The TV Season: A Look Back

Due to the blog's extended blackout, I was unable to provide any commentary on the just concluded TV season. Granted, the writer's strike shortened it siginifcantly and caused a long drought of new programming. However, what did air was in most cases great, some good, and very few just bad. Here goes a show-by-show breakdown.

DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)

This is the season that DH got its groove back. The series' fourth season bought i back to its season one glory with great storylines, great acting, and a killer mystery. DH should forever be grateful to Dana Delany (Katherine). She was a great addition to the cast and held her own very well against Marcia Cross (Bree). The show went into it's strike induced hiatus with a tense tornado storyline that gave Lynette some truly chilling scenes over the potential death of her whole family. When the series returned, it continued its winning streak. Gaby and Carlos are hilarious and I'm glad they have stayed together. Susan was much less annoying and I'm glad they finally resolved the Orson-runs-over-Mike storyline. The Katherine mystery received a thrilling, if a bit rushed, conclusion. Now, I'm a little wary of the "five years later" they pulled at the end, espeically showing Gaby sporting an unflattering Lynette-esque look with kids. However, I am intrigued as to why Susan is now married to someone else. Let's hope this doesn't kill momentum.

BROTHERS & SISTERS (ABC)

This show definately improved in its second year. The writing was better and the storylines were great. Once again, Sally Field deserves an Emmy for her performance of Nora. I also love the chemistry between the brothers and sisters, especially Sarah and Kevin. One thing that pissed me off is that Rebecca ended up not being William's daughter and not a Walker at all. I thought that was silly and now we have to deal with the search of his real illegitimate child. Again. However, the whole "incest" storyline between Rebecca and Justin was well-played and even funny. They do have great chemistry and I hope they do remain a couple and that Rebecca doesn't fade away because she is a great character. Kitty, Robert, and Tommy bored me. Kevin and Scotty's wedding was a sweet surprise and I'm glad they did that. It was handled very well and very romantic.

HEROES (NBC)

Let's face it, the 11 episode second season sucked until the final three episodes. It was dull with the only good parts being Peter's shirtless scenes and Kirsten Bell as Elle. I hope she comes back for the "Villains" arc this fall. The ending was the best with the Nathan/Niki cliffhanger and Sylar's final words of the season: "I'm Back." I hope you are Heroes. I still have faith in you.

GOSSIP GIRL (CW)

This Bi Award winning series was the best new show of the season. Catty, Bitchy, Fabulous. A complete winning formula. The show had great stories and sometimes didn't even feel like a simple "teen" show. They had some of the greatest stories and performances of the whole season. The finale left me very excited with the possible pairing of Nate and Serena. Dan annoys the hell out of me and Serena deserves much better. We'll see what happens.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (CBS)

The show was at the top of the game this year. First of all, Britney made the start of her comeback with two hilarious guest performances. You know you all giggled with her "I didn't want to steal any attention away from America" line. Another strong point was the return of Robin's teen pop alter ego, Robin Sparkles. I know you all know the words to "Sandcastles in the Sand." Because I do too! Another great running gag was Marshall and Barney's slap bet, which culiminated on Thanksgiving, or Slapsgiving. Pretty much anything Barney was great.

Dancing With the Stars (ABC)

The season's first cycle of the season had the best cast yet. However, I strongly feel that Mel B was robbed of the win. She deserved it over Helio. Oh and Marie Osmond fainting? Fake. The second cycle's cast wasn't that great. But I am glad that Kristi Yamaguchi won. Oh and I give props to Cristian De La Fuente for dancing with one arm, making the final 3, and for being so hot. Bring back Maks next season!

AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)

I was not entirely impressed with this season. I thought the cast was talented but were kind of bland and lacked personality. The show is also getting stale for me. They need to drop the group numbers and let them sing some modern music not some crappy old, Broadway, or Dolly Parton crap. Allowing them to play instruments was great though. And did anyone get the appeal of David Archuleta. Ok he is cute but he is so bland and boring. He could barely form a coherent sentence. He pales in comparison to another 17 year old, last year's winner Jordin Sparks. At least America got it right and gave the win to a truly deserving David Cook. Oh, don't get me started on Paula's little faux pas and critiquing a performance that had not yet happened. Total credibility loss. AI, I am giving you only a few episodes next season to shape up. If not, goodbye.

BIG BROTHER 9 (CBS)

The show's very first in-season cycle sucked majorly. It had a weak premise and bad players. The only saving grace was Natalie, who actually turned out to be a great player and entertaining. Her eviction almost made me cry as much as she did. Hopefully this summer will be better!

UGLY BETTY (ABC)

Betty's season got off to a great start. The show was funny and the storylines were great, culiminating in Bradford's wedding to Wilhelmina and subsequent death. However, things were getting annoying with Betty and Henry. Things weren't much better when the show returned from hiatus. I was annoyed with the Betty/Henry romance and wanted her with Gio. Amanda and Marc weren't together as much as I would like and I was missing Willy at Mode. Luckily, things picked up in the shows final episodes. Betty and Henry broke up after his baby was born, she attempted to move on with Gio, and Willy and Marc were back at Mode, thanks to some of Bradford's stolen sperm (don't ask). The finale was hilarious and emotional. Naomi Campbell made a hilarious cameo at Mode's charity baseball game against Elle. Lindsay Lohan was in a brief stint that didn't make an impression but she'll be back next season. Daniel ended up having a son he never knew about and was ousted from Mode by his own sister thanks to Willy. Marc and Amanda reunited and were cheerleaders at the game. That alone was priceless. Gio and Betty were heading to Rome until Henry showed up and proposed. Our heroine left us with a cilffhanger: did she go to Rome with Gio or Tuscon with Henry? Thanks to the use Madonna's song "Jump" right at the end, I figured Betty actually went alone to Rome. When she walks out the door to her cab, the line "I can make it alone" plays. I hope I'm right.

GREY'S ANATOMY (ABC)

Like DH, this was supposed to be the season Grey's got its groove back. No such luck. That was in the toilet thanks to one word: Gizzie. The awful pairing of George and Izzie just ruined everything. It hurt my eyes to watch them pretend to be in love and try to have sex. It was terrible. Then we have MerDer's inexplicable break up. I was worrie when the show went on hiatus. Luckily, things vastly improved when it returned. Gizzie was over! Meredith in therapy! The show was funny again! Who didn't love Bailey's speech to the nurses about Sloane- "He's a whore! You knew that!" The show got back some of its former glory, culminating in an amazing season finale. Callie is officially in love with Erica. Love it. George gets to retake his intern exam. Christina gets her groove back. The Chief and Adele reunite. And the best part of all: Meredith and McDreamy are back together again! For good! I can't wait for next season.

LOST (ABC)

The best for last. Lost was simply amazing this season. All the shows stories moved full steam ahead as we discovered the identities of the Oceanic 6 that get off the island: Jack, Kate, Sun, Sayid, Hurley, and baby Aaron. I loved the flash forwards and this created a whole new atmosphere for the show. I love how they are now seemingly resolving things and moving towards a conclusion (there are only 34 episodes left) while still giving us some mystery. The finale was amazing. Jin's death was so sad and Sun's reaction was heartbreaking. However, she has me worried as in the flash forward, we see she kind of has a vendetta against someobe. Michael's death was understandable and well played. He fulfilled his purpose so the island let him die. Oh and how creepy is Claire now? The island "moving" is very interesting as it vanished into a bright light, thanks to Ben turning some ancient wheel way down in the earth. And the biggest reveal: Locke was the one in the coffin! Ben will now help Jack get all the Oceanic 6 back to the island. How? How, when and why did Locke leave the island? What happened during the past few years, now that the show is in the present 2008? Why doesn't Claire want Aaron back on the island? What the hell is Octagon Recruiting?