My Top 25 Television Shows of the Year

In honor of the recent announcement of the Emmy Award nominations I thought I might create a list of what I think are the best scripted shows from the last year. I watch a lot of TV, but I haven't seen everything, so there may be an unreasonable snub here and there.

I also have a bias against cop, nurse or lawyer shows and anything with a laugh track -- so keep that in mind.

Here are the Emmy nominations if you are interested:

http://www.emmys.com/nominations

1-5 | House (Fox), Lost (ABC), Dexter (SHO), Big Love (HBO), Mad Men (AMC)

Hugh Laurie and company have created one of the best TV characters ever and the writers continuously take chances and keep things interesting. What a great show.


6-10 | Spartacus: Blood and Sand (SHO), Chuck (NBC), Breaking Bad (AMC), Glee (FOX), Community (NBC)

I think many people might be surprised with the number six entry of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, but this show really captured my attention. The first episode was ridiculous and kind of bad, but as the series went along into its first season things really got juicy. “Jupiter’s cock” is my new favorite profanity. This show might not be in the same league as HBO’s Rome, but Spartacus is quite good.


11-15 | In Treatment (HBO), Friday Night Lights (NBC), Burn Notice (USA), Breaking Bad (AMC), East Bound and Down (HBO)

Every show listed in this range are must watches because of their amazing acting performances. Over a mix of genres, these shows are powered by their amazing casts.

16-20 | Entourage (HBO), Parks and Recreation (NBC), 30 Rock (NBC), The Office (NBC), Psych (USA)

Welcome to the comedy block. These shows gave me some of my best laughs over the last year. I wonder how high on the list The Office will be if Steve Carell leaves?

21-25 | Party Down (STARZ), Fringe (FOX), True Blood (HBO), Royal Pains (USA), Bones (FOX)

Why, oh why, did Starz go and cancel Party Down. What a fun show that was. I can’t believe it was an expensive show to produce but Adam Scott is kind of blowing up lately and I understand it is hard to keep him around. Also, I know that it isn’t ground breaking television, but I really enjoy tuning into Royal Pains and Bones.

Honorable Mention | Californication (SHO), Dark Blue (TNT), Leverage (TNT), V (ABC), Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX), In Plain Sight (USA), Modern Family (ABC), Castle (ABC), Monk (USA)

TV REVIEW: THE DEEP END is an unoriginal GREY'S knock off

I am going to resist making any one of many possible puns using the name of the new ABC Television series, The Deep End, in telling you how bad it is – let's just suffice it to say this show isn't very good and will hopefully fade away right quick.

This prime time soap follows five young and attractive first-year lawyers being chucked into the deep end of the legal world at the prestigious Los Angeles law firm Sterling, Huddle, Oppenheim & Craft. Although there is certainly a lot of drama between the partners, whose last names make up the firm's name, the show mainly focuses on the youngsters, Dylan Hewitt, Liam Priory, Addy Fischer, Beth Branford and Malcolm Bennet.

Matt Long plays the sensitive Dylan, Ben Lawson plays Liam, an Aussie whore with a heart of gold, Tina Majorino is the somewhat geeky and overwhelmed Addy, Leah Pipes plays the bred-for-success blond with daddy issues, Beth, and Mehcad Brooks is the strong, complex token minority, Malcom.

Okay, I guess Nicole Ari Parker, as Susan Oppenheim, is black and Billy Zane, as Cliff Huddle, could pass as some sort of minority with the tan he is sporting, but still it is generally a show without a lot of diversity.

What there is in this show is a lot of inter(office)course. This is basically the kind of law firm where you would half expect orgies to breakout on the weekends. Dylan pines for a paralegal, who just so happens to be breaking off a sexual relationship with one of the partners, Dylan's boss, who is also married to another high-profile lawyer at the firm. Meanwhile Liam is macking on Beth and Addy has a thing for Malcom's strong silent type.

Someone needs to tell ABC that they need to stop making Grey's Anatomy clones. They already have two Grey's franchises with the original and the spin-off Private Practice -- time for some new ideas.

The Deep End, with its overcooked melodrama and jokes that fall so far flat you are forced to chuckle at how pitiful they are, is a pretty poor knock off.

