Year End: Ten Best Non-Reality TV Shows of 2007

I would've imagined I'd have tons of options when considering my ten favorite non-reality shows of the year, but when I sat down to make this list, the well was surprisingly dry. Even some of the shows I included (Weeds, Grey's Anatomy) didn't have perfect seasons, but when looked at in the bigger picture, they still made the cut.

Here's my list...

1. Friday Night Lights
2. Brothers & Sisters
3. Mad Men
4. Damages
5. Lost
6. Weeds
7. Desperate Housewives
8. House
9. The Office
10. Grey's Anatomy

What was your favorite TV show in 2007? Leave a comment and let me know!

Click to visit Idol Thought's AMERICAN IDOL CENTRAL for show recaps and rankings, news on former contestants, best-of lists and much more

Tom Petty Will Headline Super Bowl Halftime Show

It's been announced that Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will headline this year's Super Bowl halftime show.

Boooooooooooooooring.

After Prince's triumph last year, couldn't they come up with a more inspired choice?

My favorite halftime show is still the star-studded extravaganza about six years ago, where Britney Spears (pre-Unfitney days), 'nsync, Nelly and more put on quite the show.

Now the only thing to look forward to on Super Bowl Sunday is the post-game episode of House.

TV Review: House Limps Back for First Two Episodes of Season

I loved last year's finale of House -- the possibilities seemed endless now that the cranky doctor had fired Chase, and Cameron and Foreman had walked out the door. What would happen next, now that those closest to House had either deserted him or had been pushed out the door?

Apparently -- not much.

Don't get me wrong, a half-good episode of House is still significantly more entertaining than most other shows, but the first two episodes of the new season, which Fox was kind enough to send me, are a bit of letdown. As complicated and interesting as House is on his own, it seems he needs a team around him to really let him shine.

Part of the problem in the season premiere is the case -- despite an unexpected twist in the final act of the episode, it's just not all that interesting, which means that the characters do the heavy lifting in the episode. Cuddy (the priceless Lisa Edelstein) has told House that if he doesn't solve the case on his own within a day, than he will be forced to hire a support team to replace Chase, Cameron and Foreman.

Of course, watching House do his brilliant thing is fun, but without worthy foils to play off, House's ill-humor just doesn't register in quite the same way. I, as the viewer, missed Jesse Spencer, Jennifer Morrison and Omar Epps as much as House missed Chase, Cameron and Foreman.

Each of the three docs does make a brief appearance in the second episode, but to be honest, it kind of made me just miss them more! House has chosen 40 potential doctors and is weeding them out reality show-style (not to mention calling them only by their number) to determine who will make his replacement team. Giving House three dozen hapless residents to play off gives Hugh Laurie ample opportunity to show off his way with a cutting one-liner, and the case in this episode, about a NASA pilot who doesn't want her bosses to know that something may be wrong with her, is definitely stronger, but the episode still doesn't feel like classic House. It might help if the potential residents had made stronger impressions -- as of now, Olivia Wilde's cool and knowledgeable #13 is the only one who's made much on an impression.

I'm guessing by episode 3, with most of the residents cut and Cameron, Chase and Foreman back in the picture at Princeton Plainview, that things will kick into high-gear for the rest of the season, but the first two episodes, while definitely worth watching, were a bit of a disappointment. I'm gonna hang in there, though -- he may almost kill you before you get there, but House always come through in the end to save the day.

Click for more TV Recaps and Reviews

Click for This Week's Top 10 Posts

Tonight's TV: Tuesday September 18

For the next couple weeks, I'm going to lay out the new shows that are premiering and the returning series. Big night tonight on the CW...Beauty and the Geek is back!

** Indicates new or returning show premiere

ABC
8:00 Just for Laughs
8:30 Just for Laughs
9:00 Elvis: Viva Las Vegas

CBS
8:00 Power of 10
9:00 Big Brother
10:00 NCIS (R)

CW
8:00 Beauty and the Geek **

Fox
8:00 House (R)
9:00 K-Ville (R)

NBC
8:00 The Biggest Loser **
10:00 Law and Order: SVU (R)

Click for more Television News

Click for Today's Top 10 Posts

Predicting the Emmys: Best Drama Series

I'm still giving my predictions for the 2007 Emmy Awards. Who was overlooked? Who should win? And who's gonna win?

BEST DRAMA SERIES
Boston Legal
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
House
The Sopranos

Overlooked:
Friday Night Lights
Lost
Rescue Me
The Shield
The Wire

Should Win: The Sopranos

Will Win: The Sopranos

Potential Spoiler: Heroes

Believe it or not, The Sopranos, which many consider to be the best Drama series of all time, has only won one Emmy Award, back in 2004. It would be nothing short of shocking if the Academy didn't recognize the series one last time by giving it the top prize. Boston Legal doesn't stand a chance, House is more often acclaimed for Hugh Laurie than for the show itself, and the consensus is that Grey's Anatomy didn't have it's strongest season last year. That leaves newcomer Heroes as the only possible competition, but really...are they really going to deny Tony and co. one last shot at the gold? Fuhgeddaboutit.

