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Home » Blogs » StuntDouble's blog » The best and worst of television this year

The best and worst of television this year

by
StuntDouble

Ah, summer: time for swimming, frolicking, eating ice cream, sitting in a dark room and crying because all the good television shows are on hiatus until fall.

Kidding, of course! Summer is a time of great optimism for television addicts. You can catch up on any shows you missed, because last fall's shows will be hitting DVD any day now. You can watch the Television Critics Association's summer press tour, hoping to catch a glimpse of any fall shows that will feature strong, confident, beautiful women in leading rolls. (And maybe if we're lucky, even some lesbian subtext!) You can even take a look at the Television Critics Association's Summer poll and set your TiVo (or order your Netflix queue) accordingly.

According to the Television Critics Association's summer poll, here are the best and worst of shows of 2008:

Best:

1) Lost
2) The Wire
3) 30 Rock
4) The Office
5) Friday Night Lights
6) House
7) Battlestar Galactica
8) Breaking Bad
9) John Adams
10) In Treatments

I definitely agree with the first seven. I haven't seen Breaking Bad or In Treatments. I can say, however, that even as a history nut, watching Laura Linney make out with Paul Giamatti in John Adams is downright yucky.

Worst:

1) The Moment of Truth
2) The Return of Jezebel James
3) Quarterlife
4) Living Lohan
5) Cashmere Mafia
6) A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
7) Farmer Wants a Wife
8) According to Jim
9) American Idol
10) Secret Talents of the Stars

I had such high hopes for The Return of Jezebel James, and we all had high hopes for Cashmere Mafia. I don't know what one hopes for Tila Tequila, but she did bring about the legalization of gay marriage in California, so that's some consolation for her, I suppose.

How about you: what were your best and worst of 2008? What shows are you most looking forward to in the fall?

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    • Submitted by
    StuntDouble
    on July 11, 2008 - 9:00am.
    TAGS :: 
    roc's picture

    Critics list?

    Submitted by
    roc (293 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 9:28am.

    Wait one darn minute! I have a criticism of the critics' list. Where the heck is Gossip Girl on the Best Of list? This list has lost all credibility! Do these critical people not understand the sheer awesomeness of Blair and Serena? 

    And why was Unhitched so rudely ignored on the Worst Of list? Is it because it didn't air long enough for them to recognize just how bad it was? :) I need answers....

    Sportylady's picture

    Biggest Disappointment

    Submitted by
    Sportylady (475 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 9:46am.

    I don't watch a lot of TV anymore, but hands down goes to Cashmere Mafia.  I had been excited about this show from the moment I read about it on AE a long time ago.  I watched it with high hopes that every episode would get better-it didn't.  I still can't believe I cut a date night short with my wife to watch it (the bridal/baby shower episode), I was pissed when it was over.  Oh well, I gave up and the saving grace was Dara's recaps, which were brilliant.  They should have hired her to write for the show.

    Best Shows:  Bones and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.  Though I thought that Bones was a tiny bit weak this year, mainly due to the writer's strike, it's still my favorite TV show out there.  I'm glad audiences and critics like TSCC, even though I knew it would be decent, it surpassed my expectations.

    stormy's picture

    B&S

    Submitted by
    stormy (189 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 10:53am.
    I enjoyed watching Brothers and Sisters...but then, I love family drama.
    Marianna's picture

    Yeah i love brothers and

    Submitted by
    Marianna (83 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 1:21pm.

    Yeah i love brothers and sisters, my family is a little bit like them but we don't live in such a cool place and my sisters not married to a senator or anything but there are some similarities. I think its really wierd but don't you think Rebecca looks way better in the second series than the 1st? 

    Well . . . that's that then.

    rokstar's picture

    life

    Submitted by
    rokstar (54 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 11:02am.
    i loved life with sarah shahi and pushing daisies and i loved heroes. can't wait for fall when tv really comes back. 
    Lauren's picture

    The only good thing about A

    Submitted by
    Lauren (308 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 11:03am.

    The only good thing about A Shot At Love this year was Brittany Rae & Sirbrina. YUM!??!

    I really hate Tila haha

     

    Go here for my view on all things lesbian: http://allthingslesbeau.blogspot.com

    keeks's picture

    i was on team brittany the

    Submitted by
    keeks (98 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 1:45pm.
    i was on team brittany the whole time
    Paula's picture

    Heroes...?

    Submitted by
    Paula (135 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 11:05am.

    I would have thought that Heroes would have been amoung the best as well as The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

    Apart from that i feel that the lists are about right.

    DANA's picture

    greys anatomy

    Submitted by
    DANA (122 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 12:26pm.
    sure the writers strike really was crapped out but GREY'S ANATOMY was still an awesome show. Not to mention Gossip Girl isn't on here? I didn't get into watching the show until the season was over but I am def hooked. Bones is still a great series. House is a good one and I agree with that on the list. Heroes is another one that should be on the good list. I have to say that i really didn't like Friday Night Lights. And some of those shows I haven't even HEARD of...my oh my! :0
    DILLIGAF's picture

    OMG

    Submitted by
    DILLIGAF (24 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 12:38pm.
    I can't believe Damages or The Riches isn't on the best list.
    anitaiowa's picture

    Lost?

