I don't think I did one of these lists last year, and I have no idea why. The election all by itself would have generated a pretty fun best/worst list. Maybe we were all suffering from information overload, and were just exhausted. Not sure.

But 2009 had a lot of interesting TV, too, just not all in one category. As I've done in the past, I'll dispense with the usual "best show" and "worst show" lists and just make up categories:

GOODNESS

Best comeback from a shaky first season: Parks and Recreation. As I mentioned in my "return of the sitcom" story, Parks and Rec has made the biggest improvement from first season to second since... well, since The Office. It's no coincidence; Greg Daniels and Mike Schur's Office experience taught them that patience would be rewarded, both on the part of the writers and the viewers.

Just as The Office started to shine when Michael Scott became less like David Brent, Parks got better when Leslie Knope became less like Michael Scott. Also, the ensemble is starting to become the show's strongest point, just like we saw on The Office. The show ended 2009 with a string of excellent episodes that showed that Amy Poehler won't need to carry the show, even though she could if needed.

Best sign of intelligence on morning TV: ABC putting George Stephanopoulos in the Good Morning America anchor chair. I know he's only been on the job for a week, but I just hope he keeps his policy-wonk edge and brings some actual news onto a morning news show for a change. For instance, he seemed visibly uncomfortable interviewing Robert Downey, Jr., and I hope he remains that uncomfortable. Morning news shows -- coughTodaycough -- have moved way too far into covering fashion, cooking, and other fluff to be taken seriously.

Best season finale in years: Mad Men. We've talked about it a lot here at TV Squad, and for good reason: there aren't many season finales that not only tie up a lot of plot points but also completely shift show's reason for being. This one did. And, because the show that seems to be unrelentingly bleak, the hopeful last scene was extremely satisfying to watch. A great conclusion to a break-out season.

Best reason to root for wealthy actors: Bryan Cranston. His work on Breaking Bad was funny, tragic, and emotional. But it's the fact that he's finally getting Emmy recognition after a long career is what makes you want to root for him. And he's a nice guy, to boot.

Best game show comeback: Let's Make a Deal. Monty Hall finally has a good team to take the legacy of the show into the 21st century. Wayne Brady's improv skills are a good fit for the crazy energy of the show (you never know what costume will show up next, or how someone will react), and Joathathan Mangum makes for a good sidekick. It doesn't matter that the prizes are cheesy or that only one person gets to do The Big Deal; the show is fun to watch. It makes you wonder how Hall ever thought that Billy Bush was a good person to host the show.

Best thing that could have happened to David Letterman: Tiger Woods. Think Dave is sending Tiger a few new sets of Nike clubs right now?

BADNESS

Best reason to move to Delaware: Jersey Shore. I'm getting tired of defending my home state to people who continue to think that these lunkheads are the only ones who live here. Heck, most of the people on the show aren't even from New Jersey, they're the "bennies" that come down from New York to crowd the shore during the summer. Sure, the show is fun to watch, but you just feel a tiny bit dirty while watching it. If you really want to see what the Jersey Shore is like, go to Asbury Park or Cape May... or just about any other town but Seaside Heights.

Best waste of talent: Accidentally on Purpose. You'd think I'd say Hank here, but that was monumentally bad. Accidentally on Purpose, on the other hand, is just mediocre. And, considering the premise, the writing and directing talent behind the scenes, and good comic actresses like Jenna Elfman and Ashley Jensen in the mix, this show should have been so much better.

Best reason to watch cartoons instead of weekend news: Jenna Wolfe. She was fun as a local sports anchor here in New York, but she's annoying as hell on the Today show. She calls more attention to herself than even Kathie Lee Gifford does, and that's saying a lot.

Best reason to watch baseball in a sports bar: Chip Caray. He almost ruined the baseball playoffs for me with his way-too-excited calls, overuse of the term "fisted," and his ability to miss plays happening right in front of him. Luckily, TBS finally saw fit to dump him; hopefully whoever they select for 2010 will be more competent.

Best thing to happen to Tiger Woods: Nothing, yet. But I heard that Alex Rodriguez just broke up with Kate Hudson (who TBS and FOX showed way too much during the Yankees' playoff run), so a new A-Rod disaster should be right around the corner...