Top 5 Narrative TV Shows of 2007

Most Disappointing: 24 and The Writer’s Strike (tie)
For the first time in its history 24 had a season where they not only stretched credibility but did so in a boring manner. Last season you kept waiting for the pace to pick up but there was no ebb and flow almost from the start. I found myself fast forwarding through episodes just to see if anything happen. Of course I’m hardly ready to write off the show and when previews for the upcoming season hit the web promising the return of Soul Patch Tony I was stoked. Sadly 2008 won’t be bringing us any 24…at least until fall and that’s because of the Writer’s Guild of America strike. Now don’t get me wrong I support the strike and the WGA 100% but as a viewer I can’t help but be saddened and disappointed that the TV landscape is for the most part barren this winter. I hope the studios come to their senses and make a deal because I’m not sure if I can handle it otherwise.

Honorable Mention: The Office
Hard to believe this drops out of my top 5 but truth is the pre-strike episodes this fall just didn’t do it for me. The show seemed to take on a darker sadder tone. Michael’s struggles with Ryan and corporate have become almost soul crushing and there just doesn’t seem to be enough silly. However the show does need to get a huge congrats on handling the long anticipated Jim and Pam coupling so well. The two seem to be in one of the most realistic relationships on TV. You can see the edges where there might be trouble but you also can see the growth in the two of them from week to week. Oh yeah, it doesn’t hurt any that the two are comic gold together. It’s still must see TV for me but its just up against shows that seem to hit their full stride in 2008.

5. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
When a show is cruising along under the radar not a lot is expected of it, but when a big name like Danny DeVito comes along and raises your visibility and credibility, expectations can become a problem. Thankfully the third season of the crew from Paddy’s pub not only met expectations, but exceeded them with only one sub par episode (Bum’s Making a Mess All Over the City). The rest of the season was fall off the couch funny with repeated visits to the family lawyer (who can not talk to dead people), the McPoyles, and Rickety Cricket. Its offensive, thought provoking in the most oddly effective way and shit balls funny. I believe these lyrics from episode 9 best describe my feelings (note: you may need to huff spray paint to get the meaning):
Dayman, fighter of the Nightman,
Champion of the Sun
Master of karate and friendship for everyone.

4. Friday Night Lights
There are certain creative works that can stand up to repeated interpretations and while FNL is no Hamlet it certainly deserve props for evolving from a non fiction book to a major motion picture to a weekly TV drama with great results at each level. The gang from Dillon Texas high steeped their way into my heart last year with one of the finest first seasons of television. Its rare that a show completely satisfies its audience right out of the gate but thanks to a creative squad filled with talented writers, actors and directors this show did just that. An amazing combination of football, small town life and family dynamics drives the show. Unfortunately like the #5 show, commercial success has eluded FNL and season 2 has been wasted on its namesake night. Hopefully NBC will use the WGA strike as an opportunity to repeat the show in a more desirable time slot because while the Landy/Tyra storyline became a bit much this is the most real show on TV week in and week out.

3. Battlestar Galactica
As we wait for the final season of BSG to premiere in 2008 I reflected back on 2007 and what many critics and fans called the weakest season of the show. Sure it was uneven but I’ll take uneven when the highs are as high as the ones provided by this show. From the reveal of 4 new Cylons, to the possible discovery of the way to Earth, to the death and resurrection of one of my favorite characters on TV, BSG gave us moments that made the season unforgettable. Katie Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, and everyone else on this show deserve acting nominations. Like all great sci-fi this show makes us look at ourselves. For example, no other post 9-11 show has captured the grey areas this country has been operating in on the war on terror better then BSG which is pretty amazing when you consider its set in a galaxy far far away. The creative heads have promised season 4 will give us closure and after the jaw dropping reveals in the finale last year I tend to believe that promise.

2. 30 Rock
“Here’s your Nancy Drew sir.”
“When a man order’s one it’s called a Hardy Boy.”
That’s just one of many, many great moments provided by Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock in 2007. Tina Fey’s show finished its first season strong and kicked off season 2 with a run of episodes that were better then any comedy on TV. Fey’s Liz Lemon character is not only accessible to women but men too and you find yourself identifying with so many of her decisions and laments. Tracy Morgan has found the perfect pitch of crazy and self mockery and like all the characters on the show has provided depth to his character. The guest stars are plenty but never there for the sake of being there. Will Arnett and Carrie Fisher particularly shined in episodes this fall. Tina Fey just might be my heroine (not the kind I want to shoot in my veins and listen to jazz to).

1. Lost
Yes the first six episodes of season 3 were slow and annoying but guess what…those were in 2006. 2007 on the other hand brought 16 episodes of Lost greatness that gave some answers and provided bigger mysteries. There were mouth dropping moments like finally finding out what happened to put Locke in that wheel chair and of course the game changing season finale. There were also strong character moments which are what makes the show work so damn well. We still can’t tell who’s good, who’s bad and who to cheer for all the time but I know that I care about all of them. I particularly loved Claire flashback and the well deserved end to Nikki and Paulo. Getting me to actually care about those two’s story is reason enough to give Lost the #1 ranking.

Looking Ahead to 2008: Lost and Dollhouse (tie)
I’ve already mentioned Dollhouse plenty of times but in case you’re locked in a hatch, it’s the return of Joss Whedon to TV and he’s bring Eliza “Faith” Dushku along for the ride. A sci-fi tale that promises plenty of the Whedon banter is enough to make me drool. Meanwhile Lost starts season 4 on January 31st at 8pm CST. Thanks to the strike there’s only 8 eps in the can but beggars just can’t be choosers.