Top 13 in Television 2005
TV is an interesting medium these days. 2005 will probably go down in history as the first year that time-shifted television truly broke out. Sure, Tivo had its first cultural moment with Janet’s Super Bowl fiasco in 2004, but with Tivo, the ubiquitous “on demand” cable offerings and now iTunes, TV is starting to go beyond the old days of “appointment viewing.” All rules are being thrown out the window, and the same can be said for this list. What follows is not really a Top 13, but a series of 13 lists. Some are short, some are long. All are essential viewing. Put down the remote and enjoy.
Top 13 Scripted Shows
13. Curb Your Enthusiasm
12. How I Met Your Mother
11. Desperate Housewives
10. Alias
09. South Park
08. My Name Is Earl
07. Reno 911!
06. Veronica Mars
05. 24
04. The Office
03. Gilmore Girls
02. Arrested Development
01. Lost
Top 5 Reality Competition Shows
05. Real World/Road Rules Challenge
04. Survivor Guatemala
03. The Amazing Race 7
02. Project Runway
01. Survivor Palau
Top 8 TV Shows on DVD
08. Sex and the City Complete Series
07. Fraggle Rock Season 1
06. The Muppet Show Season 1
05. The Simpsons Seasons 6&7
04. The Adventures of Pete & Pete Seasons 1&2
03. Seinfeld Seasons 5&6
02. Arrested Development Seasons 1&2
01. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Chosen Collection
Top 5 Variety Shows
05. Ellen
04. The Colbert Report
03. Late Show with David Letterman
02. The Daily Show with John Stewart
01. Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Top 5 Funnymen
05. Stephen Colbert on "The Colbert Report"
04. Will Arnett on "Arrested Development"
03. Michael Cera on "Arrested Development"
02. Rainn Wilson on "The Office"
01. Tony Hale on "Arrested Development"
Top 5 Funnywomen
05. Amy Poehler on "Saturday Night Live"
04. Kerri Kenney on "Reno 911!"
03. Alyson Hannigan on "How I Met Your Mother"
02. Charlize Theron on "Arrested Development"
01. Ellen DeGeneres on "Ellen"
Top 3 Shows with Abbreviated Titles
03. The OC
02. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
01. NCIS
Top 3 Cancelled Shows
03. Kitchen Confidential
02. Alias
01. Arrested Development
Top 3 Shows That Should Be Cancelled
03. Freddy
02. Stacked
01. The War at Home
Top 3 Innovations
03. Verizon VCast
02. iTunes TV Store/iPod Video
01. Tivo2Go
Top 3 Commercials
03. Spike Jonze's "Adidias 1"
02. Sierra Mist "Mist-Takes"
01. Gatorade "Winning Formula"
Top 6 Talking Heads
06. Michael Ian Black
05. Paul Scheer
04. Rachel Harris
03. Roger Ebert & Richard Roeper
02. The Modern Humorist Guys
01. Tony Kornheiser & Mike Wilbon
Top 5 Reasons to Change the Channel (or Turn the TV Off Altogether)
05. Trading Spouses
04. Fear Factor
03. Skating with Celebrities
02. Dancing with the Stars
01. MTV
Top 5 Comedy Bits of the Year
05. "The Late Show Bear"
04. "Nascar Lovin' Gun Totin' Jesus"
03. "Conan O'Brien Hates My Homeland"
02. "The Lighting of the Vigoda"
01. "Lazy Sunday"