Click for more 2007 Emmy Awards

Click for Today's Top 10 Posts

Predicting the Emmys: Leading Actor in a Drama

For the next two weeks, I will be giving my predictions for the 2007 Emmy Awards. Who was overlooked? Who should win? And who's gonna win?

BEST LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
Hugh Laurie, House
Denis Leary, Rescue Me
James Spader, Boston Legal
Kiefer Sutherland, 24

Overlooked:
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights<
Michael Chiklis, The Shield
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy
Matthew Fox, Lost
Michael Hall, Dexter

Should Win: Denis Leary

Will Win: James Gandolfini

Potential Spoiler: Hugh Laurie

This was one of the year's most competitive categories, with incredibly worthy actors like Kyle Chandler, Michael Hall and Matthew Fox missing the cut. Denis Leary gives a searing performance as Tommy Gavin on Rescue Me, and he'd be my choice to take the top prize, but can the voters really turn down the chance to recognize James Gandolfini for years of stellar work as the iconic Tony Soprano? The only way Gandolfini won't take home the award is if the voters try to correct last year's snub of Hugh Laurie by giving him the award this year. Never count out Dr. House!

Click for more 2007 Emmy Awards

Click for Today's Top 10 Posts

'House' Casting News: Kal Penn and Olivia Wilde Join the Cranky Doctor This Fall

At the end of last season, Dr. House had lost his entire staff, as Chase (Jesse Spencer) was fired, and Foreman (Omar Epps) and Cameron (Jennifer Morrison) showed themselves to the door. Well, it looks like the cranky doc (played geniusly by Hugh Laurie) won't be too lonely, because a slew of new faces are joining the hit medical drama.

E! Online is reporting that Kal Penn (The Namesake, 24), Olivia Wilde (The Black Donnelly's, The OC), Peter Jacobson (In Justice, Transformers) and Anne Dudek (Big Day) will be joining the cast for a minimum of 8 episodes this fall. While it is unclear exactly how the new blood will play into the show, both E!'s Kristin Veitch and TVGuide's Michael Ausiello have repeatedly stated that Spencer, Epps, and Morrison will be back, though likely not working under the Vicodin-addicted physician.

Click for more Television News/Commentary

Fox Announces Premiere Dates for Fall Shows

The annual TCA (Television Critics Association) Press Tour begins this week, so expect lots of news on this fall's shows. The first bit of info to drip are the premiere dates for Fox's fall shows.

Here they are (with new shows in capital letters)...

Thursday, Aug. 30:
8:00 p.m. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

Saturday, Sept. 8
8:00 p.m. Cops
9:00 p.m. America's Most Wanted

Thursday, Sept. 13
9:00 p.m. KITCHEN NIGHTMARES

Friday, Sept. 14
9:00 p.m. NASHVILLE

Monday, Sept. 17
8:00 p.m. Prison Break
9:00 p.m. K-VILLE

Wednesday, Sept. 19
8:00 p.m. BACK To YOU
8:30 p.m. 'Til Death
9:00 p.m. Bones

Sunday, Sept. 23
8:00 p.m. The Simpsons
8:30 p.m. King of the Hill
9:00 p.m. Family Guy (one hour)

Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:00 p.m. NEW AMSTERDAM
9:00 p.m. House

Sunday, Sept. 30
9:30 p.m. American Dad

* A start date for The Search for the Next Great American Band has not yet been announced

Click for more Television News/Commentary

Person of the Day: Hugh Laurie

As he has done on every episode for the past three seasons, Hugh Laurie managed to reveal even more layers of brilliant, cranky Dr. House on this week's season finale of House. For that, he is the Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.

I could have done without the Cuban refugee story, which was a bit unsubtle and over-the-top for my taste, but the rest of the finale, which found House firing Dr. Chase and watching Dr. Cameron and Dr. Foreman walk out the door, was top-notch, due in no small part to some fantastic acting from Hugh Laurie. He was hurt, he was proud, he was stubborn, and he was angry -- often all at once. If this performance doesn't at least earn him an Emmy nomination (if not the award), there is no television justice.

Watching House grapple with how to get Foreman to stay, only to see him realize that the change he has been resisting for years has been holding him back, made for fascinating television. His seemingly impulsive firing of Chase was shocking, as was his decision to let the Cuban man break down and hug him later in the episode. But as unsettling as the cleaning house (no pun intended) was, the episode ended on a hopeful note, with House unpacking the new guitar he had ordered to replace the guitar he had been using for 15 years. The joy and freedom on Laurie's face was palpable...and even somewhat moving.

Who knows what will happen next season, now that House no longer has a team surrounding him, but for three season's worth of complex characterization, Hugh Laurie is today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.

Read more Idol Thoughts People of the Day

TV Ratings: House Rules, On the Lot Continues To Decline

On the first American Idol-less Tuesday night since January, Fox was still able to claim the top spot, despite the fact that On the Lot roped in only 4 million viewers. The season finale of House was easily the most watched show of the night, capturing nearly 13 million more viewers than it's lead-in. Wow.

Here are the Top 5 rated shows for the evening:

1. House, 16.86 million
2. Boston Legal, 9.84 million
3. NCIS, 9.81 million
4. Law and Order: SVU, 8.42 million
5. The Unit, 6.19 million

Read more Television News/Commentary

*All numbers are from Marc Berman at Mediaweek