Best of 2005 - US TV in India. Review on Five Best Serials of the Year

Best English TV shows aired on Indian TV in 2005

1. Scrubs-

Comical take on a bunch of interns and doctors in Sacred Heart hospital. Its pretty hilarious. Watch it. Even the janitor is really funny.

starring- Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, John C. McGinley

1. Arrested Development-

Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), a widower with a 13-year-old son, named George-Michael (Michael Cera), is forced to keep his large and dysfunctional family together after his father (Jeffery Tambor) is arrested for shifty accounting practices at the family-owned conglomerate and the Bluth family assets are frozen, causing each member of the eccentric family to panic. Michael's snobbish mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter), finds herself living alone in a penthouse without the financial means to maintain it, while Michael's two brothers, GOB (Will Arnett) and Buster (Tony Hale), and his sister Lindsay (Portia DeRossi) with her husband Tobias (David Cross) and her daughter Mae (Alia Shawkat) also find themselves having to recreate their lifestyles to fit their new financial status. (Official storyline)

This show has fantastic 1st person camera work and real solid dialogue that cracks me up. This one is a winner. Just wish the network doesn't pull its plug because of the low rating in the US.

starring- Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor Sr./Oscar Bluth

1. CSI: Miami-

Horatio Caine, a former homicide detective, heads a group of investigators who work crimes amid the steamy, tropical surroundings and cultural crossroads of Miami. These investigators collect and analyze the evidence to solve the crimes and to vindicate those who often cannot speak for themselves -- the victims. This show is just worth the watch for Horatio Caine alone. Check this dialog between Horation and a suspect:

Horatio Caine: Keith.

Dr. Keith Winters: That's 'Doctor', Lieutenant.

Horatio Caine: Maybe not for long.

starring- David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez, Khandi Alexander, Jonathan Togo

1. Lost-

The survivors of a plane crash are forced to live with each other on a remote island, a dangerous new world that poses unique threats of its own. Awesome visuals and real to life characters make this a impossible to miss show. Only hitch - its a continuous series, so you cant miss an episode.

starring- Matthew Fox, Navin Andrews, Jorge Garcia, Terry O'Quinn, Yoon-jin Kim, Emilie de Ravin, Dominic Monaghan

1. 24-

'I'm federal agent Jack Bauer, and today is the longest day of my life.' With those words from Jack Bauer, the first season of 24 aired on Indian TV in 2003-04. Season 5 has started in the US- we are yet to see seasons 3 and 4.

Jack Bauer is a counterterrorism agent for whom each day is more absurd and terrifying than the last one. In the first season/day, he had to deal with assassination attempts on a presidential candidate and his daughter's disappearance. In the second season/day he has to track down and stop a massive nuclear weapon from destroying Los Angeles. Meanwhile, his daughter is on a chase of her own. What will the next day hold- if there is one?

Each series is 24 episodes (1 hr) and shows us one day in the life of Jack Bauer in real time format. Exceptional camera work (with split screens showing happenings in different locations at the same time) and very little loose ends makes this a gripping series. Like LOST, its a continuous series, so you cant afford to miss an episode. Season 1 and 2 also featured one of best lady villains on TV - Nina Myers. And for the weak-kneed boys... you'd not want to miss Elisha Cuthbert as Kim Bauers. :-)

starring- Kiefer Sutherland, Elisha Cuthbert, Dennis Haysbert, Sarah Clarke

My favorite TV characters in 2005:

1. David Caruso - Horatio Caine in CSI: Miami

   
   




2. James Spader - Alan Shore (The Practice/ yet to be aired Boston Legal)

   
   




3. Ted Danson - Dr. Becker (Becker)

   
   




4. Kiefer Sutherland - Jack Bauer (24) and

   
   




5. Simon Cowell - Himself (American Idol)