Back to the (Smaller) Pictures: Top 10 TV Shows

In Back to the Pictures, we plan to choose a random year of film, and to list the top 10 of that year.  We do this not to expound on our lists (as we recognize the arbitrary nature of doing this), but to give a list of films to revisit.  Plus it’s just a fun game to play.  Feel free to put yours down below!

Television is the most fertile ground in our culture for art, yet it has rarely been reaped and seeded with the capacity it holds. Every now and then, their are those shows so cinematic they are breathtaking. There are those sitcoms so new and relevant they transcend those trite ones that come before it. Sometimes a show will premiere that represents our time and our place. Then there are shows that define our childhood and teach us valuable lessons. We have all of those in our list of television shows.

Kyle's Picks:

Honorable Mentions:
The Sopranos
Lost
The West Wing
The only reason these shows aren't on my list is because I haven't seen them completely and would feel guilty if I put them on there. All great shows though, as of what I've seen so far.

10. Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
The best show Bryan Cranston's ever been on, right? I'm only kidding, as I've not started Breaking Bad yet but expect great things. Anyways, I remember laughing hysterically at this show and the characters of it. I also identified with poor Malcolm and his chaotic, but ultimately loving, family life. I still remember all of the little side characters and wacky situations that really brought this show to life.
Favorite Episode: "Water Park".

9. Smallville (2001-2011)
I could dedicate whole blog posts about how personal this show is to me and how it made me fall in love with the character of Superman. Although there are certainly better incarnations of the character out there, this one captured my imagination and interest in an unparalleled way. Detailing the teenage and young adult maturation of Clark Kent into Superman while also setting up the familiar characters of Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Lana Lang, Smallville evolved early on from a freak-of-the-week formula into a exploration of Kryptonian mythology, the nature of good and evil, and teen angst. I haven't followed the show since they started the whole Justice League team up business, as I only wanted to see a show that focused on Kent. But the first half of this show retains a special place in my heart that will not be forgotten or filled.
Favorite Episode: "Covenant"

8. Survivor (2000-present)
Although I have a reasonable disdain for reality television, like any other intelligent person, I have to admit I still have a soft spot for one of the shows that started this dastardly trend. You have to admit, there is SOMETHING appealing about putting people on an island and watching them forge alliances and stab people in the back. After so many seasons, its always refreshing to see old contestants and remember what they did to one another. Still fun and compelling television that serves solely as solid entertainment.
Best Contestant: Need I Say More...

7. The Simpsons (1989-present)
Setting the standard for not only animated series, but television comedy itself, this animated sitcom has captured a place in American and international pop culture that no one could have possibly imagined in their wildest dreams. Although I don't currently watch The Simpsons, I care that it's still on, as I one day plan on sitting down and watching the ENTIRE series (over an extended period of course). Still, I've seen my fair share of episodes and love the show and its character just as much as the next guy.
Favorite Episode: "The Mook, The Chef, The Wife, and Her Homer"

6. Modern Family (2009-present)
Watching this show since it first debuted, Modern Family is by far the best sitcom of its era and provides endless laughs that can't all be enjoyed in an episode's initial viewing. It balances some of the best ranging characters I've seen in any TV show and lets them utter fantastic sharp and biting comedic writing for TV EVER. All of these performances are Emmy worthy and this show deserves every lump of praise it has thrown on it. Great for the whole family...mostly.
Favorite Episode: "Punkin Chunkin"

5. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited (2001-2004 , 2004-2006)
Part of the expansive Bruce Timm Timmeverse, these two incarnations of the Justice League were great in how true-to-form they were in their approach to character and plot. I especially loved, as a comics fan, at the new approaches they had to revamping these characters and stories to the small screen. Such a great series to watch unfold over years and see the characters relationships evolving. Rare for an animated show.
Favorite Episode: "Clash"

4. Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
This, along with Burton's films on the Caped Crusader, created the basis of who this character is for me and lit the flame for the love I still possess for this character. Many of the characterizations here are my definitive visions of Batman and his allies,as well as villains. The futuristic noir environment was great at defining the dark and heroic stoicism of the Dark Knight himself. Favorite Episode: "Christmas with the Joker"

3. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
To call me a Larry David fanboy would be an understatement, as you will see later. His style of comedy is almost identical to my own: dark, sarcastic, self deprecating, politically incorrect. Couple this with Larry's antics and awkward situations, you arrive at the purest of all comedic gold. David made, in my opinion, the first truly 21st century superhero: a man who is unafraid to say anything and is nonchalance about the consequences.
Favorite Episode: "Palestinian Chicken"

2. Mad Men (2007- present)
Watching this show is like jumping into a time machine and rediscover a forgotten age. The superb writing, acting, and direction make this show look like men among boys, especially in today's climate of television. Its natural aura of cool and poise will make it a classic, and a personal favorite, for decades to come. Don Draper not only exemplifies the 60s, but resonates today to remind us the tragedy of the American Dream itself.
Favorite Episode: "The Suitcase"

1. Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld happened to make a show about nothing that actually had a lot of something. The fearsome foursome themselves represent the various aspects and facets of neurosis, which is why they all work so well together. The majority of the episodes are legendary, both in their plotting and timing. Although it can get a little ridiculous at times, it still holds up, despite its sometimes "so 90s, we get it" vibe. This show has had a huge impact on my life and my love for it is endless, as it provided one of the chief influences on my sense of humor.
Favorite Episode: "The Boyfriend Part 1"



Phillip's Picks:

Honorable Mention:  Heroes (2006-2010)

Yes, yes, I am aware that “this show sucked after, like, the first season.”  Everyone has commented on how the once bright spot in NBC’s schedule began to slowly burn out after the second season was cut short due to the writer’s strike and then muddled even more when the plotlines became too entangled and hopelessly romantic. However, that first season is a pretty spectacular piece of television mythology (only rivaled by a few other shows).  If you take that first season and look at it as a standalone miniseries, it will be one of the best.  Yet, while the latter three seasons have their flaws, they are not terrible.  Season two’s problems cannot be totally laid on creator and show runner Tim Kring and crew. Season three’s problems, however, can.  Season four began to slowly see a return to form perhaps ….. and then NBC goes and cancels it, probably to make way for shows it would cancel after only half a first season.
Favorite Episode: “How to Stop an Exploding Man"

 

10. Hey Arnold! (1996-2004)
Nineties animation was a true gift to my childhood, and few shows influenced me more than Hey Arnold.  I would never go so far as to say that I was raised by television, but I did learn a few little lessons from this story about a boy growing up in a Portland-like city.  The characters in this show, though now they seem like caricatures, felt so real when I was younger.  I grew up in North Carolina, far from the West Coast, but the moral lessons Arnold, Gerald, Stinky, and the gang showed still related to me. They had many things about tolerance, friendship, and family.  Plus, they were hilarious. Always offering ample laughs to go along with the subtext, it was a real pleasure to watch.  
Favorite Episode: “Spelling Bee/Pigeon Man”

9.  Mad Men (2007- present)

This show is, without a doubt, a masterpiece of the modern television era. That’s why it is so hard for me to put it at what may seem like a low position.  I really like the show, yet I must admit I do not yet love it. Perhaps by re-watching it some more I will. Still, the cast, writing, and themes are all impeccable. What is most interesting is that this show doesn’t exist on HBO or Showtime, or on a big Network station. Instead it is on the American Movie Classics channel. Then again, as cinematic and classic as this show is, it makes more sense than it may initially seem to.  It is the perfect thesis that idea of the American Dream ever really existed except in advertising, which, conveniently enough, happens to be where Mr. Draper is employed.

Favorite Episode: "The Mountain King"

8.  Breaking Bad (2008- present)

Then there was that other masterpiece show that AMC put out. Where Mad Men has its charismatic, self-moral, and deconstruction man Don Draper, Breaking Bad has its progressive, lovable, and horrible Walter White.  At the same time it is a perfect contrast to Mad Men, it is the perfect companion. Yet, as much as shows like The Sopranos and Mad Men go for cinematic gusto and story development, no show wraps up and builds as much anticipation as this one. Centered out a chemistry teacher who begins manufacturing meth, this slow dwindle down the moral rabbit hole is every bit as stoic as other leading television dramas, and also as gripping and immersive as a soap opera (and I mean that as a strange compliment).

Favorite Episode: "Peekaboo" / "One Minute"

7.  The Office (U.S. & U.K.) (2001-2003 UK) (2005 - present)

I know that I’m cheating a bit with this one, including both the original and the more popular pond-jumping version, but these are both great shows, no doubt about that.  Ricky Gervais created the character of David Brent as the near perfect sarcasm on the idea of the “corporate office man” today.  The show had the typical British dry humor now hunted for, but had one thing most of those other shows don’t: Ricky Gervais (not to mention Dr. Watson and Bilbo Baggins). To compare, the Greg Daniel’s American remake also had one thing going for it that no other comedy on television possessed and rarely has: a comedic force like Steve Carrel.  I haven’t seen any of the seasons since his departure, though I plan to at first availability. This show has made me laugh harder than just about any other show I’ve had the pleasure of viewing. While occasionally repetitive, the writing always felt fresh in pure comedic terms. Plus, I always have and will be a sucker for the Jim/Pam saga, which drew me in more than anything else on either show.   

Favorite Episode: "Christmas Party" (US Season 2) and "First Christmas Special" (UK)

6. Psych (2006-present)

For a long time this was my biggest guilty pleasure on television. Then I realized that I didn’t really feel guilty for loving the adventures of Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster. The show may not offer up the edgy and ironic comedy like Louie and Community and may fall prey to a debilitating case of procedure in most episodes, but it still has something for me those two shows do not.  I just love the characters in this show.  Fake psychic (and first Mentalist) Shawn is as witty and referential as any character on television and Gus is as painstakingly buttoned up as loveable character. The entire show rests on the interaction of these two, so much so that most of the mystery falls by the wayside. Therefore, she show has a definite flaw, recycling certain plots, which it could clear up if not for its location on the USA Network.  Yet no matter what, I’ve seen every episode and laugh heartily every time. It is as referential as that other NBC comedy everyone loves, and feels much more humble about it (having show so focused on Hitchcock, it's scary, get it?) Also, the comedic genius of Timothy Omundson as “Lassie” must be mentioned, and he should be a bigger name than he is, as exemplified here.

