TVSquad

...seven shows a-thrivin'

I only have seven shows to list at the top of their game, whether its via ratings, critical reviews or both. Given the sheer volume of content available on both network and cable television, it's tough to narrow down the list to seven. On the other hand, this has been a banner year for TV cancellations (and failed experiments as a result of green-lighting new series without commissioning a pilot first) so those that survived have been luckier than usual.

I have only included one reality TV show in the list and there probably should be more, but I don't like reality television and it's my list. So there. Nyah.

1. American Idol. Full confession: I loathe American Idol (and I'm not alone). It is a celebration of superficiality that epitomizes much of the thinking behind American television. Why is this going strong while Arrested Development ends after three seasons? Obviously, I'm in the minority given the fact that despite entering its 8th season, it remains a ratings juggernaut. So much so, in fact, that Fox is scheduling other shows (like Glee) that it wants to succeed to follow this one.

2. SNL. Every few years, Saturday Night Live gets a shot in the arm and is revitalized to mainstream status (usually around election time). What drove its popularity this time was Tina Fey's impeccable Sarah Palin impression, along with some really excellent, acerbic political satire. I haven't liked SNL since Eddie Murphy's time, but even I had to admit that much of their election parody was spot-on (including the ones that needed editing). With the election over and done with, I suspect SNL will once again return to the sidelines until the next election cycle.

3. True Blood. It's only finished one season, but after the losses of The Sopranos and Sex and the City, HBO really needs a hit series since other cable networks such as Showtime and AMC are giving fierce competition with their own adult dramas. Future seasons have been commissioned, and it looks like this show is going to be around for a few years hence. Plus, the vampire thing still has some popularity to it (that didn't end with Buffy). This is the first series I've listed here that I actually am a fan of.

4. Mad Men. It allowed AMC to become the first basic cable station to win an Emmy. I probably would be a fan of this series if I could find extra hours in the day to watch it. One of the beautiful aspects of having a show on basic cable rather than network is that the ratings requirement aren't as stringent, so there's a better chance that an off-beat, thought-provoking series will shine.

5. 24. Honestly, how many bad days can Jack Bauer have? Why can't they show one of the other days in his life? Let's have a season in which Jack Bauer sleeps for a full day. Seriously, not even the writer's strike could kill Jack Bauer (although it could delay him for a season). January brings us yet another bad day in his life with gunfire, explosions, assassinations and, need we forget, torture.



6. 30 Rock. Tina Fey's turn as Sarah Palin certainly helped the ratings for her own show. It was probably beneficial that the SNL Election Specials broadcast in the same timeslot. Perhaps viewers tuned in the same time the following week expecting more funny Sarah Palin. Tina Fey's star is shining particularly brightly now, so I expect this show to be around for a while.

7. Doctor Who. This is not so popular with American audiences, but when a science fiction program has been around for 45 years and on the air for over 30 of those years (and is currently one of the highest-rated shows in its home country of England), something has to be said about thriving, even if the American ratings don't matter much. The most fluid of any television concept is one in which every cast member can be replaced and the setting can change without interrupting the continuity. The show is on a one-year hiatus with four specials airing in place of a full season, but it will be back for a full season in 2010 with a new actor to take the lead role.

Eight stars a-shinin'
Nine foreign Americans
Ten shows on DVD
Eleven babes worth watchin'
Twelve shows a-stinkin'