The end of the year was made for lists, and for TV fans, nothing is more telling (and difficult) than naming our favorite shows of the last 365 days. Amidst lots of complaining and whining about having too few slots to fill, we challenged each member of the TV.com editorial staff to name his or her top five shows of 2010. Take a look at our favorites, and then let us know what made your list in the comments section, below.
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson on Mad Men.
Meredith Arthur, Picky-Yet-Enthusiastic Video Producer
5. Party Down
4. Better Off Ted
3. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2. Eastbound & Down
1. Mad Men
Why Mad Men made Meredith's list: Mad Men Season 3 was a study in character decay and big-burst, unconsidered-narrative gut punches; this season was a string of jewels, with episodes that gave us everything a loyal fan could want (more Joan! Joan and Roger together! Don realizing he's an ass! Sally Draper losing it! Minimal Betty!). The writers of the show started listening to the fans, and the result was mini-series level quality TV that holds together over the entire season. Fingers crossed that Season 5 takes all of its cues from Season 4.
Ilana Diamond, Writer/Daydream Believer
5. Bored to Death
4. 30 Rock
3. Breaking Bad
2. Terriers
1. Mad Men
Why Terriers made Ilana's list: The show's understated performances and underdog characters made for one of the most unique new shows of the year (and likely also led to its unfortunate cancellation). While we won't actually get to see what becomes of Hank and Britt, we were satisfied with the show's final episode and trust that those two probably went on to do the right thing.
Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad.
Emily Gordon, Writer
5. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
4. Eastbound & Down
3. Mad Men
2. Community
1. Breaking Bad
Why Breaking Bad made Emily's list: Season 3 took a show that was already intense, complex, and compelling as hell and turned up the volume: Jesse struggled with huge revelations, Hank dove deeper into his own issues, The Twins terrified us all. Plus, that scene in the last episode of the season? One of the most shocking and fist-pumping TV moments ever.
Matt Smith as The Doctor on Dr. Who.
Heather Hughes, UK Producer/Lady-in-Waiting (Up-To-Date American Dramas Please, Santa!)
5. Dr. Who
4. Lost
3. Fringe
2. The Walking Dead
1. Misfits
Why Doctor Who made Heather's list: Nobody thought David Tennant could be matched; he was the people's Doctor. So when Matt Smith flounced into the role with his floppy hair and flippant outlook, it was a pleasant surprise to see what a natural he was. Team the great casting with Steven Moffat's scripts, which almost always hit the spot, and you get a truly emotional season. Just don't mention Victory of the Daleks.
Paul Scheer with NFL star Chad Ochocinco on The League
Stefanie Lee, Writer/TV.com's Resident Laughs-At-Everythinger
5. Community
4. The Walking Dead
3. The League
2. Fringe
1. Mad Men
Why The League made Stefanie's list: I'm all for the crazy-witty inside jokes on 30 Rock and the memorable physical gags on Modern Family, but at the end of the day, I laugh the hardest at The League's consistently
hilarious antics. With five superb comedians playing believably immature middle-aged dudes, ladies who repeatedly break their balls, an extensive made-up vocabulary, and a ton of fantasy football references, this show is always part of my starting line-up.
H. Jon Benjamin voices Sterling Archer on Archer.
Walter Morbeck, Assistant Producer/Semi-Professional Roadtripper/#1 Advocate for a TV.com Mobile Field Office
5. Treme
4. 30 Rock
3. The Good Wife
2. True Blood
1. Archer
Why Archer made Walter's list: From The Simpsons to South Park to Family Guy (okay, that last one's debatable), the torch for Awesomest Animated Comedy has been passed to Archer, TV's most quotably funny show since the premiere of 30 Rock. The ridiculous spy missions, office politics, and sexual escapades—not to mention the top-notch voice cast and ridiculously filthy/funny lines like "She was, like, the Pele of anal"—compelled me to watch each episode probably six times.
Louis C.K. on Louie.
Louis Peitzman, Writer/Freelance Neurotic
5. Louie
4. The Good Wife
3. Dexter
2. Terriers
1. In Treatment
Why Louie made Louis' list: Calling Louie a sitcom seems a bit shortsighted. It's dark, it's uncomfortable, it's actually kind of avant-garde. Comedian Louis C.K. created an absurdist comedy that tackled heavy issues like religion, homophobia, and aging better than most hour-long dramas. And yes, there were moments of laughter, even if they were precipitated by, "Did he really just say that?"
