TVSquad

There's so much on television for which to be thankful: the returning favorites, the new obsessions, the comedic, and the dramatic. Fresh faces work with old pros to bring us shows ranging from artistic masterpieces to guilty pleasures. On a basic level, I'm thankful that I had some difficulty choosing only five things on TV to praise. Specifically, the five things that I chose have given me hours of thought-provoking, laughter-inducing entertainment.

Another brilliant season of Ugly Betty: There's nothing worse than watching your favorite new show lose its touch in the second season. Like all Ugly Betty fans, I'm thankful that the sweetest comedy on television has avoided the sophomore slump. The best elements from the first season--clever one-liners, heartwarming moments, and top-notch performances from the ensemble cast--have remained intact.

That isn't to say that Season Two is merely business as usual. Ugly Betty's writers have reached beyond the standard "Betty saves the day" structure and made the show into something much more. Supporting characters like Christina, Marc, and Justin have gotten their own storylines this Fall, and the results were just as entertaining as the A-plots featuring Betty, Daniel, and Wilhelmina. I'm also glad that the writers cut out the "will they, or won't they?" tension and let Henry and Betty have their day in the sun.

Keith Carradine as Special Agent Frank Lundy, Dexter: As fun as it is to watch Dexter mess with Doakes, his skills are put to better use when trying to outsmart Agent Lundy. I hadn't seen Keith Carradine on TV since his stint on Deadwood (nope, not a Complete Savages viewer), and I was thrilled that he turned up on Dexter. With the Ice Truck Killer gone, Dexter needed a new challenge, and Lundy fills that void perfectly. It doesn't hurt that I could listen to Carradine read the dictionary aloud, either. The superb actor brings a sharp intelligence and badass demeanor to all of his dramatic roles, and Lundy is no exception. As weirded out as I am by Deb's crush on Lundy, I can't blame her for being intrigued by this man. I only wish that there was a way to keep Agent Lundy in Miami permanently, but for now I'm just grateful that he's there. Carradine's presence on Dexter is easily my favorite part of the new season.

BBC America's Wicked Wednesdays and Supernatural Saturdays: When I've had my fill of complex storylines and intense drama, I turn to BBC America for a guilty pleasure or two. I can't help but love the soapy Hotel Babylon and the otherworldly Torchwood. Both shows provide escapist entertainment in very different forms, and both deliver serious eye candy. The champagne problems in a typical episode of Hotel Babylon (losing a guest's purebred dog, for example) are a refreshing change of pace after watching shows with murders and double-crosses at every turn. The cast members play off of each other extremely well, and set a wonderfully light, comic tone in every episode. Torchwood, on the other hand, draws viewers into a world of aliens and unexplained phenomena. It also features some of the most sexually active secret agents since James Bond. I'm always curious to see who hooks up each week. So far I've seen the Torchwood operatives get together with people from other periods in history, murderous aliens, and cyberwomen. I cannot wait to see what bizarre cases and love connections the writers come up with next.

"Day Man" from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia: Not since Ricky Gervais' "Freelove Freeway" has a song from a TV show gotten stuck in my head for weeks at a time. The "Sweet Dee's Dating a Retarded Person" episode gave Charlie a chance to show off his mad songwriting skills, and I haven't stopped laughing at his lyrics. I'd love to see Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, and Rob McElhenny collaborate with Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords. Can you imagine what they'd come up with? The finished product might be too funny for this world.

Donald Sutherland and Jill Clayburgh: These two dramatic heavyweights take young Hollywood to school every Wednesday night on Dirty Sexy Money. Sutherland and Clayburgh add so much depth to the roles of Tripp and Letitia Darling that I'm surprised that the show isn't a runaway hit. The scenes between their husband and wife characters are incredible. Donald Sutherland's facial expressions keep me guessing about Tripp's true nature each week. In one scene, Tripp's a heartbroken man whose wife and best friend betrayed him. In another, he's a manipulative, power-hungry billionaire willing to do anything for his family's success. Jill Clayburgh expertly depicts a woman who shows strength for her family while dealing with life-altering grief and a major family secret. Together, the actors have formed one of the most fascinating TV marriages I've ever seen.

Have a happy Turkey Day, everyone!