Lily Finnerty Award - Worst in Comedy

The Lily Finnerty Award for the Character you love to hate in a Comedy
2009: Toby Flenderson (The Office)
2010: Susie Greene (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
2011: Gabe Lewis (The Office)
2012: Andy Bernard (The Office)
2013: Manny Delgado (Modern Family)
2014: Luke Dunphy (Modern Family)

2015 Results

10. John Mulaney (Mulaney) 1 point
5th by T-time

9. Laurie Keller (Cougar Town) 1 point
5th by Jack

8. Beverly Lincoln (Episodes) 5 points
1st by Bonz

7. Kimmy Schmidt (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) 6 points
2nd by Loose

6. Titus Andromedon (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) 10 points
2nd by T-time, Cecil

5. Tom Haverford (Parks and Recreation) 13 points
2nd by Jack, Mags

4. Coach Tagliaboo (New Girl) 16 points
1st by T-time

3. Rodney Ruxin (The League) 19 points
1st by Tippy

2. Luke Dunphy (Modern Family) 23 points
1st by Loose, Jack

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Manny Delgado (Modern Family) 36 points
1st by Larry, Mags, Tyson, Cecil, Rizzo, Brady, Lenny, Marsh

As Modern Family continues to be an awful sitcom, Manny and Luke remain awful with it.  Manny wins this award for the second time and Mod Fam takes it down for the third straight year.  The Emmy favorite is now tied with The Office for the most wins in this category.

Winner's Breakdown
1st: Larry, Mags, Tyson, Cecil, Rizzo, Brady, Lenny, Marsh
2nd: Bonz, Tippy
3rd: Jack
5th: Loose
No Vote: T-time, Jaydon

Lily Finnerty Award - Worst in Comedy

Named For: Lily Finnerty (Grounded For Life)
Awarded To: The character you most love to hate in a comedy series
2009: Toby Flenderson (The Office)
2010: Susie Greene (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
2011: Gabe Lewis (The Office)
2012: Andy Bernard (The Office)
2013: Manny Delgado (Modern Family)

Here are this year's honorees...

10th. Sydney Roberts (The Crazy Ones) 0 points

9th. Laurie Keller (Cougar Town) 2 points
4th by me

8th. Travis Cobb (Cougar Town) 4 points
3rd by Jack

7th. Beverly Lincoln (Episodes) 8 points
1st by Jaydon, Bonz

6th. Wade Bailey (Hello Ladies) 11 points
2nd by T-time, Bonz

5th. Rodney Ruxin (The League) 11 points
1st by Rizzo

4th. Anne (Wilfred) 15 points
1st by Cecil, Lenny; 2nd by me

3rd. Donna Meagle (Parks and Rec) 18 points
1st by Mags; 3rd by me

2nd. Craig (Parks and Rec) 26 points
1st by Braids; 5th by me

and the Poolie goes to...

1st. Luke Dunphy (Modern Family) 27 points
1st by T-time, Jack, Ty; 1st by me

This is Luke Dunphy's first Poolie victory in this category.  He has won previously for the Louis and Twitty Award in partnership with Phil Dunphy back in 2012. This is the second straight win in the category for a character from Modern Family.

The Zack and Kelly Award- Best Couple

Named For: Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski (Saved by the Bell)
Awarded To: The best couple on television
2010 Winner: Desmond and Penny (Lost)
2011 Winner: Michael and Holly (The Office)

10. Brendon and Rachel (Amazing Race/Big Brother) 4 points
3rd by T-time

9. Julian and Brooke (One Tree Hill) 4 points
3rd by Jack, 5th by Me

8. Kevin and Veronica (Shameless) 4 points
4th by Cecil, 4th by Me

7. Brad and Jane (Happy Endings) 8 points
2nd by Bonz, 3rd by Me

6. Kevin and Jenny (The League) 12 points
2nd by Tyson and Rizzo

5. Chuck and Sarah (Chuck) 14 points
1st by Larry, 2nd by Me

4. Andy and April (Parks and Rec) 15 points
1st by Cecil

3. Boyd and Ava (Justified) 17 points
1st by Tyson

2. Peter and Olivia (Fringe) 19 points
1st by T-time and Jack, 1st by Me

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Phil and Claire (Modern Family) 20 points
1st by Bonz, Mags, and Rizzo

This is Phil and Claire's first nomination and win for the best couple on television.  Phil Dunphy also won the Louis and Twitty Award earlier in the Poolie season.

As the above results show, I did not vote for Phil and Claire Dunphy as one of my top five couples of the season, but I can certainly see why others would have.  Phil is obviously a fantastic character, and Claire, well Claire is crazy.  When you put them together, you get a terrific marriage that usually ends in disaster.  Whether it's Phil's hi-jinx, or Claire's anal retentiveness, one of them is usually in trouble.  It's always up to the other one to solve the problem, and that solution is usually hilarious.  Phil and Claire Dunphy are certainly worth of the Zack and Kelly Award this season.

by Dan Forcella

The Louis and Twitty Award- Best Buds

Named For: Louis Stevens and Alan Twitty (Even Stevens)
Awarded to: The best buds on television
2011 Winner: Troy and Abed (Community)

10. Hank and Charlie (Californication) 5 points
2nd by Cecil

9. Ryan and Wilfred (Wilfred) 6 points
2nd by Jack

8. Blake and Adam (The Voice) 6 points
1st by Cecil

7. Walter and Peter (Fringe) 8 points
2nd by T-time, 3rd by Me

6. Bobby and Andy (Cougar Town) 10 points
1st by T-time, 1st by Me

5. Franklin and Bash (Franklin and Bash) 11 points
1st by Larry

4. Steve and Danny (Hawaii Five-0) 13 points
1st by Tyson

3. Chuck and Morgan (Chuck) 13 points
2nd by Larry, 4th by Me

2. Troy and Abed (Community) 23 points
1st by Jack, Mags, and Jaydon, 2nd by Me

and the Poolie goes to...

