Top 100 Television Shows Since 2000: Part I

And the countdown begins! Throughout this summer, check in to see the continuing countdown of what I believe to be the Top 100 Television Shows Since 2000! Enjoy!

100. Guiding Light (1952-2009) - The dates of Guiding Light should actually extend back to its radio days, where it premeired in 1937. That means when it was unfortunately cancelled in 2009, it had been on the airwaves for a total of 72 years, making it the longest running drama in television/radio history. A lot of people mock daytime soap operas for their over-the-top storylines. And yet, soap operas have always had their place in television history, their characters are well-drawn and beloved, and their fans are completely devout. And the grandaddy of this grand television tradition was Guiding Light. Even in its last decade when its budget was cut, and its yearly cancellation odds continued to go up, its cast and crew pressed on with passion, love, and ferocity for their fans that they loved so much. And that is what Daytime and, more importantly, television should always be about: continuing stories for the fans that love them. Guiding Light represented the best of what television has to offer, and the hole that was left when it departed will never be filled.

99. Wit (2001) - The thirteen years since 2000 has seen the rise of not only television movies, but more importantly, high quality movies that rival many of those being shown in movie theaters. One of the earlier efforts of the new millenium was Mike Nichol's adaptation of Wit. The story is a tough one to watch. It's ending is unbelievably sad, and the journey is one that not all are really prepared to take. But if you can handle the emotional struggle of the cancer battle, and preferably have a box of tissues nearby, the payoff is worth it. Featuring a stunning performance by the always-excellent Emma Thompson, and reliably solid direction from Mike Nichols, Wit remains one of the best television movies of all time. It is emotionally stunning, impeccably well-made, and remains a staple in the ever-increasing genre of cancer-battling dramas. A wonderful achievement.

98. Big Love (2006-2011) - I honestly did not expect much out of Big Love. While the actors involved, including Bill Paxton, Jeanne Triplehorn, and Chloe Sevigny were top-notch, I expected the story of a

Mormon, polygamous family, to either be too preachy and over-bearing, or not serious enough to tackle an extremely baity and fascinating subject matter. Well, I am happy to say that for five seasons, the cast and crew consistently exceeded my expectations. The fine tightrope that its creators had to walk week in and week out was handled with ease, and it gave enough time and focus on both the negative and postive aspects of such an arrangement, striking a much-needed middle ground. It did this through charming and poignant storylines, as well seeing the stress and work that Bill had to endure to try to protect and help his family. These tones and plotlines show a streak of humanity that made these characters accessible to the audience. I still think that polygamy is awkward and I do not endorse suddenly changing statutes that outlaw it. But I think the show went a long way to show us a world that so few of us understand. More importantly, all the way through its emotionally haunting series finale, Big Love always remained compelling television.

97. Planet Earth (2006) -  Despite being a history major, and a geek, I honestly tend to miss out on a lot of the great nonfiction programming on television nowadays. Probably because they are limited to specific channels, and they do not get the promotion that fiction or reality shows often do. That being said, I did manage to tune into the stunning documentary Planet Earth, and it still remains a highly rewarding experience that I am glad I had. At a time when politicians are battling over the mere existence of climate change and damanging environmental pratices, it is important to understand the beauty and magnificence of this home we call Earth. Planet Earth was a groundbreaking documentary in several respects. It is the most expensive natutre doc to ever be created and the first to be filmed in HD. It took over five years to create, but the payoff was the worth the wait. The ratings over its eleven episodes were fantastic, and the program went on to win four Primetime Emmys. More importantly, it was a stunning and thorougly entertaining look at the world as we know it that was breathtaking in scope, and abundantly stocked with beautiful images and incredible stories.

96. Treme (2010-2013) - I am glad that, even if it is only about five episodes long, HBO decided to renew Treme for a fourth and final season to premeire sometime this year. For the last three years, Treme has been

a show that was swept under the rug, loved by critics, but ignored by so many viewers, as well as the Television Academy. This is a true shame, because there was nothing else quite like Treme on television, and its unique vision and voice will be hard to replace. David Simon, the brilliant mind behind one of the best television shows of all time, The Wire, returned to HBO to bring its viewers another multi-layered drama featuring well-rounded characters, and always entertaining drama. While he never did reach the height of his previous outing, he nevertheless succeeded in creating a compelling and fascinating story. Set in a post-Katrina New Orleans, Treme was a dizzying combination of great jazz music, struggle with poverty and recovery, and an interweaving of facsinating characters, all played with great skill by its list of talented actors including Khandi Alexander, Melissa Leo, Wendell Pierce, Clarke Peters, and many others. Most importantly, like The Wire, Simon succeeded in bringing a sense of authenicity and gritiness that gave it a feel and sound like any other show currently on the air.

