Daaaaaavid Letterman.
In this gargantuan Top 100 list, we go a little out of the box by looking at specific elements of television--both on-screen and off-screen--that we thought were the most memorable this year. This is the last of the installments, but check here for more!
10. Mad Men's costuming, set design
Mad Men isn't just watchable for its great acting performances and storylines, it's also a favorite because it simply looks so darned good. The show's 1960s office environments are nearly flawless, and the clothes in the program sell the setting even further.
9. David Letterman's year (Leno, strike, McCain)
Let's just say 2008 was a decent year for David Letterman. He started off the year with great PR for paying his employees during the strike, and ended with some key interviews (and non-interviews) with presidential nominee John McCain and news that his main competitor would be involved in a new late-night experiment.
8. Hulu.com
The NBC Universal and Fox streaming-video portal officially launched in March and has been the prime example for on-demand television online. There's still plenty left to be desired for online video, but right now, Hulu has the early edge.
Mr. Omar Little.
7. Pushing Daisies' production
Getting a vision from the brain to the small screen is no small task, but translating the world Bryan Fuller created for Pushing Daisies> onto network television was a thing of wonder. Elaborate sets, over-saturated colors, and teeny-tiny details made Pushing Daisies a feast for the eyes.
6. The guys and girls of Gossip Girl
It would be one thing to take a look at Northeastern private high schools and see the influence of Gossip Girl, but the influence that Blake, Leighton, Taylor, Ed, and Chace exhibited in 2008 went much further. The young cast was all over the place, the product of a hype-machine that sunk its teeth into the public and never let go. Now excuse me, I have to go press my plaid skirt.
5. Omar Little's farewell
The Wire gave us so many incredible characters, but none quite took a hold like the renegade stick-up artist Omar Little. This Robin Hood robbin' hoods is one of television's most intimidating and admirable characters, earning not only our respect but the respect of the future most-powerful man in the world: Omar is Barack Obama's favorite television character.
4. The importance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
The best thing to happen for television wasn't even on television. Joss Whedon's Web-exclusive Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog was made during the writers strike as a passion project on a shoestring budget; yet the product was one of the most entertaining of the year. We can only hope that others follow the same idea that bigger doesn't always mean better and that sometimes the final decisions are best left to those who actually make the show, not the networks.
3. Tina Fey
Did any one single person in entertainment have a bigger year than Tina Fey? The 30 Rock creator and star visited more podiums at awards shows than the shows' hosts, and her impersonation of Sarah Palin was all the rage during the presidential election. With a book and several feature projects coming out soon, expect 2009 to be another Tina Fey year.
Desmond looking very Lost.
2. Lost 4.05: "The Constant"
Network television may be taking its lumps as of late, but the best piece of the boob tube happened on ABC in 2008. The fifth episode of season four of Lost was a jaw-dropper that combined some hardcore science-fiction with a good-old-fashioned love story for an hour of compelling television. Sure to go down as one of the best in Lost lore, "The Constant" was a reminder that Lost hasn't lost its touch.
1. The expansion of HD television
The rush of actors to plastic surgeons and tanning beds isn't just to look good in front of the never-ending stream of paparazzi, it's because the penetration of high-definition television is at an all-time high--and we love it. A dazzling picture with enriched audio makes everything in this list look and sound that much better.
Check out more TV.com lists here, and here's to a happy 2009!
Comments (71)
Number 1 was a bit anticlimactic but I like the fact that Lost was 2nd. Great work for Pushing Daisies and The Wire too
Hey people!!! There are almose 80000 signatures on the Pushing Daisies petition. We may not get the show back on ABC, but who like ABC now anyway, but we could have another network pick it up or get a movie to finish the plot. LETS SHOW THEM WE CARE ABOUT DAISIES!!!! http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?daisies
Dr. Horrible DVD is out now. It is exclusive to Amazon.com.
Pushing Daisies is amazing! Glad it made top 10. Why ABC?!? Why?
"the requested video cannot be displayed in your region" %$#& HULU, go back to youtube
I didn't like "The Constant" as much as I liked the premiere of the season, but I'm glad the amazing season was at least mentioned!
This top ten is awesome! Not surprised that Tina Fey, GGirl and Lost made the list. The non-interview with McCain was priceless
Great top ten. Some of my favorites this year!
I saw The Constant, and while I certainly won't complain about the choice because I didn't expect anything more, the episode is extremely overrated."...Sing-a-long Blog" was horrible.
The Constant was fantastic. This is a great top 10. Thanks!
Anyone that saw 'The Constant' isn't complaining about that choice.
#2 kinda brings the whole list down..
yay for everything in the top 10... I love it all... well, most of it. Gossip Girl is HOT! Mad Men has an amazing art direction. Pushing Daisies? oh! how much I miss it! The Constant was a truly amazing episode. It was the year of Tina Fey, she rules! and 30 Rock IS funny, you just have to know a few details about politics and pop culture and you're good to go, it is what I like to call a smart comedy. HD TV is amazing, wish I could enjoy it here in peru, in my hd tv, but I can't :( however I do enjoy it whenever I take a trip to the states. And well, hulu.com? I cannot enjoy it in my country, but I'm sure it will come soon... all in all great top 10!moreless
Dune, get over it. So because it's US based then the staff has to completely ignore what a great site it is and the fact that it's one of their favorite things of the year? Stop being such a douche.
yes tina palin did a great impression of Palin. but I've never liked 30 rock. When I've tuned in it just hasn't appealed to me. I have a hard time saying she's so great just based on a couple SNL skits. Pushing Daisies, Dr. Horrible, and Gossip Girl absolutely deserved to be ahead of her.
