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TOP TEN TV DRAMAS FOR 2007
Feb. 4, 2008
Thanks to the ongoing (never-ending or soon-ending?) writers’ strike, TV viewers, except maybe American Idol and/or any/all reality show fans, are feeling the withdrawal pains associated with their favorite shows in constant reruns. I know I am. Which brings me to the point of my debut article for my elbertreble blog – my personal Top Ten TV dramas in 2007 (viewing range: July-December). Here goes.
1. CSI: Crime Scene Investigations (CBS) – Consistently a No. 1 finisher in the ratings, even in 2007. Over the years, I have gotten to know Grissom, Brass, Catherine, Warrick, Nick, Greg, the lab guys/gals, the police extras and, of course, Sara. Sweet, sweet, sorrowful Sara. While TV life revolves mainly around Grissom, Sara can bring it to a standstill with her fractured smile or her pointed wisecrack. The Grissom-Sara relationship revelation was a mind-twisting, awestruck minute that set tongues a’wagging – especially for those jealous and envious women viewers who felt they had Grissom all to themselves. Her departure has left an emptiness that CSI producers will need to fill – quickly. Not since Hill Street Blues have I been so enamored with a television program, anxiously waiting out a full week before another episode (and then along came Spike TV to whet an appetite with marathon reruns). Meanwhile, looking ahead, perhaps we’ll be able to delve deeper into the personal lives of our favorite characters – if the strike doesn’t completely ruin the winter/spring viewing for CSI-philes.
2. Law & Order: Criminal Intent (USA) – What idiot(s) at NBC thought L&O:CI was dead in the backwaters of faltering TV? Probably the same dumbasses who thought “ripped from the headlines” would draw those reality show addicts to real drama. Thank goodness USA picked the show up (I know the same entity that owns NBC owns USA). The show has done well in its 10 p.m. time slot on Thursdays. (Hey, with a remote in hand, I can go from CSI to CI in a flash.) I love Goren and Eames. There are not any other law enforcement partners who could stand the pressures of a major crime unit other than those two. Goren has the Sherlock Holmes-esque brains and deductive reasoning while Eames has the street smarts brains and the required brawn (have you seen her in a tight-fitting T-shirt?). I hope the producers do not try to pair the two in some romantic plot. It worked for CSI but I don’t think love on the job would be in the best interest for Goren and Eames – or the show. And then along came Logan. He’s been around before, got exiled to a distant precinct but persevered and maneuvered his way back into homicide. Logan adds a special toughness quality to CI, and breaks in a different partner, it seems, every three or four shows. I like Falacci (did you know her TV first name is Nola?). She adds spunk to Logan’s brawn. Let’s see: Goren and Eames. Logan and Falacci.
NOTE TO THE IDIOT(S) AT NBC: I see you have “ripped” L&O: CI from USA’s schedule for a lead-in to Grandpa Law & Order. Good move. Just let USA run the new episodes on Thursdays at 10 as previously plotted.
3. Monk (USA) – Adrian Monk grows on you. He has changed the daily routine in my life. I straighten crooked picture frames on the wall; I line up my pencils and ink pens (sorting by color and size); I count things (tiles on the bathroom floor, tiles on the ceiling, how many Diet Pepsi cans are on the counter, how many red cars are parked around the post office, etc.); and I avoid yucky stuff. Am I obsessive compulsive – just like Monk? I hope so, though I will avoid the visits to the shrink. The program centers on Monk’s investigative and deductive skills. I often pictured Monk and Bobby Goren from Law & Order: Criminal Intent meeting in a cross-over episode someday. Monk’s police buddies (Capt. Stottlemeyer and Lt. Disher), his psychiatrist (Dr. Kroger) and his assistant (Natalie) and her daughter (Julie) add just enough support cast to keep the program interesting, despite being able to figure out whodunit early on. The Friday night offering often adds a “name” actor/actress to dress up the show.