Josh Holloway as Sawyer on Lost.
Price Peterson, Writer/Screenshot Addict
5. Breaking Bad
4. So You Think You Can Dance
3. True Blood
2. Friday Night Lights
1. Lost
Why Lost made Price's list: When television's most watercooler-worthy mystery finally revealed its most shocking twist—that it was a character piece rather than a sci-fi show—legions of viewers were disappointed and crestfallen. Not me. Lost's dense mythology was always inconsistent and frustrating, but its emotional pay-offs were always perfect. You can have your Dharma Initiatives and multiple timelines; it's the characters I'm going to miss the most.
Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer in Supernatural.
Tim Surette, Senior Writer/TV.com's Willing Punching Bag
5. Adventure Time
4. Fringe
3. Supernatural
2. Community
1. Breaking Bad
Why Supernatural made Tim's list: Supernatural gets bullied around as just another CW show with two heartthrobs who kill spooks, but Season 5 was as good as anything else on TV. You want emotion? How about two brothers torn apart by Lucifer? You want laughter? How about an angel saying, "Hey Ass-butt!" and then getting blown to angel puree?
Danny Pudi as Abed in Community.
Jen Trolio, Senior Editor/The One Who Writes Punny Headlines Just For Clicks
5. Mad Men
4. 30 Rock
3. Archer
2. Terriers
1. Community
Why Community made Jen's list: In short, because it's so delightfully meta and weird. Community doesn't follow a set format; you never know what you're going to get, and that's a very, very good thing. Thank goodness for show creator Dan Harmon wonderfully bizarre brain: From clever movie spoofs to secondary pregnancy plotlines to the show's recent bottle episode, Community is a prime example of what makes TV fun.
Kudos for putting Better Off Ted and Terriers in there. :) Where is Sons of Anarchy though?? :( For me:
5. Vampire Diaries 4. Breaking Bad 3. Sons of Anarchy 1. Dexter 1. Lost
5. Dexter 4. Mad Men 3. Lie to Me 2. The Big C 1. In Treatment
1-Castle
2-Sea Patrol
3-NCIS
4-NCIS LA
5-Burn Notice
5. Dexter4. Fringe3. Breaking Bad2. True Blood1. Lost
PBS Masterpiece Mystery,American Masters Glenn Gould,Graham Norton,Law and Order,and best of all,Numb3rs.I know it has been cancelled,but please bring it back,so I can energize my brain.Where else can you learn about the Fibonacci sequence,and Euclid's orchard etc,and really find them interesting.There should be more programs like this and less Jersey Shore.
I agree with Community and Friday Night Lights, and add Lie to Me, Blue Bloods, and The Good Guys (I know it's cancelled).
The Big C, Community, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation and Dexter for me!
House, Mentalist, Lie to me, Supernatural, americain dad
Dexter, Breaking Bad, Raising Hope, Walking Dead, Lie to me
Chuck, Doctor Who, True Blood, Futurama and The Big Bang Theory. In that order!
Mine are Lost, Fringe, Doctor Who, Haven and House.
if it were top ten I would also include Vampire Diaries, Bones, Community,Modern Family and Glee
Burn Notice, NCIS, Bones, Chuck, True Blood
Burn Notice, NCIS, Bones, Chuck, True Blood
NCIS. Bones. Fringe. Modern Family. Burn Notice
NCIS#1 Chuck Supernatural The Gates and Pretty Little Liars..which I was determined to dislike but it became one of my favs!
5. Brothers & Sisters 4. The Big Bang Theory 3. Glee 2. Mad Men 1. Modern Family
My Top 5:
1.Degrassi
2.General Hospital
3.No Ordidnary Family
4.iCarly
5.Tower Prep
NCIS and PSYCH should be in the top 5
1) Friday Night Lights 2) Terriers3) Doctor Who S54) Fringe5) Rubicon
1. 24, 2. Rubicon, 3. The Event, 4. Flash Forward, 5. Stargate Universe, 6. NCIS, 7. Haven, 8. Hawaii 5-0, 9. The Gates, 10. No Ordinary Family.But I also Love... Walking Dead, Human Target, Sons Of Anarchy, Fringe, Supernatural, White Collar, Pretty Little liars, CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, NCIS: LA, Lie to Me, Caprica, Doctor Who, The Mentalist, Dexter, Chuck, Castle, Burn Notice, The Glades and V
1). Supernatural 2). Community, 3). Grey's Anatomy 4). The Buried Life 5). Royal Pains
1 Rubicon, 2 Dexter , 3 Flash Forward, 4 The Glades
Haven't seen Mad Men. I would have put Californication in this list, but I don't think it was on air in 2010.
