Top 100 Television Shows Since 2000: Part II

90. The Young and the Restless (1973-2013) - Of all the soap operas on television, this is the one to me that I actually really like. I like some of the performers in other shows, I appreciated the success and pioneering aspects of Guiding Light (as we saw in Part I), and I think that despite the cancellation of shows, there is still a life and a place for Daytime soap operas (as evidenced by the online returns of One Life to Live and All My Children). But on a daily basis, the show that I watch from daytime television is, and will always be, The Young and the Restless. It is by far the most popular of all the daytime dramas, is consistently the best (in my humble opinion), and remains a beacon of what makes daytime television such an addicting and essential enterprise. Celebrating its 40th Year, Y&R is also a family on set. Their chemistry on screen is a result of long and deep personal relationships which is why its fans are so loyal. Recently, Y&R lost a member of its family in the great Jeanne Cooper, one of the original queens of daytime television, and one of the original characters on this long-running show. When she died, my family went into mourning as much as her own family and her Y&R family did, it was truly a great lost. And I think that in of itself is only future proof of the impact that this show has had on its fans, and why it is truly one of the best .

89. Grey Gardens (2009) - The story of Edith and Little Edie Beale, the aunt and cousins of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was told in the 1975 documentary called Grey Gardens. Their eccentricities were widely exposed, and they were the original messed up family, before The Osbournes and The Kardashians exposed their lives to television cameras. Years later, HBO, along with director/writer Michael Sucsy, attempted to fictionalize their story in a television movie, and the final result was a rousing success, winning two Golden Globes, and a stunning six Emmy Awards. Not only did Sucsy and his team recreate an already rousing story and adapted it well to the small screen, but they made the brilliant casting choices of Jessica Lange (who won the Emmy), and Drew Barrymore (who won the Golden Globe), as well as successful supporting charactes including Ken Howard (who also won the Emmy) and Jeanne Triplehorn. The chemistry and spark that Barrymore and Lange brought to their respective roles, their complete and utter compelling inhabitation of these two popular and eccentric characters, was estonishing to say the least. The end result was an entertaining, fascinating, and successful television movie that remains one of the best of the last decade.

88. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-2013) - Of all the quirky and outrageous comedies on television, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has got to be at the top of the list. It is kind of hard to believe that this show is now going into its ninth season as of this fall. All of the comedies that have come and gone since it began, and it remains a comedy staple on television with so signs of stopping, as FX has already renewed it for a tenth season to start in 2014. I'm sure a lot of people would try to compare this to other buddy comedies or even bar comedies like Cheers. But It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of those shows that is truly one of a kind. No matter its more generic setup, the storylines, the characters, and more importantly, the attitude of this show is just completely different and unique compared to most of the stuff currently on television. It is pure balls-out, politically incorrect, offensively funny humor. It never shies away from difficult subjects, and in fact tackles them head on. Yes, it can be rude, crude, and offensive, but those who think that need to gain a thicker skin and check out It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I don't think you'll regret it for one second.

87. 60 Minutes (1968-2013) - This one may make people yawn just by looking at it, but whether you watch 60 Minutes on a regular basis or not, no one can deny the cultural impact that it still has on popular culture, and on our political, social, and economic world. For now 45 years, 60 Minutes, and its band of popular and well-spoken reporters and news journalists have tackled difficult subjects, shined light on problematic worlds, and introduced us to artists, politicians, and other leading figures who shape our world. Within the last decade alone, stories on 60 Minutes have had huge impact on our world, our politics, and our culture. For example, if Sarah Palin had not done so horribly in her 60 Minutes interview with Katie Couric, would the electorate have realized how incompetent and stupid she was? Would it have changed the face of the 2008 election, and the face our country as we know it? Maybe will never know, but the fact is that that interview alone painted a much clearer picture of who we were potentially voting for. For 45 years, 60 Minutes has provided excellent ratings, compelling stories, and created television news personalities that are as much a part of the culture as the stories they tell. It is compelling and informative television, and remains one of the best shows on television.

86. Veronica Mars (2004-2007) - Using a successful kickstarter campaign (unlike someone else, see below), Veronica Mars, the cult favorite which was unceremoniously cancelled, is coming back to audiences with a feature film. The film is sure to be a favorite among those who for three seasons, followed this feisty detective as she navigated the crimes of her rich town, as well as the social fallout from a murder and demotion for her sheriff dad. The film might also be a catalyst for people to go back and check out these brief but exciting seasons that started it all. What was liked most about Veronica Mars was that it never truly succumbed to the trappings of some of TV's standard detective shows, and it avoided some of the cliches that are present in most teen dramas. Instead it deftly combined a Gilmore Girls-esque wit and charm with smart and suspenseful cases that kept its cult following eagerly awaiting the next episode. Its writers kept it clever and fun, and its actors, led by the funny and quirky Kristen Bell, created fascinating and fun characters that only added to the entertaining storylines. I have always felt that there should be some place in pop culture for a continuing story of Veronica Mars, it was a niche treat that deserved more than it got. Well sometimes wishes do come true. Bring on the movie!

