My Top FIVE TV Shows. Review on Five Best Serials of the Year

When I am not watching movies, these are the shows that I watch or have watched recently. A few are no longer first run but still rank in my top 5 list. After reviewing, I would love to know if any of you would rank these on your list:

THE PRACTICE (FX)

This is a TV show that began in 1997 and is now re-run on FX. I began watching the show because of James Spader in the latter part of the series run. When the show came to an end (and began the Boston Legal series), I still was hooked as THE PRACTICE began all over again. I soon became hooked. The story lines are great as are the Cameo Characters. I find myself frequently breathing a huge sigh at the end of the show. Not predicable, sometimes quite intense and others hysterically funny.

OZ (HBO)

Barry Levinson produced and no longer run (reruns are on HBOz) but quite the intense show about “life in prison”. This show actually introduced some of the great characters that we know on the Law and Order Series’: Dean Winters (SVU), Chris Meloni (SVU), JK Simmons, (L&O), just to name a few. Very graphic and arguable not like real prison life, but the writing and acting is outstanding and gripping.

SIX FEET UNDER (HBO)

This show revolves around the Fisher family and the family mortuary. The first show begins when the father dies while driving a Hearse and is hit by a bus. Each show after begins with a strange and unusual death of a haphazard person but the show then is somehow related to and revolves around that person. Great writing, intense and humorous in a dark way. Done by the same writer of American Beauty.

NIP/TUCK (FX)

Another totally “out there” kind of show and one that I look forward to and discuss each week with my co-Nip/Tuckers. It is still running and seems like a number of people watch it. Each episode begins with the 2 plastic surgeons asking the prospective patient “What don’t you like about yourself?” These are no ordinary plastic surgeons, one, Sean McNamara, is the conservative-ready to break his mold doctor and the other the derelict-sex craved (and delicious) Dr. Christian Troy. This year was the third season this week and the beginning warranted a standing ovation from me. Too bad I was alone…

ROME (HBO)

A new series set in ROME. The sets are truly state of the art and although no actors that I know, not a problem for me. Look at Oz. Who knew such great and now well-known actors would be produced. The series is true to form and very accurately portrayed for that time period. Very sexually explicit as that is how the time was. Men ruled and ladies accommodated them. No swearing which is a plus, but the sex more than makes up for that!