Not such a bad year, after all
December 23, 2007
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
I kept thinking 2007 was a weak year for TV, since it brought unwatchable garbage like "Kid Nation" and "Dirty Sexy Money." But I thought about it more, and 2007 ain't so awful.
In fact, my top 10 list doesn't even include some of my favorites, which would have shown up in my top 20 list, like "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Aliens in America."
Anyhow, here are the best of the best.
1. 'Family Guy'
Every year, the Oscars, Emmys and critics overlook comedies -- especially cartoons -- for being merely funny or juvenile. Here I am to buck tradition by proclaiming "Family Guy" is better than any boo-hoo drama. Better than the overhyped "Sopranos." Better than everything.
It is brilliantly funny, the only thing that makes me laugh out loud one to 10 times per episode. And it does make me think. Like, in the "Star Wars" episode, the empire's space cruiser had a bumper sticker on the back that read, "Bush/Cheney." That made me think, "Democracy really is practiced far and wide."
2. 'House'
Each season, "House" has been a very entertaining medical procedural. But this year, it became fantastic, by getting rid of Dr. House's three longtime doctors. Oh, they're still around in the hospital. But they've been sidelined, and that's good.
No offense to the fine actors who play those doctors, but their characters were beginning to feel like wet rags. Now, House's personality is really flourishing, mostly unchecked. His weeks-long test to find replacements was a labyrinth of fun. And the writing is tighter than ever. It's smart, funny, snarky and deliciously cranky.
3. '30 Rock'
In the spring and early fall, I declared this the best show on TV. That was before "Family Guy" and "House" kicked into full gear. Still, "30 Rock" is hilarious, poignant and the best traditional comedy since "Seinfeld."
4. 'Rescue Me'
Some friends and readers tell me they're not happy about the progression of "Rescue Me," because one event or another turned them off. That's to be expected, since "Rescue Me" is a cynical comedy-drama. If you watch that cynicism when you're in an earnest mood, its anger at the world can rub you the wrong way.
But for me, "Rescue Me" is still one of the best 20 shows ever. The writing and directing are efficient. The laughs and odd situations advance the stories. And the actors slay me with high quality. I watch them and think, "Can a show really be this good?"
5. 'Californication'
The first season of David Duchovny's comedy-drama on Showtime began strong and finished fairly strong, as he played Hank, a confident snarkellectual flawed by his fantasies of love and lust. Hank is a real man, with adult thoughts, and childish TV needs him.
6. 'Reaper'
The writers, directors and actors are bringing back the fun and funny spirit of the lighter side of "The X-Files." Guys track escaped souls from hell. Their comedy is heavenly.
7. 'Mad Men'
What a wondrous flashback to 1960. The Madison Avenue ad men of the era are, on the face of life, sexist WASPy homophobes who hold America by the horns. But this new drama got under their skin to show how they -- and their wives and secretaries -- are mired in booze, cigarettes, lies and corrupted "family values."
8. 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'
One of the funniest shows on TV, "Sunny" follows four nasty and quite dumb egoists who run a bar and hurt each other intentionally and unintentionally. Unfortunately, I know very few people who also catch it, because it's on FX, the best network you're not watching.
9. 'The Sarah Silverman Program'
The only way to understand it is to get a taste. In one episode, dumb Sarah accidentally joins an anti-abortion group because she thinks it's a lemon square party. They convince her to picket against "baby killers" at a clinic. Then she waves at a doctor. "Do you know him?" the anti-abortionists ask. Sure, Sarah says, "He's my abortionist!"
10. 'Dexter'
Bloody "Dexter" continues to dig deep into the twisted psyche of a sociopath who kills other killers, a vigilante by choice, since his dad trained him not to focus his compulsion on truer victims. It's such a good-looking show, with excellent acting and moody scripts.
delfman@suntimes.com
BY DOUG ELFMAN Television Critic
I kept thinking 2007 was a weak year for TV, since it brought unwatchable garbage like "Kid Nation" and "Dirty Sexy Money." But I thought about it more, and 2007 ain't so awful.
In fact, my top 10 list doesn't even include some of my favorites, which would have shown up in my top 20 list, like "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Aliens in America."
Anyhow, here are the best of the best.
1. 'Family Guy'
Every year, the Oscars, Emmys and critics overlook comedies -- especially cartoons -- for being merely funny or juvenile. Here I am to buck tradition by proclaiming "Family Guy" is better than any boo-hoo drama. Better than the overhyped "Sopranos." Better than everything.
It is brilliantly funny, the only thing that makes me laugh out loud one to 10 times per episode. And it does make me think. Like, in the "Star Wars" episode, the empire's space cruiser had a bumper sticker on the back that read, "Bush/Cheney." That made me think, "Democracy really is practiced far and wide."
2. 'House'
Each season, "House" has been a very entertaining medical procedural. But this year, it became fantastic, by getting rid of Dr. House's three longtime doctors. Oh, they're still around in the hospital. But they've been sidelined, and that's good.
No offense to the fine actors who play those doctors, but their characters were beginning to feel like wet rags. Now, House's personality is really flourishing, mostly unchecked. His weeks-long test to find replacements was a labyrinth of fun. And the writing is tighter than ever. It's smart, funny, snarky and deliciously cranky.
3. '30 Rock'
In the spring and early fall, I declared this the best show on TV. That was before "Family Guy" and "House" kicked into full gear. Still, "30 Rock" is hilarious, poignant and the best traditional comedy since "Seinfeld."
4. 'Rescue Me'
Some friends and readers tell me they're not happy about the progression of "Rescue Me," because one event or another turned them off. That's to be expected, since "Rescue Me" is a cynical comedy-drama. If you watch that cynicism when you're in an earnest mood, its anger at the world can rub you the wrong way.
But for me, "Rescue Me" is still one of the best 20 shows ever. The writing and directing are efficient. The laughs and odd situations advance the stories. And the actors slay me with high quality. I watch them and think, "Can a show really be this good?"
5. 'Californication'
The first season of David Duchovny's comedy-drama on Showtime began strong and finished fairly strong, as he played Hank, a confident snarkellectual flawed by his fantasies of love and lust. Hank is a real man, with adult thoughts, and childish TV needs him.
6. 'Reaper'
The writers, directors and actors are bringing back the fun and funny spirit of the lighter side of "The X-Files." Guys track escaped souls from hell. Their comedy is heavenly.
7. 'Mad Men'
What a wondrous flashback to 1960. The Madison Avenue ad men of the era are, on the face of life, sexist WASPy homophobes who hold America by the horns. But this new drama got under their skin to show how they -- and their wives and secretaries -- are mired in booze, cigarettes, lies and corrupted "family values."
8. 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'
One of the funniest shows on TV, "Sunny" follows four nasty and quite dumb egoists who run a bar and hurt each other intentionally and unintentionally. Unfortunately, I know very few people who also catch it, because it's on FX, the best network you're not watching.
9. 'The Sarah Silverman Program'
The only way to understand it is to get a taste. In one episode, dumb Sarah accidentally joins an anti-abortion group because she thinks it's a lemon square party. They convince her to picket against "baby killers" at a clinic. Then she waves at a doctor. "Do you know him?" the anti-abortionists ask. Sure, Sarah says, "He's my abortionist!"
10. 'Dexter'
Bloody "Dexter" continues to dig deep into the twisted psyche of a sociopath who kills other killers, a vigilante by choice, since his dad trained him not to focus his compulsion on truer victims. It's such a good-looking show, with excellent acting and moody scripts.
delfman@suntimes.com
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