Lopez Blogs

Honourable mentions: Desperate Housewives; Gossip Girl; Reaper; Supernatural; Heroes; Smallville; Dollhouse; The Office; Community; The Tudors; Big Love; Cleveland Show; Benidorm; Big Love...


Honourable mentions 2: The Dr Who universe ~ as I type this, the Christmas specials signalling the end of David Tennant (sob) haven't aired yet, and I won't see them til I'm back from Vegas anyway. Despite only airing for a few episodes in 2009, the Doctor has had a significant impact on my tv watching. Yes, the bus in the desert special wasn't particularly amazing, though fairly solid (if only for the ominous portents). However, the Waters of Mars was amazing and I'm hoping that you'll be commenting on how perfect the final two episodes were (and explain what in the name of good God the Master is up to there - cos he looks more Servant than Master!) Add to that the excellent Torchwood mini series (rest in peace oddly sexy Ianto) and me catching up on all 3 series of the immensely enjoyable Sarah Jane Adventures and it was still a ripper year for the Doctor and his friends, past and present. Bring on 2010...


10 ~ FlashForward: It seemed that this was designed to fill the gap that will be left by Lost and by and large, it seems to have done the job pretty much. The mystery seems very confined at the moment though (with the flashforward date approaching rapidly) and the kangaroo is far less riveting (for example) than Lost's polar bear. Still Joseph Fiennes in a suit keeps me watching even when the storyline wavers somewhat :P
09 ~ Modern Family: Oh I rarely get invested in US sitcoms because I have no faith that they will make a second season and by then, I rarely have the time to get caught up on them. This one made me chuckle in the ads though so I gave it a go and i've been hooked ever since. I love to watch dysfunctional families. It makes me feel much much better about my own.
08 ~ True Blood: Sure season 2 was a barely disguised porn video but it was very engrossing, shocking, soap operatic and full of dudes taking their tops off at random moments. And really what more can one ask for (ok, so that's also just described Dante's Cove, so I guess there is some decent story telling in True Blood and Sookie Stackhouse remains the best vampire linked heroine since buffy. In your face moody Bella)!!
07 ~ Grey's Anatomy: The last half of season 5 was actually very decent and the 007 on Meredith's hand on that year's finale was just an example of how heartstopping the show could be, when it wasn't trying to be too clever for it's own good. Year six hasn't been quite as amazing, but certainly back on track after the fiasco of Denny's Ghost. Plus it's nice to see Meredith happy for a change...
06 ~ Brothers and Sisters: It's actually Scottie that is the glue in the BroSis family circle and one of the ongoing reasons for watching. Well that and now whatsisname Getty is gone. Phew. This latest season has been incredibly difficult viewing as they are tackling the cancer storyline (see also Party of Five year 4), but doing it with gritty realism, grace and oscar winning performances. Question though - did Calista Flockhart really shave her head for this?!


05 ~ Lost: Oh how year five made my brain hurt. I felt I needed a notebook like Daniel Faradays just to keep up with things. However, it was increasingly evident that the writers knew what they were doing, where they were going and taking the responsibility of wrapping up the show satisfactorily very seriously. If year six pulls this off, then this may be one of the greatest tv shows of all time and a possible number one this time next year.
04 ~ Dexter: I think Dexter could have been absolutely crap this year and I would have featured it very high on the list just for the amazing final minute of year four. I'm very swayed by how good a season finale is! Luckily year four was uniformly excellent throughout as Dexter found himself a repugnant role model for balancing job, social, family and killing. Unfortunately it all went horribly wrong and year five has the potential to be it's best yet...
03 ~ Greek: It's the sort of show that doesn't quite get all the raves it absolutely deserves and yet is easily the most quotable and delightful dramedy this side of Glee. Excellent cast, funny yet touching storylines, brilliant pop culture references - it's like Felicity with a sense of humour. Back for the second half of season 3 in the new year, long may they pledge!
02 ~ Gavin and Stacey: sob. It's all over (at least if you watched the dvds it is)... series 3 of the wonderfully warm yet hilarious sitcom bought the characters full circle and left me feeling a bit bereft that they won't be in my life any longer (Christmas specials pending). The final episode was a near masterpiece particularly the lovely Nessa-Gwen moment, a genuinely teary Gavin and Stace happy development and the dramatic conclusion to the Nessa-Smithy-DaveCoaches non love triangle. Oh what's occuring? More please - at least one offs in the future :/


01 ~ Glee: Taking over from the much lamented (by me anyway - where's the comic>!) Pushing Daisies, Glee was the most talked about show of the year. And quite rightly so. It was smart, engaging, funny, witty and sing a along all at the same time. There's not much I can say about it other than pick some of my favourite musical moments (in no particular order) from the first 13 eps of season one...

• Sweet Caroline - sure it's horribly overused by bad bar singers and karoake wannabes but Mark Salling was sweet and hot all at the same time when singing this because God wanted him to get into the hot jewish girls pants...:P
• Single Ladies - in a year of single ladies parodies, this was one of the most enjoyable. And of course the football team would put themselves through that :P Who cares? it totally made me smile...
• My Life Would Suck Without You - one of the years best songs soundtracked one of the years best cliffhangers. The tv version is much better than the soundtrack one with acapella intro and a sweetly harmonised second verse. Add the visuals of slow motion running and that kiss and you got a total winner...
• Proud Mary - it may have got stolen for sectionals, but take one of my fave songs and give it a wickedly inventive dance routine and there's nothing critical you can say about this. It rocks!
• Somebody To Love - like a big bombastic Queen number wasn't gonna get these kids rocking in the aisles!! Mercedes absolutely nails it at the end too. Get this girl a solo deal stat!
• Don't Stop Believing - ah the tune that launched a thousand shows, or at least set the standard for the next 13. Joe may have sucked the joy out of it on the x factor, but return to Glee and you'll see why this has become the surprise hit of the Christmas season. Ace ace ace.
• The video below. Just because!

TOP SHOWS BORN IN THE '00s (alphabetical order):

• At Home With The Braithwaites
• Brothers and Sisters
• Desperate Housewives
• Dexter
• Doctor Who
• Everwood
• Gavin and Stacey
• Gilmore Girls
• Greek
• Grey's Anatomy
• Lost
• Nip Tuck
• Pushing Daisies
• The Tudors
• Veronica Mars