ON TO THE NEXT

To keep consistent with my ranking metrics, I now present the best of television in 2005, in 13 parts.

This is trickier because I have to remember episodic television from the spring, which seems like it was so long ago as to not be in this calendar year.

Let me just give a shout-out to Comcast, who without their DVR, I would not be able to make this list. But then again, I don’t remember being tan this year either….

13. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – FX – A bastard child of improvisation and sketch comedy, this off-beat show about four friends in their late twenties who own a bar in the titular city, wasn’t always great. But when it hit, it was glorious.

12. E-Ring – NBC – I usually rail against formula in favor of innovation and creativity, but there is something about how regular and idealistically simple this is that I like. Maybe it’s the mix of government and military, maybe it’s the characters, maybe it’s that the show is not a Top Ten hit and there isn’t that kind of pressure for the producers, but it is a rather enjoyable, though formulaic, show.

11. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – ABC – I never expected to admit this, but I guess enough people have caught me watching it that my secret is no longer fit to be kept. I like this show. Ok? There, I’ve said it. They are cheap assholes in how they play with the viewers’ heartstrings, but damnit, they change lives! I’ll take my share of shit from my readers, but c’mon, I have a heart.

10. How I Met Your Mother – CBS – It’s very inconsistent, but this show has it’s great moments. Neil Patrick Harris is hilarious as Barney, and he reminds me a lot of John Knowles. The Halloween episode was maybe the best half-hour of TV in October.

9. Joey – NBC – Again, I’ll take my lumps. I really enjoy this show. Drea de Matteo is great, and you can’t beat Jennifer Coolidge. There was a scene in the season finale in May that I watched about fifty times and laughed as hard the last time as the first one. Coolidge can do anything and I’d laugh. Matt LeBlanc is that lovable doofus from “Friends” still and I’m just not tired of it yet.

8. Two and a Half Men – CBS – I avoided this show like the plague for two years. Then, after constantly reading how good it was, I tried it this summer in reruns. I was won over. Charlie Sheen has great timing, and though I hate Jon Cryer, he’s good enough. There are some great laughs to be had with this show, believe it or not.

7. Threshold – CBS – Unfortunately this great show was canceled in November. It was a smart, captivating alien show, and I was sad to see it go with so many holes unfilled. This was one of the few shows who paid attention to continuity, and it didn’t go unnoticed. And I have a thing for Carla Gugino, really ever since “Son-In-Law.”

6. My Name is Earl – NBC – Jason Lee is so freakin likable, this was always destined to be a good show. Jaime Pressly is great as the white-trash Joy, and they really mine that world for some great laughs. The beauty pageant episode was near-perfect.

5. 24 – Fox – This show could be terrible and I’d watch every week. I love the intensity of the real-time format, and Kiefer Sutherland is great as the indomitable federal agent, Jack Bauer. Though much dramatic license is taken, they really make it all seem somewhat plausible. Crazy shit happens all the time, and this show reflects that.

4. Arrested Development – Fox – I’m really upset that Fox has nearly canceled this show and I hope it goes to ABC. I can’t blame Fox, because they kept in on-air amid terrible ratings for two-plus years. They may not have advertised it well, but at least we got this great show for as long as it was on. I’m holding out hope for the future, though, because it’s not time for this show to die. Everyone is great in their roles, especially David Cross, Jessica Walter, Michael Cera and Jason Bateman, oh, hell, everyone is perfectly cast, except maybe Portia de Rossi. I just don’t like her character much and they don’t give her much to do. But getting people like Scott Baio and Super Dave Osborn to be on in small but hilarious parts is the mark of a smart show.

3. Lost – ABC – No show was as suspenseful as Lost; a lost art has been revived and is done to perfection. The deep background that is this show is stunning. There are so many small details that make their way onto the show, online, in print, everywhere. It’s like a national game we’re all playing. Always clever, always intresting, always captivating, this show is one of my all-time favorites.

2. The Office – NBC – In the Spring, I thought this was a pretty good show but that the British version was clearly superior. Now, though, this version is the winner by a mile. Some of the funniest scenes on TV are on this show, and the characters are all great. They take chances, and while not everything works, I’d rather something risky than safe and tired. Steve Carrell is hilarious, but the best part of the show, is the relationship between Jim and Pam.

1. Rescue Me – FX – Denis Leary has created one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I only liked “The Job” and didn’t watch it that much, but I don’t miss this show. The stories were so visceral it’s surprising; the acting great; the liberal use of bad language, a reality. What other show would use songs by Ray LaMontagne in the finale and not sound pretentious? Everything about this show is excellent. Can’t wait for the next season.

Honorable Mentions: Scrubs; The OC; Family Guy; Eyes; Reno 911; and Creature Comforts.

Huge Disappointments: Nip/Tuck, West Wing and Alias. How the mighty have fallen.