85. Prison Break (2005-2009) - Even on paper, Prison Break sounded like an interesting concept. Instead of simply rehashing say The Shawshank Redemption, Prison Break seemed to want to take a more brutal, and more thrilling tact. Fortunately for viewers, the show did just that. An innocent man hatches a plan to get both him and his brother out of jail, and while it only lasted four seasons, they were four thrilling and thoroughly entertaining ones. I will admit that as the later seasons went on, Prison Break did lose some of its momentum, but their attempts to keep it fresh were dually noted, the mysteries were always compelling, and the actors played their roles with equal passion and ferocity, in a way that made them connect with the audience. You know, a lot of people were disappointed when the show was cancelled, but I think that the show had a format that would have made it very difficult to sustain over a long run. So maybe, it was simply perfect timing to end a show while it was still on top, and while it was still mystifying audiences. Most importantly, Prison Break has found a legion of fans since it left television, and even to this day remains a captivating, addicting, and talked about series that still makes an impact. Now that is a sign of good television.

84. Deadwood (2004-2006) - The Wild West has always been a muse for directors, writers, and
actors of both television and film. But in the new century, Emmy award winning television legend David Milch, who either contributed to or brought us the likes of Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue, broke away from his crime procedural past and tackled the western genre with a flair of authenticity and a ferocity rarely displayed in the genre. Instead of a white-washed view of the American west, Milch and his incredible crew and cast, led by the fantastic Ian McShane, portray a rough, gritty, and corrupt world of Deadwood, South Dakota, in one of the most compelling dramas to hit the air since the new millinieum. As Al, McShane created one of the most deliciously evil and hard hitting villains, rivaling many of the great motion picture ones that have come our way. But he did not act alone, as the writers, and the rest of the cast truly stepped up to the task of challening, exciting, and scaring the crap out of viewers on a week to week basis. While it only lasted a mere 36 episodes (a crime if you ask me), the crew made each and every one of those count with compelling stories, passionate and dark characters, and a compelling western drama that not only delivered the well-worn genre to a new generation, but added its own spin and authenticity to make it one of the best westerns to ever grace the small screen.

83. Scrubs (2001-2010) - Unlike the Veronica Mars kickstarter, Zach Braff's kickstarter for his new movie brought a lot of backlash, because many thought he would have plenty of money from the success of his hit series Scrubs. In many ways, Braff should take this backlash partially as a compliment because it means that people were so fond of, and thought highly of, the series that made him a recognizable celebrity. For nine seasons, the doctors and staff of Scrubs made us laugh till we cried. The quirky characters, which offered strange, yet wonderful mix of storylines, contributed to the witty dialogue, the outrageous stunts, and the natural humor that made Scrubs such a wonderfully funny show to watch. But what I also liked about Scrubs, was that, for all of its humor and laugh-out-loud moments, it also had a dramatic side. Working in a hospital is dramatic in itself, and these talented actors and writers were able to work in the tear-jerking moments with ease, deftly combining these elements. Zach Braff may have to wait to work on his next movie, so he can get his financing together, but no matter what happens, he still has the memories of Scrubs, a really great comedy series.

82. Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005-2010) - I understand that for some people, Kathy
Griffin is an acquired taste. She has made a career off of making fun of celebrities, as well as herself and her family, and that is just not everyone's cup of tea. But between her hilarious stand up specials, and her Emmy-award winning reality show, it has been quite a decade for the comedian, and she is simply everywhere. On her hit show, we see her staff and her hilariously drunk mother help her navigate the world of celebrities, fame, and dodging her many enemies. And week after week, her hilarious shenanigans, her awkward run-ins, and her struggle to make it off the D-List in Hollywood were much watch television, that was always vastly entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny, and despite all the of the staged setups, still managed to have a sense of natural humor. In particular, her interactions with her mother were classic. Whether Kathy Griffin wants to admit it (hell we know she's bragging about it) she is a five-time Grammy nominee, a successful stand-up comedian, and an Emmy-award winner, and while she still struggles to make it to the top and still works her hardest to crush the rich and famous with her wit, it may be time for her to move off the D-List.

81. How I Met Your Mother (2005-2013) - When Friends ended, I pretty much went into a month's long depression. How was I going to live without Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross? Well, while no one can ever replace those beloved characters, the likes of Barney, Ted, Marshall, Lily, and Robin helped pull me out of my funk, and gave me something new to watch that fulfilled the Friend's-size hole that was left in my heart. Now nine seasons later, How I Met Your
Mother is about to enter its final season, and something tells me that I will once again hit another funk when the ride is finally over. Over the last decade, How I Met Your Mother has developed into one of the funniest and warmest comedies on television. The cast is pitch-perfect, and has such a chemistry that has only developed more and deepened as the series went on. As of the last episode of this past season, we have finally met the mother, finally fulfilling the title of this show. But I think that I speak for everyone when I say that we will miss Ted's journey with this best friends on his road to love and happiness. How I Met Your Mother never quite reached the height of Friends, but it was still pretty damn good to me.