TV

I wrote off TV a long time ago. Decent, albeit simple shows gave way to reality crap. Writing, acting, directing... it all was replaced by mindless drama.

However, I see a light. One by one, TV shows are getting better.

* The Office - amazing writing, incredible acting, and characters you actually care about. I know it's "stolen" from the Brits, but as good as there's is, I believe ours is better.

* Conviction - started off a little slow, and had a lot to live up to, but its season finale pulls it together in a great 2 hour episode. This show's new, so if you haven't started watching it, download it on itunes. Now.

* Law and Order SVU - always a classic - not only is it retaining its initial popularity, but it's even getting better.

* O'Grady - cartoons for adults = genius. It's at the level of Home Movies and Dr. Katz.

* The West Wing - Intelligent TV? Yes. And it's entertaining, too (although slightly misinformed at times).

* Campus Ladies - I think it's on Oxygen, or WE Women's network. Anyway, it has a budget of about 5 dollars, yet is hilarious. I hope it catches on.

* Weeds - I've come to expect a little more from HBO and Showtime, and Weeds is good... not great, but good.



Great shows that aren't exactly recent:

* Queer as Folk - Excellent on every level.

* That show on Spike TV... it was a cartoon about some single early 30's guys who were conservative alcoholics. Apparently the show was too "real" to last more than a few episodes. It was called "This Just In."

* Sex and the City - everyone likes it, which is annoying, but it was entertaining, well-made, and shaped our culture in a way that few other shows have.

* You Can't Do That on Television - maybe it was because I was 8, maybe because the show was filled with slime and civil disobedience. . . either way I loved it.

* Six Feet Under - dark, yes, but well-written.

* Dead Like Me - show me another comedy that genuinely deals with death.

* Freaks and Geeks - it's a cult class, and for good reason.



I'll add more as I think of them. Suggestions?