That’s almost it, then – just over a day and 2009 will be filed away forever, possibly under ‘quite wet’.
We’re not writing this now, of course. We’re ensconced in the bosom of our families. But this hastily thrown-together list of TV shows that the hecklerspray writers quite liked is probably enough to fool you into thinking that we’re still around, right? Right? Of course it is.
Anyway, TV shows that we liked and you probably didn’t. Don’t forget to tell us how spectacularly misinformed we are, either. Let’s go!
Stuart Heritage
Lost, hands down. This year Lost managed to take an already confusing show, make it 4,000 times more confusing and still manage to create the year?s most compelling TV out of it. Between Lost itself, Jeff Jensen?s columns on Lost in Entertainment Weekly and the recurring dreams I had about the poxy thing, I'm starting to consider myself a slight obsessive. There may even be a brief period of mourning after the last episode next year. Let's hope there isn't, because that?d make me a right wanker, wouldn't it?
Shawn Lindseth
My DVR is jam packed to the point that I can’t record every show I want to because too many others are already in line. The most notable of these would be 30 Rock, LOST and Community – the latest fantastic show to light up our nights. The best television in 2009, however, is Survivor: Samoa because of the way Russell found those immunity idols so effortlessly (without a single clue) and used them to turn the whole game on its head.
Television, reality-based or otherwise, rarely gets more exciting.
Matthew Laidlow
I'm sure I've been using the same show for the last few years, but I'm going to do it again. And seeing it's finished forever, I can't do it next year. I bloody love The Shield and still think it's better than The Wire. Just because it's not talked about in The Guardian every day means its not good. For all it was worth, the show did need to finish as the tight friendship the main characters had was an all time low. Each episode was still leaving you wanting more and the ending was done in a way that severed justice but not necessarily in the correct way. Basically, it was a better ending than The Sopranos.
Watching our holy lord editor Stuart Heritage doing stuff on Sky News was also amusing. He said ?bumholes? pre-watershed and put a grim expression on the presenter’s face.
Chris Laverty
I had never seen The Wire before BBC2 screened it earlier this year with such self-satisfied ballyhoo. Thing is, nobody warned me about the greatness. People said stuff like ?best TV show ever? or ?better than The Sopranos?, but nobody actually encapsulated what it was that made The Wire so damn perfect. For the uninitiated I will not even attempt to put this right. My best advice is to just watch the show yourself. Watch three episodes at a time and don't ever go near any stupid forums. The Wire is better ingested than discussed.
Josh Burt
It’s been a vintage year for television programmes, so, here are some of the best in list form: Eastbound and Down, In Treatment, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 30 Rock, Big Brother (genuinely brilliant for the first time in about five years), and Masterchef The Professionals. Much better than normal Masterchef.
Amy Grindhouse
I’m going to have to be obvious here and say my favourite show is True Blood. I’m addicted, which is weird because broadly speaking I watch almost no TV. But this show has me hooked in a way only Chocolate Buttons had managed before. It is a show about a bunch of vampires and country folk with Texas accents, living in Louisiana. It contains more sex scenes than one should ever feel entirely comfortable with in one show. Other than that, it’s smashing.
Paul Gibson
Tempted to go with my perennial favourite, Cops. But that sort of goes without saying, so props this year to Family Guy (the shark was circling last season, but this show refused to jump) and Glee (I am male and heterosexual, but this was fun and the musical treatments worked). Also, despite pouring hundreds of rude words about her onto the internet, I have to give a large, manly shout out to Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent. Truth be told, it was a very touching ‘moment’ when she first stood there, like a badly gift-wrapped potato, and let loose with that voice.
Keith Emmerson
The Thick of It
Despite the dumbing down of the latest series with most episodes constructed? around Peter Capaldi‘s creative swearing ala In The Loop, The Thick Of It remains my favourite TV show. The subtle glances, nods and inflections are what make this programme great, and dare I say it, identifiably British. It is difficult to mention TTOI without Chris Langham‘s elephant appearing in the room, let’s just say that it hasn’t been quite the same without his great character present.
Louise Scodie
If TV is the opium of the masses, then talent shows are its crack cocaine. You start with a little bit of Britain?s Got Talent, and then before you know it you're cancelling arrangements to watch the live final (?What do you mean you can't get another bridesmaid at this short notice??) and snorting Strictly Come Dancing through a fiver. Like all addicts, I don't care as long as I get my fix. My fave this year was X Factor. Le Cowell is TV?s fittest panto baddie and I am going to marry him.
David Scarborough
How I Met Your Mother
Overlooking my usual choice of Lost, How I Met Your Mother slipped under the radar on E4 and proved to be the most delightful, hilarious treat this year. Instead of letting Flashforward give you a nosebleed (because it is so bafflingly ill-conceived), let this show put your faith back into quality US entertainment.
Robyn Wilder
Joss Whedon?s Dollhouse, I'm afraid. Yes, it's flawed; yes, it's inconsistent; and yes ? it has been cancelled. But no other TV show this year had dialogue like this:
Topher: Brown Sauce. What’s it made of? Science doesn’t know!
DeWitt: It’s made of brown.
Topher: Brown…mined from the earth by the hard scrabble brown miners of north Brownderton!
DeWitt: Oh my god, I find lentils completely incomprehensible.
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Chris says
not sure I agree with your comment that The Thick of It was dumb downed, but I do agree, “The subtle glances, nods and inflections are what make this programme great…
Sunny says
I’m with Amy. “Trueblood” one of the best series to hit the small screen. (And yes those accents more Texan than la Louisiane.)
Next best fave “Dexter”, this past season one of the show’s best. Incredible writing, cast and well blood, tons of blood. Lithgow was brilliant this season as the show’s most nefarious villian yet.
Thirteen says
I agree with Sunny here about “Dexter” – this season was just brilliant, Lithgow was perfection and the season ending just blew my head off, how twisted it was.. After third season I was a tad disappointed, but as soon as I watched the first episode of season 4 I was glued to the TV screen again…
And of course for me another TV show of recent years has been and is “House M.D.”. Hugh Laurie is plainly awesome. I can never get bored watching that grumpy doctor of his interact with others, especially with his best friend Wilson.. :) 6th season now and I’m still hooked as I was before.
The third one for me is “Top Gear” :) 14th season and they are still brilliant and hilarious.. Though I am not really like any of the petrolheads (I don’t even drive), I just adore watching this TV show – great cars, great presenters and my favorite kind of humor :)
Julias says
Peep Show