1. Phil and Luke (Modern Family) 26 points
1st by Bonz and Rizzo, 5th by Me

This is Phil and Luke's first nomination and win for best buds.  Phil Dunphy has been the runner-up for the Cory Mattews Award the past two seasons, and Luke is a two-time nominee for the Arthur Spooner Award.

While Modern Family has almost entirely fallen off the map at the Poolies, both Phil and Luke Dunphy continue to keep the series alive after three seasons.  The best part about this father/son duo is that they only get better as characters when they're together.  Both ridiculous, both completely oblivious most of the time, Phil and Luke Dunphy made up about 90% of Modern Family's comedy this season, and much of that came when the two were up to shenanigans as the best buds that they are.

by Dan Forcella

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Honorable Mentions

I recently finished listing all of my favorite shows of the year, but what about now? What shows that are still on the air are the series you all should be watching? Well that's what the Quiet Pool Bi-Monthly Power Rankings are for. In the first rankings of 2012, we will recognize the shows that have been succeeding as of late, and some that will be returning to our screens for the first time in a while this winter. First up are the honorable mentions, which are not necessarily ranked 21-30 on my list.

Show (Last Time) red=moving down, green=moving up

American Horror Story (HM) Wednesdays on FX
I wasn't the biggest fan of the first season of American Horror Story, but it was definitely interesting, and I can't complain about what they decided to do in the future. I said throughout the first season that there was really nowhere this story could go following the events that were occurring. Making it an anthology, almost a la The Twilight Zone, gives it enough legs to stay on the air for a number of seasons. It was surprising, though, that they didn't try to keep stars McDermott and Britton on for the entire ride.

Boss (-) Fridays on Starz
Kelsey Grammer was fantastic in the leading role of Boss. The series was extremely well made, but lacked a bit in holding my interest overall. It did help that there were only eight episodes in the first season. Also, I will watch anything with Kathleen Robertson.

Fringe (-) Fridays on FOX
I don't even want to say much here, because I am speeding through this series so quickly at this point. Starting with the pilot about 11 days ago, I am now midway through the second season. If given time, I hope to write an entire post about how much I am loving Fringe. I highly recommend catching up on this sci-fi series if you have yet to watch it.

The Good Wife (-) Sundays on CBS
After watching five episodes of the last season before the Emmys, I was impressed by The Good Wife. Now that I've seen the first half of this season, I'm much less impressed. At times I have been bored out of my mind, and there haven't been nearly enough highs to make up for those lows.

Hell on Wheels (-) Sundays on AMC
This AMC series hasn't yet turned the corner of must watch television, but Hell on Wheels has definitely been one of the better new shows of the fall. Cullen Bohannon is a fun lead character, and Common has been a surprisingly strong number two as Elam the slave.

The League (HM) Thursdays on FX
It's had its moments this season, but there is no arguing that The League was a major step down from season two this fall. It came on strong down the stretch, mostly thanks to Kevin going insane over his need to win a championship, but most of the time it missed on a lot of jokes. Sometimes it just became to crude for its own good.

Modern Family (19) Wednesdays on ABC
This is the first time Modern Family has been out of the Top 20 since November of 2009. It has been on a long and slow journey downhill since bursting onto the scene. This year has just been extremely lackluster, and I can't help but not laugh while watching it these days. Phil continues to be the highlight, but other than him and the one sentence Luke gets each week, Modern Family just isn't all that funny.

New Girl (HM) Tuesdays on FOX
Zooey Deschanel has been terrific as Jess on the New Girl, and the show is worth it just to watch her light up the screen, but the rest of the cast is really dragging it down. Schmidt is off and on, Winston has given nothing, and Nick is just the absolute worst. Just make it all Jess all the time.

Once Upon a Time (HM) Sundays on ABC
If you can look past the absolutely awful special effects, Once Upon a Time has a great start to its first season. The story telling is fun. The characters are likable. Most importantly, I can't wait to figure out the inner workings of this universe. That's something that can make a show work so well.

Next Iron Chef (-) Sundays on Food Network
If you enjoy Top Chef, you really should start watching this cooking competition. On this most recent season, the contestants were all ridiculously talented and famous. You don't get all of the terrible food that some of the awful cooks on Top Chef put on the plate, but instead, you get fantastic food by fantastic chefs that you know. And as a bonus, the winner becomes an Iron Chef and joins the pantheon of greats in America.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

It's that time again. The Quiet Pool Perspective's Bi-Monthly Power Rankings are back, and a lot has happened since early September here at the Pool. The Weekly Comedy Rankings have been working so well at helping gauge what shows are doing well on a week by week basis, that I might try to start doing the same thing with the other categories. For now, here are the November Power Rankings. Remember these take into account past and present performances, and the Honorable Mentions are not necessarily numbers 21 through 30 on my list. Enjoy.