4. Women’s Murder Club (ABC) – This is a woman’s program? A man’s secretly viewed program? A man-and-woman thing? Meet Lindsay the police detective, Claire the medical examiner, Jill the assistant district attorney and Cindy the newspaper reporter. This foursome can solve a mystery in an hour. As for me, a man, watching the show … who can pass up Angie Harmon (I loved her in Law & Order) or Lauren Harris (I loved her in Dead Like Me); or that cherubic face belonging to Aubrey Dollar. Oh, there are a couple of male police officers (Lindsay’s partner and their boss, her ex-husband. The mysteries are fresh (although I wish they would resolve the serial killer who likes to sew his/her victims’ mouth shut). Still, I’m in for the run.
5. Burn Notice (USA) – For the women who watch, they love Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen. For the men who watch, they love Gabrielle Anwar as Fiona. One plus one equals a Dynamic Duo in the spy world afterglow – trying to resolve the whys before getting back into the game. This was a surprise hit for USA Network back during the summer; and, I have read, there will be 13 new episodes coming this summer. I can’t wait (I know, I have to wait), but you know the feeling.
6. NCIS (CBS) – I have no idea what NCIS stands for, but Jethro and his crack team of military detectives give us a different perspective on crime-solving. “We’re the N-C-I-S dirtbag! Not the FBI!” Jethro spits out in a USA promo (yes, NCIS reruns are on USA, too). I love Abby and her “labby,” where most NCIS cases get that retro-rocket boost to solution.
(Okay, I couldn't stand not knowing, so I Googled it: Naval Criminal Investigative Service.)
7. Eureka (Sci-Fi) – I have found Eureka to be a refreshing escape from the day-to-day mayhem in the Big City shows like CSI, L&):CI, Monk, et al. Eureka has day-to-day mayhem in a top secret hamlet nestled somewhere in, I suspect, Washington or Oregon. Everyone is super intelligent. Well, not everyone. Sheriff Carter, who has been thrust into the position by circumstance, does not have a 200+ IQ. Neither does his daughter, Zoe. But you will be surprised how many cases father and daughter resolve, out-smarting the smartest that Eureka can offer. Deputy Lupo is hot. Allison is, too. In Eureka, you’ll meet a super genius (Henry) who is just a mechanic; the math head Nathan; the psychotherapist Beverly; the weirdo genius Taggart; and the weirdo gofer Fargo. This has been a Sci-Fi keeper for two seasons, with Season Three coming up this summer.
8. CSI: New York (CBS) – Mac Taylor and staff solve crimes a-la-CSI. They do it in crossover plots, in separate storylines and as an efficient crime-solving team. I think this season captivated its audience with the “333” plotline that involved Mac (and, eventually, everyone). It was sort of like the “Miniature Murders” storyline on CSI the previous season (and gave us closure in the 2007-08 season premiere). Like Grissom on CSI, Mac is surrounded by his sharp team – Danny, Stella, Don and Lindsay – and Dr. Hawkes (Sheldon) and Dr. Hammerback (Sid).
9. Bones (Fox) – I have not read any of the novels upon which this show is based. I keep hoping that the writers (whenever they return) will not dream up a romance between anthropologist Brennan and FBI agent Booth (even if they did meet under the mistletoe). Mix in Dr. Brennan’s work cohorts, Cam, Zack, Angela and Hodgins, and some unusual unearthings of well, bones, and you have an enjoyable hour.
10. Numb3rs (CBS) – I must admit up front that my inability to stomach a full hour of Psych after viewing a full hour of Monk brought me to Numb3rs (no not the “3” in place of an “e” in the title). The show can be complex, expecially when Dr. Charlie Epps explains to his brother, FBI agent Don Epps, the theories of how to catch a bad guy. There’s Dad, Alan Epps, also. And Dr. Epps’ spaced-out fellow doctor, Larry Fleinhardt; and Agent Epps’ investigative team – Sinclair, Granger and Reeves. Oh, and a love interest for Dr. Epps, Amita Ramajuan. Watch it a couple of Friday nights. It’ll grow on you.
Did you note that three of the Top Ten were from USA? I read in either Readers Digest or Entertainment Weekly that Monk (and that nutty Psych) will be running on NBC in March.
Shows that didn’t make my Top Ten, but deserve a mention: Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami, Heroes (though straying somewhere along the way), Law & Order: SVU, Life, Without a Trace and Wonder Woman (hanging by a thread). |
