Movies & TV blog

Best TV shows of the past decade

By Tony Black | Monday, January 4, 2010, 01:21 AM

Everyone is working on their various lists for best this and that of the year or the decade so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and share my list of best TV shows of the decade.

Top 10 TV shows of the decade

10. Aqua Teen Hunger Force This animated comedy on Cartoon Network was born in the year 2000 when I was still in high school. I had never seen anything so random in my life. Its characters: A bossy milkshake, an intelligent box of french fries and a clueless wad of meat. Each episode had the fast food trio thrown into inexplicable situations where anything could happen. It has given me lots of great quotes that I still throw into casual conversations to this very day. It is currently entering its seventh season.

You can watch select episodes and clips of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” at AdultSwim.com

9. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia I didn’t start watching this comedy on FX until earlier this year. The cast is perfect at portraying characters who only care about themselves and have complete disregard for etiquette and the rules of society. The story-lines are ridiculous and offensive, but that’s what makes it so much fun to watch.

You can watch select episodes and clips of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” at Hulu.com

8. Curb Your Enthusiasm Larry David, the co-creator of “Seinfeld,” brings his unique brand of humor to television once again with stories about nothing. But neither “Curb” nor “Seinfeld” are actually about nothing. They just described them as such, because their plots are like nothing we’ve ever seen before on television. David uses the show to shed light on social norms that he doesn’t subscribe to, which inevitably alienates him from family and friends.

You can watch some montages and behind-the-scenes footage of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” at HBO.com

7. The Big Bang Theory This fairly new sitcom on CBS revolves around 4 nerds and a pretty blonde waitress who catches the eye of one of the main characters, Leonard. Most of the show’s humor stems from Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard’s roommate, who is a genius (and knows it). Sheldon’s knowledge doesn’t extend to any realm outside of science, and his blissful ignorance of social conventions leads to lots of laughs.

Click here to play my chosen clip from ‘Big Bang’

Find and watch clips from “The Big Bang Theory” with help from Hulu.com

6. How I Met Your Mother The simple premise of this comedy is a father telling his two kids the long story of how he met their mother. But the show is so much more than that. The show follows Ted and his group of friends as they find their way through life while living in Manhattan. It has a lot of the aspects you would find in any sitcom in the 90’s, but what makes it stand out is the amazing cast, and the well-written characters and stories.

Watch clips from “How I Met Your Mother” on Hulu.com

5. 30 Rock When it debuted in 2006, I didn’t like it. The pilot just wasn’t funny to me. I couldn’t tell if the show was supposed to be funny at all. I decided to stick with it for a couple more episodes and I’m so glad that I did. There is a reason why this show has won so many awards. The writing is amazing. The jokes are delivered with perfect timing and precision while Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey light up the screen. The entire cast is perfection, even Tracy Morgan, whom I’d always had trouble finding humorous.

Watch episodes and clips of “30 Rock” at Hulu.com

4. The Venture Bros. This animated gift to Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim is one of the smartest cartoon comedies I’ve ever seen. The show is a perfect parody to the classic adventure series “Johnny Quest” where you have a scientist father of two boys, a bodyguard, and plenty of ridiculous villains. It isn’t something you can just watch once. Multiple viewings are required to capture the nuance of every joke.

Watch episodes and clips of “The Venture Bros.” at AdultSwim.com

3. Frisky Dingo A short-lived comic masterpiece, this is one of the most entertaining pieces of television I have seen in a long time. The show initially follows the villain Killface as he tries to market his plans to destroy the world but quickly things fall apart due to lack of funding. There is also a self-absorbed millionaire playboy named Xander Crews, who moonlights as a bumbling superhero named Awesome-X. But you really have to watch the show to understand the humor.

Watch full episodes and clips of “Frisky Dingo” at AdultSwim.com

2. Arrested Development It was a series too intelligent for the Fox channel. Canceled halfway through their third season, this show is one of the funniest of all time. The jokes and running gags are smart and funny while the cast is amazing. Every character quickly becomes your favorite.

Watch full episodes and clips of “Arrested Development” at Hulu.com

1. LOST The only drama on my list, “LOST” is simply great TV. Plane crash survivors unravel the mysteries of a not-so-deserted island in the South Pacific. This is one show you have to watch from the beginning to fully understand, but that is no chore as the first season is some of the best television you’ll ever witness.

You can currently watch every episode of “LOST” for free on Hulu.com

Honorable mentions

Reality TV shows

• Project Runway
• Top Chef
• Tabitha’s Salon Takeover
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

Animated (non-live action) shows

• South Park
• Sealab 2021
• Robot Chicken

Comedies

• The League
• Reaper
• Ugly Betty
• The Office

Dramas

• Dexter
• True Blood
• Smallville
• Battlestar Galactica

Top TV shows of the decade that I haven’t seen (but probably should)

• Damages
• Sopranos
• Mad Men
• The Wire
• The Shield
• Freeks and Geeks
• Six Feet Under

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