95. (TIE)Pushing Daisies (2007-2009) and Ugly Betty (2006-2010) - In the time frame of about 2005-2010, ABC went through a renaissance of creative and popular programming. Some shows like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy became hugely popular, and ratings giants. Others developed niche audiences, and while they did not last long, they made an impact on those fans that loved them. Two in particular, were the quirky additions of Pushing Daisies and Ugly Betty. Bright, funny, and odd shows, both became Emmy-award winning programs, and both represented a huge break from a lot of broadcast

programming. Ugly Betty introduced us to an hilarious cast of characters led by America Ferrera's loveable Betty. The growth of her character from ugly duckling to confident grown woman was well-done, always fun, and a great showcase of a talented cast (which also included Vanessa Williams, Judith Light, Ana Ortiz, Michael Urie, and Becki Newton). Pushing Daisies, which was unceremoniously cancelled too soon, was a quirky fantasy tale about a pie-maker who brings the dead back to life and solves murders. The casting (Kristin Chenoweth, Lee Pace, Chi McBride), was on-point, its characters and stories were delightfully fun and wierd, and like Ugly Betty, I was so sad that it did not get to really fulfill its television destiny. Despite both being cancelled too soon, both have lived on in our hearts and our DVD players.

94. American Idol (2002-2013) - Right now American Idol is going through a bit of an identity crisis. After several seasons of declining ratings and contestants that failed to suceeded in its aftermath, as well as judging issues, the show is going through a major overhaul. But despite its issues, it is still one of the highest rated shows on television, and has always had an incredible impact on pop culture. Some of its winners and contestants have gone on to become permanent and successful faces in film, television, and of course music.

Winners like Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, and Kelly Clarkson, all have released new albums/singles in the last year, all to relative success. Runner Up Katharine McPhee found success on Adult Contemporary charts (as has Melinda Doolittle), and while it was recently cancelled, did star in two seasons of NBC's Smash. And of course, no list of AI successes would be complete without including Jennifer Hudson, who has won an Oscar, and a Grammy, had several successful albums, recently completed a guest turn opposite McPhee on Smash, and her film Winnie just got picked up for distribution. AI has also spawned all sorts of rival talent and music competitions including an American X-Factor, America's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, and The Voice, just to name a few. It made Simon Cowell a star, relaunched the brands of Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, and whether we love it, hate it, or love to hate it, American Idol has changed the face of music and pop culture, and remains a television staple to this day.

93. True Blood (2008-2013) - For the most part, I have avoided the vampire craze of the last decade. I thought The Twilight movies were dreadful, and I have never watched an episode of The Vampire Diaries. But I will say that while it does have its WTF moments, True Blood has been an exceptional entry into the genre, that combines trashy, gothic Southern lore, colorful characters, with compelling storylines, and a lot of blood and sex (and I mean that in a good way). Based on the popular book series by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is the vampire version of say X-Men, using vampires, as representative of all those who have been persecuted against (particularly looks to be in true in the new season), but also shows them as flawed, passionate, and violent creatures. The storylines border on downright trashy, and subtley brilliant, the characters are wildly over-the-top and colorful, and Bayou setting gives it a Southern gothic flair that is hard to miss. True Blood may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is highly entertaining, pulsating with sex appeal, violence, and romance, and it breaks through its genre stereotypes with ease.

92. Entourage (2004-2011) - Combining a buddy comedy with the drama and excitement of the Hollywood world of film led to a brilliant combination known as Entourage. Featuring a movie star who with the help of his friends and his agent, navigates the Hollywood world, meeting stars, experiencing triumphs

and set backs, and laughing the whole way, Entourage was another great entry into the Hollywood on Hollwood collection. What was always so great about Entourage was the incredibly laid back and quick-witted dialogue which brought a sense of realism and chemistry to the storylines. The chemistry was also helped by the performances of the actors, who each embodied their characters well, gave them wonderful depth, and were always incredibly funny. For me, the real kicker though, the icing on the cake if you will was the mulitple-Emmy winning performance of Jeremy Piven. As Ari, he was so over-the-top, so ridiculous, and so damn funny, that if it weren't for him the show may not have been as successful as it was (a total of eight seasons). Throughout its run, Entourage also had the label of just being cool. It was quick, and witty, always light and fun, and breezed through its storylines with ease, and let's face it, that is what entertainment is all about.

91. When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) - In 2005, the people of the Gulf Coast suffered through pure hell. As Hurricane Katria devastated New Orleans and other Gulf communities, a President sat at his ranch in Texas and sawed trees, and a governor and mayor were slow to react. But the aftermath of the storm told us so much more about our country, our politics, and our treatment of poverty-stricken communities. Spike Lee's stunning television documentary, When the Levees Broke, is the story of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. It covers so many subjects, ranging from government failures, to oil companies' corporate greed, shoddy craftsmenship of the levees that broke, and the terrible treatment people received from greedy and heartless insurance companies when they were simply trying to rebuild their lives. I believe that this series has become a quintessential piece of art in the American canon. It is sometimes hard to watch, and hard to believe some of the actions of people, and many will call it an ultra-liberal attempt to disparage large corporations or President Bush. But in my opinion, it is nothing but a fact finding adventure that hopefully not only helped the people who were suffering (some are still trying to fully recover, and may never do so), but also taught the American people a valuable lesson about the consequences of our failures.