A Toaster with Pictures?

"Television is just another appliance. It's just a toaster with pictures."

- Mark S. Fowler, former FCC Chairman

You mean this thing?

You see, I prefer this guy.

Sure thing, Mark. Whatever you say.

Wait, what's that Billy?

"It used to be that we in films were the lowest form of art. Now we have something to look down on."

- Billy Wilder (supposedly)

"Television is called a medium because it is neither rare or well done."

Ooo, big talk from Mr. Anony Mous.

These three people have one thing common: they fail at life.

In all seriousness, I'm afraid these guys must have missed out on quality television. I say this because television has become a player in my life. This has only happened recently, though.

Before 2004, outside of reruns of certain childhood staples like "Home Improvement" and certain Nickelodeon shows like "Legends of the Hidden Temple" and "Are You Afraid of the Dark?," television had no value for me. Considering we were/are in the age of the sitcoms, it was hard to find shows that separated themselves from the rest of the pack by offering something to us viewers. ("Seinfeld" reurns, you are excused.)

That all changed when I saw a TV spot for some show that looked like Cast Away on steroids and with an actual cast.

Of course, I'm referring to "Lost."

According to Leibniz, the "best of all possible" shows.

This show is solely responsible for my current television-watching habits. It restored my faith in television. It also helped pave the way for shows that abandoned the sitcom genre. (To be fair, these kinds of shows were already prevalent on certain pay-for-TV channels like HBO, Showtime, etc.) For all of this, I'm very grateful.

Probably because I now find myself closely following many shows. I've invested a lot of time and emotions into these. Because doing anything less completely undermines why someone would chose to be entertained by a story-telling medium.

So, in order to share my excitement and enjoyment of these shows,--and so maybe you can learn a little bit more about me--I've decided to highlight some of my favorites.

This is not a comprehensive list. And these are only shows that are currently on TV. (Not currently airing, necessarily.) If a show is not on this list, it doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I can name about 15 shows that I thoroughly enjoy. These are just some of the ones that I enjoy more. (Heck, let's not forget that it might be the case that I haven't even seen a particular show.)

For example:

"The Office" has left me crying from laughter. I can't even begin to recount the number of times I've probably woken up surrounding rooms with a hardy guffaw. But I'm not including it on this list.

"FlashForward" has a very interesting premise that probably has more philosophical implications than any other show I watch. (Yes, that includes "Lost.") But I'm not listing it.

Simply put, these are the shows that permeate my thoughts more than the others. Their episodes have stayed with me for weeks, months, and even years after the initial viewing.

So, without further ado, some of my favorite shows currently on TV (in alphabetical order, except the last one for the most obvious reason):

[Well, let me stop here and go ahead and say this: all of these shows are fantastic for many reasons. At the heart of them is fantabulous writing. So, I will try to avoid repetition by giving general props to the writers. I'll try to mention certain aspects of the writing for each show. (Also, I'm avoiding synopses because those are easily accessible.)]

"Castle"

"Castle" is a rare breed of show. The show is not a straight-up comedy or drama. It's leads, Stana Katic and Nathan Fillion, are dazzling in their performances. Their chemistry is rarely seen on television, film or stage. This on top of the fact that it features some of the best writing/dialogue I've seen since "Gilmore Girls."

Now, to be honest, I have often times tuned out during certain cases, simply because I'm so caught up in the actors and their characters. "But Jordan, doesn't that mean that the writing can't be all that good since it doesn't command your attention?"

No, I don't believe it does. The cases themselves are always a treat, since they are very original/creative. And the cases do lead to a character growth over the season. It's just that Fillion and Katic, along with Jon Huertas and Seamus Dever, are always doing so much in a scene, I will focus on the little nuances and gems in their performance.

The set-up/payoff in this show is great. For example, Episode 2.13 "Sucker Punch" may be one of the best hours of television I have ever seen. Ever. Why? Because the show had been building to a point, and this episode gave us that while opening up a related can of worms. It gave us so much, yet the mystery lingered/lingers on. (I might also add it's the only episode of "Castle" that has moved me to tears. That episode was so good, my friends, so good.)

Bottom Line: If you are a fan of clever but fun television, this show delivers because of characters that are wonderfully written and acted. The chemistry of the leads is enough to make this one of the best shows currently on television.

"Glee"

Let's be clear: this show, like any other, has its faults. But more people are less willing to forgive the ones of "Glee" for some unknown reason. I'll be honest: these people either are way too critical (especially given the current state of television) or they have no joy in their life.

But "Glee" is simply that: 43 minutes of joy.

I was very frustrated at first, because all these characters had to do in the first part of Season 1 was simply tell the truth. Their problems were easily avoidable, so I had a hard time caring about their struggles.

But then two things happened. 1) I realized every show I watch has its characters suffering from a lack of honest and forthcoming behavior. Every.Single.One. 2) The show got better/matured/became more honest with itself.

That has been the key. Take for instance the latest episode, 1.16 or "Home." For the longest time, the characters have been so selfish. Not a bad thing if the writing were not as sympathetic to that as it had been earlier in the season. Finally, though, the show called out this selfishness: Burt Hummel became the voice of reason. (Who woulda thunk it!?)

I could compliment the writers for wonderful characters and the lines they utter, the actors who do a great job bringing these characters to life, the wonderful soundtrack that features wonderful music, voices, arrangements, covers, etc. But that should be obvious.

