State of the box

I'll post my retroactive 2008 season review for Collingwood later on, for now I'll talk about something a bit more fun - TV.

It's that time of year, in Australia at least, where all the new shows are coming out. It's of my opinion that TV has hit a rough spot these past few years. My beloved X-Files has been off the air for now seven years. Guilty pleasures like Alias (2006), Veronica Mars (2007), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2003) and its spinoff Angel (2004) have long been canceled. The 'greatest show of all time' The Sopranos has run its course.

In the way of comedy there is virtually nothing on the air. The great sitcoms Seinfeld, Frasier and Everybody Loves Raymond and Friends at a stretch are finished. The Simpsons is embarrassing to watch these days. Shamefully Arrested Development, in my mind the single funniest laugh out loud show of all time, was canceled. What's left is slim pickings. I don't really want to spend my nights watching How I Met Your Mother, Two-and-a-half-men or My Name is Earl. It just doesn't appeal to me. Even Scrubs has gotten dull. Seems like the same trick played over and over again.

On the other hand drama isn't much better off. I've long lost interest in Desperate Housewives and Lost. Shows like Heroes, Smallville and Ghost Whisperer are way too cheesy to enjoy. Grey's Anatomy is too soppy. Could never get into Jericho or The 4400. Same old same old with the Law and Orders and CSI's. Committing a night to one of those shows is an automatic B minus night. It's practically assured. Same goes for NCIS and Numbers. Very sick of these procedural dramas.

On the brighter side of things. House, Weeds and Brothers and Sisters are three shows I enjoy watching. House is a great blend of acting and writing, it's a joy to watch. Problem is it seems like we're watching the same episode every week with a slightly different script. Weeds is one of the wittiest shows I've ever seen but it's on too late at night. Maybe one for the DVD. Brothers and Sisters which I'm ashamed to like is actually not all that bad. Obviously it's soppy, but the cast is fantastic and it's slightly addictive. Again though, it's on too late. Then there are shows like The Wire and Curb Your Enthusiasm which I'm sure I would like, but I pretty much can't be bothered setting aside time to watch them. Anyway, this prolonged introduction is building up to the shows that I can be bothered setting time aside for.

My relationship with Prison Break came perilously close to ending. I had gotten fed up with the lack of movement in the storyline, and the basic lack of anything new happening. In my outrage I did something I'd never done before with the show - I taped the last two episodes of the season and didn't have an expressed desire to watch them. Only by chance did it come by that I had a blank afternoon and I decided to give the show another shot. Unfortunately I was left disappointed, and I'm not sure I have that much interest in committing myself to season four. The first season of Prison Break was really terrific. One of the best seasons of TV I've ever seen. The second season was a massive dropoff, but still worth watching. And the last scene of that season was probably the best of the series. The third season though felt way too much like a poor man's version of the first. I'll probably tune in to watch the first episode of season 4, but beyond that nothing is a sure thing.

I think last year 24 lost its title of 'best show on TV'. I'll go on the record as saying that seasons 1 and 2 of 24 were the best back-to-back seasons of a television drama ever. Only X-Files seasons 2 and 3, and 6 and 7 compare in my eyes. Season 3 was still excellent for 24 but season 4 was a letdown. Season 5 was a huge return to form. Then came Season 6, which even the writers admitted was terrible. That can't be understated, it was dreadful. This is a show that I considered head and shoulders above the rest of the competition. A show where I once opted to watch it over the finale to the Edgbaston test in the 2005 Ashes. And I considered stopping watching during the sixth season. It was that bad. Last year 24 was no longer must see TV, it was well-yeah-if-it's-on-I'll-guess-I'll-tune-in TV. This said I was thrilled with the season finale. The last 20 minutes of that episode were 20 of the best of the series. I'm liking the look of season 7 so far as well. And yeah, any show with Jack Bauer must be watched whatever the price. The greatest TV character on Earth.

If 24 is no longer the best show on TV what is? It's Boston Legal and nothing else is even close. The most underrated TV show in history, this show has everything. It's funny, it's witty, it's well-acted, well-written and poingnant at the same time. This show has a heart. I'd say that Alan Shore is second only to Jack Bauer, but it would be blasphemous to label Alan Shore second to anyone, even if it is God. The best mix of biting comedy and poignant drama I've ever seen on TV.

Those have been my three shows for a couple of years now, but lately there has been a wave of shows threatening to join them. The J.J. Abrams blockbuster series Fringe has really grabbed my attention. I absolutely loved the pilot. It's solidly written, well acted and has that wow factor that The X-Files had. The ideas in the show are so geeky they're kind of cool. I'll be honest and say that I haven't been this excited for a new TV show in a while.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm watching 90210. I can't really justify this, but I'm drawn to the show. No need to delve deeper into this.

I know it's been on for a while but I'm just starting to get into Dexter. I missed the premiere and succeeding episodes so yesterday I bought the first season on DVD. So far I'm pretty impressed. The storylines aren't that great, but you find yourself caring about these characters a good deal. And Dexter Morgan has to be about the most fascinating character of the past decade.

TV has been in the doldrums lately. A few years ago when Lost, Desperate Housewives and Prison Break all debuted and 24 and Boston Legal were in full swing it looked like we were in good shape. Boston Legal is still going strong, but 24 and Prison Break have dropped off, Desperate Housewives has descended from biting satire to pure soap, and despite the ratings these days Lost is nothing more than a punchline. Here's hoping shows like Fringe, Dexter and uh 90210 can lead us back to the glory days of the 90s.