The show officially solidifies its lame status in episode three when Beth and Addy are assigned to a case defending a high-profile client, a lingerie designer, from a sexual harassment charge. The ladies win the case for their client but feel dirty about it when they realize their client may not be guilty in this particular instance but does systematically discriminate against women at his company.

Tough luck, right? Lawyers defend bad people all the time, that is the way it goes. Even habitual sexual harassers deserve proper legal representation.

What came next was just amusing. Beth and Addy reveal their moral dilemma to their boss and the high-powered superwoman partner Susan Oppenheim (Parker) gets involved. Susan sets an appointment with the client and goes off on him for womanizing and the sexual harassment in his company. After the client is put in his place Beth, Addy and Susan triumphantly march out of the office giving each other high-fives.

Besides being a really lame way to trumpet female-empowerment, it flies in the face of everything that had happened on the show in the first three episodes.

First of all, the lingerie story line was used as an excuse to show as many women in lingerie as possible. Secondly, the law firm that these characters work at seems like the perfect place to work if you want to be sexually harassed.

It is tone deaf writing like that which makes this show a turkey. Stay away and do not let yourself get hooked on this completely unoriginal drama.

My Latest Predictions for the 67th Golden Globes

Here are my predictions for the Golden Globe winners this year. The awards show is scheduled for Sunday, January 17.

For a good briefing on this year's awards check out this guide from Variety.

Also, I am planning on Live Tweeting during the show. So if you don't already, make sure to follow me (or just keep tabs at twitter.com/boscohouse). Join the conversation!

My predictions are in RED, while my hopes are in BLUE. If there is only red, my hopes and predictions align.

I might update my scorecard before Sunday, but here are my best guesses.

FILM

BEST FEATURE - DRAMA
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air"

BEST FEATURE - COMEDY
"(500) Days of Summer"
"The Hangover"
"It's Complicated"
"Julie & Julia"
"Nine"

ACTOR - DRAMA
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney - "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
Tobey Maguire - "Brothers"

ACTRESS - DRAMA
Emily Blunt - "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren - "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious"

ACTOR - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Matt Damon - "The Informant!"
Daniel Day-Lewis - "Nine"
Robert Downey Jr. - "Sherlock Holmes"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - "500 Days of Summer"
Michael Stuhlbarg - "A Serious Man"

ACTRESS - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Sandra Bullock - "The Proposal"
Marion Cotillard - "Nine"
Julia Roberts - "Duplicity"
Meryl Streep - "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia"

DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron - "Avatar"
Clint Eastwood - "Invictus"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon - "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglourious Basterds"

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique - "Precious"
Julianne Moore - "A Single Man"

SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell - "District 9"
Mark Boal - "The Hurt Locker"
Nancy Meyers - "It's Complicated"
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Baaria" (Italy) - Medusa Film; Summit Entertainment
"Broken Embraces" (Spain) - El Deseo SA; Sony Pictures Classics
"The Maid" (Chile) - Forastero; Elephant Eye Films
"A Prophet" (France) - Chic Films; Sony Pictures Classics
"The White Ribbon" (Germany) - Wega Films; Sony Pictures Classics

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"Up"

BEST SCORE
Michael Giacchino - "Up"
Marvin Hamlisch - "The Informant!"
James Horner - "Avatar"
Abel Korzeniowski - "A Single Man"
Karen O, Carter Burwell - "Where The Wild Things Are"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Cinema Italiano" from "Nine" - Music & Lyrics by: Maury Yeston
"I Want to Come Home" from "Everybody's Fine" - Music & Lyrics by: Paul McCartney
"I Will See You" from "Avatar" - Music by: James Horner, Simon Franglen; Lyrics by: James Horner, Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell
"The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart" - Music & Lyrics by: Ryan Bingham, T Bone Burnett
"Winter" from "Brothers" - Music by: U2; Lyrics by: Bono

TELEVISION

TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
"Big Love"
"Dexter"
"House"
"Mad Men"
"True Blood"

TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
"30 Rock"
"Entourage"
"Glee"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Simon Baker - "The Mentalist"
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Jon Hamm - "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie - "House"
Bill Paxton - "Big Love"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Glenn Close - "Damages"
January Jones - "Mad Men"
Julianna Margulies - "The Good Wife"
Anna Paquin - "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Toni Collette - "United States of Tara"
Courteney Cox - "Cougar Town"
Edie Falco - "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey - "30 Rock"
Lea Michele - "Glee"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Steve Carell - "The Office"
David Duchovny - "Californication"
Thomas Jane - "Hung"
Matthew Morrison - "Glee"