Rank. Show (Last) red=moving down, green=moving up

20. Survivor (17) Wednesdays on CBS
The quality of scripted television severely outweighs that of reality competitions that Survivor is the only one holding it down for the latter, hanging on to the number 20 spot this time around. This season has been interesting so far. It's nice to see Coach back in the mix, I've really enjoyed the introduction of Cochran, and there a few contestants I love to hate already. All in all, it's a good mix.

19. Modern Family (15) Wednesdays on ABC
Things started out well in this third season, making me think that the second season slump was just that, a slump. Recently, though, Modern Family has reverted back to some of its season two habits that had me wondering where the first year magic had gone. Luke and Phil Dunphy are the only ones holding it down these days. They are both hilarious, but no one else really is all that great anymore.

18. Wilfred (HM) Thursdays on FX
It took the descent of a number of other comedies to move Wilfred up the rankings. Jason Gann's title character has been the funniest thing on television this season. The rest of the show had its ups and downs, but they were mostly up, which is why Wilfred makes it way into the Top 20. Not many comedies can make you laugh out loud consistently while also making you question what in the world you're doing with you life. Wilfred does.

17. Boardwalk Empire (14) Sundays on HBO
The HBO drama has been moving slowly in its second season, but it's still very interesting. Jaydon told me earlier this year that I need shows to be entertaining more than interesting. I think the combination of both makes a show fantastic. It's what Lost was best at. It's what the second half of this most recent season of Breaking Bad was great at. Boardwalk has yet to find the right balance.

16. Homeland (-) Sundays on Showtime
Talk about a great start to a series! Only five episodes have aired thus far and it is already at number 16 in the rankings! I question how well they will be able to succeed in a second season, but the ride in the early going has been one of the best I've seen in a while. Homeland is basically a trillionaire's Rubicon. Rubicon wishes that on its best day it could have been a dead homeless man's worst episode of Homeland.

15. Parenthood (19) Tuesdays on NBC
Parenthood has been on a good run as of late (yet to watch this week's episode) mostly because Haddie and Amber have had much less screen time than a year ago. When they continue to highlight Adam, Zeek, Max, and Joel, Parenthood is doing its best work.

14. Happy Endings (HM) Wednesdays on ABC
At this very moment...11:24 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2011...Happy Endings may be the show I most look forward to watching every week. I enjoyed it when it first aired last season to an extent, it continued to grow on me as the season went on, and by the time the second season came around I was sold. It has been between Always Sunny and Happy Endings for the best comedy of the fall thus far, and I might go with the latter by a slight margin.

13. The Vampire Diaries (18) Thursdays on The CW
Before the last episode with all the ghosts I would have been shouting from a rooftop for you to watch Vampire Diaries. Even with that most recent dud, this show is still fantastic. It's non-stop excitement, as they are never afraid to change the game or throw eight cliff hangers into one hour long episode. The addition of Joseph Morgan's Klaus has only added to the stellar cast of characters on this show.

12. The Office (4) Thursdays on NBC
When you lose the funniest character on television from last year (proven by Michael Scott's Poolie in June), you are sure to take a hit. If this was solely on current performance, The Office wouldn't make the Top 20, but being in the Top 10 for so long, and rising as high as fourth at the end of last year, will make it difficult to knock this long time favorite from its perch. Ed Helms is failing miserably in the lead role, and James Spader has brought almost nothing to the cast. Thankfully, Dwight, Jim and a number of the supporting players have kept their performances high.

11. The Walking Dead (11) Sundays on AMC
Those who complained about The Walking Dead's first season being too quick and action packed (notable critics) are probably loving this season of Walking Dead. I, on the other hand, loved the first season, and am therefore having issues with season two. It's just going at a much slower pace, with a whole lot less happening in each episode. It also doesn't help that I don't enjoy any of the characters. Give me someone to root for. Even Rick, who I want to like, does absolutely nothing for me.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

Whoah buddy! The fall tv season is upon us, and so are the September Power Rankings here at the Quiet Pool Perspective. Here is your look at what you should be watching, or catching up on if you have missed the boat.

Rank. Show (Last Week) red=moving down, green=moving up

20. Parks and Recreation (19) Thursdays on NBC
The more and more I hear people talk about how great Parks and Rec is, the more I want to hate it, but the fact of the matter is that it's still a good show. It's not a top five comedy, and certainly not the best on tv like most critics claim, but it's still in my top 20.

Parenthood crew

19. Parenthood (20) Tuesdays on NBC
It's hard to forget how fantastically emotional this past season of Parenthood was. With Friday Night Lights gone from our screens, I wouldn't be surprised if this Jason Katims series starts to grab some Emmy noms vacated by Chandler, Britton and the show.

18. The Vampire Diaries (-) Thursdays on The CW
Some people laugh when they see this series on the schedule, but that is exactly the problem when you take shows at face value. Yes, it's about vampires, and yes, it's on The CW, but this is a good show and I can't wait to marathon through season two.

17. Survivor (17) Wednesdays on CBS
Bringing Coach Wade back for this fall is a brilliant idea in my book. Is it going to be able to compete with this past spring's glorious run? Doubtful, but I like the attempt. The Dragonslayer will slay this fall on CBS.

