The Best Shows Currently on TV

Filed under: TV Show Reviews, TV Shows, 24 on Fox
04-07-2007

The Best Shows Currently on TV by Mike Liebner

It’s that time of year again! The time of year when my Tivo is stuffed to the gills with great programming.

There are so many great shows on TV right now! In fact my two Tivo’s are stuffed with too much programming to ever to watch!

As a result my drive space is shrinking and my recording capabilities diminished.

That means some tough choices need to be made and as a result some TV shows I like will fall to the wayside.

Last year that happened with the O.C. of which I cleared all the stacked up episodes off of Tivo and cancelled my season pass. This year that is happening to The Amazing Race All Stars. Sorry, that show has been starting to get on my nerves! I just can’t take it anymore. I just deleted 3 episodes of Amazing Race which I wasn’t watching anyways and before that, since Rob and Amber got eliminated I had started fast forwarding through episodes anyways. So just now, I went and deleted the Amazing Race season pass. So what! Survival of the fittest!

So what is all that great programming on TV right now? What do I think the best shows currently on TV are?

Well, to do that we need to take a look at my Tivo.

Here are my picks for top shows on television (on my Tivo boxes) right now!

In some sort of order along with brief comments

1. 24 - 24 is without question the best show on TV. I think it’s because the writing is so clever that it keeps getting better each season. What would seem like a constricting factor, I think he 24 hour timeframe actually brings out more creativity from the writers. This show is one of the few shows I MUST watch as soon as I can. Usually the same night it airs!

2. Lost - While Lost on ABC is not quite as good as the first season, Lost still has that something extra most tv shows could benefit from having a little of… what it is - that’s a mystery… as is the plot and the twists and the mind bending the writers are torturing us with. Even though I sometimes get mad at them for overdoing the flash back time machine thing, Lost always redeems itself each episode if even only for a few minutes. It’s those few minutes of stellar writing that still enable this show to be among the best on TV. I just wish they’d back off on the flashbacks and focus more on telling us the stories instead of forcing what should fill an episode to spill over to a future episode. One other gripe. Dear Lost writers - listen to my plea and armchair advice: when you start a story and leave the episode hanging in a cliffhanger - please don’t wait a few more works to coming back to the cliffhanger. It’s just not right to change gears each episode and NOT continue the story lines from week to week. That pisses off some people. In fact I think Lost has LOST some viewers this season because of that. The solution dear LOST writers is continuity. Finish what you started. Don’t try to tell too many stories in one season.

3. Survivor Fiji - while it may not have started with a bang I do believe this season Survivor Fiji Islands is quite fun to watch. For a while there I was a bit upset that the idol was ruining the original Survivor game. This season they now have 2 idols and at least now there is not a fixed game. It’d be better to dump the idols or at the very least make them only good for so many days and them expire them. Something… the idols take away from the skill element of the game. That said - I do enjoy this season’s episodes!

4. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - OK, this is another of those shows that I caught on a bit late for… in fact, it wasn’t till 2 Summers ago that I started watching the repeats and realized it was a really special show. Now I am catching up and watching a few old episodes here and there along with the newest episodes as they come out of the box. The show is very clever and the production among the best on TV. The music is as good as TV soundtracks get with tunesI’d keep on my ipod if they let me have them! CSI is a great show! I’m happy I have so many episodes to watch as the repeats are even new to me!

5. In Case of Emergency - I’ve been praying for this show and let’s just say that I rarely pray. It’s that good! Comedies are the least likely shows to get my loyalty but when they are done right they are among my favorites. In Case of Emergency is as good as comedies get! My only complaint is that the show deserves to be an hour long instead of 20 minutes. By, this one would be great on HBO! If only they could go a step further… I’m still amazed at what they get away with on Network TV. Times have changed for the better! Watch this show if you haven’t! It’s laugh out loud funny!

6. 30 Rock - 30 Rock is also one of those rare comedies that breaks the mold and does something different and better. I must admit I was reluctant to Tivo this when the first show aired but I have been pleasantly surprised and amazed as each episode gets better. I still can’t believe that Alec Baldwin is a regular as I figured he’d be off doing movies before long. But he seems to be here to stay and that’s part of why the show is so great! The episode with Will Arnett from Arrested Development was excellent! Also a standout was the one with Pee Wee Herman (what’s his real name - Paul Ruben). Man, that show was so good I do not believe I ever laughed out loud
so often. It’s pee in your pants funny! I have a feeling that episode with Peewee will be one that can be watched time and time again.

