Let's get it out of the way at the begining here....yes too much TV is bad for you.  Still, I love it like a new puppy.  I know that watching the tube in large doses is no good for my soul...so at least I aknowledge the fact that I am still in need of some moral refinement. 

Primetime television is my tobacco, crack, and sugar all wrapped up into one glowing box of entertainment.  Just about every night of the week I have at least a couple shows I am TIVO'ing at the same time.  I watch pilots, reality shows, and made for TV events.  I do have some standards though, I stay away from law (CSI and such) and medical dramas (sorry Grey's and ER) and no Dateline stories for me.

Needless to say this time of year is my favorite for TV viewing!  All the season endings to my favorite shows have been happening over the past two weeks leaving me in a glazed over daze. Every night has been filled with dramatic cliffhangers and conclusions; it is like watching a Superbowl every evening 

So I thought this would be the perfect time to list my power rankings of the best shows on the tube.  Keep in mind I do watch a bunch of TV...just not everything.  Each of these shows in my top ten I highly recommend.

#10 SURVIVOR FIJI - Say what you will about this long running "reality" show but is contiunes to be the standard bearer for this type of programming.  This show had been off my list for the past few years due to less then compelling people they had on the show.  They changed that this year with a pretty stellar cast that led was led by an older frail asian man named Yau-Man, (who ended up being on of the best contestants this show has EVER seen) and a crazed former homeless gentlemen by the name of Dreamz (who made a decision in the finale that will be talked about for years)

Do I believe everything that is shown on that show to be "real"? Of course not, but I do subscribe to the notion that they live in horrid conditions and that they are all playing each other for a million bucks.  Those two principles lead to some pretty interesting social interactions and drama..especially this season.

#9 Heroes - I do really like this show.  I don't quite love it the way that everyone else seems to.  While the concept of gene-altered super people coming together to fight crime and bigotry toward them has been played before I think they do a pretty good job of adding a new spin to it.  I also do like the way they pay homage to us geek boys who collected comic books as we grew up.  There are a bunch of winks toward us who appreciate the quest of a hero.

I do not like the writing so much, the way people talk to each other does not ring as authenticate to me.  My other knock on it is that there are a few too many characters in it that I have yet to begin to care about.  The season finale was fantastic to be sure...it leaves us waiting for next season in a big way.  If you have not seen this show it will be perfect for a summer catch up show for you!

#8 24 - This show disappointed me this year.  The only reason it remains in my top 10 is that because it had some credit left in the bank.  Jack Bauer is still a stud, but this season used a bunch of recylced themes that had me saying "Wait..haven't they already done that?"

It seemed as if they only wrote the first half of the season and then started just making up where to go from there.  They added a bunch of subplots in individual episodes that they failed to even mention again. Another thing that bothered me was sometimes it appeared as if Keifer Sutherland was making a cameo in his own show.  There was a stretch of episodes where it seemed as if they added him to the storyline from his vacation...and without Keifer this show is a yawn fest.  Although, I don't think it lived up to the expectations that they have set for themselves I do applaud them for not ever being afraid to pull a punch or to shock us.  There is still not a show on TV like this one..

#7 Deadwood - The season and series finale happened in the late fall so that is why this show which I love is down this far on the list.  Vulgar, violent, and raw this show depicts what life was probably like for those people who founded the settlement of Deadwood.  Ian Mcshane plays a character that you both love and hate in such a way that he should be given a lifetime Emmy award for it!  I would agree that the series finale left a bit more to be desired...but there is no better written show on TV!  Look for HBO to bring it back to life with two 2-hour movies to conclude the story coming next year.

#6 Sopranos - The reasons I like this show mostly mirror my feelings toward Deadwood.  They do a fantastic job of both rooting for and fearing Tony.  This soon to be ending program also does a good job of making you care about the characters who are on screen...so when they meet their maker you are somewhat emotionally impacted. 

The past couple seasons have seemed like they were just treading in water..but the last two months have reminded me why I loved this show.  The tension and storms have built themselves up so much that I cannot wait to see fireworks during the last two epidodes they will ever have later this month.

#5 Jericho - SIGH- cancelled.  Great premise, I loved the people they casted for the show.  It was like Picket Fences meets Road Warrior.  The writing was poor...but I was really hoping they would give us one more season.  The season finale was one of the best of the season.

#4 American Idol - I did not love the people they had in the show this season, but I still appreciate the fact that this is one of the shows I can have playing while my children are awake.  Love it or hate it but you cannot argue that this program is a serious part of our pop culture now.  It seems as if it is one of the most influential programs that has been on in my life.

#3 The Office - This has gone beyond a comedy which I loved to a comedy that I believe will be considered one of the classics.  What more can I say? Perfect cast. Incredible writing. Always incredible season finales. It is a comedy that is both hard to watch (due to the Michael Scott played brillantly by Steve Carrel) and one with a lovely beating heart.

Most people watch this one so there is little more I need to mention about it.  I cannot wait til' next season!

#2 Battlestar Galactica - Let me begin by saying that I am not a Sci-Fi fan.  I am not a Trekkie by any means.  So I come to you as a person who would not normally be drawn to  a show from this genre.  For those of you who would not watch this because it deals with cylons and space battles let me beg you to watch it!

Battling aliens is just a minor part of what the show is about.  It is a political thriller that speaks to who we as a society function.  It does a great job of putting a spin on what being at war really means.  Most of all I think this show is about redemption as each of characters are on a journey to recover a part of themselves that is missing.

Last year the show was #1 on my list.  It dropped one notch because I felt there was a couple too many episodes that did not serve the greater story line.  Plus Battlestar usually ends with a season finale that changes the entire show...this time it was a touch anticlimatic.  Still a wonderful show that is ahead of it's time.

#1 Lost - The most creative show ever put on network TV. Ever. Period.  Despite their horrid scheduling (having a mini-season in the fall, and moving back to a later time) and there lack luster first few episodes this show has exploded back into relevance this spring.

No other show does as good of a job as making us love the characters on screen.  Like Galactica this show on the surface is about a group of people surviving, but at the core it is about people's personal journey.  There is something mythological to the story arc...and I for one trust that the writers know where it is going.

I know that the knock on this show is that there is too much mystery and not enough resolution.  I would argue that this is a program for people who can be patient.  Just like the people living on the island, we too, have to slowly unravel the ball of string that is the story.  The season finale is tonight so if it sucks I will come back and retract this statement but Lost is by far my favorite TV show on right now...and it has the possibility to be my all-time fav.

 

HONORABLE MENTION:

The 4400

Dancing with the Stars

Entourage

30 ROCK

 

Yep I do need a life...but that is what summer is for.