of this already fun cast, he has impeccable timing, the ability to say things with a straight face that would break up a 10 year SNL veteran.
Barney: You don't bring a date to a wedding, that's like taking a deer carcass on a hunting trip.
Rome– Rome deserves special mention, it will not have new episodes until 2007 but if they continue with the same level of acting, costuming, sets and story, they could be the best show on television. Fun, Funny, Sexual, Adventurous, and even moderately historical. The only downside is the time it will take for a second season.
Cassius: Look now. Look at that.
Marcus Junius Brutus: It is a chair. What of it?
Cassius: A chair? It's a throne!
Marcus Junius Brutus: I believe thrones are generally more decorative. That is decidedly plain, and chair-like.
All good television go check them out!