What In Tarnation?!?!? In the Classroom

Earlier lists:

• 2003
• 2002

10. Airline (A&E)
We have a COS (cutomer of size) trying to board the plane with only one seat. This reality show about the crazy things that happen in several of the larger Southwest Airlines terminals around the US. Dealing with drunks, flight delays, missed flights, angry passengers, and of course the customers of size that are required to purchase two seats. There certianly plenty of drama to fuel a show, too bad LAX couldn’t be as interesting as this show.

9. Star Trek: Enterprise (UPN)
I liked last season. I think I was the only one who did. The big story arch was interesting. The ending of las season, not so good. I have also enjoyed this season as well. The mini three episode story archs work well. I enjoyed Brent Spiner’s guest appearance. Looking at the ratings for this season, I think I can pretty much say this will be the last season. I don’t think that is such a bad thing, it may be a good time for Star Trek to take a little rest.

8. Jack and Bobby (WB)
Another show that is rating deprived. This show about a future president is struggling to find an audience. I think if the show were to focus more on the boys than hyper-liberal mom, it would be more successful. The most interesting thing about the show are the flash forwards interviews with President Bobby’s future staff. They sure have imagined a bleak future for the US. It is a good thing they created the prefect middle of the road president to lead us through those tough times.

7. Boston Legal (ABC)
David E. Kelley brought back his show The Practice from the edge of cancellation. He replaced half the cast and toward the end of The Practice’s last season be began preparing for his next show, Boston Legal. He moved the amoral (most of the time) attornrey Alan Shore moved left for a new law firm run by William Shatner’s crazy Denny Crane. What do I like about Boston Legal? The crazy characters especially Denny.

6. The 4,400 (Scifi)
All of a sudden 4,400 people who have been reported missing suddenly show together not having aged a day, and that is saying something when some have them been gone since the 1940’s. Most people believe that these people have been returned from aliens. For what purpose? No one knows and most normal folk are scared of these people. Even stranger, the returned have gained special abilities like the ability to heal people, control electricity, extreme strength, etc. The mini-series explores these people trying to return to a life of normality and trying to figure out what happened to them while they were gone. I was quite disappointed that this was only a mini-series. It was well written (by some former Star Trek: Deep Space Nine scripters), well produced, and engaging series. Of course I was elated to discover that more episodes are being produced! Sweet.

5. Iron Chef America (Food)
Another limited series that proved to be popular enough to make a full series that is starting in January. A the campiness of the Japanese version of the show and with the absolute coolness of Alton Brown as the commentator. Yes life is good. The new series retains a few Iron Chefs from the mini-series and adds an Iron Chef from the original Japanese series. Oh, and did I mention Alton Brown is on the show?

4. Farscape: Peacekeeper War (Scifi)
Another super cool mini-series from the now defunct series. This four hour wonder took up where the series left off. It brought back all the characters that I wanted to see, it changed the universe and the characters dramatically and made for some great TV viewing for this Scraper. I’m not sure how it played with people who didn’t watch the series but it did everything that I wanted in the resolution to the superior series.

3. Amazing Race (CBS)
Yeah, I like some reality series. This one is the best. Better than Survivor. The thing that I like most about the Amazing Race is that it is more positive than the other reality shows. No voting other people off, you have to earn your place on the show. Plus you get see all kinds of cool places, deal with airline frustrations (a common theme on this list) and some pretty crazy challenges. I didn’t start watching this show until halfway through season four and I was hooked. This year brought us season five and the beginning of the season six. Everyone like Mirna and everyone is hyper annoyed by Jonathan (can you say psycho?).

2. Veronica Mars (UPN)
My Buffy replacement. This show has a mysterious mythology that makes me want to watch week after week. Veronica is the smart, strong, and sassy leading female that is cut from the same cloth as Buffy Summers. Veronica, however, has the support of her father who runs a private investigation firm after he was fired as sheriff because he accused a software mogul of killing his daughter, Veronica’s best friend. All of this has made Veronica an outcast at her high school. Then there is the whole mystery of her mother’s disappearance. Here’s hoping this show remains on the air.

1. Lost (ABC)
How great is this show co-created by Alias mastermind J.J. Abrams? I am having trouble coming up with the words to express it. Who would have thought a series about some people stuck on a seemingly deserted island (well except for the unseen monster, the polar bear, the insane French woman, and the baby stealing psycho) would be so great. I mean, come on, it didn’t really work well for Gilligan or the Skipper. The think that really makes Lost work is the mystery about the events of the series and the characters (and how exactly is Locke able to walk now after being confined to a wheelchair before the crash?). As long as the creators of the series can keep the mystery going without it getting over complicated like The X-Files, I think we have a series that has legs. Oh and the fact that they hired a few Buffy scribes can’t hurt either.

And that is the best in TV for the year of 2004. At least in my opinion (which is generally right). Got a difference of opinion? Let me know in the comments or post your top 10 list on your blog, let me know and I will link to your post.

Soon to come, Top Ten of 2004: Movies.

Class dismissed!