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
"Georgia O'Keeffe"
"Grey Gardens"
"Into the Storm"
"Little Dorrit"
"Taking Chance"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Kevin Bacon - "Taking Chance"
Kenneth Branagh - "Wallander: One Step Behind"
Chiwetel Ejiofor - "Endgame"
Brendan Gleeson - "Into The Storm"
Jeremy Irons - "Georgia O'Keeffe"

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Joan Allen - "Georgia O'Keeffe"
Drew Barrymore - "Grey Gardens"
Jessica Lange - "Grey Gardens"
Anna Paquin - "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler"
Sigourney Weaver - "Prayers for Bobby"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jane Adams - "Hung"
Rose Byrne - "Damages"
Jane Lynch - "Glee"
Janet McTeer - "Into The Storm"
Chloe Sevigny - "Big Love"

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Michael Emerson - "Lost"
Neil Patrick Harris - "How I Met Your Mother"
William Hurt - "Damages"
John Lithgow - "Dexter"
Jeremy Piven - "Entourage"

Finally! Mid-season TV Premieres that Took FOR-EV-ER to Get Here

Welcome Back to CHUCK, BIG LOVE and LOST

CHUCK (NBC)
Sunday, January 10

I first started watching Chuck – now entering its third season – shortly after one of my all-time favorite TV shows, The O.C., went off the air. I found it to be the closest substitute. (Think of Chuck as an older Seth Cohen, except as a super agent).

Many of the ancillary characters on Chuck also had some spot roles in The O.C. This is likely because it was created by Josh Schwartz, the mastermind behind The O.C. as well as Gossip Girl.

If you haven't been watching the show, now is a good time to get involved. You can catch up on some of the episodes at Hulu.

Also, this show is struggling for viewers and if it doesn't gain an audience this season, it will likely die.


BIG LOVE (HBO)
Sunday, January 10

A show about Mormons and polygamy might not sound like the most interesting TV show in the world, but keep in mind this is an HBO program. It is really quite brilliant and in my book a “can't miss” show.

Season three was amazing. It really is an intense show. I can't wait to see what is in store for Mr. Henrickson, Mrs. Henrickson, Mrs. Henrickson and Mrs. Henrickson. Possibly another Mrs. Henrickson?


LOST (ABC)
Tuesday, February 2

Prepare to have your mind blown.

I never watched this show until this year when all of the episodes surfaced for free online. You can catch all of the seasons via Netflix or Hulu. I spent the last three months watching this show and easily got addicted. I can't wait to get some answers and see how this crazy show pans out.

I know I am logically going to be disappointed somehow. The finale is too anticipated. It is like The Sopranos or the third Matrix movie, there is no way to finish up without it being disappointing.

Still, I am going to be glued to the show. I think you should be too.

Should MONK, ENTOURAGE and ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Get Movie Deals?

Five TV Shows That Should/Could Be Made into Small or Big Screen Movies


Monk
Let's face it, Monk is our generation's Matlock. When we are in rocking chairs we are going to be watching this show on reruns or hopefully replays of some forthcoming TV movies. This show is really tailor-made for TV movies. There is no doubt in my mind that we will see Mr. Monk in new adventures again.

Lost
This may be an outside the box pick, but I think it can be done – but only if J.J. Abrams is involved. Wouldn't that be fun Lost fans – especially since the show starts its last season in January.

Arrested Development
There are already rumors that this might happen and if you have Jason Bateman, Michael Cera and David Cross together, that sounds like a movie to me. This cult hit never really had the widespread viewership that many thought it deserved, nonetheless fans would no doubt love a movie.

Entourage
Entourage has been described as a male version of Sex in the City. Both have been enormously popular and if Sex can sell on the big screen, why can't the much cooler and hipper, down to earth Entourage do the same? Executive producer Mark Wahlberg and several of the stars said they would like it to happen, so let's get cracking. Think Entourage: E's Wedding.

X-Files
Okay, I know that there have already been two already, but we need to complete the trilogy. The newest X-Files movie was decent and really just whet everybody's appetite for more. Let's finish the alien invasion story line once and for all.

