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Best of 2006 | January 01, 2007

Now that another year has passed, it's time to look back and reflect on the best in television for the past year. You might not agree, and you might not even have seen said program, but these are what I would call the highlights of 2006 on the tube (Note: I have not yet caught up with The Wire so I couldn't include that, although judging from past seasons I'm sure it should be on this list.). This does not include every show I love; it includes shows that I believe are well-done -- new shows that did something original or returning shows that reached a new high point:

The Amazing Race: I could not be more tired of people saying they don't watch this because they don't like reality TV. That's like not watching any of NBC's Thursday night comedy block (My Name Is Earl, The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock) because you don't like sitcoms: It's small-minded and, frankly, stupid. Sure, most reality TV is bad -- it's TV made cheaply, and it's usually vapid and devoid of intelligence. And most sitcoms are silly iterations of stuff we've already seen. But there are exceptions. There are series that rise above the genre and do something brilliant -- they bring us something new, or shake up an old formula or show us the world or humanity in a way we haven't seen. That's what The Amazing Race does. It's smart and witty and clever and suspenseful. It's also a nice glimpse at American behavior in the wide world. If you're not watching it, that's fine, of course. But don't claim it's because it's reality. (Seriously. I used to say the same thing, then I saw this program. I was wrong.)

Arrested Development: Mitch Hurwitz decided against reupping his critically beloved show on Showtime, because it was exhausting. Watching how well he wrapped everything up -- tying it all back to the first episode three years earlier -- in the brilliant finale that took the Bluths to Iraq almost made me forgive him for that. Almost.

Battlestar Galactica: There have been complaints about the show jumping ahead a year. That it's gotten too dark. That it's reset itself. None of it is warranted, of course, because this SciFi gem brings the human drama and the political/philosophical commentary like nothing else on TV. Even an episode that isn't about the larger story (the boxing episode, for instance) is so riveting, you'll hold your breath the entire hour.

The Colbert Report: We all know Stephen Colbert owned this year, right? He might have lost the Emmy to Manilow (!), but he spoke at the White House correspondents' dinner. He also made up words, challenged ideologies, questioned authority (by pretending not to question it, of course), and created a new culture of his "followers." He also just happens to be the funniest man working right now. And you can watch him four days a week. Why aren't you?

Dexter: Some of TV's greatest character actors, led by Michael C. Hall, bring to life this world in which you will root for a serial killer even while you're completely creeped out by him. With this, Weeds and the upcoming This American Life TV series, Showtime has become the go-to premium channel for top-notch entertainment. Take that, HBO!

The Dog Whisperer: Yes, really. Cesar Millan quietly continued to do his thing to make dogs behave like pets. He's a little bit mainstream and a little bit revolutionary and a miracle worker on top of that. And watching his facial expressions when people tell him they sleep on a chair in the living room because that's what their dogs want will NEVER get old.

Everwood: This brilliant little family drama was never loud or showy, but it quietly dealt with every issue under the sun, but made it all seem so possible. Of COURSE one town with one, two and then three doctors could have all of these issues on a weekly basis, because the writers and actors pulled it off and made it so quaint and normal. It's no "One Tree Hill" or "The O.C." These were people you could relate to, and who you felt like you knew. This was the quiet little show that made a big ol' difference. I still miss it. Thank goodness for repeats on ABC Family.

Friday Night Lights: Best new show of the season. Another one about normal people, but these folks even talk like we do. They cut each other off, they aren't always eloquent, one guy is painfully, dorkily shy. It's supposed to be about football, but that's now what we care about. We care about the relationships and the human drama. And the soundtrack music is pretty darn beautiful, too. It's a normal concept -- one that usually is done poorly -- done so well it's almost unfathomable. And impossible to describe accurately.

Heroes: This original idea sounded good and ended up being even better. What does happen if ordinary people start to realize they have superpowers? Well, they all react pretty differently, of course. It's fun to watch. It's a mystery that actually solves issues in every episode (Lost, are you listening), but still leave some things hanging for the season story arch. And the characters -- mostly -- are terrific.

Intervention: It was about time someone made a program that really, truly shows the horrors of addiction. There is nothing glamorous or pretty about any of these stories. Even the worst movie drug tale doesn't get it this right. These people are in misery and filth and can't find a way out -- so this program and their families are here to help them. It doesn't always work for the show's subject, but it will certainly work to teach viewers about th perils of letting yourself fall victim to addiction. And it's always fascinating, if often heartbreaking, television.

No Reservations: Who would have thought watching Anthony Bourdain EAT would be this good? (I would have thought we'd want to watch him cook, instead.) His do-anything, risk-taking attitude as he travels the world is enlightening and refreshing. It's not always easy for him to do what his hosts ask of him (killing a pig in Malaysia comes to mind), but he adheres to their cultural norms instead of his own and ends up a richer, fuller person for it. Thankfully, so do we viewers.

The Shield: Forest Whitaker gave a stunning performance as the bad guy (or was he?) trying to catch our hero (or is he?) for all of the crime and corruption he's committed. The horrifying ending -- in which the one to pay for all of the wrondoing is, of course, the one who deserves it least -- was one of those moments you'll play over and over again in your head. It's almost too realistic. The next season can't come soon enough.

Ugly Betty: A telenovela turned into a U.S. hourlong PRIMETIME show? Who would have thought it would be this good? Well, anyone who has ever seen America Ferrera in anything, actually. It's slick and colorful and almost alarmingly different, but a solid cast of characters makes it fit right in on primetime television -- helping make it one of the season's biggest hits.

Weeds: Mary Louise Parker continues to light up the small screen in this quirky dramedy about one woman's struggle to keep her family afloat after her husband's death. It hasn't gotten old a season in -- and the changing performances of the opening song starts every episode out on a good note. Parker, Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, Justin Kirk and Romany Malco keep it there.

When the Levees Broke: Spike Lee made a mesmerizing, heartbreaking miniseries about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. It will make viewers think and cry and even plead. It's a cinematic powerhouse.

Other higlights: So much TV being available online for free OR to purchase (The CW finally has two shows -- Supernatural and Veronica Mars -- available on iTunes).

And my guiltiest pleasure, is, of course Big Brother!

Posted by deann in Love | permalink