2008-09 Season in Review

1.  LOST (ABC, last season #1)

The 2-hour finale didn't quite deliver -- if anything it was a little boring -- but I am intrigued by the potential game-changing last scene in which Juliet apparently exploded the atomic bomb, which may or may not kill her (and everyone) or send them "back to the future," as Faraday and Christopher Lloyd hypothesized.  I really don't have a prediction, although I suspect that Juliet is dead, if only because the show has invested so much of its mythology in the Jack-Kate-Sawyer triangle that no one actually cares about.  Overall, though, this was one hell of a season and the second seasonal victory in a row for the program.  The shorter schedule, all after the first of the year, definitely works well, and the built-in tension at the end of every episode (even the poor ones) make you rush back for more.  There were a number of great episodes, though, and a number of riddles solved (I think), but of course, many more left open.  At this point, I don't know if I care so much about the when or the where or the why of the Island and its castaways.  I just enjoy seeing them every week and I enjoy all the twists and turns that the producers keep throwing our way.  Next season is the final season of the show and I am going to miss it.  Let's hope it goes out on top.

2.  True Blood (HBO, last season n/a)

Well, I don't remember much from the season, since it ended in December and Jack Daniels has killed all the brain cells that would remember something from that far back, but I know I loved it and I know I can't wait for the new season to start (this June!!), so that's enough to garner the #2 slot.  I actually pretty rarely watch a new show at the start of its first season -- in fact, this list is littered with shows that I didn't start watching until the 2nd or 3rd season (including Lost), but I'm definitely a sucker for female protagonist television shows featuring vampires.  And although this show is a lot darker and not as witty as Buffy, the fact that it can even enter into the conversation is impressive indeed.  It's a bad-ass motherfucking thrill ride with enough of a mix of high drama to keep you coming back for more.

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3.  Weeds (SHO, last season #3)

I've been a fan of this program from the start as well (contradicting my comment about True Blood), but this season was the best season since the first and I can't wait for the next season to begin (this June!! on Showtime!!! which I no longer get !!! ...oops... )  The last episode was the perfect capstone to a wonderful year, as Nancy spends the episode finally admitting to herself that she's been a horrible mother, especially during the emotional phone call with the flower shop woman while she's on her way to tell her drug czar boyfriend that she's pregnant with his baby so he doesn't kill her for ratting him out to the cops.  See, I do remember some things.

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4.  Big Love (HBO, last season n/a)

Many have decried the lack of good programming on HBO in the wake of the retirement of The Sopranos and Sex in the City, but they've scored two of the top four shows of the year in the Vague Space countdown and really, can anyone ask for a greater honor than that?  I missed the first two seasons + two episodes but I must have been bored this January and tuned in for some reason and fell instantly in love.  It's basically a soap opera, to be honest, with twists and turns that haven't been seen since the heyday of Melrose Place, but it's also extremely well-written and acted, which makes it rise above such fluff as Melrose into a well-rounded drama.  It was difficult for me -- even after 10 episodes -- to sort out all the family plotlines and drama, but it was also clear that this is an addictive, wonderful show that uses out-of-the-mainstream religious practices (polygamy) to skewer mainstream religious practices (at least in my anti-religious viewing).  And its' damn good.  Chloe Sevigny really deserves an Emmy nomination.  And I'm sure I never would have thought that before watching this show.

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5.  Friday Night Lights (DirecTV, NBC, last season n/a)

Thanks to DirecTV's underwriting (which gave them the chance to show the full season, commercial free, before NBC aired the program), this show is returning for at least 2 more seasons, despite never being more than a critical success.  And much like Big Love, I never watched this show until this -- it's third -- season, and only because I have DirecTV and got hooked by their clever ads that used Bright Eyes' cover of "Devil Town" as background music.  But this was a really great show -- another high end soap opera, admittedly, but at least it's about sports, so it's not too gay.  The season ended with a major twist -- Coach getting fired despite a very successful season, because the freshman QB sensation's father had the boosters on his side and wanted Coach out after he came between the QB and his father when his father started hitting him in the rain in a restaurant parking lot.  So Coach got another job -- across town -- and who knows what lies ahead.  Several students are also graduating (and the actors playing them are not returning), which makes the show a lot more realistic than, say, every other show about teenagers, but I wonder how they will make up for the lost actors.  I'm just glad to learn we'll get to find out.

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6.  The Amazing Race (CBS, last season #8)

Great double season for the show.  This was my #1 favorite show not too long ago, but mostly because the strength of non-reality programming -- or at least the shows I actually watched -- was at a low point on television.  I don't necessarily think that The Amazing Race has gotten worse, or that I have lost interest in it, but rather think that the other shows have gotten better.  The show has had just about as many seasons as the much more popular Survivor, though, so it's shocking that I'm still watching it (I gave up on Survivor quite some time ago), but I guess it's equally shocking that the show remains so good.

