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« Ausiello Report
Just in Time: My Top 10 Fave Shows of 2007!
Chloe Sevigny by Lacey Terrell/HBO; America Ferrera by Bob D’Amico/ABC; Alec Baldwin by Nicole Rivelli/NB
1. Big Love
It's no secret that I had little love for HBO's polygamy drama in its first season. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, not to mention one hell of a kicky conceit, Big Love was shockingly ordinary and gratingly self-conscious. Well, all that changed in Season 2. The writing was sharper, the stakes higher and the relationships more complex and unpredictable. As a result, it proved itself to be the year's most entertaining hour of TV. And boy, did the cast rise to the occasion. Ginnifer Goodwin and Chloe Sevigny in particular seemed to revel in their respective characters' added dimensions. But pity any actor who had to share a scene with the one-woman tsunami that is Grace Zabriskie. Her special brand of crazy should be framed and hung in the Museum of Fine Art. Right next to the show itself.
2. The Sopranos
I liked the ending. There, I said it. Diner-interuptus-gate, although frustrating in the moment, was, in hindsight, the perfect capper to a series teeming with ambiguity. The Journey power ballad was just icing on the cake.
3. Lost
Speaking of memorable endings, Lost's Season 3 climax last May easily ranks as one of the most thrilling two hours of television ever. It more than made up for the occasional misstep. OK, three missteps: Paulo, Nikki and Jack's lame tattoos.
4. Friday Night Lights
Yes, the murder plot was unfortunate. (Although, for my money, Landry-the-killer was an easier pill to swallow than Landry-the-football-star.) But I'm willing to forgive such lapses in judgment since 95 percent of the time, the show remains damn-near perfect.
5. Ugly Betty
Line-for-line, the most uproariously funny series on the air. Think I'm exaggerating? Consider this little slice of heaven that Wilhelmina lobbed to Betty after she caught her cheating with her bodyguard: "Come on, girl. I'm black. You’re Mexican. Let's not talk around it like a couple of dull white people." Throw in some dazzling directing and one of TV's finest ensembles and you've got the fifth best show of '07!
6. The Shield
Forget Rosie vs. Elisabeth. The year's most explosive feud was Mackey vs. Shane.
7. 30 Rock
Another show that skyrocketed in quality in its second season. And yes, Alec Baldwin is off-the-charts hysterical, but let's for a moment bask in the comedic genius that is Tina Fey. If there's a funnier straight man (or in this case, woman) on TV right now, I haven't met him (or her).
8. Pushing Daisies
Not just a show. An entire universe. And I want to live in it. Anyone know how I can get there?
9. Mad Men
Better than any/every book about the '60s that I never read combined.
10. Damages
Although maddeningly uneven, FX's thriller was, for the most part, a top-notch, insanely addictive, edge-of-your-seat mystery. It also scared the you-know-what out of me on more than one ocassion. And you got to love a show that can do that.
Runners-up: Dexter, Project Runway, Veronica Mars, The View (before Rosie left), Chuck, My Name is Earl, Burn Notice, Battlestar Galactica, House and Dirty Sexy Money.
Reactions to the list? Any welcome surprises and/or boneheaded omissions? Is there a show on there that shouldn't be? Exercise your First Amendment rights in the comments section below. And if you're feeling extra ambitious, go ahead and post your own top 10 list. But hurry up – 2007 is almost over!
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Dec 28, 2007 7:31 PM
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Hey Michael,
I made a "Top 7 of '07" and all 7 of mine are in your 10!
1. Big Love
2. Mad Men
3. Lost
4. The Sopranos
5. 30 Rock
6. Damages
7. Pushing Daisies
Happy New Year!
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Dec 28, 2007 7:45 PM
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I only watch #4, 5, 6 and 7.
What a difference a year makes!
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Dec 28, 2007 8:14 PM
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Total agreement with #3,5,7 and 8. Except they should be reversed. The others I don't watch or I think you're smoking smurf dust. And Dexter should be on the list, not just a mention.
So I guess Ausiello will just reprint this list next year since television no longer exists except in reality and game show formats.