16. Big Brother (14) Summers on CBS
This has been a pretty brutal season of Big Brother, and I feel bad for those I have told to watch this show. Between the idiot newbies they brought in this season, and Jeff and Jordan falling off their respective rockers, it's been difficult to enjoy at times.

15. Modern Family (16) Wednesdays on ABC
Soon to be back to back Emmy Champion, Modern Family had a sophomore slump in 2011. Will it prove to be just a hiccup? Or was this series simply a one year wonder? I'm hoping for a third year return to glory for this family sitcom.

The Gang...and Dee

14. Boardwalk Empire (13) Sundays on HBO
I feel like I'm not as excited as I should be for this to return. A lot of stuff went down at the end of the first season, and if it picks up from there, things should heat up quickly in season two of Boardwalk.

13. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (15) Thursdays on FX
The Always Sunny gang jumps up two spots for their unbelievably good preview commercials. Will Fat Mac prove to be as funny of a gag as everyone assumes it will be? I hope so. He did put on 50 pounds for crying out loud.

12. The League (12) Thursdays on FX
Football is back, and so is The League. I'm predicting that Kevin finally takes home the championship this year, and that this season is as funny as the second was.

11. The Walking Dead (10) Sundays on AMC
The zombie thriller continues to slide down the rankings simply because it's only working with six episodes to date. Once it returns this October, things may change. The question is, will the loss of Frank Darabont as showrunner hurt the series?

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

It is a sad day when the Poolie Awards are all over, but look at the bright side, there are always the Bi-Monthly Power Rankings to look forward to! The July edition is here to tell you what shows currently on the air you should be tuning in to see. Take a look and then turn on your tv.

Place. Show (Last Time) red = moving down, green = moving up

20. Parenthood (17) Tuesdays on NBC
With a lot of yelling and a lot of crying, Parenthood worked its way into my heart last season. Will it continue to do so? And remain in the top 20 next fall?

19. Parks and Recreation (19) Thursdays on NBC
The favorite among many critics, and many of their blind followers, Parks and Rec is simply a solid comedy at this point. As good as he is as a straight man, it continues to be a sad state of affairs that Adam Scott is being wasted in this role. Have you seen Step Brothers?

18. 30 Rock (18) Thursdays on NBC
Hopefully Tracy Morgan doesn't have any more health issues, because his absence in the middle of last season was tough to take. If his prejudiced remarks don't have an effect on the show, it should remain where it is as another staple in the NBC lineup.

Boston Rob of Survivor

17. Survivor (20) Wednesdays on CBS
Coming off one of its best seasons, I'm excited to see how Survivor backs it up this fall. I haven't heard any rumors about who the returning contestants will be, but if they know what's good for them, Coach or Agent Phil will be involved.

16. Modern Family (15) Wednesdays on ABC
I'm trying not to be swayed by the wonders of the season one dvd I'm currently watching, because season two just didn't stack up. There's no doubt that the Emmy voters will disagree with me, but Mod Fam needs to find the magic it once had to stay this high next fall.

15. It's Always Sunny (14) Thursdays on FX
What some called a great season of Always Sunny, I thought was sub par. The gang can do better, and I have confidence they will next fall. I predict they make their way near or into the top ten at some point next season.

14. Big Brother (11) Summers on CBS
As Survivor creeps further and further up the list, Big Brother has to drop, because there really wasn't much difference between last summer's Big Bro, and this most recent Survivor. Once the houseguests take over this summer, it could be a completely different story though.

Buscemi doing his thing on Boardwalk

13. Boardwalk Empire (12) Sundays on HBO
I've seen the trailer for season two, but for some reason I'm more excited about the first season of HBO's luck than Nucky Thompson and friends to come back.

12. The League (13) Thursdays on FX
These public service announcements from our boys got me all kinds of excited for the fall. It will be a sad day if there is no NFL season, but Andre, Pete and the guys will help me through.

11. Chuck (8) Fridays on NBC
It is a shame that Chuck has fallen this far. Heading into last fall's season Chuck was number one in the rankings, and now they've fallen out of the top 10. I still enjoy Chuck for what it is, but the enjoyable romp through Burbank has had too many holes lately to keep it at the top of my list.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

If you haven't noticed already, I have been extremely busy in the months of April and May. With the end of the baseball season, the end of the spring semester, and a couple of week-long pop-ins at my place, I have been beyond slow on the blog at times. That is no excuse to not put out a Bi-Monthly Power Rankings, though, so without further ado, here are the Quiet Pool Perspective Television Power Rankings for the month of May.

Rank. Show- (last time)...red= moving down, green= moving up

20. Survivor- (HM) Wednesdays on CBS
The excellence of Agent Phil and Boston Rob shoot Survivor back into the Top 20, taking the place of reality cousin, Top Chef.

19. Parks and Recreation- (17) Thursdays on NBC
Despite what critics, and their loyal puppy dog followers, will tell you, Parks and Rec is not the best show on television. In fact I think it has taken a bit of a step backwards since the end of last season.

18. 30 Rock- (20) Thursdays on NBC
And 30 Rock has improved greatly since last year. While last night's finale was disappointing, "Everything Sunny All the Time Always" was among the funniest episode of any show this year.

17. Parenthood- (HM) Tuesdays on NBC
This family drama makes its first appearance in the Top 20 after spitting out gem after gem of heartbreaking yet funny episodes.

