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T.O’s top 10 favorite tv shows

By Tyler Ohmann

11/12/2013

Having seen every episode of 72 television shows, I have wanted for some time to try and rank my favorites.

It is kind of a herculean task to remember the shows that I’ve watched in the past 25 years, and find a way to decide which are the best.

I mean some make you laugh, some make you cry, some make you want to tear your hair out, but how to determine a top 10?

Here is my criteria: I decided that in order to be in the top 10 that first off a show must have been on the air for at least five seasons, or made some sort of substantial resurgence as a DVD hit or cult classic. My reasoning being that if it is truly top-10 worthy that it would have been a successful enough show to last that long.

Second, the show must have generated a lot of conversational buzz within peer groups. I figure that if a show is top-10 worthy it should be able to easily come up in conversations with friends, family or strangers.

For me strongly developed characters are a must in any good television show, they help do what shows do best and that is help the viewers escape reality. Therefore the shows I put in the top 10 had intriguing characters that are believable and well developed.

Once I’ve kind of thought about that for all the qualified shows (of the 72 I’ve seen, only about 30 qualify).

I must also note that these are only shows that I’ve seen every episode of. There are several other shows that I’ve started that could easily move into the top 10 that I haven’t finished yet (Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos). In that same vain there are many shows that either haven’t reached the five season mark or have the potential to become great shows if they can sustain some success (The Walking Dead, Homeland).

Here are a list of shows that are nearing the five season mark that could potentially land in the top 10 after this season: Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, The League, Eastbound & Down, Archer and Arrested Development. Both The League and The Vampire Diaries are serious contenders, but I haven’t fully committed one way or the other if they could make the list.

There are still other shows that were very close to making the list that weren’t quite up to snuff with my rankings. Those shows include: How I Met Your Mother, Game of Thrones (also not five seasons), Gossip Girl, Modern Family, Six Feet Under, Weeds and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The two closest to making it though were Scrubs and Friday Night Lights. I really wanted to add Scrubs instead of Parks and Rec, but the last two seasons of the show kind of ruined it for me. The seventh season had two of the very best episodes (the musical and the fairytale), and had the show ended after that year, it would probably be top 10, and maybe even top five. Friday Night Lights is a show that I recently finished that I think would have made it if I had seen it when it was in its prime, but having watched it on Netflix, it didn’t quite live up to the addicting capabilities of the shows that are in the top 10.

There is also one show that did not make the list, that very well could, once I finish watching it, and that is The Sopranos. I recently finished season two, and I like it, but I haven’t decided if it will be in the top 10 yet.

With all that in mind here is the top 10:

10. Alias
The first big hit for J.J. Abrams was this spy drama featuring Jennifer Garner. It’s the small screen role that set Garner up for starring in 27 dresses and 13 going on 30 (in other words it’s really her best work). I really like the show and it also introduced the world to another big star, Bradley Cooper. It’s a solidly written and acted show, with an interesting premise. It’s not any higher, mainly due to some of the unbelieveability and far-fetchedness within it.
 
9. Big Bang Theory
An incredibly well-written show that has been extremely successful (four Emmys and a Golden Globe). It also scores high in relatableness (if you haven’t noticed, I’ve been making up words...on purpose). I have had many conversations with friends about who is what character from the show in their circle. The reason that it’s a little low is the lack of a central story line (which is the case for most comedies unfortunately) and a few dud episodes in my opinion. A Plus is that it has an amazing theme song.

8. Parks and Recreation
Another really strong comedy that is in this top 10 thanks to its great characters. From hard working woman of the people Leslie Knope to the debonair Tom Haveford to the best government-hating, steak-devouring boss on the planet in Ron Swanson. It is really a great cast of actors portraying their roles as well (Nick Offerman being the best of course). The reason it isn’t higher is due to the inefficiencies of most comedy series’ and it’s only been on five seasons, if it stays strong or gets better it could move up the list.

7. Degrassi: The Next Generation
This show is on the list partly to show that I’m making these rankings based on my preference, not what I think people will respect me for making. I’ve watched this show since it’s inception (2001) and through several cast changes and 13 seasons worth of teenage melodrama. The only Canadian show on the list, it also spawned the rap career of Drake. I really like the shows ability to deal with teenage issues and to continue to sustain quality programming. It’s not higher, mainly because it only made the top 10 due to my favoritism, and less due to the actual goodliness of it.

6. Breaking Bad
An incredibly intense drama, that also has it’s light moments from Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad has the perfect plot and a really strong cast. However, it remains outside the top five merely on improbability alone. The thought that a crack DEA agent buys a “gambling money” story is so improbable it made my head spin. The final season almost made up for it, as did Bryan Cranston’s acting, but not quite.

5. Mad Men
Don Draper makes this show what it is, lets be fair, but it also has a really strong supporting cast. I didn’t catch on following it until the end of the third season, and it has tapered off just a bit in the past season, but Jon Hamm is terrific and I really love the premise and all of the history that is incorporated within.

4. Seinfeld
My highest rated comedy, and with good reason. Seinfeld is now classic. I, as all children of my generation, grew up watching the show, and had seen most every episode several times (since it is re-runned constantly). However, I recently watched it from the beginning and in order, and it makes you appreciate it that much more. How the show was continually able to come up with great material about “nothing” is astounding. The FXX show The League is the modern equivalent, but nothing compares to the original.

3. Dexter
Seeing Dexter end this past year was hard to take, but it was time. I think it ended all right, but nothing beats the fourth season with John Lithgow. That season alone puts Dexter in the top five. The fact that a highly-intelligent serial killer with morals was cleaning the streets of Miami was oddly comforting. Michael C. Hall was brilliant, and really made this show tick.

2. The Wire
The greatest cop drama ever to grace the screen, bar none. Set in the perfect town, with a group of terrific actors it never failed to disappoint. I watched it via Netflix discs, and I couldn’t wait to get the next one in the mail. It kept me wanting more and more. I almost wish it would have went on to do more seasons. I even liked the final season with the press and everything, though a lot of people did not. Really great show.

1. LOST
LOST is my baby. I began watching it in college right before the final season began at the behest of one of my colleagues. The show I once thought looked like “a poor mans attempt at a scary Gilligan’s Island” was far more than that. I even wrote a 2,500 word manifesto about the show as one of my final opinion pieces. The show was so innovative with the “flash forward,” and the “we have to go backs” it truly was magnificent. They bobbled the ending a little bit, but the show as so good, especially in seasons two and three, that it more than made up for a sub-spectacular ending.

It has taken me quite a long time to stew and think over this list, and I’m sure it will probably change in no time. However, I take my TV seriously, as there isn’t much else to do in the great white north, and it is as fun to write about as it is to watch.

Anyway, I’m going to catch up on some more episodes.