IzzyTV’s 10 Greatest Shows of the Past 10 Years (1996-2006)

1. Lost >> ABC >> 2004 - Present

The uncensored, commercial free environment of cable television provided a headquarters for ground-breaking, innovative shows. Few dramas on network television garnered the success seen on cable and Lost revived this seemingly extinct genre. From the first episode the show wraps the viewer into an island filled with so many questions even your know-it-all friend is clueless. The ensemble cast coupled with creative storylines creates a show unlike anything seen before. Flashbacks to the island survivor’s previous lives and their unexplained connections enthrall the viewer to keep watching. The combination of drama, action, comedy and even science fiction allows for a seemingly endless story arc. Scheduled to end in 2009, this show captures the audience every week and will have them on the edge of their couches for years to come.


2. The Office (UK) >> BBC >> 2001 – 2003

A generic replica of the office workplace allows this British comedy to attract a wide audience, but the comedic genius of Ricky Gervais makes it much more. Set in a boring paper supply company office, we see the daily lives of a dozen office drones. The insecure and ridiculous boss David Brent is played masterfully by Gervais. The proof of this show’s success is seen today with the United States’ version of the Office being one of the most talked about sitcoms. While this version only lasted a handful of episodes, it will keep the show’s legacy intact.


3. South Park >> Comedy Central >> 1997 – Present

A show that can be responsible for the degradation of a generation is also the best satire of American life today. The citizens of South Park, Colorado are a microcosm of the crazy and often absurd American lifestyle. With the ability to produce episodes in days, Trey Parker and Matt Stone can poke fun of current events while subtly making statements about our way of life. Nothing is too sacred to be mocked on this show, including a depiction of Jesus being splattered with excrement after Comedy Central blocked a picture of Mohammed from an episode (“either you can make fun of everything or you can make fun of nothing”). A program that is far more than its juvenile premise sometimes portrays, South Park is one show where you can’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of life.


4. The Sopranos >> HBO >> 1999 – 2007

The anchor for HBO’s original programming and their best show to date, the Sopranos depicts the life of a mafia family in New Jersey. The Sopranos focuses on mainly on the patriarch, Tony, and his daily dealings at juggling the duality of being a mob boss and family man. Creator David Chase has constructed a show that is much more than another gangster depiction. Coupling the pressures and realistic nature of everyday life, Tony must deal with pleasing his family, occasionally committing murder and attend therapy for his chronic panic attacks. The multiple layers of symbolism and the ability to humanize an otherwise despicable man is one reason this show is a masterpiece.


5. The Wire >> HBO >> 2002 – Present

From the streets of Baltimore, Maryland the Wire hits you right in the mouth and tells it like it is. A show quoted by many as the “most realistic police drama on TV,” the Wire displays the life of Baltimore residents in varying capacities, from police detectives to drug dealers to union workers. The connectivity of these differing elements of the city creates deep dramatic plotlines rarely seen on television. A truly gifted ensemble cast shows the harsh lives of those on both sides of the law.


6. The Shield >> FX >> 2002 – Present

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7. Deadwood >> HBO >> 2004 – 2006

Mixing part history and part fiction, the old west is alive and well in Deadwood. The real town of Deadwood, SD was a center for economic prosperity in the late 19th century. Aside from the lives of historic characters such as, Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane, we see the development of Deadwood from a mining camp to a full fledged city. The citizens’ combination of eloquent, fin de siècle language with the vial obscenities of modern dialects gives rich insight to where our way of speaking began. History aside, this drama is packed with enough violence, politics, sex and suspense to please any new settler.


8. Curb Your Enthusiasm >> HBO >> 2000 – Present

From the man who inspired George Costanza, Larry David’s unique way of seeing the world is truly like no other. Taking part reality and part fiction, we see the day to day activities of Larry David and the constant predicaments he manages to find himself in. David’s neurotic behavior typically finds himself saying the wrong thing or offending someone. One may think this formula could tire quickly, but the infusion of seemingly endless celebrities and talented comedians proves otherwise. In addition, every episode is improvised which only adds to the remarkable performances provided by the entire cast. Some may say this is merely an R-rated version of Seinfeld. I say anyone who hasn’t seen this show shouldn’t compare the two. Curb is by far funnier, wittier, raunchier, more brash and outlandish then its predecessor.


9. Arrested Development >> Fox >> 2003 – 2006

And now the story of the Bluth family, the apex of dysfunction. With a stockpile of poorly written sitcoms on ever major network, Fox had a critical hit with Arrested Development and properly did what any smart network would, they canceled it. The family, created by a truly amazing cast, must deal with the patriarch stuck in prison and the seemingly only normal son trying to keep the family from imploding. Aside from less than stellar ratings, this sitcom does everything right by having a distinct and humorous back story coupled with absurd characters. This show was able to recruit a wonderful talented ensemble of characters yet the lack of recognition this show has received will make it a cult classic.


10. Late Night with Conan O’Brien >> NBC >> 1993 – Present

From his humble beginnings, no one would have thought Conan O’Brien would have his own late night talk show for over 14 years, now he is arguably the best of them all. Mixing witty, off the wall skits and inventive writing, Late Night is a trend setter when it comes to the late night talk shows. While Leno and Letterman hang on to the bigger ratings on their earlier shows, Conan is a favorite for the younger demographic and a minor hero in some circles. His ability to interview top notch guests and performances from bands, provide topical humor and also not afraid to offend speaks well to generation Y. His self-deprecating style and goofy mannerisms are a breath of fresh air for the television programs after 11pm.