7. Prison Break - Here’s a show that I missed last season, the debut season, but somehow, I think by accident, I gave it a shot this year and man - it was gripping from the get go. I have two episodes left on Tivo and even though the show has ended I keep saving those for a special occasion. It’s so good I hate to let the show go. How do they do it though… it keeps on going despite what may seem like a limited plot. It’s got to end some time, right? Or maybe not.

8. Entourage - New season starts Sunday April 8th, 2007! This show has always been one of my favorites. I watched this one from the beginning. I must say though that 30 minutes does not do this show justice. It really should be a 1 hour show. Also, HBO has been trigger shy and until recently has not green lighted enough episodes. To me a season is not 8 shows. A season should be at least 16 or 20 shows. I hope they wise up and start going for longer seasons. The show has developed a loyal following and once you get in on it you get hooked.

9. The Riches - I watched this one reluctantly on a tip from Roxanne. I must say I did not expect it to be as good as it is. It is disturbingly good. Disturbing as in the show has characters that do things that make you go hmmmm and I find myself getting queasy as they get into these weird conundrums and that Minnie Driver character (whom I never liked by the way) is downright annoying. She really rubs me the wrong way. But you know what? That may just be why the show works. Because their situation seems hopeless. They do and say stupid hopeless things but the show turns and they pull you in. This show may not be for everyone, but if you’re one that connects, be prepared to like it in a big way.

10. Jericho - While I must say this show often disappoints me with it’s watered down approach to life after bombs, it still has enough going for it to make my top list of TV shows. I just wish it’d take us to the dark side a bit more instead of putting us in the middle of “Little House on the prairie” type family situations. I do understand they walk a fine line between keeping viewers and going off the dark side, but still, this show needs more gritty realism. It needs more death and despair. Not just a family at odds with each other. Or one personal crisis. We need to see a little something of what may happen when the bombs go off and leaves us unplugged. That said, I still look forward to each episode and rate it high. I just have great expectations for it.

11. The Office - The Office is one of those hard to peg shows. I am really surprised it found an audience and remains popular. It’s just too good NOT to get cancelled. And I mean that in a loving way. Usually this type of quirky odd show has a loyal critically acclaimed type of audience, but lacks true crossover. But fortunately for us, Steve Carrel is just so good he has kept this show above surface. I love it! It’s also one of those laugh out loud shows. Better yet - it’s laugh out loud and is so good I find myself replaying segments and laughing quite often. How many shows are that good??? Not many!

12. Real Time With Bill Maher - This show is hit or miss and is largely dependent on the guests. While Bill Maher always seems to be at the top of his game and is witty and funny, sometimes the guests are drainers. They drain the life out of you. Other times the guests shine and it gels and the show is as interesting as talking head type shows can be. I actually get a little sad when this show goes on hiatus and feel Real Time withdrawals. Great show!

13. My Name is Earl - another laugh out loud kind of show. This one though deserves all the success and acclaim it has. It may be odd at times but it is more broad appeal in it’s writing. I do think it’s just clever enough at times without alienating the core fans and that is what appeals to me. It’s the funny little inside jokes that make this a cut above the other comedy shows polluting TV these days. It’s smart and funny with great larger than life characters!

14. The Apprentice Los Angeles - It’s still the apprentice! But to be honest - I see this franchise as fading fast. I like it but have a sinking feeling it may not be coming back after this L.A. departure. Maybe that’s a good thing. Time apart may make the heart grow fonder. It’s still a good entertaining show, but in my opinion the casting has gone downhill. A few too many of the apprentice wannabes are simply annoying. Also, what was once cutting edge on TV is now predictable and old hat. They need some new angles and let’s face it - rich man - poor man - tent city doesn’t really cut it. They should all be together in one killer pad. We should see them all interact
together. Not segregate them to tents and make them suffer. This game was never meant to be like Survivor. Focus on the board room as the competition and leave all the other stuff fun and fluffy. The show would be much better. It’s still good though and worth watching.

15. Andy Barker P.I. - I must say I was expecting just a little more from this show as I have LOVED the previous Andy Richter attempts at TV show success. Odd thing is that while this may not be the best show he has been on, it may just be the most successful. Dumbed down to the network level, this show is just funny enough t want to watch again, but is missing something. Missing some edge. It needs a little more risky behavior. That said, it does have some great laugh out loud moments and maybe this show will find itself. Last episode was a little better than the first couple. I’ll keep my fingers crossed on this one.

16. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - Speaking of keeping my fingers crossed, this show is hanging on by a hair… if it is still hanging on… I feel it may be inevitable that Studio 60 will be cancelled. I hope not. Maybe that’s why I have let the episodes stack up on Tivo. Because I hate to get attached to a show only to see it get axed. This show is so good, or at least the first few episodes were, that it could be my favorite tv show. But I have around 6 or so episodes on Tivo and have not felt like watching it. Strange as I was so vocal about how great it was at first. The opening episode was among the best on TV. Also, maybe it’s just me, but isn’t the Amanda Peat
pregnant exec character getting overly obnoxious and overdoing the eat every piece of food and stuff it in the pie hole ha ha not so funny??? I intentionally jumbled that sentence - it’s appropriate considering my jumbled feelings for Amanda and the show. How could they let that sexy beast of a network executive get preggy??? And humiliate her by taking away witty lines and replacing them with compulsive eating behavior??? Oh well…. it may get cancelled anyways… Uh I hope not! It is a great show when it clicks!

18. The Soup - OK, Joel Mchale may not be Greg Kinear and it may not be “Talk Soup” but E!’s The Soup is worth watching every single week it is on! In fact it’s great way for TV types like me to keep up on the biz and see all the outrageous stupid shit on shows I don’t watch. Stuff like I Love New York and The Bitches of Orange County or whatever that show is… The Soup is one of those shows that tries hard 100% and makes it work maybe 50% but I must say that when it does work - that 50% is priceless and yes - laugh out loud funny! You go Joel McHale! You go!

19. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson - This is a tough one as my Tivo can’t hold every episode long enough for me to watch. They stack up and clog space. Yet the show is so consistently good that I hate to erase any episodes without watching. The compromise is to watch it in the background as I do other things or fast forward through the shows. I often end up watching, but many times I can do without a 20 minute interview segment with Betty White or other has beens. Although I must say, that Craig Ferguson is so good and so funny that he could interview a paper bag and still be funny! It almost doesn’t matter who is sitting next to him. He always finds
things to take and run with. Best late night talk show on TV!

20. Planet Earth - I saw the promo for this Discovery show and had to watch it! It’s amazing! Discovery is making a comeback as far as I am concerned. It dropped off the earth so to speak but is back… I’m only partially into episode 2. I have a Jack Russell Terrier dog and he makes it tough to watch. You see Milo watches TV too and if he sees horses or elks or bears or monkeys or any animal for that matter he goes ballistic. That makes it hard to watch this show - especially late at night when surely the neighbors think I am torturing my pooch. I’ll keep trying as this show is absolutely amazing. The photography is spectacular and it almost makes me cry to
think of how little we are in the scheme of things here on earth.

21. Desperate Housewives - I almost wrote this show off in season 2. Season 1 was great! But for some reason I lost interest. Despite that I let the episodes stack up on Tivo and last winter when all the shows went on hiatus (I hate that) I managed to catch up on Desperate Housewives. I must say I enjoyed watching them closer together instead of spread apart weeks apart like normal TV. They flow much better when you can watch 2 episodes in a night. and then 2 days later go watch 2 more. So that’s what I am doing now. I’m saving them up for Summer when the good stuff is harder to come by.

22. Ugly Betty - Same with Ugly Betty. I have lost interest in that show a little. But I’ll save them for Summer. It is a well done clever show.

23. The Girls Next Door - This show is hit or miss. It can be really fun to watch or really boring. I find myself watching this one in the background pretty much and only paying attention when something nasty comes up. It’s worth a watch. You may connect with it. I do find the Playboy Mansion Southern Cal lifestyle appealing.

24. Ebert and Roper - Where is Roger? I hope he comes back! Despite Richard Roeper being on his own I still find this show interesting to watch. A lot depends on the guest he is doing reviews with. I always trusted Roger Ebert more as his taste was more like mine, so I do hope he comes back soon. Get well Roger! We miss you!

25. The Henry Rollins Show - New episodes start on April 13th on IFC. It may be at the bottom of my list but this show is really one of my favorites. It’s really like a wild reckless HBO show on IFC and Rollins is far more talented in so many ways. I never expected that from him but stumbled upon him and have been a fan for a season or two. A lot depends on the guest he interviews but he also always has some good comedic sketches and rants. Rollins is a genius. He’s definitely on my list of people I’d like to meet and have a drink with and listen to tunes. If you haven’t seen this one yet - go hunt it down. It’s great mold bending TV!

Whew… finally I am done… I think I’ll now go watch some tv instead of writing…What shall I watch??? Pussycat Dolls??? Yes! That it! Bye for now! Happy TV tuning! Mike Liebner

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