The Ten Best Things on Television in 2009
The three people that read The Oscar Completist hate when I talk about TV. I hate when I talk about TV, too. But I put together this list of the best things to happen to TV in 2009 and it only makes sense to post it in mid-March of 2010 on a livejournal I haven't used in years.
The list is in unranked, alphabetical order.
American Idol, "Top 2 Perform (Pre-Finale)"
Adam Lambert's "Mad World" reprise in a black trench coat with a fog machine and a spine-chillingly good rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" made this a performance show unlike any other. Oh, and Kris Allen performed too.
Dexter, "Hungry Man"
After a plodding season four, in just a single episode Dexter returned to being the kind of thrill ride it hadn't been in at least a year or two. Monopolizing on the talents of Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow, horrifying events play out over the course of an unforgettable Thanksgiving. Unsurprisingly, the episodes following this one elevated Dexter to a whole new level.
Flight of the Conchords, "New Cup"
In what turned out to be the final season of Flight of the Conchords, "New Cup" is one of the season's several instant classics. Bret sets the folk-singing duo over budget when he spends $2.79 on a cup. No other show effortlessly pairs Midnight Cowboy references with hilarious song parodies of "My Humps" and "Roxanne."
Generation Kill, "Bomb in the Garden"
The final two scenes of "Bomb in the Garden" were better than anything else on TV in 2009. The brutal, violent football game the soldiers spontaneously play summed up the miniseries perfectly, showing succinctly and poignantly the human toll that the invasion of Iraq had on our troops. It made you wonder why the whole miniseries wasn't that damn good.
In Treatment, "April: Week Four"
Welcoming back Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest for a second year was like a homecoming and the additions of Hope Davis and Allison Pill made things better than ever. In "April: Week Four," Paul agrees to take April to chemo. Once again, the series reaches the dramatic, emotional heights that come with practically every therapy session we're privileged to sit in on.
Little Dorrit
Charming as can be, Andrew Davies occasionally recaptured the magic of his Bleak House adaptation from 2005 with Little Dorrit. Sure it's not as strong as his previous effort, but with slick production values and perfect performances by Matthew Macfadyen, Claire Foy and Tom Courtenay, it often came close.
Lost, "The Incident"
After five years of twists and turns, Lost showed it still had nothing but tricks up its sleeve. "The Incident" opens shockingly and doesn't stop shocking for two hours. The final moments, where the black screen with "LOST" in white letters was inverted for the first time, made this the best season finale yet.
The Office, "The Lover"
Pam and Jim return from their honeymoon to discover Michael has been sleeping with Pam's mother. The premise was the show's funniest in year's, but it's Pam's over-the-top reaction (played beautifully by the always great Jenna Fischer) that showed The Office hasn't lost its touch.
Prayers for Bobby
The subject matter is difficult, telling the real life story of a gay teenage boy whose mother's religious intolerance drove him to suicide. Deeply dramatic, emotionally focused and profound, Prayers for Bobby keeps "Lifetime movie" from being a shameful phrase. The performances by Ryan Kelley and Sigourney Weaver are stellar.
Taking Chance
There are so many layers in this somber, heartrending film that I'm floored it's a mere 78 minutes. There is nothing inherently cinematic in Taking Chance, based on an emotionally devastating account by Lt. Col. Michael Strobl. Yet the compositions in Ross Katz's debut feature and the poignancy and power in the rhythmic editing and terse scripting make it as cinematic as almost anything I've seen in 2009.
The list is in unranked, alphabetical order.
American Idol, "Top 2 Perform (Pre-Finale)"
Adam Lambert's "Mad World" reprise in a black trench coat with a fog machine and a spine-chillingly good rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" made this a performance show unlike any other. Oh, and Kris Allen performed too.
Dexter, "Hungry Man"
After a plodding season four, in just a single episode Dexter returned to being the kind of thrill ride it hadn't been in at least a year or two. Monopolizing on the talents of Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow, horrifying events play out over the course of an unforgettable Thanksgiving. Unsurprisingly, the episodes following this one elevated Dexter to a whole new level.
Flight of the Conchords, "New Cup"
In what turned out to be the final season of Flight of the Conchords, "New Cup" is one of the season's several instant classics. Bret sets the folk-singing duo over budget when he spends $2.79 on a cup. No other show effortlessly pairs Midnight Cowboy references with hilarious song parodies of "My Humps" and "Roxanne."
Generation Kill, "Bomb in the Garden"
The final two scenes of "Bomb in the Garden" were better than anything else on TV in 2009. The brutal, violent football game the soldiers spontaneously play summed up the miniseries perfectly, showing succinctly and poignantly the human toll that the invasion of Iraq had on our troops. It made you wonder why the whole miniseries wasn't that damn good.
In Treatment, "April: Week Four"
Welcoming back Gabriel Byrne and Dianne Wiest for a second year was like a homecoming and the additions of Hope Davis and Allison Pill made things better than ever. In "April: Week Four," Paul agrees to take April to chemo. Once again, the series reaches the dramatic, emotional heights that come with practically every therapy session we're privileged to sit in on.
Little Dorrit
Charming as can be, Andrew Davies occasionally recaptured the magic of his Bleak House adaptation from 2005 with Little Dorrit. Sure it's not as strong as his previous effort, but with slick production values and perfect performances by Matthew Macfadyen, Claire Foy and Tom Courtenay, it often came close.
Lost, "The Incident"
After five years of twists and turns, Lost showed it still had nothing but tricks up its sleeve. "The Incident" opens shockingly and doesn't stop shocking for two hours. The final moments, where the black screen with "LOST" in white letters was inverted for the first time, made this the best season finale yet.
The Office, "The Lover"
Pam and Jim return from their honeymoon to discover Michael has been sleeping with Pam's mother. The premise was the show's funniest in year's, but it's Pam's over-the-top reaction (played beautifully by the always great Jenna Fischer) that showed The Office hasn't lost its touch.
Prayers for Bobby
The subject matter is difficult, telling the real life story of a gay teenage boy whose mother's religious intolerance drove him to suicide. Deeply dramatic, emotionally focused and profound, Prayers for Bobby keeps "Lifetime movie" from being a shameful phrase. The performances by Ryan Kelley and Sigourney Weaver are stellar.
Taking Chance
There are so many layers in this somber, heartrending film that I'm floored it's a mere 78 minutes. There is nothing inherently cinematic in Taking Chance, based on an emotionally devastating account by Lt. Col. Michael Strobl. Yet the compositions in Ross Katz's debut feature and the poignancy and power in the rhythmic editing and terse scripting make it as cinematic as almost anything I've seen in 2009.