Dispatch #21: 2009 May Be Done With Me, But I'm Not Done With 2009: Top 10 Shows

Hey readers (if any still exist),

Sorry for not updating lately. I don't want to promise I'll write more as I have in the past, but I do want 2010 to be where I return to writing more regularly. So for starters, here is my better late than never list of my favorite shows of 2009.

-Matt

10. 30 Rock (NBC) – It may be starting to show its age (can they make sure the phrase “real America” is never uttered on the show ever again?), but when it works it’s still the best balance of subtle satire and goofy cartoon in the post-Arrested Development landscape.

Matt’s Picks “The Bubble”, “Apollo, Apollo” & “Sun Tea”

9. Lost (ABC) – While this was its weakest season (I know I’m in the minority here), as it felt more interested in setting up the final season than working on this one, the show continues to have the highest ambitions of anything on network TV. That ABC went along with the time travel plot (done really well and smartly) speaks of its understanding that Lost producers can make the show they want. Fans are still guessing what the final season will be like, but all can agree it’s going to be hard to say goodbye.

Matt’s Picks “Because You Left”, “LaFleur” & “The Incident”

8. Chuck (NBC) – The little show that could, Chuck let its nerd flag fly in a season that was easily better than its first, further developing the characters and mythologies. This was one of the most consistently fun TV shows last year, one that had fans swarming Subways to get a third season. Hopefully NBC, which desperately needs a hit, can keep this charming, action packed and fun show afloat and maybe find it the audience it deserves.

Matt’s Picks “Chuck Vs. The Dream Job”, “Chuck Vs. the Colonel” & “Chuck Vs. the Ring

7. How I Met Your Mother (CBS) – Or: what I caught up with this fall (seriously, like 13 episodes in one day). I regret not getting into this sweet, clever and funny show sooner. Even several seasons in (I’m up to episode 4 of season 5) it still hasn’t lost that spark, which is assuring to those worrying of the state of traditional sitcoms.

Matt’s Picks “Three Days of Snow”, “Right Place, Right Time” & “The Leap”

6. Mad Men (AMC) – I’ve been a long time skeptic of this show, but this season won me over. It was what I was waiting for, the effective end of the post-war America the characters knew and the beginning of the 60s as we know them, contrasted with major changes in the characters’ lives. Throughout there were murmurs of Vietnam, MLK and the turning point, JFK’s assassination. Now that the world they knew is over, where will they go from here? Can’t wait to find out.

Matt’s Picks “The Gypsy and the Hobo”, “The Grown-Ups” & “Shut the Door, Have a Seat”

5. Dexter (Showtime) – No cat and mouse game lured viewers more than the one between Golden Globe winners Michael C. Hall, one of TV’s best actors, and John Lithgow, who more than lived up to the hype. Seeing these two square off every week was fascinating, compelling TV. This season more than made up for the lackluster third season that took too long to get going and didn’t have nearly enough character development. On top of that, the shocking finale sets up the stage for hopefully another great season, one fans have been anticipating since this one ended.

Matt’s Picks “Hungry Man”, “Hello, Dexter Morgan” & “The Getaway”

4. glee (Fox) –When surrounded by the hype, publicity tours, CDs (two so far) and an early DVD release, it can be easy to forget how delightful this series is. From some great song and dance numbers, underdogs worth rooting for and some wicked humor, it’s a flip side to another show on my list, albeit with kids whose talents aren’t appreciated by those around them,

Matt’s Picks “Pilot”, “Mattress” & “Sectionals”

3. True Blood (HBO) – This show was on notice for me during its first season and the only reason I stayed tuned was because I liked Alan Ball’s other projects. Luckily it more than proved itself in its immensely entertaining second season. As summer 2009 proved a barren wasteland of disappointing shows and Jon & Kate nonsense, True Blood was one of the few shows that made it bearable. There may be too many vampire stories for some people, but when something’s this much fun, who cares? On that note, I’d take Sookie Stackhouse (or Buffy Summers while we’re on the subject) over that vacuous pillow case Bella Swan any day.

Matt’s Picks “Timebomb”, “I Will Rise Up” & “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’”

2. Friday Night Lights (NBC) Note: this refers to the third season, as I don’t have DirectTV – After an awkward second season that favored storylines that alienated fans and kept new viewers away, FNL got back to its roots in telling stories about a small town united by love of the high school football team (and also, moving on as if most of the season two nonsense never happened). As many of its high school characters, who were with the show since the beginning, began to prepare for adult life, it certainly got more than a little dusty for many of its small, but passionately devoted audience.

Matt’s Picks “New York, New York”, “Underdogs” & “Tomorrow Blues”

1. Breaking Bad (AMC) – Sure Mad Men gets most of the awards and glory, but no show last year left me eagerly anticipating the next episode like this one. The first season showed it was willing to test how far we were willing to sympathize with dying school teacher turned meth dealer Walter White (Bryan Cranston, who won a second well earned Emmy for this season), and the second season plunged even deeper, making it one of the most daring and unrelentingly dark shows on TV.

Matt’s Picks “Grilled”, “Peakaboo” & “Phoenix”