Friday, the full Senate votes on whether to confirm Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court. Hopefully, the Democrats can muster a damaging filibuster, but right now it looks like Alito will be confirmed. I don't know for sure whether or not he's pro choice or anti choice (although I have an idea) but to me the scary thing about him is that he wrote a paper supporting an idea about "the unitary presidency". Basically, the idea is that the Executive Branch is the most important of the three branches and the President can (from time to time) assume powers not explicitly given to him by the Constitution. Could you imagine President Bush, who is probably monitoring your phone right now, with even MORE power? That's why we should be against Alito and others like him. Now, back to our regularly scheduled blog...
My Television Favorites from the 2005 Calendar Year
If I feel like explaining or defending my selection, I will. If I don't, I won't. You don't like it Pedro? Then get your own damn blog! As usual, comments and other opinions are welcome.
Honorable Mention (shows worth checking out from time to time, still better than most of the crap they put on) * - denotes since cancelled or no longer on the air
The Amazing Race, The West Wing, My Name Is Earl, Everybody Loves Raymond*, Rome, Entourage, Commander-in-Chief, The Late Show with David Letterman, 30 Days, 60 Minutes, Curb Your Enthusiasm, America's Next Top Model, Iron Chef, Grey's Anatomy, The Simpsons.
And My Personal Top Ten...
1. The Shield (FX) - Created by Shawn Ryan. Stars Michael Chiklis, Glenn Close, CCH Pounder, Jay Karnes. It was tough trying to figure out what show to put on top, but I think from last year The Shield wins out by a hair. Close will be missed--her portrayal of an exacting, cunning precinct captain was a welcome addition, but they could only sign her to the show for one year--but in my mind the cop show is a TV specialty and there's never been a better, more nuanced, more realistic version of the genre than The Shield.
2. Arrested Development* (Fox) - Created by Mitch Hurwitz. Stars Jason Bateman, Jessica Walter, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia da Rossi. Up until this show's recent cancellation (hurry, Fox is burning off the last new episodes in the next couple of weeks) it was the funniest, silliest live action TV show ever. If you need a narrative comedy to make sense...well, then maybe this show wasn't for you. (It certainly never caught on with the majority of the TV viewing public). But for the sheer number of belly laughs and mind bending plot twists it packed into a half hour, acted with understated aplomb by a great ensemble cast, no comedy on TV topped AD. It will be missed.
3. Lost (ABC) - Created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof. Stars Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Dominic Monaghan, Terry O'Quinn, Harold Perrineau, Michelle Rodriguez. When Lost is on it's game, there's nothing better on TV, even The Sopranos (which didn't air in 2005). But this show can be wildly uneven. And the red herrings and Portentious Symbolism are starting to be a bit much...the show's writers should watch the latter seasons of The X-Files and learn some hard lessons about not overdoing your show's own mythology. Still, Lost is fascinating, it has the most complex storytelling structure on television, the production values rival that of most any movie and the cast is nearly perfect. Lost is an hour of escapism--flaws and all--at it's very best.
4. The Office (NBC) - Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Adapted for American television by Greg Daniels. Stars Steve Carrell, Rainn Wilson. In some ways (other than the number of episodes, yuk yuk) the American The Office has managed to supercede it's British antecedent, which I would have thought would be impossible. Prime time's heir apparent to Arrested Development, The Office every week delivers hilariously absurd office comedy, leavened with just the right amount of pathos and (this new season) even romance. Carrell is a twisted, maniacal genius in the role of the goofy Boss from Hell.
(I'm now trying to get to the Tivo of one of my guilty pleasures, Dancing With The Stars, so now I'm going to shorten up the commentary. If you want more, drop me a line and I'll tell you more about why I love these shows. Seriously...)
5. Deadwood (HBO) - Created by David Milch. Stars Ian MacShane, Timothy Olyphant, Powers Booth, Molly Parker and Brad Dourif. The dialogue is motherf***in' Shakespearian in it's f***kin' depth and and complexity. You want to know how the God****ed American West was really f***in' won and then tamed? Watch Deadwood and find out you c*** whores!
6. Six Feet Under* (HBO) - Created by Alan Ball. Starred Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy, Rachel Griffiths, Mathew St. Patrick and Lauren Ambrose. RIP Six Feet Under. You recovered from a shaky couple of seasons and went out on an emotional and artistic high note. And there'll be no sequel...ballsy.
7. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central) - You don't get your real news from here people, you supplement it with this healthy dose of very funny daily satire. Still the best at what they do. But I don't see Jon Stewart as an Oscar host--sorry, think he's miscast in that role.
8. 24 (Fox) - Created by Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon. Stars Kiefer Sutherland. Best weekly thrill ride on television had a strong season creatively in Season 4, seems to be off to an even better start in Season 5.
9. The Boondocks (Cartoon Network) - Created by Aaron McGruder. Animated. The new threat to the crown of Best Animated Satire that has been shared between The Simpsons and South Park for the last six years. Every episode is guaranteed to make you do three things (especially if you're Black): laugh out loud, nod your head in recognition and cringe. Now that's good television...and it's pretty to look at too, very artistically composed with great music.
10. Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi Channel) - Created by Ronald D. Moore. Stars Edward James Olmos, Mary McConnell, Katie Sackhoff. This ain't your older brother's cheesy 1970's Battlestar Galactica. This edgy space drama is also TV's cleverest 9/11 allegory and it just keeps getting better.
Next: Shows that "jumped the shark" in 2005, more political musings and some interesting odds and ends.
Peace...
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