Favorite Episode: "Lassie Did a Bad, Bad Thing"

5. Friday Night Lights (2006 - 2011)

A show that seemed destined it to fail (based off a film, sports related, and on NBC) quickly became one of the most riveting and realistic shows on television. It blends together the ultimate question of does life imitate art or vice versa, showing a fictional small town that seems like your average “tv small town”, yet seems so real because small towns today are so ingrained with this image they have imitated it. The characters were people we all knew, and their problems (except that whole rapist murder thing) were our problems. Coach Eric Taylor, played magnanimously by Kyle Chandler, is definitely the best coach in TV history. His marriage to Tami Taylor feels so real and riveting that it makes you watch it religiously. I am from a small town, so it is no surprise that I love this show and relate to it. While this show is about the people surrounding a high school football team, it is most certainly not about football. It is about family, life, faith, and friendship. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. This show certainly didn’t lose on any front.

Favorite Episode: "Leave No One Behind" / "The Son"

4. Lost (2004-2010)

I came into ABC’s mythological show in a way few others did: a year after it ended. I had always heard about the show, but never had the availability it seemed to get into it so late. Once Netflix came around though, the game was on. Instantly I was addicted like so many others were. It has the one element that all my other shows seem to have: it doesn’t feel like television, it feels like a cinematic experience every week that can be continually rewarding. The stories found in Lost are some of the best and most gripping. As far as the finale, I’m most certainly in the minority in saying that I liked it. Yes, it didn’t answer all my questions, but in a way I was perfectly alright with that. Ambiguity has almost always been my preference, and a show this deep in mythology and characters could never be fully resolved. Tips of our hats should be owed to the creators for ending it before things became trite and out of hand. It is a show that provides endless reviewing, offering something new almost every time.

Favorite Episode: "The Constant"

3.   The West Wing (1999-2006)

As a double major in film studies and political science, this seems like a given for me to undoubtedly enjoy. The presidency of Jed Bartlett was idealistic and almost fanciful, but still riveting. Much has been said about Aaron Sorkin and the fellow writer’s ability to make mundane topics like international embargoes and the census as immerse as North Korean asylum seeking pianists and attempted assassinations.  The pacing is brilliant, especially in the earlier and later seasons as Jed Bartlett is new in office and as he is exiting, offering us something never seen before. It is the portrait of a man in office, out highest office, and the constant trials associated with it. It touches on the biggest political issues of our time and offers up some answers along the way, brought to you by Aaron Sorkin and Martin Sheen.

Favorite Episode: There is no one favorite Episode, "In Excelsis Deo", "17 People", "Two Cathedrals"

2.  Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

Still to this day when I think of Batman I think of this show. It will always be the iconic version to me, steeped in the comics but free to breathe in the animated world it creates. While being tonally adapted from Tim Burton’s films, this show really took on a life of its own thanks to Bruce Timm and Eric Randomski. Each episode has such artistic value, it baffles me that this is an animated show. It truly gives affirmation to quotes that animation is not a genre, but a medium for creativity. Batman is at his best here, voiced by Kevin Conry, and the Joker is his most villainous, voiced by Mark Hamill. The rogues gallery has never been conceptualized better, transforming villains like Mr. Freeze into sympathy and creating costume favorite Harley Quinn. This show is as great an influence one me as anything else, and it still holds up to this day.

Favorite Episode: "Beware the Grey Ghost"

1.  The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (96-98 with Craig Kilborn, 1999-present with Jon Stewart)

Satirical comedy programs and humorists play as much a pivotal role in our society that most lawmakers and artists have. The Smothers Brothers and Saturday Night Live have influenced generations and exposed faults of so many facets of our country. None may be greater than the weeknight half hour roundup of the “best (sic) news team on the planet” and its host, Jon Stewart.  Contrary to much belief, he is as “Fair and Balanced” as certain other news channels claim to be.  His show offers the best 15 minutes on television everyday with his opening riffs, but it is when the funny slowly fades that the proves its importance. Nine days after 9/11, Stewart gave an impassioned speech about his sorrow over the act of terror.

"They said to get back to work, and there were no jobs available for a man in the fetal position...We sit in the back and we throw spitballs – never forgetting the fact that it is a luxury in this country that allows us to do that...The view from my apartment was the World Trade Center. Now it's gone. They attacked it. This symbol of American ingenuity and strength and labor and imagination and commerce and it is gone. But you know what the view is now? The Statue of Liberty. The view from the south of Manhattan is now the Statue of Liberty. You can't beat that."

More recently, after Congress was blocking the 9/11 first responders coverage bill, Stewart was saying what no one else seemed to: why was this happening?  There have been numerous other legendary encounters.  More than any other program, this may be the one that lands in our history books one day. This comedian is more trusted than our 24 hour news anchors. It’s so funny, it’s sad, and Jon Stewart is there to remind us of that, four nights a week.

Favorite Episode: Every Single Episode, though his riffs on Glenn Beck are some of the best.