Sharon’s Top TV Shows, 2000–2009

This post was written by my lovely wife, Sharon. It’s a list of her top ten favorite television programs of the decade. Her usual blog is devoted to topics related to veganism, so she didn’t think it was appropriate to post this there, and asked to guest post on incrementalism.net. I mostly agree with the choices, if not always the ranking, though I’m not a fan of Sex and the City or Glee, and I haven’t seen Oz. I definitely agree with the number one choice. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend renting the DVDs.

10. Oz/Sex and the City

Both of these shows technically came out in the late 90s and by the time 2000 came around they, especially Oz, had probably passed their prime. However I didn’t get into either of them until 2004, so they still represent this decade to me. And although designer shoes and man-on-man rape may seem worlds apart, they are both escapist, unrealistic fantasy shows set in worlds I have no desire to be part of, yet am oddly fascinated by.

9. Six Feet Under

I know a lot of people who would put this show much closer to the top of their list. Although I had a hard time getting into it, mostly for my disdain for Brenda’s character, it ended up growing on me and there were plenty of episodes that shocked me, made me cry and made me think. What more can you ask of good television? I always liked Nate and Claire’s relationship especially.

8. 30 Rock

It’s frequently uneven, but when it hits the mark, it hits with a bang. I could probably listen to hours of Tracy Jordan spewing nonsense, and I also have a soft spot for Kenneth. But I think the relationship between Jack and Liz is what gives the show its heart. It doesn’t hurt that I relate to Liz on some embarrassingly uncanny levels.

7. Glee

Though it’s only been on for one season (that will undoubtedly be hard to live up to), Glee immediately found a special place in my heart. It’s got plenty of faults, but to be fair it also has a lot to balance – multiple story arcs, musical numbers, both epic and personal, and a whole lot of characters. But one thing you have to give Glee is that it sure knows its target audience and it brings us immense amounts of joy. My karaoke nights will never be the same.

6. Flight of the Conchords

I haven’t seen all of season two yet, but from what I’ve heard it unsurprisingly pales in comparison to season one. That said, their first season is some near-perfect comedy. Few things have made me laugh as hard as Brett’s angry dance. (See #3 for a notable exception.) 

5. The Office (British version)

Does it sound snobby to only include this version and not the American series? Besides being ridiculously funny, what the Brits have going for them is knowing when to call it quits. The American Office should have ended with Jim and Pam’s wedding as far as I’m concerned. The original BBC show was actually believable as a mockumentary, exploring the logical conclusion after David Brent’s taste of fame. More shows should set expiration dates. Which leads me to…

4. Lost

My feelings for Lost have morphed over time. It started out more as hate-watching, where I was conscious of the way the show manipulated me with its cliffhangers and cheap romance. By the end of season three though it became clear that there was a much bigger game going on here than just a survivor show. I got way hooked onto the mythology and became convinced the writers were geniuses. However, after  the latest “time travel season” I’m not so sure of that last point anymore and I’m anxious to see if they can possibly end the show in a satisfying way this spring.

3. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

This is another show that took a while for me to get into. FX is pretty much a dude channel and while this show at first appeared to be the work of egotistical fratboys I’ve come to realize it’s much more than that. There’s a lot of subtlety in the writing and though one could fault them for not really having any ongoing plotlines, I would argue that the characters, particularly Charlie, are still well-developed and nuanced. And perhaps the funniest television moment I’ve ever seen can be summed up in two words: Day Man.

2. Mad Men

In a television landscape where crime procedurals and sitcoms dominate the ratings with their completely predictable stories and familiar rhythms, it’s refreshing to see a show that challenges audiences with its often slow pacing that pays off in spades when you realize how invested you’ve become in its characters. Any scene involving Peggy and Pete (or Peggy and Don) has me riveted with its dramatic tension. The style is on the money of course and I’ve particularly enjoyed the way history is woven into the storyline, in the last season especially.

1. Arrested Development

While Mad Men may be the best drama on television there’s nothing distinctively 2000’s about it. Arrested Development on the other hand perfectly captures this time in history with its politically relevant episodes. It re-defined the sitcom and seemed to be this perfect synergy of talent. It’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite character as they all had brilliant comedic moments throughout the shows three seasons. (Though gun to my head, I’d pick Tobias.) Sadly, none of its stars have gone on to do anything that remotely lives up to a show that was so hilarious from beginning to end.