16. Treme- (15) Sundays on HBO
Only a couple episodes into its season, Treme remains a bit of a mystery to me. I'm not sure what the point of the show is, but I know I enjoy it.

15. Modern Family- (16) Wednesdays on ABC
It sure has worked itself into a sophomore slump, but it still brings in hard on occasion, like this week with a surprisingly great performance from Mitchell.

14. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia- (13) Thursdays on FX
Even hockey fans enjoy Alway Sunny, as shown by the fans wearing the Green Man suits at some recent playoff games.

13. The League- (14) Thursdays on FX
I might like The League better the fantasy football itself at this point. Thoughts?

12. Boardwalk Empire- (12) Sundays on HBO
Nothing has changed.

11. Big Brother- (9) Summers on CBS
Big auditions today in downtown Nashville...who's in?

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

There has been a lot of tv going on as of late, and since I am as busy as ever, I am extremely far behind on plenty of shows. To be specific, as I write this intro on Saturday, I am 48 episodes behind on shows that I am currently watching. I have also quit on more than a couple shows in the past month, which if you know me, you realize is a difficult task in itself. At the beginning of February, I skipped the regularly scheduled Poolies Watch, but nothing was going to stop me from putting the Bi-Monthly Power Rankings into the Pool for the 10th straight edition. As always, the Quiet Pool Perspective Power Rankings take into account both current and past performance. The honorable mentions are not necessarily my next ten favorite shows, but rather those that deserve mentioning at this time. So without further ado, here are the March Bi-Monthly Power Rankings. Enjoy.

Rank. Show- (last time)...red=moving down, green=moving up

20. 30 Rock- (HM) Thursdays on NBC
Even without Tracy Morgan around, 30 Rock has continued its solid bounce back season.

19. Top Chef- (18) Wednesdays on Bravo
This All-Stars season has been fantastic. Most of the time it's difficult to find people to root for on this show, but between Mike, Richard, Dale, Angelo, Marcel, etc. I've been cheering for most of them along the way.

18. Lights Out- (-) Tuesdays on FX
Like its FX cousin Terriers, Lights Out is unlikely to see a second season. And like Terriers, it will be a shame. The boxing drama has been really good so far, with interesting stories and a leading man that is easy to cheer for.

17. Parks and Recreation- (19) Thursdays on NBC
Rob Lowe has continued his comedic genius throughout the start of the third season, but it has been Adam Scott coming into his own that has moved Parks and Rec up in the rankings. Although some were raving about him early on, he was being wasted as just a straight man. Scott playing the anxious, awkward former teen mayor has improved the show this season. The only down side of bringing in Lowe and Scott, is that Chris Pratt has had to take a bit of a back seat. Oh well.

16. Modern Family- (12) Wednesdays on ABC
Modern Fam's fall from grace continues as it falls from 12 to 16 this time around. I really think it is the case that many of these characters were extremely funny to begin with, but now we're so used to them, that it has kind of worn off. If you're relying on characters, and can't write funny story lines, you will run into trouble. Without Luke Dunphy this show would probably be out of the Top 20 right now.

15. Treme- (15) Sundays on HBO
It feels like forever since Treme has been on the air, but it returns with the premiere of Game of Thrones in April. It will be quite the two hour block of television on HBO.

14. The League- (17) Thursdays on FX
I really have no idea how both this and Always Sunny moved up so much in the past two months while off the air, but they did. Plenty of League alumni have been on tv recently, including Shiva, Rafi, and even Ruxin on Parks and Rec a couple weeks ago.

13. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia- (16) Thursdays on FX
Until Always Sunny comes back on the air, try out the D.E.N.N.I.S. system the next time you go out on the town.

12. Boardwalk Empire- (14) Sundays on HBO
After winning many awards at the Golden Globes, SAG, and such, I have no doubt that Boardwalk Empire will also clean up at this summer's Emmy Awards. It was a very good first season, but I need more out of this show next season for it to crack the top ten.

11. Dexter- (11) Sundays on Showtime
It was a tough task to follow up the John Lithgow season, and although it wasn't quite as good, season five didn't disappoint. Julia Stiles had a great guest spot and Michael C. Hall was fantastic as always.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

Even though most prime time television has been on hold for the holidays, and I've been watching The Santa Clause 2 for most of December, that doesn't mean things don't change in the Quiet Pool Perspective's Bi-Monthly Power Rankings. My first ever post on this blog was the Pre-Season TV Power Rankings in September of 2007. Three series from the top ten on that list are currently in the top ten as we begin 2011. As always, the January edition of the Pool's Power Rankings take into account both past and current performance. I am not a prisoner of the moment, but I do take the current state of a series into account. Enjoy and feel free to disagree with me, as I know most of you do.

Rank. Show- (last time)...red=moving down, green=moving up

20. Californication- (19) Sundays on Showtime
It has been a long time since Hank Moody has graced us with his presence. In no way do I think the first few eps of this next season can live up to the great finale of season three, but the addition of some Rob Lowe will make it enjoyable enough to remain in the top twenty. Californication returns on Sunday, January 9 at 10:00 PM.

19. Parks and Recreation- (18) Thursdays on NBC

Andy and April on Parks and Rec

Has anything been more highly touted by critics lately than Parks and Rec? Well yes, Terriers has been, but the NBC comedy is a close second. After being shipped to the basement to put the terrible Outsourced on this fall, Parks and Rec comes back to a revamped NBC Thursday lineup this spring. Now in the fantastic time slot after The Office, Parks has no more excuses. Parks and Recreation returns on Thursday, January 20 at 9:30 PM.

