The TV Addict 

While they may not have been the year’s most critically acclaimed (WEEDS), or the country’s most popular (TERMINATOR THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES), the following shows made this TV Addict’s Top 10 of 2008 for the simple reason that week in and week out they left us wanting more. More laughter (30 ROCK, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER), more emotion (MAD MEN, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) and of course, more questions (LOST).

1. LOST
With a fourth season comprised of jaw-dropping twists, top-notch acting and addictive storytelling that, let’s face it, are now par for the course island, LOST has not only cemented itself among the pantheon of great television dramas, but raised the bar for serialized drama forever — essentially making the Lindeloff and Cuse masterpiece the television equivalent of Christopher Nolan’s DARK KNIGHT. (Either way, HEROES is kind of screwed!)

2. 30 ROCK
It’s a rare thing indeed when a television show lives up to the hype. Yet following what seemed like months of build up, nearly daily press releases about the latest A-lister to sign on for a cameo and the gift that kept on giving — Sarah Palin — Tina Fey and company returned to the airwaves and did just that, providing for the best mix of hijinx and hilarity since WILL & GRACE went off the air.

3. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
Thanks to one of television’s most likable casts, two of television’s sharpest showrunners (Carter Bays and Craig Thomas) and an endless supply of Barneyisms (”There are only two reasons to date a girl you’ve already dated: breast implants”), 2008 will be fondly remembered as the year audiences finally fell in love with our favorite MOTHER.

4. TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES
It so easily could have been a disaster of Judgment Day proportions. Instead, showrunner Josh Friedman deftly avoided the dreaded Terminator-of-the-week problem that plagued SMALLVILLE’s krypto-heavy first season by infusing Sarah’s chronicles with the perfect balance of adventure, mythology and Summer Glau. We can only hope that enough people tune in next year to ensure that you, know… she’ll be back.

5. WEEDS
To the critics who’ve been quick to proclaim WEEDS’ best seasons behind them, we’ve got one thing to say: What are you smoking? Jenji Kohan’s decision to move the Botwin clan to the fictional bordertown of Ren Mar was a masterstroke. Aside from THE SIMPSONS, no show on television deals with such serious issues as race, immigration, drugs and relationships in so consistently hilarious and poignant a manner. That, and you would not believe how many people stumble across theTVaddict.com by typing in the words… “Mary Louise Parker Nude.”

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NEW & NOTABLE:
THE BIG BANG THEORY (8PM CBS, CTV in Canada)
In this rerun, Penny gets a boyfriend, so jealousy pushes Leonard back into Leslie’s bed, proving what we’ve said all along: Life is unfair. I mean, Penny gets it on with Travis Schuldt (best known for his role as the practically-always-shirtless Ethan on PASSIONS) and Leonard gets… a female version of himself (played by the always fabulous Sara Gilbert).
 
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL (8PM ABC)
You know it’s the holiday season when the best one of the big networks can offer is a rerun of a movie that came out in 2003… and ain’t nearly as good as the theme-park ride that inspired it.
 
20 MOST HORRIFYING HOLLYWOOD MURDERS (8PM E!)
The OJ Simpson case has never been officially solved, but never fear, cause it’s among the cases E!’s crack team will look at in this special. Might as well mark this one “case closed!”
 
DEAL OR NO DEAL (9PM NBC)
The best thing we can say is that it’s new and features an appearance by Kobe Bryant. Because heck, it ain’t a holiday until an overpaid sports figure named after an expensive type of beef and who definitely committed adultery and may have committed sexual assault helps you decide whether or not to take a suitcase being offered up by a scantily clad model. Did we mention it’s a new episode?
 
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If Tina Fey taught us anything this year, well, aside from the fact that “Bitch is the new Black,” it’s this… Between her Emmy award winning day job on 30 ROCK, her weekend gig putting the final nail in Sarah Palin’s political career on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and her brief foray into silver screen stardom with BABY MAMA, America’s newest sweetheart proved once again that there is no such thing as too much of a good thing.

Advice we at theTVaddict.com are taking to heart as we spend our final days of 2008 creating an endless barrage of “Top 10’s”. Because as much as you don’t want to admit it, everybody loves a list!

OUR TOP 10 TV “DAVIDS” OF 2008
1. David Zayas (Angel Batista on DEXTER)
2. David Shore (Creator of HOUSE)
3. David Cook (AMERICAN IDOL Winner)
4. David E. Kelley (Creator of BOSTON LEGAL)
5. David Eick (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Producer)
6. David Sutcliffe (Addison’s Ex on PRIVATE PRACTICE)
7. David Duchovny (CALIFORNICATION)
8. David Archuleta (IDOL contestant)
9. David Blue (Cliff St. Paul on UGLY BETTY)
10. Larry David (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM)

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (7PM ABC, CTV in Canada)
In this TV Addict personal favorite, meet the original Jonas Brothers; the Van Trapp Family Singers.

NEW & NOTABLE:
THE SIMPSONS (8PM FOX, Global in Canada)
After twenty years of hilarity, we’ll forgive Al Jean and Co. for the occasional Help, we’re running out of ideas! flashback episode. With tonight’s installment taking us back to Homer and Marge, the early years of marriage.

VALKYRIE: THE PLOT TO KILL HITLER (8PM History)
You’ve seen the movie, now take a closer look at the failed plot to assassinate Hitler. 100% Tom Cruise Free!

SEX SLAVES IN THE SUBURBS (9PM MSNBC)
On the off chance you were wondering why television news is hurting in the credibility department, may we present Exhibit “A”.

