Heroes - NBC
Previous Nominations: 2008
From looking at the rest of the list, it should be pretty evident that this was the 5th and final nomination I chose. I'm certainly not going to deny that at times during its three-season run, Heroes has been downright dreadful. But at the same time, it is capable of as much brilliance as any other show on TV. Just watch Season One which was, justifiably, nominated for a "real" Emmy. No show on network TV was more adversely affected by the writers strike than Heroes, which basically had to scrap their entire Season Two storyline. It really took them more than a full season to recover. In truth, this nomination stems from the latter half of Season Three more than the first half. The show started slowly but by the end it had reminded us why the first season was among the best on TV and the show displayed so much promise. While it hasn't entirely regained my trust yet, it's well on its way.
Lost - ABC
Previous Nominations: 2005 (won), 2008
If I had any say in the matter, Lost would have been nominated for an Emmy every year of its existence not just in its first (when it won) and fourth seasons. Except for the somewhat-mediocre Season Three (again, blame the writers strike) this has been the best drama on network television five years running, bar none. Season Five was just as good, if not better, than any of the seasons that came before it. I credit a lot of this to the set enddate the show now operates with. The writers and producers now know exactly how long they have to wrap up their story, and more than ever seem to know exactly where they're going. Season Five's convoluted plotlines may have alienated many casual fans, but that's just fine with me. Lost has always truly been a show for the hardcore audience, and the more they embrace that, the better. They embraced that this season, and deserve a nomination for it. My greatest regret is that there's only one left.
Battlestar Galactica - Sci-Fi Channel
Previous Nominations: None
Regular readers of bambat will not be surprised at all by this nomination. I make no bones about the fact that Battlestar Galactica is my favorite show. Of course, it will never win (or likely even be nominated) for a real Emmy because they hate science fiction. Its a shame too, because anyone who hasn't watched this show is missing one of the most compelling pieces of television, nay, art ever created. To call Battlestar anything less than a masterpiece would be a disservice. Now that its four-season run has come to an end, it can be looked back on with appreciation for just what it was: one of the three or four best shows of any genre to ever air on American television. No hyperbole there, I promise you. I think the best testament to this show is that I have introduced it to a lot of people over the last year or so as its been winding down. People with disparate interests and tastes in television. Not a single one has done anything short of fall in love with it. If I may channel my inner geek: Best. Show. Ever.
Dexter - Showtime
Previous Nominations: 2008
Of all the shows on this list, Dexter is the newest one to me. I've only recently started catching up with it (thanks Showtime On Demand!) for the Summer of Couch (review coming soon). I blew through the three seasons of this show like only a nerd possessed is capable of, and just wow. This show is an absolute tour de force, mostly due to the incredibly strong performance of Michael C. Hall (who justifiably earned a nod in his own right in my best actor picks). While a show about a serial killer might seem a little macabre to you - and don't get me wrong, it is - it is also charming, witty, and thoroughly entertaining. Season Three was just as strong as the first two, featuring the amazing talents of Jimmy Smits as the shows primary guest star for the season (for which he just won a Saturn Award). In my eyes, this is the best show on the premium channels since the end of The Wire, and if you have access, I think its worth a look. Otherwise
Fringe - FOX
Previous Nominations: None
This show and I had a very weird relationship this year. Because it was a JJ Abrams joint, I of course was eager to check it out from the outset. I watched the first half of the season religiously until the hiatus, which as is far too typical these days was far too long (more shows should follow the 24/Lost model, and I think more will). By the time the show came back I had sort of lost track of it, and was watching too many other things to get back into it. Then once the season ended I blew through the whole second half of the show in a weekend, which made me question why I had ever fallen out of it in the first place. There's no doubt in my mind that this was the strongest new series of the year, and usually that's good enough for an Emmy nod on its own. But I don't want to sell Fringe short. It was hyped as being a spiritual successor to The X-Files, and it really is just as good and at least in its first season really exceeded that show in many ways. It also gets bonus points for featuring a twist ending which caused controversy among the way-too-sensitive crowd. If you don't know what I mean just google "fringe + panties in a bunch."
The Pick:
If you read the preceding write-ups, it should be pretty clear already what show I'm picking, so I won't beat around the bush. Battlestar Galactica was more than just a show for nerds (although we do love it, believe me). It was one of the most compelling, original (I know that seems odd given its a remake, but its similarities to the original are only cosmetic), and fascinating shows ever to air on television. Its final season, though it was split in two and separated by what seemed to be about two and a half millenia, was a fitting end to this epic saga. I have nothing more to say - the show is amazing, it was the best show on television this year. The end.
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