    Submitted by
    anitaiowa (25 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 2:05pm.
    Lost is certainly a good show, but, better than The Wire? No. No no no no no.
    Punkin's picture

    No doubt about it, The

    Submitted by
    Punkin (17 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 2:59pm.
    No doubt about it, The Closer and Saving Grace are 2 of the absolute best television has to offer.
    pass's picture

    Mad Men and Rescue Me should

    Submitted by
    pass (17 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 6:01pm.
    Mad Men and Rescue Me should be on the best list.
    the linster's picture

    Mad Men!

    Submitted by
    the linster (1014 posts)
    on July 12, 2008 - 2:47pm.
    Definitely should be in the top 10. And ditto what Stunt said about John Adams. Icky.
    chloe121212's picture

    30 Rock

    Submitted by
    chloe121212 (273 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 6:17pm.

    So looking forward to 30 Rock this fall.  Also I'm looking forward to Heroes, I haven't exactly fallen off of that wagon yet.

    "I don't kiss girls who wear doilies"

     

    ice cream's picture

    I loved watching tila

    Submitted by
    ice cream (not verified)
    on July 11, 2008 - 6:30pm.

    I loved watching tila tequila just because it is incredicly stupid. Me and my friends get together to watch it and trash talk about tila.

    I don't think any of the new shows this year are any good. Since the past years all good television shows came to an end. Only thing I like these days is Prison Break.

    Tscgrad06's picture

    30 Rock

    Submitted by
    Tscgrad06 (92 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 6:53pm.
    I never watched it while it was on NBC, because I think other things were on, but I'm watching the first season on Netflix and I love it! Very funny, and I've always thought highly of Tina Fey. TsC
    Irene's picture

    I agree with quite a few of

    Submitted by
    Irene (28 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 8:30pm.
    I agree with quite a few of those choices, but like others have said, where is the The Closer?
    Salome's picture

    It's not TV, it's HBO

    Submitted by
    Salome (20 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 9:04pm.
    I really do love every show on that chanel, with the notible exception of John From Cincinnati, which was fairly incomprehensible. I thought the last season of Curb Your Enthusiasm was wonderful and Flight of the Conchords was way to funny. On Showtime Weeds, Dexter and Penn & Teller are all must sees.
    terrifan's picture

    WMC

    Submitted by
    terrifan (15 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 11:07pm.

    I loved Women's Murder Club, and was saddened when it hit the chopping block for cancelled shows.  Closer, Saving Grace, 30 Rock, and Reaper would round out my top five shows for the year. 

    reddirtgirl's picture

    Joss Returns

    Submitted by
    reddirtgirl (27 posts)
    on July 11, 2008 - 11:22pm.
    Of those shows I watch or have seen in the top 10, I agree they are all excellent, quality teleivison and I've heard good things about those I haven't seen.  Of the  bottom 10, I haven't seen any of them except  snippets of American Idol.  I'm not sure it is one of the 10 worst shows on television, but  I am not a fan.  My most anticipated returning show for next season is The Amazing Race, a love letter to the planet with all the reality show  relationships drama, gamesmanship, and hijinks thrown in.  My most anticipated new show of the next season is without a doubt Dollhouse, marking the return of Eliza Dushku and Joss Whedon to television. 
    lara2's picture

    The Sarah Connor Chronicles

    Submitted by
    lara2 (44 posts)
    on July 12, 2008 - 6:13pm.

    This show increased even more the love I already...sorry WE already had for Lena Headey !!!

    lezbefriends's picture

    thanks to the writer's strike...

    Submitted by
    lezbefriends (5 posts)
    on July 12, 2008 - 9:57pm.
    the best tv shows for me this year were reruns of good shows i watched on the internet. ironic? maybe.
    irishmystery's picture

    Best and Worst of 2008 TV

    Submitted by
    irishmystery (7 posts)
    on July 14, 2008 - 12:31am.

    Best: Battlestar Galactica, House, Exes and Ohs, Dexter, Californication, Shear Genius, Project Runway, Burn Notice

     

    Worst:  Tila Tequila (though I love Dani Campbell), Flippin Out, Big Brother  

    abbagirl's picture

    not a fan of the boob tube.

    Submitted by
    abbagirl (127 posts)
    on July 14, 2008 - 3:23am.

    that being said, the only show that i consider to be the bestest right now is lost. everything else on the "best" list are just "eh."

    but then i tend like shows that make me think. seriously, anything on the animal planet channel should be on the "best" list! like, every time i catch an episode of "animal cops" or "the most extreme," i drop everything and am completely riveted and mesmerized.

    obviously, i am not a normal person, though. :-P

     

    Kris's picture

    Friday Night Lights

    Submitted by
    Kris (126 posts)
    on July 14, 2008 - 1:06pm.
    I love Friday Night Lights! It's such a good show but I think a lot of people dismiss it because they think it's only about football when there is usually only about 5 min of football in an entire episode. 30 Rock is my favorite comedy, the entire cast is hilarious
    Joyous's picture

    Tila = Gay Marriage?

    Submitted by
    Joyous (108 posts)
    on August 6, 2008 - 2:26pm.
    Do people really truly believe that Tila Tequila is the one that helped pass gay marriage legalization in California? I'd rather give the kudos to Jodie Foster than the tiny head pipsqueak

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