The Shut-In’s Guide to the Best of TV, 2008 – Part One
I’m going to split the list into two parts, because even I’m bored with me after about ten entries. So without further ado, here’s EJ’s TV Top 20 – Part One!
20. Saturday Night Live (NBC) – I know! I can’t believe it either! I’m so used to thinking of each episode as a couple of decent sketches and Weekend Update. Heck, I will come right out and say that 
even “classic” SNL could have cut up to 50% of any given episode and nobody would miss it. There’s a reason they cut the episodes down to 30 minutes in syndication, folks. But ever since the Writer’s Strike, the show has been firing on all cylinders. Even the 12:30 – 1:00 Death Slot has been watchable this season, and that’s practically unheard of. And keep an eye on Fred Armisen – Nicholas Fein is always killer, and his last appearance as Barack Obama finally nailed the impression.
even “classic” SNL could have cut up to 50% of any given episode and nobody would miss it. There’s a reason they cut the episodes down to 30 minutes in syndication, folks. But ever since the Writer’s Strike, the show has been firing on all cylinders. Even the 12:30 – 1:00 Death Slot has been watchable this season, and that’s practically unheard of. And keep an eye on Fred Armisen – Nicholas Fein is always killer, and his last appearance as Barack Obama finally nailed the impression. 19. King of the Hill (FOX) – Thirteen years, and it’s still solid as a rock. Never flashy, King consistently delivers well-observed character comedy, occasionally finding brilliance. There’s an audience represented by this show that doesn’t appear elsewhere on TV, and King strikes a perfect balance between parody and loving tribute. And watching Hank adapt to an ever-changing society is always going to be funny. While FOX plans to cancel it after next season, ABC has announced intentions to pick it up, and that would be a genius move on their part. Based on this season’s MySpace-themed episode alone, King of the Hill has the strength to run for years and years to come.
18. Fringe (FOX) – The most entertaining new show of the season. Essentially, creator JJ Abrams is simply updating The X-Files, but there are certainly worse things one could find as an inspiration. The mostly standalone episodes have been consistently entertaining, with an almost audacious strangeness to them. And while the development has been slow, Fringe is beginning to develop some background characters and build on a mythology. While sometimes the individual episodes suffer from convoluted plotting and a reliance on coincidence, the meta-story with Massive Dynamic and the Observer is just getting stronger. Add in John Noble’s Walter Bishop, one of the most entertaining characters on TV, and the fact that Anna Torv is really starting to loosen up as her Olivia Dunham is unable to separate the late John Scott’s memories from her own, and you have a show that could really turn into something special over the next year.
17. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – Finally, people started to notice this series. Sadly, it took a couple of Britney Spears guest-appearances to bring in viewers, but eyeballs are eyeballs. While I stand by my contention that laugh tracks make Baby Jesus cry, I can forgive it in this case, because HIMYM is so consistently sharp and funny. The characters feel like old friends by this point, to the extent that I was actively worried about Ted and Barney when they had their big fight this spring. It’s steadily evolved from “fairly amusing” to “must see” over the last few seasons, and I’m waiting with bated breath for May, when we finally learn what the deal is with the goat.
16. Adult Swim (Cartoon Network) – OK, this is cheating a little bit, especially since there’s another Adult Swim series higher up on the list. However, most of their series deliver only a handful of 11-minute episodes every year. There’s nothing funnier than Frisky Dingo, but four 
episodes and an Xtacles special don’t warrant separate placement on the list. Still, most of their series have had a strong year and deserve mention. Metalocalypse delivered regular laughs while advancing the series plot considerably, with the Revengencers and The Council making their respective moves against Dethklok. This culminated in a fantastic action sequence with a Jack Kirby-meets-Satan design sense, and some more hints about the true nature of the Metalocalypse. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job continues to get funnier. The “Bones for Muscles Telethon” and “Jim and Derrick” episodes were particular standouts. Aqua Teen Hunger Force continued to provide reliable surrealist humor, The Drinky Crow Show combined hilarity and alcoholism for some truly brilliant episodes, and Moral Orel went from being a one-note Davey and Goliath parody to a dark exploration of middle America. Sure, their schedule is not without turds. (Superjail remains entirely unwatchable, for example.) But the bright spots in their lineup are becoming brighter and more consistent.
