It's getting to the end of the year and around about this time each year I get mildly nostalgic for times past, a symptom of this nostalgia is my predilection for 'Best of' lists. For example, 'my favourite people of 2006', 'best songs of 2006', 'greatest meals of 2006', this kind of thing.
Seeing as these thoughts usually waste away in my brain, taking up space that should be devoted to thinking of what to buy my family for xmas, I thought I might spend a blog or two putting these lists down.
Sorry if you don't like lists. I like lists. They keep me organised; they give me purpose and they bolster my memory. Plus, I like order and lists are ordered.
To kick things off, here's my list of the top TV programmes of 2006*
1.
Deadwood.
Series 1 is THE BEST TELEVISION I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. I am not kidding. It is truly amazing. Impeccable script, rich and layered characters, outstanding performances, totally engrossing dialogue. If you haven't seen this show GET ON IT. If you've seen it and you didn't like it then we don't need to know each other. Ian McShane gets my vote for best actor too, check out his scene with the preacher in the last episode of season 1. Ouch, my heart.
2.
Entourage.
Hilarious and compulsive. I cannot get enough of this show. I love it like I love hot chips and I watch it the way I eat hot chips – zealously (and a little bit desperately). Check out the speed of the dialogue in this show and the soundtrack makes you feel cooler than you actually are.
3.
Carnivale.
This was a creeper for me. I'm not generally in to this kind of 'other worldy' stuff but we're not talking 'Crossing Jordan' we're talking seriously beautiful set designs and gorgeous costumes and a persuasive enough plot. The spooky special effects are fun.
4.
Deal or No Deal.
The first free-to-air programme to make it to the list. This show is a guilty pleasure. It's tacky and cheesy but Andrew O'Keefe has to be one of the best game show hosts ever AND the concept is pure genius. Watch and see the laws of probability completely fuck with the minds of ordinary Australians:
Contestant: Case 16, what do you think you have in your case?
Case 16: I have the $75,000.
Contestant: ooh I can't pick you then, I'll go with Case 23.
Yuh huh – how's the logic. Gold.
5.
Extras.
Another feather in the comedy cap of Ricky Gervais. Who is that lovely Scottish lass who holds her own against Ricky's intimidating showmanship? I have never spotted her in the UK acting stable. She has obviously been hiding in a Glasgow pub just waiting to be catapulted to 15 minutes of fame. I'm impressed.
6.
Antique Roadshow.
I can't get enough of this show. Well, I probably could if I were forced to watch it non-stop, clockwork orange style (this can't be said of Deadwood or Entourage, strap me in). In yesterday's episode a British bogan turned up with a painting of a puppy that her sister bought for 50p at a fleamarket, you want to know what that baby's worth? £15,000 big ones. No fucking kidding. Eccentric old biddies dig out family heirlooms that have been sitting in their drawing rooms for decades only to be told that the piece they're holding dates from 1642 and is worth £22,000. I LOVE this. It's so British and kitsch and crazy and endearing.
7.
The Wire.
Admittedly, I've only just started on this one but I hold high hopes. It's an old-school cop drama. No carrot-topped Caruso gallivanting around a siliconed Miami set, this show is measured and paced and intelligent. We follow one case through the whole series which means, gasp, character development and a nuanced plot.
8.
The Simpsons.
As always. Although I'm not voting for the new series. It sucks. I'm voting for Homer in a moo moo, the monorail, Homer becomes an astronaut and Who shot Mr Burns. I'm voting for the classics which still make me laugh even though, at a conservative guess, I've seen them 28 times.
9.
The Amazing Race.
Americans turning on their own. Who does not want to watch this? I love the hustle, the stress, the extreme emotions, the pitiful losses, the total lack of class – it makes me proud to be me (and that doesn't happen too often). Go Gaghans.
10.
The Biggest Loser.
Really only gets a gong because I like round numbers and wanted to make it to 10. That said, I'm a total sucker for the transformation moment. Did you see Marty in last week's episode? Whoa Nelly, those school girls will have fantasies for years.
Only one Australian show made the grade which is sad but to be fair I have to admit that I was pinned to the couch on many a Friday night and Saturday afternoon watching big boys chase a small ball around a football field.
*this doesn't mean that the show was produced in 2006 it just means I found it and watched it in 2006.
