This was a really hard list to put together, I started with 25 really good shows and forced my self to make some hard choices. But when comparing that to how sparse my list is for top films it is clear that in that last year all the people that had great stories to tell were doing it on the small screen. This is also evident in the lack of comedies on the list, not because there where not some funny shows but because there were that much more serious ones. This year also had a lot of new shows where last year had none. And while this was a great year for TV 2 shows ended with less then great seasons 24 and lost. But that is enough pre ramble, on with the list (images link to imdb where you can learn more about each show).

	10) Lost – Last year when I had this as number one I said they better not screw it up and look what happened. This goes to show that great shows never end well (except Lexx which remains my favourite show of all time).
	9) Fringe – This show has gone from a amazing X-files clone to a crazy awesome show about multiple dimensions and super heroes. I love that the science fiction builds on it self and that unlike the X-file this show actually follows through on its plot.
	8 ) Spartacus: Blood and Sand – Super fun adult entertainment. Its 300 meets Rome. Lots of blood and sex with some great character work and political intrigue. But above all its a lot of fun. Did I mention it has lots of blood.
	7) Rubicon – Is a spy show that is all about the slow build. It is about exploring several big conspiracy’s over the course of 13 episodes. I love how this show does not hold your hand and speak down to you. Plus the character work and the plot payoffs are brilliant. Unfortunately there will be no second season.
	6) Chuck – Where Rubicon takes the spy world very seriously chuck takes a very different approach. Take fun and sexy and wrap it up with a lot of heart and you have the show chuck.
	5) True Blood – This is vampires done right. None of that stupid sparkling in day light crap. Also this is werewolves done right too. All joking aside this show builds a really interesting universe that brings together all our favourite monsters in fun and interesting way. I am loving that TV can be way more mature then movies.
	4) Dexter – Last year had the great Jon Lithgow and this year we have Julia Stiles with the best performance of her career. It’s these performances that elevate Dexter from being a good show to a great show.
	3) Breaking Bad – is a show that does not know the meaning of comic relief. Year after year this show keeps getting better and better. The character work is some of the best on TV. Plus the Cinematography in this show is better then most movies, It would make the great Stanley Kubrick smile.
	2) Community – Simply the funniest show on TV right now. Each episode parodies a different genre of movie, all with out ever leaving the collage. My favourite is the zombie episode with the soundtrack of Abba, that never breaks continuity. This is one of the geekiest shows on TV (way more so then the overrated Big Bang Theory).
	1) Justified – Simply the best written, best acted, and most entertaining show on TV. It is a must watch for everyone. This show reminds me a lot of due south with a more western vibe. The show follows a US marshal, played by Timothy Olyphant, that must return to his hometown in Kentucky after killing a drug lord (something that he says he was ‘justified’ in doing). The show is full of an amazing supporting cast, where the bad guy each week is brilliantly cast and acted. The show also features a great season long plot arc that ends in a amazing showdown that is not to be missed. But that thing that buts it over the top is Timothy Olyphant as the take no shit badass cowboy. He even has a awesome hat (like Paul Gross in Due South).

If you have any comments or want to share your favourite shows of the last year post them below in the comment section.

Yes I know that I have not posted much in the last year and I could say that that is going to change but I wont make that promise. To stat the year right it is the return of my favourite blog topic the best of lists. I still have a couple of movies to watch before that list will be done so check back soon. For now here is the list for my favourite TV shows of 2009.

Best TV Of 2009 Top 10:

10) Fringe – almost exactly like the X Files but with direction. The show does start a little slow but as the series progresses the mysteries start to weave together to form something pretty great. I expect this show to inch higher up this list every year.

9) Community – my favourite new show of the last year is a comedy about a group of students at a community collage. The show has some amazing characters including one played by the amazing Chevy Chase.

8 ) Chuck – even if some of episodes are starting to get repetitive it is the brilliant characters that keep things funny and enjoyable. Plus sexy, cant forget sexy.