The Cop Drama At Its Best

One of the more successful cable TV-series, "The Shield", will begin its seventh and final season in late 2007 or early 2008. The FX cable network which airs The Shield has been responsible for several critically acclaimed shows, but none as popular as this

The Shield depicts the lives of several varying ranks of police officers in the Los Angeles Police Department. Set in the fictionalized Farmington district of LA, the main character Vic Mackey is head of the Strike team which also includes Curtis Lemansky, Shane Vendrell and Ronnie Gardocki; a group of detectives responsible for gang related crimes. In addition we follow two patrol officers (Danielle "Danny" Sofer & Julien Lowe), the captain of Vic’s department (David Aceveda), as well as two traditional detectives (Claudette Wyms & Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach). From the first season we understand Vic and his team are effective and widely respected, but are corrupt and Captain Aceveda is looking to bring them down. In the first episode Vic is informed that one of his Strike team members, Terry Crowley, is in cahoots with Captain Aceveda and they are attempting to catch the Strike team in some illegal activities. Vic murders Crowley to save the team and claims he was gunned down by a drug dealer. This one incident will become an integral point for the entire series.

In addition to the Strike team, we see the day to day jobs of two patrol officers, Sofer and Lowe. Lowe is a rookie and receives tough love from his veteran training officer, Sofer. Their focus lies on the encounters seen daily by the foot soldiers of the LAPD, from shoplifting to domestic abuse to indecent exposure. The story lines provided by these two run from comical to bizarre, but also tend to last only from episode to episode.

The last two main characters I will discuss are detectives Wyms and Wagenbach. You can tell from the onset these two share an interesting and humorous dynamic. Wyms, the tough black female, and Wagenbach, the stuck-up know-it-all, are perfect foils for one another. While Wagenbach is a great detective, he is usually the object of jokes from Mackey and others in the Strike team. Wyms and Wagenbach are typically involved with story lines that can encompass several episodes. A recurring theme is that of Wagenbach’s desire to catch a serial killer and a serial rapist. Their dynamic shows the classical side of detective work, a stark contrast to that of the Strike team.

The Shield makes itself a unique police drama due to its ability to incorporate a realistic life on the gang occupied streets of LA. One reason I find the show so enthralling is that with each episode you will have a new character plot line in addition to continuation of stories from the previous episode and the even previous seasons. All the stories could make the show complicated and confusing, but creator Shawn Ryan and the writing staff do an excellent job of keeping the viewer interested. They create something new for one specific episode as well as providing fresh information about what happened on last week’s show. In addition to the crime plotlines, we are frequently taken into the personal lives of the characters. Vic Mackey constantly has to switch off his hard-ass demeanor once at home with his family. We are sympathetic to Mackey despite his corrupt behavior when we see he is usually doing it to better his family. The personal lives of officers Lowe and Sofer are critical parts of what real life struggles must be dealt with in any work environment.

After producing six seasons, The Shield, has redefined the TV cop drama. I have only approached a few of the characters brought to life on the show. Throughout the years, we see several members of the Farmington division rise to different ranks within the LAPD and beyond. Dozens of more characters play important parts in the Strike team’s continuing attempt to avoid exposure of their corruption. Through the five plus years on television, the show has been able to present realistic, dramatic and exciting conflicts. It is a shame to see this show end, but I am glad I was there to see it all go down.

Three Wives? Not a Bad Idea

This June, HBO premiered the second season of its original series Big Love. The basic premise of the show deals with Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton) a Morman man who practices "the principle" and is husband to three different women. Together the four adults live in three separate houses in a suburban neighborhood in Utah. Bill's three brides are Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn), Nickie (Chloë Sevigny) and Margie (Ginnifer Goodwin). Each wife brings different strengths and weaknesses to the family, which also includes 7+ children combined. The main story line hanging over from last year's premiere season is the volatile relationship between Bill and Nickie's self proclaimed prophet, compound-leading, creepy father Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton). As Barb was ready to accept a "best mother" award the rumored, but unstated fact that she is a polygamist surfaced in front of hundreds of people including one of her daughters. Shamed in public for the life she has chosen, Barb sank into deep depression and no longer was the anchor of the Henrickson household. It later becomes known that Roman was responsible for Barb's outing and this forces a wedge between Nickie, who idolizes her father, and Bill who despises everything Roman stands for. Complimenting story lines include Bill's family, which still lives on the Morman compound which Roman controls, and their continuing need of support from Bill who has made a successfully life for himself. The daily problems Bill's two oldest children must deal with, in addition to adolescent worries, their abnormal family life.

Anytime HBO releases a new original program, I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. Their track record speaks for themselves: Oz, The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Rome, etc. Since the show began I quickly became a fan. Unlike many hour long dramas, the seemingly endless story lines were crafted well to incorporate one another. You are rarely finding yourself asking, "Well how does this fit in to everything else." With the exception of some of the younger actors, the entire cast does an amazing job, from Stanton's aging cult leader to Tripplehorn's angst ridden matriarch. As season two nears its end, the Henrickson family has seemed to overcome the possibility of exposure. The new problem rests with Roman being gunned down and hanging on to life (partially Bill's fault); they now must deal with the likelihood of Roman's bitter and equally creepy son, Alby, becoming the new leader of the compound.

So far, the entire cross connecting family in Big Love shows the sometimes eerie, sometimes normal life for polygamists. With help from an all-star cast and great script writing, Big Love will be remembered as one of HBO's success stories. I don't think it will have the ratings that the Sopranos or Six Feet Under received, which probably won't make a difference. I just hope that HBO allows Big Love (unlike John From Cincinnati and Carnivale) to finish out this great story for seasons to come.