TVSquad

As we all prepare for the holidays, including lots of football, turkey, the Macy's parade, the tree in Rockefeller Center and umpteen viewings of A Christmas Story (I can never get enough of Ralphie's quest for the Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle), it's a good time to pause and reflect for a moment about all that I'm grateful for...on TV, that is.

I'd like to give thanks to...

Neil Patrick Harris
It's not just how awesome he is as Barney on How I Met Your Mother, although that's quite awesome. It's also Dr. Horrible which proved to me that he really should do a musical, 'cause he's great. NPH also made me laugh with his Old Spice commercials and was wonderful in an episode of Dinner: Impossible (from 2007, but I saw a rerun). Is there anything he can't do? Believe me, he is already legen -- wait for it -- dary.

Burn Notice
I had the good fortune to visit the set down here in Miami last June, and after meeting the stars and the people who put the show together, I was even more invested in the success of the episodes that aired last summer. Fortunately, they were excellent. Bruce Campbell, Sharon Gless, Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar...every one of them is amazing on their own. Together, they're even better. This is a gem of a show. Sharp, witty, action-packed and just a touch sentimental.

Characters that are hard to figure out
I'm speaking specifically of Don Draper on Mad Men, Dr. Gregory House, even Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. I don't always understand why these guys do what they do. They're complicated, quirky, idiosyncratic and occasionally annoying. However, they are always a joy to watch and compelling characters. I'd want Don to sell my products, House to save my life, and Sheldon to share my favorite Star Trek memories.

The Presidential election
It was the most exciting story of the year, and TV played a big part. The conventions, the commercials, three debates between Obama and McCain, the craziness of the cable networks covering every single day of the campaign, often at high volume. For me, it was thrilling, dramatic and arresting TV. Now that it's all over, I feel like I'm in withdrawal.

Tina Fey
What a year for Tina! She's the funniest woman on TV -- 30 Rock, American Express commercials, and this year, Sarah Palin. She single-handedly drew viewers back to Saturday Night Live just to see what she was going to do with those Kawaski glasses. Her Palin was pitch-perfect. And she was a good sport doing SNL when she was already busy with 30 Rock.

Hulu.com
This isn't a commercial or a plug. I just have really found it a great way to catch up on episodes I've missed, not to mention some older shows I want to see again. I even found the original pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show starring Carl Reiner as the Rob Petrie-type character. It was a terrible pilot, but I was thrilled to finally see it. Thanks, Hulu.

DVRs
You could probably find this on all of our lists. Where would we be without DVRs? Mine is stacked with episodes I've still to watch, movies and specials, all kinds of TV that interests me. No more piles of VHS tapes, mostly without labels, that gathered dust.

TV Squad readers
You guys have welcomed me on board here this past year, and blogging for you has really kept me connected to what other TV fans are thinking and feeling. Thanks for your loyalty and attention. We count on you all to keep us on our toes!