The Panzer Crush: The Decade of the Couch Potato
by Chris Eaton-
So much time I’ve wasted this last decade.
The 2000, or the Unnamed decade was a turning point for TV. In this decade, we saw cable TV finally make its stake in being recognized for producing quality shows that weren’t so restricted by network standards, and were given more time to find an audience. DVR quickly replaced VCR’s for peoples recording habits. The word “Shit” was finally allowed to be used on network tv in the after 10 pm time slot. Most of all, it was a decade of chance, and of that of quality. TV shows, dramas specifically, started broadcasting in HD, and the writing and shooting was changed to were they almost became mini movies. Comedies broke free from the sit come format. Family friendly shows quickly vanished for more adult fair. Most of all, cartoons became something more than just fodder for kids, as the popularity of Simpsons and South Park showed that there can be more done with the format than just cute animals talking.
So, with the decade coming to a close in a few days, and many of these Best of Lists hitting the net, I figured I’d throw my hat into the ring as well. For the next page and a half of words and pictures, I would like to present you with what I consider the best tv shows of the decade.
Before I start, allow me to give you the rules I gave myself in order to choose the shows I have.
1, The show had to run for a minimum of 3 seasons. I know that cable TV has different season orders than network, but as long as the show ran for at least 3 seasons.
2. Consistency. The shows had to be consistently good for %90 of their run. While every show has their bad episodes, if the season in whole was grand, the black marks can be over looked.
3. The show had to of debuted after January 1st, 2000. While there were many a good shows that ended this decade, many, like Angel, debuted in the late 90’s.
Now enough bullshitting, I present you with my top ten TV shows of the 2000
10. American Dad
Initially the fallback show for Seth MacFarlane after Family Guy was originally shit canned by Fox. American Dad originally suffered from the high water mark that Family Guy had set. Many figured it would continue the formula of cutaway jokes like that of Family Guy. Fortunately, MacFarlane and company were smart and creative enough to take the show in a different rout. Instead of focusing on visual gags like Family Guy dose, the show became more dialog heavy with emphasis on visual gags that weren’t completely out of left field like Family Guy’s. The finished product has been 5 seasons of a hilarious, extremely well written and voiced show, and one that I dare state is far better than Family Guy on many occasions.
9. Chappelle Show
The sheer genius of comedian Dave Chappelle was fully unleashed onto the world in 2003 when Comedy Central debuted The Chappelle Show. At first glance it looked like another sketch show, but upon closer look, the show was stage for brilliant observant humor and parody. The first episode will forever be cemented in history with the final skit being Frontline: Blind Supremacy, in which Chappelle plays Clayton Bixby, a Black white supreme. This would be the tip of the ice berg of taboo comedy that Chappelle and his staff of writers had no fear of exploring. During the shows run, we would be subjected to skits like Ask A Black Dude with Paul Mooney, Life Like a Video Game, Sam Jackson Beer, Tyrone Biggums, and the now legendary Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories and Wayne Brady’s Show. Maybe fortunately, after signing a $50 million dollar deal with Viacom, Chappelle split his own show while in the middle of season 3. He disappeared of the radar for a while, and let Chappelle show go out on top. While we might clamor for more, Dave might have had the right idea to quite while on top and let the few episodes we have speak for themselves.
8. Justice League/Justice League Unlimited
When Batman and Superman ended their runs, WB commissioned a new series for Cartoon Network. That series was Justice Le0ague. A weekly team up of not only Batman and Superman, but also Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl. The first season played out like an old time serial or a mini movie, with each story being told in 2 parts. The later seasons changed and focused on a far more continuity heavier storyline, while the last two seasons thew the kitchen sink in the mix and added just about every DC character possible. Yet, the show never lost its touch. Every season with tightly written, so much that even the non comic reader could enjoy the show. A nice mixture of action, drama, and aimed at an older -*+audience, Justice League would be the gold standard of every comic book show from here on end.
7. Arrested Development
Who would of thought that a TV show narrated by Ron Howard would be just so damn good. With an incredible cast including Jason Batemen, Jeffry Tambor, David Cross and introduced Michael Cera to the world, Arrested Development set the standard for how TV shows are shot today. Employing a one camera set up and shot like a documentary, the show, about the dysfunctional Bluth family, would never be a ratings smash, but garnered the highest praises from all who watched it. The tight writing and superb acting by all involved has made Arrested Development as fresh today than when it first aired almost 7 years ago.
