E!'s Best TV shows of the past 20 years - agree/disagree?

This video is hilarious; a great recap of the top show, according to this list:



The E! network is celebrating their 20th year on television, and Kristin Dos Santos, E! Online's resident television correspondent, compiled a list of the 20 greatest TV shows of the last 20 years. The list goes as follows:

1. Lost
2. Friends
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
4. Alias
5. Felicity
6. Dexter
7. Arrested Development
8. Veronica Mars
9. Seinfeld
10. The Office
11. Modern Family
12. The Daily Show
13. Sex and the City
14. 24
15. Six Feet Under
16. True Blood
17. Friday Night Lights
18. The Sopranos
19. Grey's Anatomy
20. Survivor

Now, whenever anyone makes fairly subjective lists such as this, there's bound to be plenty of debate and discussion about the choices, and this list is no exception.

For me, the absolute biggest and most glaring omission is that of the Wire. Now, I know E! is a "Hollywood" network, in the sense that the network and its website are devoted to covering major stars, which is something that the Wire lacked, so it didn't get much (if any) coverage by the network during its run. However, just because it wasn't the most-buzzworthy show doesn't mean that it should have been brushed aside by Dos Santos and any E! representative who would agree with her list. Personally, no show has left me as emotionally attached to its characters and engaged in the complicated (but extraordinary) plots as David Simon's series. (Similarly, I'm a bit angry that Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years list only included Omar Little from the show, leaving out other spectacularly admirable and flawed characters such as Jimmy McNulty and Bubbles.)

Also, where is 30 Rock? I love(d) the Office, but I think that every season of "30 Rock" has been superior in quality to the Office minus that show's second season, which, rightfully, won the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy in 2006. While I agree with "the Daily Show" being included, I would have also included the Colbert Report, due to Stephen Colbert's amazing blowhard character, and the writing staff's ability to come up with brilliant segments such as the Wørd. I've never watched the show, but I'm very surprised that the Shield isn't on this list either, it was so critically acclaimed during its run.

What should be bumped to make room for these shows? I'm really surprised by her inclusion of Alias and Felicity in the top 5. While Alias was beloved by fans, it seemed to have lost a lot of steam towards the end of the series. And, while I was only in elementary school when Felicity aired, I really do not remember it getting the critical raves or massive popularity to warrant such a high spot on this list. I can't help but feel like any show who lost so much popularity when its star cut her hair wasn't really that beloved to begin with. Well, judging by 3 JJ Abrams shows being in the top 5, maybe it was rigged!

I'm a big Veronica Mars fan, but even I wonder about its inclusion. Its first season combined a fantastic, Twin Peaks-style season-long mystery with the mysteries of the week a la X Files (hey, where is that on this list?), and its second season was entertaining enough. However, most die-hard VM fans refuse to acknowledge the existence of its third and final season, after the CW network meddled with it. This wasn't just a "weak" season, it was truly bad and boring. I haven't watched it in 2 years, but I continually rewatch the first two seasons.

Is Modern Family too new to be included (people keep yelling at me to watch this; I saw the first two episodes and wasn't a fan, I think I'm going to catch up over the summer)? Also, am I the only person who remembered how many people thought True Blood was really stupid in its first season? I remember people being either neutral about it or downright annoyed with it in 2008. Then, all of a sudden, last year, it was the greatest thing since a bloody piece of raw steak. I don't watch it, but was the second season really that good that it warranted a spot on this list? Again, I don't watch. I'd love to hear what fans of the show think.

I wonder about Grey's Anatomy as well. I think it does its "very special episodes" well (the post-Super Bowl 2006 bomb in the hospital episodes were quite engrossing, and this season's finale was as well), but I had to stop watching because week after week, it just seemed too mundane. It's not a bad show overall, I just don't know if it's one of the best (especially when ER and House were excluded, although both had weak points as well).



Am I completely off-base, is Kristin? Are we both right or wrong? I love hearing why pepople like and dislike shows, so please comment with your thoughts!

On location: Famous TV landmarks

While many TV shows create fictional towns and landmarks, many also film at real-life locations, or they mention existing locations on the show. Of course, real locations are also used as exterior locations as well. Here is a select list of some famous locations seen or heard on TV shows.


View TV locations in a larger map

Do you have any other real-life locations that are used on TV that you've visited or heard about?

David Simon returns to TV with "Treme"

Last week, I posted about how there are shows that just did not live up to their expectations, and end up falling flat. It's probably not best to continue having such lofty expectations for television shows, but at the moment, I am incredibly excited about the prospects of a new show.

"Treme," premiering on HBO this Sunday, Apr. 11, is the latest creation by David Simon, the creator of "Homicide: Life on the Street," "The Corner," "Generation Kill" and what is widely considered to be one of, if not the best television show of the last decade, "the Wire." Instead of focusing on the harsh realities of living and policing in inner-city Baltimore (like "Homicide," "the Corner" and "the Wire"), Simon's new show follows a group of New Orleans residents trying to rebuild their lives three months after Hurricane Katrina.

Even if you don't normally watch dramatic shows like the ones Simon creates, it is absolutely essential television viewing to see "the Wire." His works are incredibly depressing, but they also give you an odd sense of hope. Although there are concerns that Simon, who worked in Baltimore as a reporter for years, will not be able to capture the nuances of New Orleans, I am of the strong belief that anything Simon works on is guaranteed a certain level of brilliance. That is why "Treme" is a show that should be on everyone's must-see list.

Simon has brought back many faces that are familiar to fans of his work to "Treme." "Wire" star Wendell Pierce will trade in Bunk Moreland's (his "Wire" character) cigar for a trombone, and will play a musician living in the city. "Corner" alumnus and "CSI: Miami" star Khandi Alexander plays his estranged wife. Pierce's "Wire" co-star Clarke Peters also stars, and Steve Zahn makes his television debut as a DJ and musician. As if that was not enough, Academy Award nominee (and "Homicide" alumnus) Melissa Leo will play a civil rights lawyer, and John Goodman will play her husband, a college professor (based on the trailers showing Goodman's character, it appears that one can imagine Walter Sobchak in a classroom).

"Treme" is one of those shows that has an embarrassment of riches with its cast, creators and writers (including David Mills, who sadly passed away on set last week). Even if it is one-tenth as epic and amazing as "the Wire," it will still be one of the best shows on television. Positive reviews are already pouring in, and if fans love it as much as they loved "the Wire," it will likely become just as beloved.

I encourage everyone to check out "Treme," and when you have the chance, begin watching "the Wire." By the third episode, its brilliance hits you like a ton of bricks. I cannot wait to see if "Treme" is as brilliant. I just cannot stress enough how amazing "the Wire" is, and how everyone needs to see it. You don't want to make Bunk Moreland angry and annoyed, do you?


(Image via TinyPic)