18. Top Chef- (-) Wednesdays on Bravo
Just as the Just Desserts variety pulled Top Chef out of the Top 20, this season's All-Stars edition has propelled it back in. Even though I had previously seen only one season of the regular Top Chef (also Just Desserts and Masters in my repertoire), I can tell that most of these chefs have been some of the best of the past. Not only are they fantastic chefs, but the producers seemed to do a fantastic job picking some of the best personalities for All-Stars. Top Chef continues Wednesday, January 5 at 10:00 PM.

17. The League- (HM) Thursdays on FX
We have now gotten to the point where Jackie Boy and T-time can both breathe a sigh of relief, and get really angry. As the biggest The League fans I know, they will be happy it has finally made the Top 20, but also mad that it is not number one. Although the finale wasn't one of the show's finest half hours, Kevin's blow up after losing in the semifinals during the penultimate ep of the season was reason enough to bump it into the Top 20. The League will most likely return in the fall of 2011.

16. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia- (14) Thursdays on FX
While I didn't enjoy it as much as its FX Thursday counterpart this season, It's Always Sunny stays ahead of The League based on previous excellence. There were definitely highlights from this sixth season, my favorite in Frank's acceptance of being gay, but for the most part it was hit or miss all the way through. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia will most likely return in the fall of 2011.

15. Treme- (15) Sundays on HBO

Sonny in Houston on Treme

The New Orleans based drama by The Wire creator David Simon is set to return almost exactly a year from when it first premiered. Although the death of John Goodman's character makes me sad, I'm sure plenty of other dudes will step up in his absence. After recently checking out the first season of The Wire, I can say that these two series are both better-different. Treme returns in April of 2011.

14. Boardwalk Empire- (17) Sundays on HBO
The new series by Sopranos alum Terence Winter has been a favorite of critics all over the interwebs. In a show rich of story telling, the only thing that left me wanting more after the first season ended was in the characters. There was no one in the cast that I said, "I want to see more of this guy/gal." Buscemi is fine and Pitt is doing a great job as Jimmy Darmody, but there's no Raylan Givens type that begs you to come back for more. Boardwalk Empire will most likely return in the fall of 2011.

13. Justified- (13) Wednesdays on FX
Speaking of Raylan Givens...Timothy Olyphant's character on Justified is one of the best. He's a shoot-from-the-hip Kentucky cowboy that gets the job done. A show that really came into its own midway through its first season, I don't see Justified losing any momentum as we enter season two. With Walt Goggins getting promoted to series regular, there is no stopping it on its way to the top of the Power Rankings. Justified returns on Wednesday, February 9 at 10:00 PM.

12. Modern Family- (8) Wednesdays on ABC

Mitchell is molested by Cam's mom on Mod Fam

Early on in the second season of Modern Family, I was extremely worried it was in danger of not being funny at all in the near future. I'm glad I was wrong, because it has had some very good eps as of late. All in all though, this second season has not lived up to the fantastic first year run, and thus it falls again in the rankings. Modern Family returns on Wednesday, January 5 at 9:00 PM.

11. Dexter- (11) Sundays on Showtime
Dexter had a great fifth season. Critics can complain all they want about it being the same thing year after year, but I have two problems with that. One, it isn't exactly the same every time. Specifically, this season Dex had a great partner in crime in Julia Stiles. Two, I enjoy what that formula is. Just as many people enjoy the procedural formula of a Law and Order. I enjoy the season long formula that has become Dexter. Dexter will most likely return in the fall of 2011.

Eleventh Day of TV Christmas- Eleven Family Members

In a new tradition here at the Pool, as both a way of summing up the year in television and celebrating the holidays, we will be releasing the first Twelve Days of TV Christmas series leading up to the day where I hope to receive multiple DVD box sets of my favorite shows. Whereas the Poolies celebrate the best television of the season by a number of voters, the Twelve Days of Christmas is my attempt at giving credit to the top series of the year by me and only me. Having said that, a couple of my favorite shows have been left off the list for a multitude of reasons. In the case of Chuck and Justified, it's mostly because I couldn't fit them into a numbered slot as well as some others. With Sons or Always Sunny, I just wasn't as happy with their respective seasons in 2010. So without further ado, here is the Eleventh Day of TV Christmas. Feel free to sing along.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my tv gave to me...eleven family members, ten weeks a fighting, nine flashes sideways, eight minutes breathless, seven kids a studying, six deads a walking, five deeeaaad rapiiiiists, four ad partners, three Jo Bros, two Terriers, and a paper boss in Scranton, PA.