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7.  Dollhouse (Fox, last season n/a)

This might be a little bit high based on my intense interest in the show in recent weeks and my excitement that against all odds (and with horrible ratings), Fox renewed it for a 13-episode run next season, but basically I'm giving Joss Whedon the benefit of the doubt and assume it's as good a program as I think it is, and I can't wait to see what more he does with the concept.  I probably wrote on here about not liking the first couple episodes and I'd actually given up on the show completely, but Joss came out publicly before episode six to beg viewers to watch it, even if they'd given up, because the episode was a "game-changer" and much closer to his vision of the series than the Fox/Joss mash-up we'd seen in the first five shows.  And since I have absolutely loved every single thing Joss has done (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dr. Horrible), I listened, I watched, and I learned never to doubt him again.  It's been a really good show since episode 6 ("Man on the Street") and the mythology of the house has been leaked through twists and turns, making me want to know more and more.  I wouldn't say it's been a great show, even after episode 6, although a couple episodes verged on greatness, but I believe there is a ton of potential in the concept and hope that viewership somehow increases enough on Fridays in the fall to give Joss enough of a run to turn this series into another one of his classics.

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8.  30 Rock (NBC, last season #10)

Well, my first true comedy (because Weeds really isn't a comedy anymore) makes an appearance at #8 on my list, which either says something about the sorry state of comedy of American television these days, or the high quality of the dramas.  I'd say it's a mixture of both, but it is notable that until the last year or two, I never even regularly watched more than a couple hour-long dramas.  Many of the shows above had abbreviated seasons, which perhaps helps with the time commitment, but I think if there were more good comedies kicking around on broadcast television, I'd be less inclined to seek out shows like Big Love or Friday Night Lights.  As for 30 Rock, it's never quite as funny as it should be -- but it's a very likable show and the performances are great and it had a better season than its time-slot predecessor on NBC, so this is where it fits.  Damning with faint praise I know.

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9.  The Office (NBC, last season #2)

This show was my favorite on television just two seasons ago.  I'm not sure what happened.  The cast's the same.  I'm assuming the writers are the same.  But this season really paled in comparison to seasons 2 and 3 and even last year's disappointing foray.  Perhaps Jim and Pam together just doesn't work for comedy sake?  Perhaps Michael needs to grow beyond his hapless self?  Perhaps Dwight and Jim have matured too much to play their little office games anymore?  Perhaps I need to quit analyzing the 5th season of a sitcom? Let's move on.

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10.  The Big Bang Theory (CBS, last season n/a)

This is a much more traditional sitcom than I usually enjoy, but one that packs on the humor more consistently than the two shows ahead of it on this list.  It doesn't reach the heights that the NBC comedies hit, probably due to the constraints of the show, but if you ever told me I'd enjoy a CBS comedy about a bunch of scientist nerds, I'd have been surprised as you.  It's really a great show.  And it makes my list a perfect 10 for 10 of programs that will be returning next season!!  This was one of the best years in television in recent memory.  And I can't wait for more.

Just missing the cut::  It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Entourage

Comments

[Kelly]

Well Bill, having the mutual admiration society for Dragonslayer and all things Spencer I thought I would throw in some comments here. I am going to preface this by saying that I love both Lost and Weeds but was disappointed in both their most recent seasons. Lost was very sporadic as certain episodes kept me hooked and reminded me of why I love the show while others had me saying "I'm glad the final season is coming." Weeds has become 'tired' to me and while this season was better than the second season I enjoyed the first season much better. As far as Friday Night Lights goes it was my favorite show of this past season. It is the one show that I truly miss seeing when I hit the list button on my Directv DVR. I need to check out Big Love and True Blood and will add them to the Netflix queue. I should probably just quit blogging as your tastes parallel mine in more than just music...

Side Note: I saw Star Trek last night which was directed by J.J. Abrams. Who knew it would involve some sort of time travel element? Sarcasm alert.

[Jill]

You forgot about House, 24 and Fringe.

And we just got Showtime so you can watch weeds with Larry if you want.

[Bill]

Funny Kelly. Yes, JJ and the Lost boys love the time travel. The new ABC series Flash Forward (I just started reading the novel) is also about time travel, sort of, and it comes from the Lost guys and the guy who did the Dark Knight.

I really loved Friday Night Lights as well, but watched the season out of order -- I caught like the last 5 or 6 episodes on DirecTV, then a couple months later watched the 1st 5 or 6 on NBC. So I'm not sure it had quite the impact it should have. I can't wait for next year.

Nice, Jill, Showtime rules. But Larry will make me watch Dexter as well, which I've been resisting for years.

[Aaron Rudnick]

I like Rugrats and Blue Clues the best!