Five Things You Should Watch Every Christmas

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Don't we all belong on the island of misfit toys.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
No, not the Jim Carrey live action one. The animated one. No contest.

Christmas Vacation (1989)
Spend Christmas with the Griswolds, you won't regret it. “Merry Christmas, shitter was full.”

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
It may be sentimental but you have got to love that little Christmas tree. (Watch on Hulu.com)

A Christmas Story (1983)
Watch it at least 3.5 times.

13 Great GLEE Club Moments for 13 Great Episodes

The first 13 episodes of Glee were a wonderful ride. Unfortunately, the show is on a four month hiatus while the back nine episodes of Season One are being put together.

As a way of remembering and a way of putting off the fix for new episodes, I put together a list of 13 great Glee moments in honor of the program's first 13 episodes.

1. Don't Stop Believin'
The fledging New Directions show choir bands together to perform the Journey classic “Don't Stop Believin.'” This is when a lot of people fell in love with the show at the end of episode one.
(Watch Here)

2. Mashups
To keep the kids fresh Mr. Shue challenges them to do Mashups of two different songs combined into one. To make it even better it becomes a battle of the sexes. Plus there is the fact that all the kids are hopped up on drugs courtesy of Mrs. Shue. (Watch Here)

3. Sue and the Kitty Kat
There are so many priceless one-liners from Sue Sylvester but this one, when she threatens Mr. Shue, is one of the most random and funniest. “I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. Then on some dark, cold night I will steal away into your home, and punch you in the face.” (Watch Here)

4. Sweet Caroline
Shit, Puck can sing – thats what we learned from his tribute to a Jewish musical icon. (Watch Here)

5. Iron Tablet?
Did everybody else catch this startling exchange between Mr. Shue and Sue?
SUE: “Iron tablet? Keeps your strength up while your menstruating.”
WILL: “I don't menstruate.”
SUE: “Really? Neither do I.”

6. Sue's Corner
Local TV was changed forever when we all saw how Sue “Cs it.” Unfortunately for everyone I can't find these clips anywhere.

7. Sue the Wrestler
OK – so this has happened a bunch of times and each time it is hilarious. By my count I have seen it happened at least three times. Every time Sue storms off after an argument she chucks a student out of her way, sometimes going out of her way to push a student. Priceless.

8. Shue's Got Some Moves
Shue's rendition of “Bust A Move” was definitely an early highlight. Will's cool factor tripled in lest than three minutes. (Watch Here)

9. The Glee Kids Sex It Up
New Directions spices up their performance at a school assembly. The group is trying to get more recruits and they decide that sex sells. Therefore they do an incredibly explicit performances of “Push It.” I was in stitches. (Watch Here)

10. Pep Talk
I may have pumped a fist after Mr. Shue's pep talk to Finn in the locker room at school during Sectionals.
FINN: “Mr. Shue, you left your keys.”
WILL: “No, I didn't.”

11. Acafellas
Mr. Shue starts a boy band. (Watch Here)

12. Santana and Brittany Sitting in a Tree
Brittany sure dropped a bomb in episode 13. This was one of the best laugh out laud moments so far. Here was the exchange.
SANTANA: “Sex is not dating.”
BRITTANY: “If it were, Santana and I would be dating”

13. Sue Loves Minorities
Remember when Sue tried to break up the glee club by pitting the minority students against the white students. Her best line in the episode: “I love minorities so much I might move to California and become one.”

What did I forget. Let me know.

Initial Thoughts on the Golden Globe Nominations – TV Edition

It is hard to make projections about the Golden Globe motion picture awards, but when it comes their small screen counterparts it is a lot easier.

The biggest question in my mind is whether this is, indeed, the year of Glee. The breakout hit on FOX leads the way with four GG nominations. Several other shows have three nominations.

It is hard to imagine the show, which has only aired 13 episodes, taking all four. And judging by its competition its seems more likely that it will only take one of the awards – that said I am not the judges.

It did lead the way in nominations, so someone obviously likes it. To me, however, it may be more likely that Dexter takes the cake – after another amazing season.

Here are my early predictions:

Best Television Series – Drama
Big Love (HBO), Dexter (SHOWTIME), House (FOX), Mad Men (AMC), True Blood (HBO)

House was amazing last year, but with all the buzz surrounding the recent Season Four finale of Dexter. This could be a good year for the cable show.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Glenn Close (Damages), January Jones (Mad Men), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Nobody owns their show more than Kyra Sedgwick owns The Closer. She is the heavyweight in this division.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), Bill Paxton (Big Love)

I think Michael C. Hall will get the win. Hugh Laurie should probably get a GG every year – he is that good, but Dexter is hot this year.