Each week the TV Blog coalition — of which theTVaddict.com is proud to be apart of — highlights some of the best TV news and views from around the web. For the latest news that’s fit to print, simply click the link below.

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NEW & NOTABLE:
MIRACLE (8PM ABC)
Ironically enough, this solid re-telling of the 1980 U.S. hockey team’s Olympic win against Russia is required viewing… in Canada.

THE CAST OF GREY’S: BEFORE THEY WERE TV STARS (8PM TVGN)
Or as it should have been titled: THE CAST OF GREY’S: Before they were egomaniacal millionaire actors who squabble like school children.

SCARY MOVIE 4 (8PM Comedy Central)
Little known fact. The “4″ in SCARY MOVIE 4 is an actual scientific representation of the number of laughs this dreadful installment will illicit. Seriously, we’ve seen it.

Least interesting root-for couple: Sure, we’re supposed to be anxiously awaiting the reunion of GOSSIP GIRL’s Serena and Dan, but, um, yeah… we’re not. Every other couple on the show – Jenny and Nate, Rufus and Lily, heck, even Cyrus and Eleanor – rank higher on the list. And then, of course, there’s the devilishly delightful Chuck and Blair, who are their generation’s Sam and Diane.

Best twist, comedy: “Ugh, not another guest star!” we said of 30 ROCK’s appearance by Oprah… until it turned out Liz had actually been talking to a pre-teen Oprah wanna-be.

Biggest jawdropper, daytime: When THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL’s Storm killed himself so sister Katie could have his heart, it was the kind of compelling drama serials rarely tackle today.

Trend most likely to help bring about the downfall of civilization: We have no doubt that execs thing they’re being wildly clever in naming shows things like DANCE YOUR ASS OFF or BITCH, but all they’re really doing is making it tougher for parents to keep their kids from being exposed to things they might prefer to shield them from.

Best performance on a God-awful show: Yes, DO NOT DISTURB was a gigantic waste of time… except for the moments when Molly Stanton was on screen as Nicole, a model whose anger was rooted in hunger.

Oddest decision: Why TRUE BLOOD sucked the suspense out of their season finale by revealing the killer’s identity a week earlier we’ll never know.
 
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NEW & NOTABLE:
A CHRISTMAS STORY (8PM TBS)
If you miss tonight’s first showing of this Christmas classic — considered by many, including our friends over at theREELaddict, to be the best holiday flick ever — never fear. TBS will be showing the film on a loop for the next 24 hours. Now that’s a reason to say, “God bless us, everyone!”

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (8PM NBC)
Apparently, there’s, like, some law requiring every person on the planet to watch this holiday special once a year. Consider us rebels, but we’ll pass.

GARY UNMARRIED (8:30PM CBS)
Friends can see friends naked. But how long has to pass before former spouses can see one another naked without it being… weird. Gary and Allison set out to redefine the boundries where their relationship is concerned. Our opinion: Once you’ve done the deed, there’s always the potential for doing it again… so no nudity in front of one another again. Ever.

SOUTH PARK (9PM Comedy Central)
Is it wrong that Woodland Critter Christmas, in which Stan helps some cute little creatures build a sacrificial altar, is one of our favorite holiday specials? Just askin’!

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As I sit and imagine how cozy my fire place might have looked like had it not been boarded up to make room for my beautiful 42″ Panasonic Viera flat screen, this TV Addict wanted to take a moment to wish each and every one of you a safe, healthy and happy holiday season. May all of your [insert your holiday here] wishes* come true.

*Wishes may include:
• Fraktastic seasons for LOST, DAMAGES, 24, BIG LOVE, NIP/TUCK, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and SCRUBS.
• An interview with UGLY BETTY’s Marc and Amanda.
• Second and third season renewals for both DOLLHOUSE and TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES respectively.
• A last minute reprieve for ELI STONE.
• For Lauren Graham’s new series to not go the way of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s disappointing return to the small screen.
• More Twitter friends.
• A strike free 2009 and beyond.
• For the proverbial powers that be to look at the success of JJ Abrams STAR TREK reboot and say “make it so” to a new weekly television series.
• A big screen adventure for VERONICA MARS.
• For NBC/Universal Overlord Jeff Zucker and NBC President Ben Silverman to be shown the door before they pluck the last feather of dignity from the once great Peacock Network.
• A shout out from my personal bible Entertainment Weekly.
• Peace on Earth.

Most discussed interview: For a few minutes there, Katie Couric became relevant again thanks to her endlessly mocked interview with would-be vice president Sarah Palin.

Best way to keep actor’s egos in line: Next time an actor says, “I wanna write an episode!” they should be forced to read the nasty message board comments inspired by Chad Michael Murray’s dreadful attempt at scripting a ONE TREE HILL episode.

Most compelling storyline, daytime: Fans were disgusted when ONE LIFE TO LIVE’s Marty — suffering amnesia — slept with her rapist, Todd. But the repercussions of the story created the kind of psychologically complex, buzz-worthy tale that most shows wouldn’t even attempt, let alone manage to pull off successfully.

Worst trend, daytime: Grief sex. GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Sonny and Carly screwed in the back seat of his limo moments after putting their comatose son into permanent care; ALL MY CHILDREN’s Kendall slept with Aidan moments after they decided their supposedly significant others were dead; and AMC’s Krystal mourned her daughter by cheating on her husband with the dead girl’s father. Could someone tell the folks at ABC that grief isn’t an aphrodisiac?
 
Best revamp: DIRTY SEXY MONEY got it right during its second season. Unfortunately, nobody was around to see the show finally become primetime’s guiltiest pleasure.
 
Biggest flop: Any chance the variety show format had of making a comeback was massacred by ROSIE LIVE!

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