Since the days of TGIF there has not been a family sitcom that has gotten me excited. By the end of 2009, and then throughout 2010, ABC's Modern Family has changed that. The eleven members of the Pritchett family tree - that's Jay, Gloria, Manny, Phil, Claire, Haley, Alex, Luke, Cam, Mitchell, and Lilly - have earned a spot in the best of 2010. The mockumentary style is nothing new after watching The Office for many years now, but the people at Modern Family have managed to make it work magically once again. As has been said many times before, the numerous dynamics that can be created with this large group make for new hilarious situations every episode. Whether it was Cam and Gloria at the Mexican restaurant, Manny and Claire chatting about kids, or Phil and Jay trying to get along, the strange relationships that make up this modern family have proven to be one of the funniest shows on television.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Top Ten

Yes, it is that time again. It's time for the Quiet Pool Perspective's take on power rankings. Every two months, here at The Pool, we like to let you know what you should be watching on the small screen. Just like in sports, an opinionated take on what is the best of the best is great for television. It's too bad that Tim Goodman is the only other one out there that I know of that puts out Power Rankings. His come out weekly, or any week that he remembers to do it, and that's a bit much. Every couple of months, the television landscape changes here at The Pool, and therefore we now come out with our November Power Rankings. So go grab a couple of boat drinks, turn on some reggae, and take a look at what you should be watching.

Place. Show- (last time)...red=moving down, green=moving up

10. The Office- (12) Thursdays on NBC
I've written more about The Office than I could ever dream of, but of course I'm going to say a few things here. If anything, I'd say it has the highest floor of any comedy but Curb at this point. I'm never going to feel like an ep falls as flat on its face as say a Community or Mod Fam ep could. I know there are plenty of haters out there, but for me, Michael Scott is worth the price of admission every week.

9. Big Brother- (8) Summers on CBS
This season's disastrous season of Survivor should help prove that Big Brother is the superior reality series. It doesn't matter who the contestants are, the Big Bro environment creates much more excitement than randoms camping out in the woods. Give me three days a week during the summer and I'll give you a number nine ranking.

8. Modern Family- (4) Wednesdays on ABC
I wasn't expecting this big of a drop when I went into this month's rankings, but here you have it. The Dunphy clan has been better the past two weeks, but it wasn't a good start to the sophomore season at Modern Family. We actually got to the point where Jackie Boy said "next year Modern Family won't be funny at all." I think we jumped the gun a bit during that conversation, but we might be looking at a case where the first season was just something new and different. This season has been good, not great.

Nolan Gould as Luke Dunphy on Modern Family

7. Mad Men- (11) Sundays on AMC
I'm giving into the critical love. Mad Men does nothing but move up these charts. I can't think of a given moment when I have thought to myself that Mad Men is so good it needs to be ranked higher, but every time I get around to doing it, the show moves up. It's quality is undeniable even if it's entertainment has been questionable at times. This is definitely the type of show in which the longer it's on, the better it gets. To say that the first season of Mad Men was the best, is blasphemy. It is so subtle and in depth that we've needed the three seasons before this year to make this last one so much more enjoyable.

6. Community- (6) Thursdays on NBC
Although it's been a bit hit or miss in its second season, I feel good about calling it the second best comedy on tv right now. Community tries a bit too hard at times, taking the Zombie or Space episodes for example, but at its core it is great. It has great characters, great one liners, and a good amount of the time it's risks pay off. Last year's mafia and paint ball episodes are great examples of that. Troy Barnes is really coming into his own as one of my favorite characters on tv, which helps keep Community high in the power rankings.

5. Friday Night Lights- (5) Wednesdays on DirecTV
We still had some Riggins and Landry for the first episode of the season, but what's going to happen once they don't appear on a weekly basis? Am I supposed to put all my energy into caring about these new characters? A tough feat to achieve. And here is where I will lament about how awful Hasting Ruckle's shooting form was. This was quite possibly the worst form I have ever seen. This kid was supposed to be an all-star basketball player? How about you make him shoot it like a normal human being and don't worry if it goes in or not? He literally made Lucas Scott look like an All-American with how bad this was. I threw up every time I saw him for the rest of the episode.

Hastings Ruckle gladly joins the team on Friday Night Lights

4. Breaking Bad- (7) Sundays on AMC
When other claimed Breaking Bad was the best show on television back in the spring, I doubted them. With how sub-par most stuff has been this summer and fall, I'm seriously considering that to be a true statement. But then again, maybe it's just a case of absence making the heart grow fonder. I dream of the days when Walter White and Jesse Pinkman were hiding from Hank in an RV. It is extremely sad to think that it won't be until July before these guys are back in our lives.

3. Sons of Anarchy- (3) Tuesdays on FX
I wanted to move Sons down because I've been a bit disappointed with the season, and it's almost over, but then I realized that I don't look forward to any other show more than Sons. It has been a bit of a let down from season two, but it's hard to move it down this list given how good it can be.

2. Chuck- (1) Mondays on NBC
Chuck loses the title as my top show for the first time since taking the spot following the Lost retirement. It just hasn't been good enough to call it my favorite show at this point. I'm writing this on Monday afternoon, so if tonight's ep is as good as Dan Fienberg and Josh Schwartz both have claimed, I might be kicking myself.

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm- (2) Sundays on HBO
And the new champ is here. It has not been on in a while, but it remains the best comedy on tv. The winner of so many Poolie Awards last year, Curb is coming back in January and will surely knock it out of the park again. Let's face it, when have we been disappointed with anything Larry David has done?

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Top Ten

The Gang from Sunny on Tricycles

And on to the top ten. This time last year we had a couple of shows that now go unranked in here (30 Rock and American Idol). We've got a couple of newcomers, but the top few all stay the same since none of them have aired since the last rankings. Once again, these are the shows you should be watching people.

Place. Show- (last time)...red=moving down, green=moving up

10. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia- (11) Thursdays on FX
It's Always Sunny should make the list for 'Dennis and Mac Break Up' alone. Just re-watched it and it gets better every time. You really can't beat the gruesome twosome of Charlie and Frank.

