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December 25, 2006

Best and worst of TV in 2006

In this week’s column, I listed my picks for the best shows of 2006. Of course, I didn’t have room to mention all the shows I love, nor did I have space to give out some other very special awards.
So, I’m listing them here. Enjoy.

Best show runners-up: Here are some shows that didn’t make my top ten, but still deserve consider for their commitments to excellence – “Prison Break,� Fox; “Psych,� USA; “Criminal Minds,� CBS; “Ugly Betty,� ABC; “Friday Night Lights,� NBC; “Entourage,� HBO
Best profession for TV character, female: Computer expert. With a couple of notable exceptions (e.g. Lt. Tao on “The Closer�), when an organization needs technical assistance, they generally turn to a chick. And what cool, hilarious chicks they are – Garcia on “Criminal Minds,� Chloe on “24,� Abby on “NCIS.� Who says girls aren’t good with math, science and technology? Certainly not TV.
Best profession for TV character, male: Federal agent. Allow me a moment of female chauvinism, here. It’s my belief that a man never looks hotter than when his lips are pursed, his brow is furrowed and his eyes blaze with conviction. Thus, I find almost every male federal agent on TV absolutely smokin’ hot. Yes, even Bill Buchanan on “24.� Don’t judge me.
Actress most in need of her own show: Laurie Metcalf. The “Roseanne� vet sparkled this year as a deranged neighbor on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.� Her wild-eyed ambush at a supermarket early in the season may have single-handedly saved the show. Sadly, her character was killed, but Metcalf herself is alive and well. So let’s give this fine actress her own vehicle to show off her skills.
Actor most in need of his own show: Dean Winter. Whether getting gunned down on “Rescue Me,� or furiously peddling beepers to Tina Fey’s co-workers on “30 Rock,� Winter is a delight. So give this actor and his great, raspy voice their own show. Please?
Best use of makeup: “Ugly Betty,� for turning cute America Ferrara into her dowdy alter ego, Betty.
Worst use of makeup: Those horrible old-age prosthetics used in that “flash-forward� episode of “Nip/Tuck� this season.
Scariest cops: “The Shield.� Not only is the show’s main character, Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) the kind of guy who’d kill a fellow officer to save his neck, we found out this season that his sidekick, Shane (Walton Goggins), is also that kind of guy. Shane blew up fellow Strike Team member Curtis “Lem� Lemansky to prevent him from testifying to internal affairs. Oh, and did I mention that the internal affairs officer assigned to investigate Mackey and co. was also a world-class creep? Lt. Jon Kavanaugh (flawlessly played by Forest Whitaker), was the kind of man who had no qualms about berating Mackey’s poor ex-wife into ratting out her former spouse.
Nicest cops: If “The Shield� makes you suspicious of cops, then TNT’s “The Closer,� puts your mind at ease. Kyra Sedgwick’s tough Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson may be all scary and ruthless when interviewing suspects, but, to her staff, she’s a sweetie. There was no better proof of that than this season, when she put her neck on the line to cover up a screw-up by her two most senior officers, Lt. Flynn and Lt. Provenza. Sure, she was ticked at them, but she was determined to protect her guys no matter what. And the rest of the cops are equally likable, with a special nod to G.W. Bailey, who makes the surly but lovable Provenza the best crusty cop with a heart of gold since Mick Belker on “Hill Street Blues.�
Best turn-arounds: “Nip/Tuck� and “Desperate Housewives.� Both of these once-hot shows faltered last season, but managed to come back strong this year.
Biggest disappointment: “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.� Aaron Sorkin’s preachy drama about a comedy sketch show had a decent pilot, then faltered big time. Aaron, honey, you’re writing about a comedy show. Shouldn’t you be at least a little funny?

Posted by amanda on 12:03 PM | Comments (0)

December 5, 2006

Hey, hey, hey -- here's a link you might be interested in

Hey all,
If you're interested in seeing a complete list of TV Land's "100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases," here's a link to the list, rated 100 to 1: http://www.tvland.com/originals/catchphrases/quotes.jhtml/
Enjoy -- and don't say I didn't warn you.

Posted by amanda on 9:18 PM | Comments (0)