Blend Television's Favorite TV Shows Of 2007

By Kelly West: 2007-12-31 15:26:33

As it’s the end of the year, we at Blend Television took a break from staring gloomily at the somewhat pathetic 2008 midseason lineup and enjoyed a brief look back on some of our favorite shows from the past year. Let’s just hope that the strike ends soon so that we’ll be able to do a similar list next December.

Here are our favorite shows from 2007:

Battlestar Galactica

Ok, sure, BSG wasn’t exactly at its best when the season resumed at the beginning of 2007. We got a number of stand-alone episodes that might have been satisfactory during season 1 when we were more used to this type of thing but since the beginning of the season started out so great, it was kind of hard to revert back to the old “other things happening on Galactica” episodes. But you have to admit, the season ended fairly gloriously. Between Baltar’s trial, Kara’s return and the revelation of four of the mysterious final five Cylons, the two-part “Crossroads” episodes brought it all back. Add that to one of the big reveals in the special “Razor” episode that aired this fall and we’ve got a lot to look forward to when BSG returns in 2008!- Kelly West

Runner-up: Greek - I didn’t expect to fall in love with Greek last summer but the series about a kid who goes off to college and attempts to fit in among the crazy party world that is the Greek system turned out to be one of my favorite shows this year.

Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies was one of those shows that scared me. Everything I read about it leading up to its premiere made me sure I was going to love it—it also made me sure it would be canceled after 6 episodes. Luckily, I was proved wrong on the second count. Who knew that people would be so in to a brightly-colored fairy tale about death? Even things that would usually turn me off to a show, like characters bursting into song for no particular reason, just make me love it more. It is simply impossible to watch Pushing Daisies and not spend the entire hour with a big smile on your face. - Kona Gallagher

Runner-up: Law & Order: Criminal Intent - Law & Order: Criminal Intent has Vincent D'Onofrio. I don't think I really need to say anything else—except for this: check out the episode called "Untethered" when it re-airs on NBC. While undercover in a prison hospital, D'Onofrio's Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket comes back to life. It's amazing.

Extras

With the second and final series of Extras, British comedian Ricky Gervais turned his hilarious satire of the entertainment industry into a full-blown critique of celebrity and our own celebrity-obsessed culture. In season 2, Gervais' pudgy hero Andy Millman goes from movie extra to star of a lowbrow sitcom. It's his big break, but Andy's obsession with his own public image turns him into mean-spirited celeb caught up in "the biz." Most people I know loved Extras for the hysterical celebrity cameos (Ian McKellen, Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart to name a few). I loved the cameos too, but I also loved the poignant and sometimes very dark story Gervais was trying to tell, which reached almost epic proportions in the recent Extra Special Series Finale. In the end, Gervais and co-creator Stephen Merchant's series reminded us about the perils of fame and blind ambition, and how true friendship can reaffirm one's identity. - Mike Moody

Runner-up: Moonlight - I used to watch Moonlight alone in the dark. It was my guilty vampire trash pleasure. As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, I had no choice but to give this CBS series a chance. After half a season, Moonlight is starting to grow on me, and I feel like I can finally share it with others. The characters are becoming richer, the actors are really showing their chops and the story is gettin' good. It's not Joss Whedon good yet, but those wanting a decent vampire-noir fix should look no further.

Big Love

Nestled in a small suburb of Salt Lake City, the Henrickson family of Big Love are an eleven-person mirror of their Beach Boys penned theme song, a front of poppy harmonies and smiles shrouding a constantly unraveling web of secrets, vendettas, and most of all jealousies. Watching Bill's attempts to reassure his three wives and seven children that everything is okay amidst their neighbors' growing suspicions and an all-out war with his father in law's zealous followers is an emotional marathon. Who needs to exercise when you can sweat watching the best show on television? The confrontations in Big Love actually advance the plot, spiraling it into new and exciting polygamous directions rather than weaving it into a never ending circle of rehashed hook-ups. Are you listening Grey's Anatomy? - Mack Rawden

Runner-up: Bravo Reality TV Shows - Between Top Chef, Project Runway, Shear Genius, and Top Design, the gayest network on television continues to supply me with all the real life catfights I need. Screw Jeff Probst. My mouth is open, ready for Tim Gunn to as always, make it work.

Women’s Murder Club

When Friday night rolls around, you’ll find me glued to the tube watching Lindsay Boxer rough up the bad guys and spit out the one-liners (“Think I’ll go torment the in-laws some more”). Ok, so she slept with her ex just weeks before he tied the knot with goody-two-shoes Heather. But it takes two to tango, and neither of them is ready to move on. Never one to take the easy route, Lindsay even starts liking Tom’s new bride. As tough cops go, the leather-clad loner is the perfect badass Dirty Harriet. Pairing her with three girly-girls? Brilliant. - Jane Boursaw

Runner-up: Journeyman - I admit this show nearly lost me with its formulaic time-traveler-saves-people plot. But they pulled it out with the last few eps when deer-in-the-headlights Dan changes his own future (son: out; daughter: in), then butts heads with the mysterious scientist who refuses to give up the truth. Given the choice to stop traveling via meds, Dan realizes this is his destiny.

Reaper

Did you know that TV’s nicest guy is in the service of Satan? That’s one reason why Reaper so much fun to watch. Along with Ray Wise’s slick Prince of Darkness, and a trio of soul-busting goofballs, Reaper is a show with a little bit of everything. We not only root for Sam to get the baddies each week, but we’re hoping that his new girlfriend works out too, even if she might be the Devil’s Daughter. And trying to guess what’s in Hell’s Toolbox each week for Sam and his buds to catch Hell’s escapes is always a treat. - Jon Costantino

Runner-up: Pushing Daisies - Dead guys and drugged-up pies. This show is like nothing else on TV. And Chuck and Olive can fill my Pie Hole anytime.

30 Rock

The most quotable, fastest paced, silliest and smartest show on TV,30 Rock could only have been better this year if I had discovered it sooner. From celebrity cameos like Isabella Rosseliniand Carrie Fisher to cultural touchstones like "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" and "Me want foood!", 30 Rock had the kind of creativity in 2007 that most shows will never come near. Not only is every episode better than the next, but the old ones can be re-watched hundreds of times. Even if it never makes another episode, 30 Rock has given me enough in 2007 to keep me happy for a long, long time. - Katey Rich

Runner-up: Lost - After crashing worse than Oceanic Flight 815 back in the fall of 2006, Lost recaptured its mind-bending creativity in a major way by April of 2007. Even though it's been off the air most of this year, it's still made me think more than anything else on TV.

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