Pushing Daisies should have been number one. But at least it was in the top ten. I'll really miss it. :-(
<p>Kudos on putting Pushing Daisies in the top ten -<em>Damn you ABC</em>- though I would have liked to see it higher than 7 lol.</p> <p> I agree about what is being said about Hulu. It would be great if it could be shown outside the US. It is possible to use it via proxy but it's choppy at best and unwatchable at worst. </p><p> I don't understand 30 Rock. It's just started showing in the UK and Despite the fact that I thought Tina Fey was brilliant as Sarah Palin, 30 Rock is just a load of crap. It's not funny and barely makes me break a smile. It's not laugh out loud funny if that was the intention.</p>
I love David Letterman.
Why do they have to cancel "Pushing Daisies"? I watched the entire 1st season to catch up, and now they're going to cancel it! WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!? Oh, right, the eternally clueless Nelson ratings... Hulu's good too, and duh, of course HD rocks. I've been recording HDTV long before Tivo did.
-Pushing Daisies was beatiful great show I'll miss it!
-Gossip Girl Cast is SEXY
-Tina Fey is Hilarious
-Lost of course is DA S&HT
-HD is great, to bad only 10 channels reach Puerto Rico (were I live) let the expantion this year continues!!! I wanna see LOST in HD!!
Dr. Horible's Sing Along Blog was good, hope the DVD comes out soon.
OK. Not bad -- but now that all 100 are shown, I still didn't see the Frozen Donkey Wheel scene from Lost from the season finale -- yet we had a bunch of crappy items of shows being cancelled. What's up with that? The only ones I'm not sure about are 6 & 5, but the rest of the Top 10 are great. Best 3 of this bunch: Dr Horrible, HD television & everything about Lost from Season 4. The Constant was the best episode & was quite the show-stopper & who doesn't love Desmond & Penny?
I think the Battlestar Galactica mid-season finale deserves to be on the top 10 (at least in the top 20).
Yay that Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog got so high on the list. It was indeed fabulous.
Ugh, am I the only one whose already sick and tired of hearing about Tina Fey? The election's over already! Thank goodness "Lost" beats her in this Top 100 list.
pushing daisies is great... every website says that. Why ABC? Why did you have to do that? There are enough viewers and fans and aaaaaah
yeah Tina Fey!
Yeah, the Lost writers seem to work extra hard when it comes to writing material for Desmond. Anything they throw at this guy turns to gold, his character (and Henry Ian Cusick) is really the 'gem' of the entire show.
The Constant was amazing!! Best episode.
I really dont see how Hulu get's into the top 8 when it can only be used in the US, unless you're a bit tech savvy and can use a proxy. I wonder how long it will take Yanks to learn this lesson, there is a world OUTSIDE N. America.
Lol, yes Critterish - people still watch Lost :). I agree with it being in the top ten - definitely one of the best episodes of the year! I also love Tina Fey - she's hilarious.
The Constant is by far one of my favorite episodes of lost ever. I balled like a baby at the end when Penny answered Desmonds phone call. I love there lovestory so much!
Now that I have a HD tv, I actually interested in watching again, . . not that there's much worth watching IMO. For what I care about, it certainly looks deeper richer and more cinematic with a good size hd unit, and I'm combing through the visual details, the scenery, the props and background more so than before, as living breathing parts of some shows and not a painted backdrop. It makes great shows greater, the standard definition ones sad to look at (unless I do picture in picture side by side to reduce size), and makes the bad shows a must miss since there's no time to waste on em.
Love 6th, 1st and 2nd. I hoped that once more I'll see GG in this list and my expectations come true.
cough.
Revelations?
Although Constant was a brilliant episode, Revelations need's to be on there without a doubt.
Glad to see The Wire get a mention, Omar has to be one of the best TV characters ever, "I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase" nuff said
Lost, really? really... does anybody watch that anymore?
I agree with most (say about 7) of the top 10 list .. but I have to admit I got a pain in my side when I saw that "Gossip Girl" made the top 10.
Definitly agree "The Constant" was awsome and i love Gossip Girl and Mad Men the clothes are so great and i have HD TV!!!!
:):)
i have to say LOST ROXXX !!! like always ,,
The Constant was the best ep this year !!
Dr Horrible: Was outstanding.<br><br>HD Tv: Who gives a Frack. I'm quite happy with my "normal" Tv thanks, I'm NOT going to go out & spend Funt-knows-how-much on a big Tv (which I don't need) & a HD player (& then replace all my Dvd's), when I'm quite happy with the picture I have. - Pointless.
Dr. Horrible was so good and I can't wait for Doll house!
The only entry worthy of the Top 10 is #4. The importance of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog....all the rest are lame.
Lost will probably be remembered as one of the most daring and ingenious television shows in history. I completely about the Constant. I also adore Gossip Girl! The cast are lovely, except Penn is an arrogant bastard and I don't like Taylor either.
Well, I agree with some. Hulu is great, Tina Fey is hilarious, and "The Constant" was my favorite episode of Lost yet. Everything else... I haven't seen so I guess I can't really comment.
lol @ tina fey what a dud
Seriously??? These are the top ten??? Aside from the cast of GG, and one of Lost's truly best epis (featuring flashbacks only comparable to Dean Winchester's trip to his own past): The Constant, the rest is let's just say not very appealing...
Joss Whedon and Gossip girl in the top 10 makes me happy. Also hooray for Tina Fey. It's fun to rhyme :)
Tina Fey is amazing without doubt