7) True Blood – I Love that the scope of the world is so much bigger then the first season. I did not think I could love a story about vampires this much but I do. 

6) Dexter – This show has never made my list before but that all changed this last season with the introduction of John Lithgow playing the trinity killer. This is easily the best season of the show and the actors are much deserving of their golden globe wins.

5) It Always Sunny In Philadelphia – Still one of the funniest shows on TV, well if you are in to that sort of thing. Don’t forget to check out there Christmas special ‘A Very Sunny Christmas’ where I think they do one of there worst things ever. Hint it involves a mall Santa.

4) How I Met Your Mother – before 2009 I had only caught one or two episodes of this comedy, but under great pressure from my friends I decided to give it a try. I don’t usually go for shows with laugh tracks but this ones different. Because the show is told in past tense it can take a lot of liberties on how a sitcom is structured. Plus it has NPH which is a automatic plus in my books.

3) 24 – Coming back from a one year break the show is better then ever. Plus Rena (or female Jack Bauer as I like to call her) is amazing. Is it just me or is there some serious sexual tension between her and Jack.

2) Battlestar Galactica – I was a little put off by the series finally of this great show and did not want to rank it as high as I did. But then I remembered that the last season did include the amazing civil war arc (the true climax of the series). Plus ‘The Plan’ was so amazing, a great ending for a great show.

1) Lost – If they don’t screw up the ending like they did with Battlestar this could be one of the greatest shows of all time. I know season 2 was slow but fight through, it is so worth it. Lost keeps the pressure on and does not let off.

Here is some lists form years past.

Best TV Of 2008 Top 10:
10) Skins
9) Venture Brothers
8 ) True Blood
7) Chuck
6) Californication
5) Lost
4) South Park
3) 30 Rock
2) Battlestar Galactica
1) Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Best TV Of 2007 Top 10:
10) Chuck
9) The Office
8 ) Heroes
7) 24
6) 30 Rock
5) South Park
4) Skins
3) Rome
2) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
1) Battlestar Galactica

Best TV Of 2006 Top 10:
10) Re Genesis
9) 30 Rock
8 ) Heroes
7) The Office
6) Scrubs
5) Veronica Mars
4) Venture Bros
3) Prison Break
2) 24
1) Battlestar Galactica

Best TV Of 2005 Top 10:
10)Family Guy
9)The Office
8 )Lost
7)Venture Bros
6)Scrubs
5)24
4)Gilmore Girls
3)Rome
2)Battlestar Galactica
1)Ghost In The Shell : Stand Alone Complex

6 weeks ago I asked is Battlestar Galactica the greatest show ever. Having seen the final episode I can now answer that question. And the answer yes and no.

There is things that make this show greater then any show to come before it, like the effects and acting. The show also does an amazing job of examining our current culture in new and interesting ways. For instance when the question of allowing abortions comes up, when there is only 50,000 people left alive, it takes a very different spin on it. The show also has a amazing plot with so many twist and turns, just when you think you know where the show is going it goes in a completely different and amazing direction. “The Oath” and “33” are some of the best and most intense television episodes I have ever seen.

Now with all these amazing qualities how is this show not my favorite of all time? In order to answer I will have to get pretty heavy in to spoilers about the last episode. So be warned if you have not finished watching the whole series stop reading right now. In order for Battlestar to be the best show ever it has to have a earth shattering ending, but I felt the ending failed in this regard. Maybe its the atheist in me but resorting to god, heaven, and angles as a way of explaining all the crazy shit feels kind of like a let down. It would be like if Lost was explained as being purgatory (So glad its not). I was expecting something much more. But maybe there was no way to make it workout any better, I for one cant come up with a different plausible explanation. And what ever happened to the Cylons having a plan, because it feels like they made it up as they went alone (just like the writers).

So this leaves Lexx as my favorite show of all time. Even with its less then stellar acting and effects I still consider it the better show. And if you are wondering Lexx had a mindblowingly good ending that both made me cry and changed my view of the entire series.