The Top 40 Episodes of 2004, 30-21

#30. Arrested Development “Let Them Eat Cake” (Original Airdate: June 6, 2004) – The finale of this show’s amazing first season finally gave fans the payoff they hinted at all season, and paved the way for season two.

#29. Lost “Walkabout” (Original Airdate: October 13, 2004) – Chronicling the backstory of Lost’s most mysterious castaway, it becomes clear how this loser in life found his place upon crashing on the island. And the twist at the end continued the Lost train’s momentum.

#28. Desperate Housewives “Pilot” (Original Airdate: October 3, 2004) The 1, 2 punch of ABC’s hit parade struck that Sunday. An interesting blend of soap, comedy and mystery, America was hooked at first glance, giving fans of interesting scripted TV hope.

#27. South Park “Woodland Critter Christmas” (Original Airdate: December 15, 2004) – For a show that has done holiday specials about Santa being a prisoner in an Iraqi prison, talking feces and Charlie Manson discovering the spirit of Christmas, this, a holiday special involving Satanic critters hoping to give birth the anti-Christ (all the product of Cartman’s imagination) is the most messed up Christmas special yet.

#26. The Amazing Race “You’ve Just Made Me a Millionaire” (Original Airdate: September 21, 2004) – One of the class acts of the reality genre, the finale, where favorites Chip and Kim took home the prize over Christie and the villainous Colin, was an edge of your seat suspenseful ride until the very end.

#25. Alias “Hourglass” (Original Airdate: April 18, 2004) – In a season bogged down by a deadly dull character and the lack of several interesting ones, Alias was able to get it together for this one episode with an interesting turn of events that focused on character and the “death” and resurrection of Sloane and what use he would be to Jack, who revived him.

#24. Nip/Tuck “Joan Rivers” (Original Airdate: October 5, 2004) – A great way to end the season, with one of the biggest shockers and cliffhangers of the year. Ava’s a man! Stunt casting (Alec Baldwin, Famke Janssen and the titular Rivers) that works! The Carver’s at Christian’s house (and the music was a perfect match)! Oh the wait has been rough.

#23. Lost “All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues” (Original Airdate: December 8, 2004) Lost finished out the year with on a stellar note, watching Jack deal with his father and try to find Charlie and Claire. His desperate but successful attempt to revive Charlie remains a subject of debate, but the emotions are so raw it works as a part of Jack’s redemption.

#22. Angel “Smile Time” (Original Airdate: February 18, 2004)
Spike: Look at you.
Angel: Spike.
Spike: You're a--
Angel: Just turn around and walk away.
Spike: You're a bloody puppet!
Need I say more?

#21. 24 “Day 3: 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM” (Original Airdate: April 6, 2004) – Things got scary in this episode, as people in the hotel started to fall victim to the virus. Gael’s emotional goodbye and refusal to commit suicide was a great moment of characterization and helped avoid an easy way out from showing this suffering.

Tomorrow: Tom Cruise's crazy cousin, a joyride from hell courtesy of Wayne Brady and the longest run of Tony Soprano's life. Until then, the remote is yours.