LIST: Best Television Shows (currently on the air)

i always enjoy a good list, and with the tv season coming to an end i thought it would be an opportune time for a list of the best shows on television. i know a top 10 list is standard, but for this topic i went with a top 15.

with such a grand topic i did set a few rules for myself:

- the show has to currently be on the air, or have just finished it's season or be already renewed for another season (if The knights Of Prosperity really does come back then it has a great chance of making next seasons list).

- i had to have seen at least one full season of the show (this made the Tudors and The Riches ineligible, although they are already on my mind for next seasons list)

- i also had to have seen more then just the first season if the show is already in it's third or fourth season (that eliminated Nip/Tuck. i enjoyed season one but haven't got to the next ones yet. that also took Deadwood off the list)

- finally, i obviously had to have watched the show, and as i am only human with only so much time in the day, even with a dvr i can't watch everything. so here is a quick listing of shows that i just haven't watched yet, but from what i have heard they could have been contenders for the list: The Wire, Dirt, Entourage, Heroes, Big Love, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

i have written fuller reviews of some of these shows and i will link to those reviews for those series. now, let's let the listing begin...

1-Boston Legal
2-Rescue Me
3-Sopranos
4-The Shield
5-Scrubs
6-Battlestar Galactica
7-24
8-Lost
9-The Office
10-Friday Night Lights
11-My Name Is Earl
12-30 Rock
13-Rome
14-ER
15-Dexter

just missed the cut: The Simpsons, Weeds, Survivor,

Some Pick-Ups, Cancelled Shows And Other News

just some quick notes on a few things i've heard over the last day or so in my random web surfings and news listening.

very good news:
- NBC has ordered 25 episodes of My Name Is Earl and The Office which is up from the normal 22. there will also be five hour-long The Office episodes next season
- Scrubs renewed

bad news:
- Scrubs renewed for believed to be only 18 episodes
- Studio 60 canceled: while i had problems with it and it definitely wasn't up to the high-quality of sorkin's last couple shows (The West Wing, Sports Night) it did have some very good writing, it was improving and i was interested in seeing where it could go

i don't care either way news:
- How I Met Your Mother renewed by cbs: it's pretty funny whenever i watch it, but that is rarely
- Jericho canceled by cbs: i was into it for the first few episodes but i lost interest and stopped watching about a third of the way through the season.

Shows On "The Bubble"

i just read a little article in variety about the nbc and cbs shows that are on 'the bubble' as far as being renewed for next season goes. check it out.

here is where i stand on the shows mentioned:

Close To Home: watched it a few times, thought it was ok, but don't really care what happens to it.

Friday Night Lights: one of the best new shows of the past season this better get renewed. nbc has been cancelling shows left and right this year and to have something of this quality is worth holding on to.

Jericho: i followed this one for about the first 7 or 8 episodes, and while i was somewhat interested in the story it just didn't hold me, and eventually fell off my dvr record list.

Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent: i used to watch the former all the time and the repeats constantly when a&e had them playing multiple times per day. now i don't catch the episodes as much, but it is still a quality show. i never got into ci but have watched it on occasion and enjoyed it (d'onofrio is awesome). i have a strong attachment to the original series and i really hope they bring it back. as for ci, i could go either way.

Scrubs: one of the best sitcoms of the last 20 years, this is such a smart and funny show and i really hope it comes back. i like the fact that abc is thinking of picking it up if nbc gets stupid and drops it.

The New Adventures Of Old Christine: your standard, average sit-com. wanda sykes is funny and the best part of the few episodes i have watched.

The Two Funniest Hours On Television Ever

it is a bold statement, but i stated in a few podcasts and in a post a few days ago that nbc's current thursday night two-hour comedy block is the funniest 2 hour block of tv ever. there have been other very funny shows on television past and present but never on one night one after the other like My Name Is Earl, The Office, 30 Rock and Scrubs.

all four shows are original single camera shows (not filmed in front of an audience) that are consistently smart, sometimes touching and always funny. there are always multiple laugh-out-loud moments in each show every week. the humor on all four shows goes all over the place and varies from high-brow wit to fart jokes and even slapstick.

the acting is also great and it doesn't stop at just the stars of the shows. sure jason lee, steve carell, tina fey, zach braff and the other lead actors are great, but so is the actress that plays the latina maid on My name Is Earl, the todd on Scrubs and so many others.

nbc has had some great comedies on thursday nights before (Cheers, Seinfeld, Frasier, the Cosby Show, Friends, Will & Grace, etc), but they have always had to throw mediocre filler shows in between the good ones (Four Kings, Veronicas Closet, Coupling, Suddenly Susan, Jesse, etc). now there is no filler, just two-hours of high-quality comedy television.

i talked, a few days ago, about how scrubs might not get renewed for next season. i really hope it does, because it just wouldn't be right to break up such a beautiful thing just yet, especially since nbc announced plans to bring 30 Rock back strong next season.

Grades:
- My Name Is Earl: A
- The Office: A+
- 30 Rock: A
- Scrubs: A+

Is Scrubs Done?

i just came across this article at the variety web site about Scrubs. supposedly the shows fate is up in the air and it may not be renewed for next season. this would be a huge disappointment given that it is a brilliant show and part of nbc's thursday night 2-hour comedy block (with My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock and The Office) which just might be the best 2-hour block of comedy ever on tv. let's keep our fingers crossed that nbc let's Scrubs scrub in next season (that was bad, i know). if they don't abc has expressed some interest. in the end i guess i don't care what network it ends up on, just as long as it is still on television and able to do its thing.

30 Rock Gets The Greenlight

while i am still pissed at nbc for canceling The Black Donnelly's i am very happy that they have given the greenlight to 30 Rock on a second season. while the ratings haven't been great, they are hoping that the show can build like The Office did going into its second season. nbc thursday night is not only the funniest night on tv currently, but is one of the funniest blocks on tv ever, with: My Name Is Earl, The Office, Scrubs and 30 Rock (come on people, that is some great comedy action right there).

also, Friday Night Lights hasn't got the greenlight yet, but here's hoping.