Strange thing, there's been nothing worth seeing lately, has there? I do not remember any such moment in the last five years.
5. Glee 4. Vampire Diaries 3. Cougar Town 2. How I Met Your Mother 1. True Blood
5. $#*! My Dad Says (CBS)
4. Lie to Me (FOX)
3. The Defenders (CBS)
2. No Ordinary Family (ABC)
1. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)
5. Dexter, 4. How i met your mother, 3. Misfits, 2. Fringe, 1. Stargate Universe
1) Lost 2) Desperate Housewives 3) Smallville 4) The Event 5) V
1. Dexter 2. Modern Family 3. How I met your mother 4.House 5.Supernatural
Outrageous fortune season 5, spartacas, skins, modern family, glee to many good shows
Lost,underbelly golden mile, parenthood, packed to the rafters, house
1.True Blood 2.Fringe 3.House 4.Walking Dead 5.How I met your mother
1. Supernatural 2. Fringe 3. Walking Dead 4. House 5. Boardwalk Empire
1. Breaking Bad2. Mad Men3. South Park4. Walking Dead5. LOST6. Community7. How I Met Your Mother8. Terriers9. Rubicon10. Justified
1. Glee 2. Gossip Girl 3. No ordinary Family 4. Pretty Little liars 5. The hard times of RJ berger
1 - Supernatural , 2 - True Blood , 3 - Dexter , 4 - Breaking Bad , 5 - The Vampire Diaries (6 - Fringe , 7 - Spartacus , 8 - Weeds , 9 - Californication , 10 - The Mentalist)
Only 5 favs? REALLY?!? Top 10 - in no particular order - NCIS: LA, Fringe, Hawaii 5-0, Castle, No Ordinary Family, Stargate Universe, Human Target, White Collar, the Event, and the Glades. My other 10 are right up there with these. I mostly watch my shows on the net because my TV reception lacks a LOT to be desired. Does make it much easier to watch on my schedule too - don't miss much, except for Criminal Minds this season.
1 - Fringe 2 - House M.D. 3 - BONES 4 - In Plain Sight 5 - The Event
1 - LOST
2 - Breaking Bad 3 - Mad Men
4 - Community
5 - Rubicon
1.supernaturel 2.Eureka 3.Castle 4.The Big bang Theory 5.Glee
1.Lost 2.Fringe 3.House 4.Lie to me 5.Caprica
Unfortunally I cannot watch the presents seasons, only formers like 6th season of CSI or the 6th season of CSI Miami. We have the DVDs of seven seasons (1-7) of Two and a Half Men.. Fortunally I have TVdotcom.
My seven : Dexter; Hawaii Five-O; Two and a Half Men; The Closer; CSI; CSI Miami ; CSI New York
5) Louie4) Supernatural3) Burn Notice2) The Walking Dead1) Castleand an honourable mention for Jack Bauer bowing out off the small screen.
Supernatural, Smallville, Sons of Anarchy, Terriers( y did it cancelled!?UGH)The Walking Dead were the best of the year for me! So disappointed that Terriers didn't get another season..such a unique and interesting show. I wish supernatural and sons of anarchy would get the praise that it deserves!
No comedies on this list. (1)NCIS (2)Fringe (3)The Closer (4)Burn Notice (5)The Good Wife
Honorable Mention: The Defenders
I just can't understand the love of Mad Men...that show is the definition of boring. Surely it is made with big bucks and it takes place in the 60s but seriously...bad actors and nothing happens...boring. Dexter, Supernatural, CSI: Miami, True Blood and The Walking Dead! Those are the top 5 shows! And The Good Wife gets an honorary mention.
1 The big bang Theory
2 Mad Men
3 The Good Wife
4 Glee (honestly I don't watch it but let's face it, it's original and refreshing)
5 Breaking Bad
Grey's Anatomy, True Blood, The Good Wife, Damages, Dexter
( 1 ) two and a half men ( 2 ) dexter ( 3 ) the big bang theory ( 4 ) smallville ( 5 ) supernatural
(1) Dexter (2) Breaking Bad (3) Misfits (4) Being Human (5) Supernatural