TVSquad

Everybody loves lists, right? That's why I was attracted to this AOL Television list of the best TV shows of the 1990s. Lots of good entries, some head-scratchers, and two incredibly glaring omissions.

You can immediately guess which shows are on the list: Seinfeld, The X-Files, Sports Night, Oz, The Sopranos, The Larry Sanders Show. There are some shows that I certainly would never put on such a list, but I can understand why they were chosen, such as Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, and Ally McBeal. I think this is probably yet another example of "best" being confused with "popular" or "buzzworthy." Actually, I would never include Ally McBeal on any sort of best of list.

But what really confuses me? There are two major shows, two shows that are often mentioned in a "best of" list (not just the 90s, but all-time) that aren't on the list! Can you guess what they are? Both appeared on NBC, and one of them was created by someone who created one of the above shows.

With Maggie Friedman (Dawson's Creek) behind it, I have to imagine that The Witches of Eastwick ABC pilot project just announced may feature a younger cast than the 1987 film on which it is being based. The announcement specifically states that it is a variation on the film as opposed to the controversial John Updike novel. The book has been blasted for being misogynistic, while the movie offered more in female empowerment.

This will be third time someone has made a go of adapting the film for television. I can't help but think think of this as a more serious Charmed. Will the male antagonist, played by Jack Nicholson in the film, remain throughout the series, or will he just be an early problem dealt with by the three witchy leads? Considering Friedman's resume also includes the horridly under-appreciated Jack and Bobby and the brilliant Once and Again, there are a lot of ways she could go with this.

Holy crap. Everybody's favorite Scientology war bride, Katie Holmes, has apparently used those perfect chompers of hers to gnaw through her ankle shackles and score an acting gig. Holmes is set to guest star on Eli Stone this fall. Producers are staying mum on any details, but sources say that she is signed up for one episode of the fledgling drama.

Holmes got her big break on TV, playing Joey Potter on the uber-popular teen soap Dawson's Creek. She also had a few impressive turns in movies, such as Pieces of April and Thank You for Smoking before meeting Tom Cruise and taking an extended hiatus from the business.

Holmes also gave up her role in the Batman franchise before dipping her toe back into acting waters with the critically panned Mad Money. She is set to film her episode later this month and then spread her wings further by traveling to New York to star in a revival of Arthur Miller's play, All My Sons.

It's that time of year again, where everything around you suddenly takes a heart shape. The stores around you are filled with waves of reds and pinks.

But darn it! Not everything is roses and overpriced candies. (Especially for the fellas who rush to the stores because you're told to.)

We've all been single and we've all been there with breakups... the question is how well do you know your TV Breakups?

Perhaps you're in a tumultuous love triangle and not sure whose valentine is yours? Well some of our favorite characters don't get that right either.

Remember that even if you're with or without a valentine this year, that you can always find your remote control in your arms. (Because you can't snuggle and watch your TV at the same time. Duh.)

I know what you are all thinking. Finally, it's Wednesday night and there is a new... Friday Night Lights! Ok, so only a few of you are thinking that and the majority of you are anxiously awaiting more Idol, the conclusion of Dawson's Criminal Minds adventure, or the return of Lost.

Just in case you need something to pass the time while you wait for your television program of choice, you might want to head on over to iTunes and grab the pilot for Friday Night Lights. Like a drug dealer who has gone straight and started slinging high school drama instead of rocks, the first one is free. If you haven't had a chance to give the Taylor's and the rest of Dillon, Texas a look, I urge you to give it a try. It really is a great show.

If you have had a look, and it's just not your cup of tea, fair enough. For you, the fine folks at Apple also have the premiere of Top Design and the "Guy Love" excerpt from the Scrubs musical episode. All free for the downloading.

[thanks Justin]

(S01E11) After almost a month off, Friday Night Lights is back on a new night. It's great to see a new episode, but will the move give the show a much needed ratings boost? We'll have to wait and see. They did pick a good episode to come back with though. There was a lot of good stuff going on this week.

They tipped their hand with where this episode was going in the previously on segment. Lots of Street and Saracen, and a look back at Saracen talking with his dad. That was driven home with the scene where Henry returned home. At first, I thought it maybe missed the mark a little bit, because it didn't seem to be the happy homecoming it should have been. Of course, as we found out later, it wasn't a happy homecoming.

Almost all of the Saracen story was really good. They've done a great job over the first ten episodes setting up the stresses and pressures on Matt. He's been put in a very difficult position, raising himself and taking care of his grandmother at an age when he really shouldn't have to. Part of what got him through all of that was the belief that with his father's return would come a break from all of it. A chance to just be normal and let someone else carry all the weight. When that didn't come through, he finally snapped. And that was a fantastic scene.

(S01E06) This show just keeps getting better. Episode six brought to a head a few different story lines that have been brewing over the course of the first five episodes, some bigger than others. And some more surprising than others. The episode should have been called Do The Right Thing, as we had a number of characters all struggling with that idea. Would Eric come clean about the Voodoo recruiting? How would he deal with Reyes? Does Saracen stick up for his friend or take one for the team? Will Riggins finally live up to being Street's best friend? Will Lyla finally put an end to the cheating relationship with Riggins?

Katie Holmes is reportedly changing her name to just 'Kate'. That's the name that Tom Cruise has been calling her since he jumped on Oprah's couch, oh, about a year ago. Cruise explained the change in Teen Hollywood, saying, "Katie is a young girl's name. Her name is Kate now that she's a child-bearing woman." Well, she may go by 'Kate' now but her big, toothy grin will always say 'Katie' (or maybe 'Joey' from Dawson's Creek) to me.

Conan O'Brien had a great one-liner about her name change last night: "Next week she's going to dye her hair blonde and join the witness protection program."

Former Dawson's Creek actress Katie Holmes gave birth to a baby girl today, according to People magazine. Katie and her fiance, Tom Cruise, named the little girl Suri, which means 'red rose' in Persian and 'princess' in Hebrew.

Their daughter was 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 20 inches long.

Coincidentally, Brooke Shields also gave birth to a baby girl today. Her daughter's name is Grier.

The one thing that stinks about having an exciting episode where someone dies at the end is that it's typically followed up by a semi-depressing episode where everybody is in mourning. (Remember the Dawson's Creek episode after his dad died?) This episode of The O.C. just happened to fall right before Valentine's Day. As Seth so sarcastically put it, "Death and Valentine's Day -- what a combination."