Best of 2008: TV

1. The Wire: The final season wrapped up many of the overarching thematic plots, i.e. corruption in and out of law enforcement. The fact that Det. McNulty brings down the unlawful politicians through unlawful tactics is very much in line with the tone of the show. The dichotomous roles of Bubbles and Dookie were both heartening and harrowing: while one man escapes the wrath of drug addiction another man succumbed to it, unable to avoid the inevitable. This was very dark but realistic, which was the true hallmark of this great TV show.
2. 30 Rock: The episode titled "Reunion" was among the best in TV in a long time. Absurdist, farcical, subversive, and brilliant. This was a remarkable Shakespearian comedy half-hour filled with great gags, each line of dialogue loaded with witty wordplay and socio/racial observations. Fantastic.
3. Lost: The show dramatically altered its format, establishing flashforwards as an element, but maintaining its superb form. The show also brought in hard-core sci-fi elements, most clearly seen in the phenomenal "The Constant" episode. I applaud the show for taking a huge chance of killing a leading character for the sake of the show.
4. Survivor: Micronesia: The back half of this season produced more dramatic turns than a telenovela. Week after week, there were people getting blind-sided. This was easily THE best season of Survivor.
5. Chuck: The series fully developed last season into the throwback 50s-spy show it was meant to be. Yeah, it has many goofy elements but it is also one of the shows I look forward to the most each week.
6. Desperate Housewives: The show resurrected from what appeared to be a lost cause. The decision to reinvent the show by jumping forward five years was a great move. The story lines are fresh and not the stale ones that people were getting tired of.
7. How I Met Your Mother: Although we've yet to find out who the mother is, the show keeps getting stronger, both in terms of quality and in ratings. The arc with Sarah Chalke was good, organically demonstrating the dissolution of a couple.
8. Breaking Bad: Because of the writers strike, AMC only showed 9 episodes of this series. However, these were nine tight episodes that showed the dramatic turn of events in the life of Walter White, who went from a high school chemistry teacher to a drug dealer trying to make money to stay alive.
9. Big Bang Theory: The show was good from the start of the series. However, the second season improved on two fronts. First, Penny changed from the bemused and ditzy blonde to the sardonic neighbor who is the "street smarts" equal of the geeks. Second, the spastic Sheldon came to fore, spewing his condescending, misanthropic tirades against everyone in his geekdom.
10. The Office: The Amy Ryan story arc casted Michael in a whole different light. His baffonery fed directly into Amy Ryan's character so it was no longer off-putting but charming. Many of the same great elements remained. However, the Jam story line is getting old which is why, in spite of having more heart than 30 Rock, the show is at Number 10.