episodes and an Xtacles special don’t warrant separate placement on the list. Still, most of their series have had a strong year and deserve mention. Metalocalypse delivered regular laughs while advancing the series plot considerably, with the Revengencers and The Council making their respective moves against Dethklok. This culminated in a fantastic action sequence with a Jack Kirby-meets-Satan design sense, and some more hints about the true nature of the Metalocalypse. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job continues to get funnier. The “Bones for Muscles Telethon” and “Jim and Derrick” episodes were particular standouts. Aqua Teen Hunger Force continued to provide reliable surrealist humor, The Drinky Crow Show combined hilarity and alcoholism for some truly brilliant episodes, and Moral Orel went from being a one-note Davey and Goliath parody to a dark exploration of middle America. Sure, their schedule is not without turds. (Superjail remains entirely unwatchable, for example.) But the bright spots in their lineup are becoming brighter and more consistent. 15. The Simpsons (FOX) – Yes, the Golden Years are behind us. But also behind us are the seasons when I watched largely out of nostalgia. The current season in particular has offered some real classic episodes. Maybe it’s because last year’s movie refocused the series on the Simpson family, but the hit-to-miss ratio is higher than it’s been in years. Frankly, it’s better than any series has a right to be after 450 episodes, and it’s still a pleasure to visit Springfield after every week.
14. House (FOX) – Hugh Laurie’s House is still one of the most interesting characters on television. And now that the series has recovered from last year’s repetitive “House vs. God” plotting, the characters are finally getting some long-deserved exploration. While the handling of Chase and 
Cameron remains awkward, House’s new team is finally coming into its own. We’re finally learning a little about what makes Wilson tick, and the House/Cuddy relationship is equal parts fascinating and squicky. Plus, House can still throw an interesting curve into its “Diagnosis of the Week” plots. Witness the episode earlier this year where House’s patient was a research scientist at a facility in Antarctica as just one example. Clever plotting and excellent acting make House fascinating week in and week out.
Cameron remains awkward, House’s new team is finally coming into its own. We’re finally learning a little about what makes Wilson tick, and the House/Cuddy relationship is equal parts fascinating and squicky. Plus, House can still throw an interesting curve into its “Diagnosis of the Week” plots. Witness the episode earlier this year where House’s patient was a research scientist at a facility in Antarctica as just one example. Clever plotting and excellent acting make House fascinating week in and week out.13. Chuck (NBC) – I usually understand why things I love aren’t more popular, but the fact that Chuck isn’t a top-rated show perplexes me. It’s almost aggressively likeable, with a solid blend of action and comedy. This season has somehow managed to raise the stakes of the espionage storylines while still developing the supporting cast. Lester and Jeff have backstories and individual personalities, and Captain Awesome is living up to the potential we all knew that he had. Adam Baldwin’s John Casey has gotten both scarier and funnier, and the relationship between Chuck and Sarah touches even my cold dead heart. Any series that can incorporate Tony (Buster Bluth) Hale as a prissy efficiency expert and karate fights with Michael Clarke Duncan deserves to be a runaway hit.
12. Heroes (NBC) – Now, it’s not like I’ve been the world’s harshest critic of Heroes. Heck, I will still defend Season Two. Regardless, even if the buzz is gone, this season so far has been an entertaining ride. The disparate storylines came together in a satisfying way, with the characters nobody cares about largely written out or otherwise ignored. Arthur Petrelli made for a satisfying Big Bad, and Nathan and Sylar had storylines that lived up to their performances. While “The Catalyst” could have used a little more development instead of ending up as a poorly-defined story point, the “Villains” arc hit the right notes, and “Fugitives” looks to be a real game changer. Heroes is dark fun, with some truly enjoyable character moments amidst all the apocalyptic action.
11. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX) – Three words for you: “The Nightman Cometh”. Every episode is a glorious study in bad taste, and so funny it makes you wonder if you’re a bad person for enjoying it. This season included a trip to the American Revolution, an intricate mystery revolving around an errant poo, door-to-door gasoline sales, a guest appearance from Sinbad (“I hope he’s wearing something made of windbreaker!”), teabagging, and the most demented musical ever. Oh, and the now-legendary Green Man. Every episode this season has been a creepy gem, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It may be a long time before I go a full day without using the phrase “Master of karate and friendship for everyone”.
That’s all for this installment. Next time, it’s my own personal Top Ten. Last year’s top spot went to John from Cincinnati – what will follow in its footsteps? And will an ABC Family series make the list? Let these questions consume your waking hours until I return!