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
30 Rock (NBC), Entourage (HBO), Glee (FOX), Modern Family (ABC), The Office (NBC)

Glee. No doubt.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Courteney Cox (Cougar town), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Lea Michele (Glee)

Toni Collette was wonderful in the United States of Tara. She deserves the GG, but I could see Edie Falco getting some love in the lead role of Nurse Jackie. Lea Michele is the sleeper.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carell (The Office), David Duchovny (Californication), Thomas Jane (Hung), Matthew Morrison (Glee)

This is a real toss-up. The GG could easily go to Baldwin, Carell or Duchovny, but the 30 Rock star is the most deserving for his work. Although Morrison did some awesome break dancing on Glee this year it is hard to see him taking home a GG. My big prediction, however, is this: if Morrison wins, Glee with have a clean sweep of four GGs.

Best Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Georgia O'Keefe (LIFETIME), Grey Gardens (HBO), Into the Storm (HBO), Little Dorrit (PBS), Taking Chance (HBO)

I am pretty ambivalent about this category. I will only say that I enjoyed Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Joan Allen (Georgia O'Keefe), Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens), Jessica Lange (Grey Gardens), Anna Paquin (The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler), Siqourney Weaver (Prayers for Bobby)

Drew Barrymore got a lot of props when Grey Gardens premiered on HBO and I think that gives her a leg up against her serious competition, Joan Allen, whose film premiered on (scoff) Lifetime.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance), Kenneth Branagh (Wallander: One Step Behind), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Endgame), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), Jeremy Irons (Georgia O'Keefe)

See above about Into the Storm.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Adams (HUNG), Rose Byrne (Damages), Jane Lynch (Glee), Janet McTeer (Into the Storm), Chloe Sevigny (Big Love)

Let's keep the Jane Lynch love train rolling. This is definitely her time in the sun.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Michael Emerson (Lost), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), William Hurt (Damages), John Lithgow (Dexter), Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

It's John Lithgow as a serial killer. How could he lose.

Is GLEE the Best New Show of 2009?

It is a sad thing when favorite TV shows get senselessly hacked up by heartless executives, but it is the way of the world. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all, right?

As painful as it is to lose shows there is the chance to fall in love all over again every TV season. The following are my five new favorite shows of 2009.

5. White Collar (USA)

The USA Network scored another hit with its slick new character Neil Caffrey, a con-artist turn FBI helper, in White Collar. It is like the Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg movie Catch Me If You Can, except smoother and and sexier.

4. Royal Pains (USA)
This show, about a doctor who lands himself a sweet gig as the personal doctor to the rich in the Hamptons shortly after getting fired from a steady job at a New York hospital, is bright, charming and funny. There is no doubt that the show is a little fluffy, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Watching the show is sort of like being on a vacation from meaty shows like Lost, Fringe and House – and I am more than happy to take this vacation in the Hamptons.

3. Community (NBC)

Laughs abound in this witty new addition to the NBC comedy line-up that already includes The Office, Parks and Recreation and 30 Rock. Community, with Joel McHale (The Soup) in the lead, is just as good as any of those aforementioned gut-busters. The ensemble cast of Community has been brilliant -- especially Donald Glover as Troy and Danny Pudi as Abed. (see what I mean here)

2. Dark Blue (TNT)
I wasn't sure what to make of this new series starring Dylan McDermott. I didn't really believe that McDermott could pull off the gritty bad ass cop thing. Yet, he does, and he does it well. Even though McDermott is great, the supporting cast (if you can call them that, because they get the more screen time than McDermott) are even better. Somebody deserves a pat on the back for the amazing casting job.

1. Glee (FOX)

I didn't want to like this show at first. I thought it was all camp, melodramatic, after-school special-like, general waste of TV time. Then I realized that it was all camp, melodramatic, after-school special-like, generally great TV time. The camp is the point. The show is nothing less than fun and even a little sinister underneath. If for no other reason, this show is a must-watch because of the comedy stylings of Jane Lynch (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models) as the evil Sue Sylvester.