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Dec 28, 2007 8:39 PM
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Veronica Mars makes the (runner up) list, but not the final season of Gilmore Girls???
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Dec 28, 2007 8:49 PM
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I agree with so many more of your list than I do your frienemy!
Of the top 10, I only watch # 8. lol But Dexter, VM, Chuck, Earl, Burn Notice & House on your runners up list are some of my favs. :D
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Dec 28, 2007 8:56 PM
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I would agree with most everything on your list except that I don't watch "FNL" or "The Shield" and don't have HBO so no "Big Love" or "The Sopranos" watching.
I'd replace those four shows with: "House," "The Office," "Chuck," and "Project Runway."
Disappointment of the year goes to "Heroes," though I'm still watching.
I'm dying for "Mad Men" to return for its second season.
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Dec 28, 2007 9:08 PM
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In no particular order:
Supernatural
Moonlight
Veronica Mars
Ugly Betty
Lost
Heroes
How I Met Your Mother
Pushing Daisies
Burn Notice
Eureka (I can't believe I didn't discover this show until this year!)
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Dec 28, 2007 10:01 PM
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Happy New Year Michael! My favorites this year (in no particular order) are Friday Night Lights, Ugly Betty, Veronica Mars, Pushing Daisies, Supernatural, and Heroes.
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Dec 28, 2007 10:02 PM
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I can't agree with you on Ugly Betty, at least not on the first line. Great show, but 30 Rock is definitely the most uproariously funny show on the air IMO. You just can't beat Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey.
Pushing Daisies would be a close #2, as I am completely in love with that show. From there, I'd have to think about it more. The Office, Heroes, Chuck, Brothers and Sisters, and How I Met Your Mother are all up there somewhere. And I almost forgot that The O.C. and Veronica Mars aired some good episodes in 2007!
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Dec 28, 2007 10:18 PM
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Hey; don't let a lackluster first-few-episodes of the second season of Heroes spoil what was otherwise a kick-ASS ending to the first season. And, in the end, season 2 did come through and explain all the stuff that made us go "WTF?" through the first half of the season.
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Dec 29, 2007 12:18 AM
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Bones
Heroes
Supernatural
The Closer
Saving Grace
Journeyman
These are the shows I record via DVR. These are the shows I will buy on DVD. I own 2 seasons of Bones and have ordered the first season of Heroes.
Will there be any 2007/2008 Season DVDs of any TV series?
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Dec 29, 2007 1:14 AM
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My Top ten differ somewhat:
1. Heroes (it finished with a bang which took it from not being in my list to top of the list
2. Friday Night Lights - call me crazy but I like this season better then season 1
3. Smallville - Show seems re-invigorated after an awful season 6
4. Californication - enuf said!
5. Gossip Girl - Surprised by how entertaining this show actually is - even if it has a boring meant to be romance in it.
6. Prison Break - with the bang they finished season 2 on and the first 2 episodes of season 3 I was expecting this to top my list. But sadly the show has lost momentum since the untimely death of doctor sara
7. 24 - Worst season of the series, but still some damn fine TV - expect season 7 when it finally airs to be something special
8. Criminal Minds - I might be in a minority here, but I think the show is better without Mandy in it.
9. Dexter - Brilliant end to season 2 - up there with the ending for Lost season 3 and Prison Break season 2
10. Supernatural - surprisingly fresh after dull season 2.
Honorable mention goes to:
Weeds, Reaper, Journeyman, Lost and The Simpsons
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Dec 29, 2007 3:36 AM
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Michael, I am shocked that BROTHERS & SISTERS didn't make your list, not even a mention. I thought you loved the show almost as much as I do. I hope Emily VC sees this betrayal!
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Dec 29, 2007 3:48 AM
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No Heroes? Not even as a runner-up? Sure, the season started off almost as bad as Lost's 3rd season, but the latter half of it more than made up for that (for both shows). And Chuck should've made the list too, but I guess runner-up is acceptable.
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Dec 29, 2007 8:13 AM
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