6. Avatar the Last Air bender
Possibly the best show that Nickelodeon ever produced (possibly even better than Ren and Stimpy) Avatar proved that just because you make a show for kids, doesn’t mean that you have dumb down the material for them. Avatar was a very rare show indeed. Taking cues from Asian cultures, the show had a distinct Asian feel to it, despite being an American show. The series was rich with continuity, fully developed characters that were ambiguous in their nature, and fluid action that was reminiscent of fights from wushu cinema. Wars are fought, people die, and it’s never heavy handed nor taken lightly. A true serialized epic that utilizes the unrestricted nature of animation to bring forth a timeless story for all ages.
5. The Shield
Vic Mackey. One name says it all. The Shield, a cop show that redefined what a cop show can be. Revolving around a strike team that is in charge of gang activity in the streets of Los Angles. The thing is that Vic, leader of the strike team, walks a thin line between good cop and corrupt son of a bitch. While always trying to do whats best in the name of justice, he’s also a man who’s not afraid of making deals with the devil for his greater good. Shot in a documentary style, the show was white knuckle from begging to end. Actor Michael Chiklis, who previous played good natured cop in The Commish, was the heart and soul of this series. He created an iconic character in Vic Mackey that will stand the test of time in TV history.
4. Titus
Based on the life experiences of comedian Christopher Titus, Titus was a very rare network sit com that dared to go where no show before it went. Much like Chappelle Show, it played on cultural taboos. It had no problem poking fun at topics like alcoholism, molestation, death, divorce, break ups, spousal abuse, racism and just pain old family dysfunction. Titus himself, having grown up in an environment that was filled with a lot of topic that were portrayed in the show, took the stance that, if you cant laugh at it, why bother living. The cast had chemistry that cold fusion scientist would give their souls for. The standout performance would come from veteran actor Stacy Keach, as Ken Titus. Based on Chris’s own father, a multi divorced boozing womanizer that, while a dirt bag, was some thing of a loving decent dad underneath his fucked up exterior. While only lasting 3 grand seasons, the show was cancelled for not low ratings, but for being to dark for network TV. An honor that Titus is somewhat proud of to this day.
3. Drawn Together
A double take of a show, Drawn Together was proclaimed as the first animated reality show. With characters all being spoofs on popular cartoon characters like Superman and Betty Boop, the show quickly evolved (or devolved depending on who you talk to) in to sinful show that went to places that even South Park, the other show on Comedy Central, dared not go. Vile, rude and crude, yet so clever in its writing that when you see a joke on how a superhero loses his power (implying that one would have to fall off a horse into a motorized wheel chair Ala Christopher Reeves) you cant help but laugh at the joke, but the fact that, yes, these people went there. Definitely not a child friendly show, but it never crossed that line of being to hateful that the joke isn’t funny anymore.
2. 30 Rock
Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, and Tracy Morgan. Insane comedic writing, deadpan delivery. All of this equals pure greatness. Not only that, but Tina Fey is possibly one of the sexiest geek women working today. You’d have to be a fool or have no soul to not be watching this show right now.
1. The Venture Brothers.
What at first seems to be a rift on Johnny Quest, quickly became possibly the most insanely hilarious show on TV. The best product to be put out by Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim line up, the Venture Brothers deconstructs just about everything that we in the geek community love, and dose it with a style and whit that’s on par with the golden years of the Simpsons. Where else are you going to see a supervillain dressed like a butterfly, a woman so hot, yet has a mans voice, or a man so in love with killing that his greatest dream is to slaughter an army of aqua-men on side cars driven by ninjas and cowboys with flamethrowers on dinosaurs. So far all 4 seasons have been better than the last, and show no signs of stopping.
Before I finish, I would like to leave some props for other shows that I felt were damn good, but for one reason or another couldn’t or didn’t make the list. Shot out to: Firefly, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Pushing Daisies, Deadliest Catch, Dr Who, Torchwood and Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace
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Tags: 30 rock, American Dad, Arrested Development, Best of, Drawn Together, Family Guy, The Shield, TV, Venture Bros