Let’s get one thing straight ““ I’m angry. This
column is both fun and frustrating to write. On one hand, I get to
provide commentary on A&E ‘s first-ever year-end top 10
TV shows list. On the other, this year I’ve found that
it’s taking every ounce of my strength not to have this
column devolve into a tantrum about a certain snub. So without
further ado … the top 10 TV shows of 2006, as compiled by the
A&E staff. And, more importantly, what I say you should think
about it. 10. “Prison Break” This show
started the “serial dramas with story lines that can’t
continue beyond a season or two” fad. People tell me
I’d like it. Maybe. 9. “Veronica
Mars” I talk about this show ad nauseam, so
I’ll spare you the details. Needless to say, if you’ve
never watched, do so. They’re supposedly dropping the ongoing
mysteries as well, making it less difficult to jump into. So do it.
8. “The Wire” Needed special help (a
deciding vote from me) to be discussed later in the column.
7. “Grey’s Anatomy” One of my
roommates last year watched this every week, and she’d invite
a gaggle of girls over to drink wine and watch. I’d end up
taking part if I had nothing better to do. This is why I: a) know
way more about this show than I should and b) find that I enjoy it
when I’m drunk. Also, just so you know which side of the
debate I stand on, Meredith is a shameless hussy. 6.
“Project Runway” My girlfriend doesn’t
watch TV … except for this show. That says a lot. 5.
“Entourage” “Sex and the City” for
men. This show was the sole beneficiary of the Jane’s
Addiction 2003 reunion album “Strays” (its theme song
comes from that album). It also happens to be funny. 4.
“24” Season five was great, and season six
looks stellar, with an all-star cast and the return of Milo (Eric
Balfour), the only character aside from Jack and Kim to survive
since season one. Meaning he’ll die. 3.
“Heroes” This show improves every week, but
it’s not perfect. Though it has cool special effects on a TV
budget and an interesting story, it’s got problems ““
like bad writing. Maybe it’s because I’m taking a
screenwriting class, but I’ve never noticed bad dialogue this
much. However, it could well merit this lofty position by May. Just
not now. 2. “Lost” Too high for a show
that’s becoming “The X-Files: Hawaii.”
“Lost” has been off the air for a month and I
don’t miss it. I don’t find myself wondering
what’s going to happen when the show returns, nor counting
the days till it does. 1. “The Office”
No arguments here. “The Office” is the most hilarious
sitcom since “Arrested Development.” In fact,
it’s so good that I don’t miss “Arrested”
as much as I’d feared.
So what are the biggest snubs? First, “Battlestar
Galactica” is not on here. If you’re not watching the
show because it’s sci-fi, get over yourself. If you’re
obsessing over “Lost” mysteries and reading internet
theories, you’re already a geek anyway. As for the big snub,
let’s talk about “The Wire.” The plight of
“The Wire” fascinates me. It’s the most acclaimed
show on TV, with last season receiving a score of 98 at
metacritic.com. Yet it continues to lag behind other HBO shows in
popularity. In the past, I’ve likened “The Wire”
to Italian neo-realist cinema. Specifically, its cameras mimic the
human eye, its actors are not stars, it does on-location shooting
and the only music the it uses is from sources within the
show’s world (like a boom box in the background). You
won’t see a more thorough deconstruction of a city, from its
police force to its industries, politicians and schools. It’s
obvious why people don’t watch “The Wire” ““
it’s too real. Unlike “Law & Order,” things
don’t get wrapped up neatly. Plotwise, the show is a slow
burn; it develops gradually, and watching without paying full
attention is a bad idea. Plus, the level of human suffering can be
extraordinarily difficult to watch. For as good as the shows on our
list are, they’re easier to watch than “The
Wire.” Their sole intention is to entertain, and they
don’t exactly challenge you. “The Wire”
isn’t solely entertainment ““ it’s one of the best
public policy lectures you’ll see. “The Wire” is
the America people don’t want to believe exists ““ and
by ignoring it, we’re doing a pretty good job of staying in
denial.
E-mail Humphrey at mhumphrey@media.ucla.edu if you
can’t wait for Jack Bauer’s triumphant return (!) next
month. Send general comments to ae@media.ucla.edu.