We watch a lot of television during the day, mostly because our parents love to abandon us to our own devices and they think that a tv set is as good as human company. And they're mostly right, except for the fact that the tv doesn't scratch behind our ears or apply Neosporin to our armpits when we lick them raw from anxiety. Heh, but we would never do that... As a result, we have a lot of good candidates for this year's Top 3 TV shows, but here are the winners!
3. This American Life. (Original Review) We are dedicated listeners of NPR's weekly radio program, This American Life, so when we heard that Showtime was turning it into a television show, we were excited to see the results. Sometimes when you love something a little vintage or outdated you are often disappointed by the modern version (see Planet of the Apes), but nothing of this sort happened with TAL. The brilliant Ira Glass kept the same format, an hour of stories or interviews based on a theme, but it's more vivid and fascinating in 2D. We'll continue to listen to the radio show, which we'll always adore, but we enjoy the tv show immensly, and can't wait to watch Season 2.
2. Dexter. (Original Review) Interestingly enough, this show also plays on the Showtime network, we never realized how great their programming was. This is the show about a Robin Hood-style serial killer, a man who has some psychological need to kill based on his traumatic childhood that he resolves through vigilante justice in the Miami area. We like the show and the questions of morality it brings up. Is it right that we want Dexter to escape from the cops? Should we be cheering that his no-good victims on, or rejoice in their death? But the show can get quite gruesome, and is not for the faint of heart. This is a good one, though we preferred the first season to the second.
1. Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip. (Original Review) This show was cancelled a couple of years ago to make way for 30 Rock, which we think is a shame. Though they are both about television networks and SNL-style shows on those networks, they are fundamentally different, and we wish there could have been a place for both of them. We love 30 Rock and think it is hilarious, but it doesn't hold a candle to Studio 60. This show is smart, funny, and fast-paced; it reminds us a lot of the West Wing and the intelligent writing that made that show famous. We mourn this show like we mourn Arrested Development, and it makes us like 30 Rock a little bit less for pushing this smart gem out of the way. If you've never seen it, you can check it out on Hulu.
That's it for smart and sassy tv shows of 2008. Everyone stay safe tonight, don't sniff anyone's butt unless you really want to get to know them, if you know what we mean! Enjoy your new year, and we'll see you tomorrow for the Top Three Movies of 2008!
Honorable Mentions: Flight of the Conchords, Gossip Girl, and House MD (our daddy's pick).
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