TV Eye

Arrested Development

Some Things That Fell Through the Cracks

Between timing and the deadline schedule of a weekly, some things got short shrift or no shrift at all. Here are a few of the things I wish I'd spent more ink on:

Maya & Miguel (PBS): The newest bilingual children's show is culturally sensitive, earnest, and often very funny. This is a series for children of all cultural backgrounds.

Democracy Now! (cable access Channel 16): News and information from the esteemed Amy Goodman.

Wayne Brady skewering himself on Chappelle's Show: Following the cancellation of his perfectly likable talk show, Brady was pitch-perfect in a jaw-dropping send-up of his nice-guy persona.

The Kumars at No. 42 (BBC America): I don't know why I kept missing this off-the-wall series, but when I did catch it, I was screaming with delight.

The Wire (HBO): Honestly, this show was created for the DVD format, and I mean that as a compliment.

John Mayer Has a TV Show (VH1): Kooky, DIY-looking talk show that trades on Mayer's wry humor and boyish charm.

The Simpsons (Fox): I don't know what remains to be said, but it seems like I should have said something.

Chappelle's Show (Comedy Central): Dave Chappelle is so funny and off-center, it hurts.

Some Reasons to Trash Your TV

Will never have to hear breaking news updates about what Martha Stewart is doing in prison.

Will never have to hear breaking news updates about the Robert Blake case.

Will never have to hear breaking news updates on the Kobe Bryant case.

Will never have to hear breaking news updates on Michael Jackson.

The Swan, Who's Your Daddy?, The Biggest Loser – all reality shows that trade on exploitation.

Bill O'Reilly.

Infomercials posing as news programs.

You're sitting on it.

Top 10 TV Shows

1. Arrested Development (Fox): Smart, wickedly funny. And still, no one watches. Sigh.

2. Rescue Me (FX): Dennis Leary shows he's more than a sour puss.

3. The Sopranos (HBO), 24 (Fox), Six Feet Under (HBO): Honestly, it's been so long I can't remember which one I like best.

4. Lost (ABC): I really hope this serial mystery has a great payoff.

5. Alias (ABC): Is it Jennifer Garner or all those get-ups that make me giddy?

6. Desperate Housewives (ABC): Delicious prime-time soap that doubles as social satire.

7. Sex and the City (HBO): I still miss those hussies. At least they went out in a well-crafted, multiepisode swan song.

8. Scrubs (NBC): The daffy sitcom that sometimes surprises with its poignancy.

9. Veronica Mars (UPN): Kristen Bell elevates this series from a one-note teen drama with extraordinary skill.

10. Wonderfalls (Fox): Shown out of sequence, canceled before its time. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Other Notables: The West Wing (NBC), Gilmore Girls (WB), The OC (Fox), Kevin Hill (UPN), Entourage (HBO), The Wire (HBO), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), Jack & Bobby (WB), King of the Hill (Fox).