In retrospect, I thought it was a pretty good year for TV. Despite some crashes and burns (we’ve got about 8 episodes of “Heroes” backed up on DVR and can’t bring ourselves to watch them), we were rarely scratching our heads at The Aerie when we wanted to plop down and watch something. God bless DVR.
LOST. I know. It seems like it was only on four times this year, but Season 4 of LOST was fantastic. The writing and performances were excellent and the show had the courage to break its “flashback-to-current time” formula for this season, opting to skewer the “how do they get off the island” question – pointing out that really wasn’t the point anyway. New characters were introduced and were compelling. The storytelling was first rate – now delivering answers and clues aplenty, but still leaving me wanting more.
Top Chef. This was the year that I think we discovered our own favorite type of reality TV (of which we watch very little in general) – Food. I love “Throwdown with Bobby Flay”, but the king of foodie TV has to be Top Chef. In the show, several contestants vie to win the title in a variety of cooking related challenges that are judged by the easy-on-the-eye Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio. The show creators manage to make each cook-off full of drama, while focusing in on the personal stories (and foibles) of the contestants. The beginning is always a little overwhelming (with 16 or so entrants) but the outliers are eliminated and favorites to root for (and against) always emerge. This is really fun TV.
Stevil 
Sheesh you're a fast typer!
So funny you mention Top Chef. Long story (may blog about it some time) but if it weren't for that show you would not see me here. Have you seen the blog dedicated to it? (Acutally that is the blog that got me blogging)
Someone pointed out about the camera work on Top Chef, they have a way of capturing people's emotions and subtle body language that is really unique. Colicchio is a real piece of work but I love the show anyway!
Did you catch the wine guy Stephen one season – he mixes metaphors in the most priceless way.
You highlighted two of my favorite television shows. Well done, sir. Well done.
I really like Top Chef, although Padma (?) kind of annoys me. Pretty/funny girl host OR foodie, but I hate how they try to make her into both. If you're dancing in the latest commercial, you don't get to judge the food, that's my rule. :-)
I think I might actually finish last season of Lost before the new season. Aren't you proud? And I'm not going to fall behind this time. This is what I tell myself, anyway.You know how much I love Top Chef. This season has even grown on me. And I still have a massive crush on Tom Colicchio.
Ellie — we didn't start watching Top Chef until S3 — though I think they had the wine-guy on as a "guest" in one of the episodes we saw.
great minds!
Hapa — I think there are a number of folks that are lukewarm to Padma — thinking she really hasn't earned her chops, so to speak. I like Gail better.
I'm still a little amazed that you haven't caught up with LOST. I think you'll really like it. I've enjoyed this season of TC too — there aren't as many "likeable" people. but they've done a good job of getting rid of the right people for the right reasons. I miss Ted Allen though…
DVR's are awesome. Although, I had to make sure that Gary had the tv realtime for New Years! I can't wait for LOST. Although, I'm hoping they show a recap episode the week before it comes back on. It's been so long, I need a refresher!
Steve, dump the Heroes. Trust me, you won't regret it. I tried so hard to get back into it this year, and I felt stupider with every single episode I watched, so I finally just turned that stupid show off, and breathed a sigh of relief. Do it! You'll be far better off.
I wish I could get caught up on Lost, though. I miss that show, but I am literally still back on S2. Oh well, I'll get there eventually.
Dude, no Battlestar?
(Fish) — I'm on a BSG hiatus. The Beloved is catching up on past seasons on DVD via netflix and we're midway through S3.