The on-going writer's strike may have brought the year to a rather gloomy, not to say abrupt end, but there was still plenty to enjoy on American television this season from another hugely entertaining series of The Amazing Race (when oh when will they either bring this fantastic reality TV show to the UK or make a British version?) to the final season of The Sopranos.
The latter cast a long shadow over US television this year but although it will be remembered for its controversial ending in which darkness literally descended, it was Tony's quiet, cold reckoning with Christopher that lingered longest in the memory.
Overall this was a good but not great year for HBO. Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm continued to amuse in their different ways but both feel slightly stuck in a rut and although the under-rated Big Love hit its stride with a subtle, clever second series, new drama Tell Me You Love Me seemed to be concerned more with shock value than real characterisation.
Meanwhile John From Cincinnati was a muddled mess proving once and for all that Zen and the art of the surf do not necessarily make for great television. Thank heavens then for The Wire, which, at the risk of annoying all of you who feel The Guardian over-praise this show, was the finest drama of the year. The focus on education allowed for a focus on quietly human tragedies and the moment where the disillusioned and abandoned Randy calls after Sergeant Carver was the most powerful, soul-destroying scene on television this year.
The Wire continues to mature and deepen with each season but other returning shows had a less vintage year. Battlestar Galactica had as many mood swings as Kara Thrace on a bad day but redeemed a lacklustre year with a great finale which is more than can be said for 24 which capped a bad and unpleasant season with the news that a combination of Kiefer's jail time and the writer's strike may see the new season indefinitely postponed. Meanwhile Grey's Anatomy turned viewers off with its badly thought-out George and Izzy romance and lacklustre spin-off Private Practice struggled to find its tone.
Not that it was all bad news: Desperate Housewives' fourth season (which starts on Channel 4 in the new year) was a triumphant return to the knowing froth of the first season, Nip/Tuck was rejuvenated by our heroes move to LA and Lost not only did the right thing with the character of Charlie but rewarded those still watching with a wonderful twist ending to season three.
Elsewhere Kid Nation had US TV commentators up in arms before its debut but turned up to be a mildly entertaining reality series featuring a bunch of well-adjusted, non-exploited children, Heroes ended its addictive first season with a reaffirmation of the power of brotherly love before blowing much of that good will with a confused, slow paced beginning to season two, Dexter gave us a serial killer with a winning combination of charm and bite and the beautifully-paced Friday Night Lights showed that sometimes small-town dramas can be just as involving as attempts to save the world.
If Heroes and Friday Night Lights were surprise hits, the flop of the year was Aaron Sorkin's much-hyped Studio 60. I accept that there are many people out there who loved this show, personally I thought it was a horrible misstep from the usually assured Sorkin: smug, self-indulgent and, ultimately, overshadowed by the lighter, funnier 30 Rock.
If Studio 60 deserved to go, the same can't be said of Veronica Mars, which sadly lost its ratings battle bowing out with whimper not a bang. It was also time to say goodbye to the trash talking teens of Orange County and the fast talking ladies from Stars Hollow as both The OC and Gilmore Girls came to an end.
It was a good year for British imports with Extras, The State Within and Longford raking in the plaudits and a better for British actors and actresses. Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard let the (weirdly accented) way in the entertaining The Riches while The State Within's Jason Isaacs continued his bid for television dominance with a nuanced turn in the under-rated crime drama Brotherhood. However, Driver, Isaacs and Izzard were just the warm-up crew for a fall drama season that saw Anna Friel, Damian Lewis, Kevin McKidd and Michelle Ryan leading a television invasion. Friel and Lewis were particularly good in an autumn season where no one show really stood out. Some - Lewis's Life, Friel's Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, were good but with no one programme gaining momentum it remains to be seen what will survive when, if, the strike ends.
One show that will be returning for a second season is the outstanding Mad Men. Written by The Sopranos' executive producer Matthew Weiner, this beautifully shot drama about the lives, loves and lust of a bunch of ad execs in the Fifties was one of the year's great pleasures. It comes to BBC4 in March, please check it out you won't be disappointed I swear.
The Top Ten US Shows
1.The Wire - I know, I know...but honestly no other drama comes close to capturing its blend of complexity, compassion and controlled fury
2.Mad Men - who knew the Fifties could be this much fun?
3.30 Rock - for the chemistry between Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey
4.The Sopranos - it was great and then it ended. And the ending was also great. So there
5.Heroes - in its first season the most compelling show on network television
6.Friday Night Lights - because Eric and Tami Taylor are the most realistic couple on US TV
7.Veronica Mars - goodbye to the wittiest teen show of them all
8.Pushing Daisies - not everyone will like it but if you love Tim Burton or Amelie then this is your show
9. Brotherhood - if there was a prize for most overlooked television show not called The Wire it would be awarded to this complex, beautifully acted crime drama
10.Gossip Girl - silly certainly but addictively so
Honourable mention for a great series unlikely to come to British TV: The Bronx Is Burning - John Turturro and Oliver Platt turn in the grandstanding performances of the year in this wonderful recreation of the Summer of Sam and the Yankees bid for the 1977 World Series.