So should the aspect I am gonna compliment instead. But she's so terrific, I had to give Jane Lynch props. Now, she benefits from the show's best lines/writing, but Jane Lynch does a masterful job nonetheless. Sue is without a doubt the only person I root for unconditionally, despite her terrible nature.

Bottom Line: Deftly balancing a unique combination of humor, drama and music, "Glee" is able to lift the soul. Because it does the best job of that out the shows on this list, it is one of the best shows currently on television.

"Lie to Me"

This show is probably going to be cancelled. A real shame, considering this show is very well crafted.

At the heart of LtM is one of my favorite sciences: interpreting microexpressions, through the Facial Action Coding System, and body language. (Thanks Wiki!) This show doesn't get bogged down by the science, though. That's probably because Tim Roth (Dr. Cal Lightman, the main character) is the man.

Of all these shows, he's probably the strongest lead. It's a real treat that he is getting a wider range of exposure because he is most definitely in the exclusive group of exceptional actors.

During the first season, the show kinda hit the "procedural" routine. However, because of the talent behind this show, it's one of the few that can keep it fresh. Plus, all shows have a story arc that spans the entirety of the series, one that spans the entirety of its seasons, and one that spans only the length of its episodes.

I think one reason this show works so well is that even the episode story arcs are not wasted because unlike a "Law and Order," our characters' other arcs are influenced.

Bottom Line: Even though this show is the least publicized of these six, it's one of the most interesting and, as a result, one of best shows currently on television.

"Mad Men"

MM is outstanding. The biggest reason I'm a fan is because it captures the psychology and sociology of a by-gone era. (Maybe "era" isn't the best word since Season 1 takes place right as the 1960s are just beginning.) After reading "Revolutionary Road" and seeing how well Richard Yates gave that time a distinct feel, it's great to see MM do that with equal, if not more, success.

The feel of that time is captured through the dialogue, the sets, the costumes, the makeup/hair, etc. No attention to detail seems to be spared. Heck, I know the word "swell" has fallen off the map now, but I find myself using it just as frequently as these characters do.

Because of how much emotion I invest in shows (especially the ones I really enjoy, and especially these six), I find that this show is the most difficult to watch. It's definitely the darkest of these six, but "dark" is not the best word. Neither is "tragic." Wait, "melancholic" is it. Yup, "melancholic." This doesn't make the show unbearable as I may have suggested earlier. Just that this show takes a heavier emotional toll on me.

Jon Hamm is excellent as Don Draper, one of the most compelling characters of any story. Add to him a very solid cast and writing that takes hold of you (and never lets go) and the results are highly successful.

Bottom Line: A show with little to no faults, "Mad Men" has taken story-telling to a new level. Because of this and how well it acts as a case study or time capsule of a by-gone time, "Mad Men" is one of the best shows currently on television.

"Modern Family"

This may be the only 21-minute show on the list, but it definitely has the most comedic bang for the buck. The beauty of this show is that it captures the true essence of the family dynamic. If great comedy is simply great observation, then this show has figured it out. These things are funny in and of themselves, but what puts it over the top is that the comedy has an uncanny ability to resemble the truth of it all.

Great comedic ensemble performance from the cast. In a cast that includes Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, and Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell is definitely the one with the best individual performance. He has his character down so well, I wanna call him Phil Dunphy anytime I see him in a performance outside MF. Just cracks me up seeing him on-screen.

The show has great rhythm. Probably the best of the list. I mean, MF is comedy, which tends to depend on excellent rhythm and timing.

Bottom Line: This show is an absolute riot. Given that this show procures more laughter than any other show airing, it's one of the best shows currently on television.

"Lost"

For me to say why this show is on this list is really difficult, given that this is the best show on television and the one that brought me back to TV (is)land.

This show is criticized for its slowly realized sci-fi theme. Too bad, it's always been about the characters. Yes, the island mythology is absorbing and fascinating. But for me, it has always been about the characters. And even when the show is done, it will continue to be about the characters. Forget getting caught up in the otherwise trivial mysteries. (Which, I admit, can be fun.)

I don't even know how to describe the emotions that begin to swell when I think about the characters and their story. I'm not sure what'll happen when the show is over, but my emotions will be high. Even if it is simple contentment, it will be an overwhelming feeling of being content/satisfied.

I have slowly realized that Michael Giacchino may be my favorite movie/television composer. He has offered us numerous scores that are great. It was only a matter of time he was recognized, and thanks to "Up," he got his recognition. But his work on "Lost" is his best. And--I realize this may sound ludicrous--I am slowly warming to the idea that his work on "Lost" may be my favorite score all-time, television or movie.

"Lost" has the best acting of any show, from the top to the bottom of the cast. Terry O'Quinn and Michael Emerson play my favorite characters. They also happen to be the best actors of the bunch. Coincidence? Maybe... probably, actually.

I am leaving out a ton of stuff that should be mentioned, but succinctly putting my feelings of "Lost" into words is rather difficult to begin with. So, I'll just let what incoherent mess I've left above stand by itself.

Bottom Line: A show with no faults. Excellent in every way. Any positive aspects of a TV show or the making of a television show you can think of, "Lost" has. But the characters and their story alone make this the best show currently on television.

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Now your turn: what are your thoughts? Agree or disagree? Why? Maybe you have further questions about a show?

***But most importantly: what am I missing here? What belongs? Which shows are must-sees?***