Best Of 2008: Top 20 Shows (1-5)

By Todd Gold
Fancast.com

The great Ernie Kovacs once observed that TV is “a medium – so called because it is neither rare nor well done.” That pretty much summarizes the 2008 TV season, which was crippled last spring by a writer’s strike that sent viewers searching for alternative places to watch. As a result, the fall saw only 14 new shows debut, while established hits like ‘Heroes’ and ‘Terminator’ struggled, and TV viewership in general took a nosedive.

We were sad when veteran series ‘ER,’ ‘Boston Legal,’ and ‘King of the Hill’ announced they were saying goodbyes after a combined 33 years on the air. We’re going to miss ‘The Shield’ and ‘The L-Word,’ too. (We’re on the fence about ‘The Mind of Mencia.’ Much of TV is already brainless, so what’s to miss there?) As much as we liked moments of ‘Lipstick Jungle’ and ‘Eli Stone’ we aren’t terribly upset they were handed pink slips. The message to networks is clear: Do better! Take more risks! Make TV shows that are about something substantive. Make shows that entertain.

And some networks are. We cite favorites such as ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Burn Notice,’ and ‘Weeds,’ shows that created genuine excitement by delivering great characters, stories, and complexity in ways that made us want to watch again and again. Here are our picks for the best of what the networks served up in 2008:

1. Mad Men

The show had us last year with its style and seductive cigarette smoke. This year ratings doubled with storylines that simmered on a slow boil and each week delivered TV’s most delicious hour without any guilty feelings afterward. Hot women, hot men, great acting and writing – attention network executives: It’s a formula that pays off every time. And Emmy voters certainly agreed, bestowing the Best Drama series nod to the show, the first for a show on basic cable.

Watch a full episode of “Lost” right now.

2. Lost

After several seasons of criticism, losing focus and story arcs that seemingly didn’t go anywhere, TV’s most enigmatic show got back on track this season. Having an end date may have given them a new clarity. We can’t wait for the new season to see what’s going to happen next, and that’s the highest compliment you can pay a show.

3. Battlestar Galactica

The show returns in January for its final 11 episodes, but this past season they ramped up. We experienced real shivers during the mid-season finale when the fleet landed on Earth and each cast member reacts as they saw a desolate wasteland. Talk about timing! We hear the finale will be dark. Could they be headed for Detroit? This show has never been typical Sci Fi fare; it’s more typical of TV at its best and defies any limiting categorization.

4. The Office

Steve Carrell is a terrific comedic talent, but as Leslie David Baker, who plays Stanley told us earlier in the year, it’s the supporting characters that set this show on a par with classics like Mary Tyler Moore, Taxi, and Cheers. It’s the only show on the air that can get a laugh with a single look. Word to producers: Don’t let the spin-off screw it up.

5. Friday Night Lights

Like ‘Arrested Development’ a few years ago, fans and critics were able to prod executives into producing a third season, and thank goodness. As fans know, this show is about way more than football; limiting it would be like saying high school is about algebra. You get the sensation of eavesdropping on peoples’ lives. Every episode has a scene or story that squeezes your heart.