Best and Worst of 2006: Jonathan's List

Lists like these can be a little confusing at this point in time. If you think about it, what exactly constitutes a "television season" now? It's hard to find something that puts a smile on your face as shows come and go so quickly. Cable networks roll out new programming whenever they want, broadcast networks start popular shows late in the season so dark weeks are avoided, and mid-season replacements pop up like weeds it seems. It feels like there's no rhyme or reason to it. That's partly due to the fact that the formula for a TV show isn't what it used to be. One thing remains though: it's either good or it's bad. Simple as that. So with that in mind, here's what put a smile on my face (and what didn't) in '06.

The Good

Michael C. Hall on Dexter -- I really can't say enough good things about Hall and this show. It's easily the best original series Showtime has ever produced, which up until now had been Huff. But the Hank Azaria drama has since been canceled and Dexter blows it away. It's that good. Hall is freakin' spectacular in it and deserves the Golden Globe. Hopefully he gets it. Seriously though, look into this show if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed.

Season Four of The Wire -- Everything about this season was wonderful. I think it may have edged out season two (the season where the Baltimore port was targeted) as my favorite. As always the show is still probably the best written program on all of TV and more than anything this season, I absolutely loved how certain characters were reinvented. From Prez and Bunny finding themselves trying to help the Baltimore youth at Tilghman Middle School, to McNulty cleaning himself up and settling down with Bea Russell, to the evolution of Michael from timid schoolboy to a lethal enforcer for Marlo, everything was jaw-dropping. I especially liked how the show once again proved that anyone is disposable to further the story. Bodie, you will be missed.

Denis Leary's Emmy Nomination for Rescue Me -- It's about time Tommy Gavin got some love. Leary's season three performance in Rescue Me was top notch and it deserved the win if you ask me, but I suppose the recognition is better than nothing. While I agree with most of this year's Golden Globe nominations, I'm surprised Patrick Dempsey got the nod over Leary. Oh well.

D*ck in a Box -- I don't need to explain. Comic genius. Period.

Danny DeVito's Return to Television -- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was hysterical before DeVito showed up. It's even better with the veteran actor in it. From Dennis and Dee becoming addicted to crack, to Charlie exploiting fanatic Christians, to Frank playing Russian roulette with a bunch of Korean gamblers, there's a reason this show is my favorite sitcom on TV. However, the best part of season two? Charlie's America Song. Learn it and love it:

I'm gonna rise up/ I'm gonna kick a little ass/ I'm gonna kick some ass in the U.S.A./ I'm gonna climb a mountain/ I'm gonna sew a flag/ I'm gonna fly on an eagle/ I'm gonna kick some butt/ I'm gonna drive big trucks/ I'm gonna rule this world/ I'm gonna kick some ass/ I'm gonna rise up/ Gonna kick a little ass/ Rock on flyin' eagle!

Criminal Minds -- It only took a season and a half, but this show has quickly become my favorite crime procedural on TV. It's really well done, the ensemble cast is one of the best on television, and the storylines more often than not make your stomach turn. It's edgy stuff and I can't wait for the post-Super Bowl episode. CBS was smart to give the slot to this show.

Best Show that didn't Get Renewed: Invasion -- I'm not big on sci-fi shows at all. Never was a big Star Trek fan, nor did I like The X-Files, and despite all the positive buzz, I just can't get into Battlestar Galactica. I liked Invasion. It was the perfect blend of sci-fi and drama matched with an incredibly compelling story. It's too bad The CW didn't give this a shot because the first season on ABC was good stuff.

The Bad

The First 6 Episodes of Lost -- I know I'm speaking for a lot people here: the first few episodes of season three were not all that good. Poorly conceived, pointless new characters, and more questions than answers. I could go on but I won't. Despite all this, I still love it and can't wait for it to come back in February. I've got faith though. I mean c'mon -- how great were the first two seasons? They were pretty damn amazing, so I think we can expect a solid conclusion to season three.

Prison Break -- Let's be short and sweet here. Season one? Amazing, one of the best things on TV last year. Season two? It's a large steaming pile of poo. For a show that I've already put so much time into, it pains me to say it, but I won't be watching when it comes back at the end of the month. I give up.

The Nine -- I sound like a broken record here because everything that could be said about this show has already been talked to death, but it's the truth. What a let down. I don't think I've ever seen a show take a bigger dive so fast. From one of the coolest pilots I've ever seen to complete snooze-worthiness? It's too bad because I had high hopes for this show. Hell, everyone did. No one cares what happened in there anymore.

The Vito Spatafore plot on The Sopranos -- This is the reason the first half of season six was so mediocre. Good storyline but far too much time was devoted to it. Why spend so much on a character who wasn't even in the promotional poster for the new season? It doesn't make sense to me at all. By the same token, why have Uncle Junior in the picture when he was barely in it after the premiere? It was all very misleading.

Lem's Death on The Shield -- I'm 100% against this. Sure it was shocking but Lem is integral to the show. There had to have been plenty of other ways to show that Shane is a complete waste of life. Killing Lem shouldn't have been one of them. Lemansky was the conscience of the team, so I think we can expect the show to be much darker when it returns.