Top 5 Narrative TV Shows of 2008

Most Disappointing: Heroes
I’m so fucking tired of writing about how Heroes went wrong, yet I’m still watching it. A large chunk of my continued viewing could be chalked up to my partner still enjoying the show but the truth is I’m also stubbornly holding out hope. This season alone we’ve seen the show ask us to invest in new ideas (reformed Sylar) only to throw them out the window. You have a show runner who calls the viewers idiots and a writing staff in transition. The only good news is that the best writer the show ever had looks to be coming back now that show #5 got the ax.

5. Pushing Daisies
Speaking of the saddest cancellation of the year, let’s take a moment and praise one of the best-looking show since HDTV was introduced. Never have your eyes experienced such an adventure as Pushing Daisies. Week in and week out the cinematography and art design are truly breathtaking. On top of that, you had some of the best writing, acting and occasionally singing on TV. It’s a damn shame that ABC has given up on Brain Fuller’s latest creation and an even worse debacle that the show is going to end without any resolution. In the meantime, let’s just enjoy our pie while we have it.

4. Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Now that the show has been given an order for two more seasons, I can finally rest on my viewership campaign. Thankfully, the creators of Sunny did not rest and continued to break every rule of decency on TV. The musical finale of The Nightman Cometh is permanently etched in my mind along with dusters, Ty Pennington, Sinbad and of course, “Wild Card Bitches!”

3. Battlestar Galactica
Was the first half of Battlestar’s final season inconsistent? Oh hell yeah but it was also hella entertaining. The finale left you completely stunned and wondering how the hell are they going to wrap this thing up in early 09. I was struck again, at how amazing this show looks compared to every other weekly sci-fi show. It’s literally like watching a weekly movie.

2. 30 Rock
While the show is in danger of becoming the new Will & Grace with all the guest stars, it clearly stands heads and heads above the rest of the comedy world. What’s amazing is that for every Steve Martin appearance that feels forced, there’s a Jennifer Aniston or Oprah appearance that boggles the mind at how good it is. Never mind the fact that the core performers continue to put on a clinic in comedy 101. Witness the recent episode with Jack and Liz at a high school reunion while Tracy and Jenna compete with Kenneth for laughs. Each individual kept the A and B story on the front burner so much that you couldn’t distinguish which is which.

1. Lost
Frozen donkey wheel and all, this season not only solidified Lost as my favorite show but also moved it into competition with Buffy and Twin Peaks as my favorite of all time. With only 48 eps left the show jumped in with both feet in 2008 and answered a few questions while posing hundreds of more intriguing ones. Only down side is that we only get it for half of the year.

Looking Ahead to 2009: Dollhouse
Dollhouse, the new show from Joss Whedon, was the featured item in my looking forward to 2008 column last year. Well after some scheduling changes, reshoots, and a bunch of doom and gloom Dollhouse now is a repeat offender. I’m still so excited to have Joss’ work back on my TV that I could care less about a new pilot, a kiss of death Friday night time slot, and reported network interference. Nope I’m just happy to have my Joss and you all better get ready for my own get out the viewers campaign for the show come February.