As 2010 comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the approximately one million hours of TV I watched this year. This year, a Top 10 wasn’t enough, so I’m doing a Top 20, broken into two installments. And let me tell you, even that required some tough cuts. This was a really good year. Some notable low points to be sure, but all in all, TV did a fine job. A couple of ground rules for my list. I don’t include reality shows in the count. That’s not because I think they’re inherently inferior – I just don’t think it makes sense to compare scripted shows to those that are non-scripted. I honestly don’t know how to judge where to rank Top Chef in relation to 30 Rock. Also, in order to be considered, a series had to air at least six episodes this calendar year. That means the excellent but quickly-cancelled Lone Star is out, as was Metalocalypse which aired only five episodes (including one of the best finales of the year). Both of these rules are kind of arbitrary, but without them, this would be a Top 30 list, and we’d be here all day.