9. Dexter- (10) Sundays on Showtime
Lithgow has already won the guest actor emmy, and as I write this on Saturday, I fully anticipate Michael C. Hall to win the lead actor emmy on Sunday. It was a great fourth season and I'm looking forward to seeing where they go next.

8. Big Brother- (12) Summers on CBS
I've been writing about this season all summer and I have yet to have little to talk about. Every season brings me so much love, yet so much hatred. With only five contestants left, I only hate one of them, so the final weeks might not be as interesting. It's more fun to root against people than to root for others.

7. Breaking Bad- (7) Sundays on AMC
To paraphrase Alan Sepinwall, Breaking Bad looks really sweet on screen. Each episode has it's own lulls, but they continued to end the hour with a bang, and that will get you every time. It's sad that they're taking an entire year off before the next season.

Any excuse to post this picture

6. Community- (6) Thursdays on NBC
There's something nice about knowing that a cast of a show really likes each other. Sure they might say it in interviews and whatnot, but by following the actors on Twitter, you notice how much fun the Community people have with each other. That's pretty sweet.

5. Friday Night Lights- (5) Wednesdays on DirecTV
One season to go. I'm hearing faint rumors about a great finale. A lot of our old favorites are returning for the big going away part. I'm both excited and sad.

4. Modern Family- (4) Wednesdays on ABC
Again, writing on Saturday, here's hoping that Mod Fam took down some Emmys on Sunday night. If Glee tops them in all categories, like so many are conjecturing, it will be a real shame.

3. Sons of Anarchy- (3) Tuesdays on FX
Pumped to be writing about Sons this fall for TVFanatic.com. Ireland here I come.

2. Curb Your Enthusiasm- (2) Sundays on HBO
Aside from Parks and Recreation and Community, this was my favorite comedy of the season. Wait What? No I'm not Alan Sepinwall. This WAS the best comedy of the season as proven by the 2010 Poolie Awards. It's no surprise that it is the top ranked comedy in the Power Rankings.

1. Chuck- (1) Mondays on NBC
It's still the king of the triple threat, and now that Lost is off the air, Chuck holds on to the number one ranking until somebody makes a push for the title.

The Seinfeld Award- Best Comedy Series

Named For: Seinfeld (NBC) 1990-98
Awarded To: Best comedy series from June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: The Office (NBC)

Place. Show (Network) Points (My Vote)

10. Bored to Death (HBO) 0 points

9. Rules of Engagement (CBS) 0 points

8. Jonas (Disney Channel) 2 points

7. 30 Rock (NBC) 6 points

6. Parks and Recreation (NBC) 10 points

5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) 12 points (4th)

4. The Office (NBC) 17 points (5th)

3. Community (NBC) 31 points (3rd)

Runner-Up
2. Modern Family (ABC) 35 points (2nd)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
43 points (1st)

Here with his thoughts on Curb Your Enthusiasm is Poolie voter, Tyson...

Everyone knows that Curb is funny, that it’s mostly ad-libbed, etc. So instead of talking about why Curb is so great I’m going to talk about why all the other candidates suck:

1. 30 Rock: We get it Tina Fey, you are awkward and like to eat. If I wanted to see old women talk about food I would watch the Oxygen network. Let’s move on.

2. Bored to Death: Now I’ve never seen a single episode of this show but according to Wikipedia it’s about a private detective in Brooklyn. Well I hate Brooklyn and now hate this show for being set there.

3. Community: This show seriously needs to get off Joel Mchale’s nuts. So he’s tall and has nice pecs, therefore every chick and dean of the college in the show wants him? Doesn’t Joel get enough positive reinforcement from the dude who wears the mankini on The Soup?

4. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia: Philly sucks…next

5. Jonas: Seriously why is this even nominated? Virgins are only funny when they are embarrassed by their virginity and trying unsuccessfully to score with hot chicks. No exceptions.

6. Modern Family: I used to like this show before I saw the cast eat a meal on Top Chef Masters. I hated every single one of them. Gloria even looked ugly. Also, all of the Manny Delgado hype needs to stop right now. Having a kid talk like an adult is not funny. Having Luke run into sliding glass door is. Moving on.

7. The Office: Please stop looking at the camera after you say something “funny.” It was endearing at first but now The Office is like the guy who calls someone a douchebag and then says “Am I right? Am I right?” No, The Office you are not right.

8. Parks and Recreation: How is this different from the office? You tell me, because I’ve never seen an episode.

9. Rules of Engagement: David Spade playing a heterosexual male? Why not just let Betty White play Rosa Parks…so unrealistic.

by Tyson Brazell

The Cory Matthews Award- Lead Character Comedy

Named For: Cory Matthews played by Ben Savage in Boy Meets World
Awarded To: The best lead character in a comedy series from
June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: Tracy Jordan- 30 Rock

Place. Character (Show) Points (My Vote)

10. Jonathan Ames (Bored to Death) 0 points

9. Dwight Schrute (The Office) 7 points

8. Tracy Jordan (30 Rock) 7 points (5th)

7. Jack Donaghy (30 Rock) 9 points

6. Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny) 13 points (4th)

5. Jeff Winger (Community) 15 points

4. Cameron Tucker (Modern Family) 18 points

3. Michael Scott (The Office) 20 points (3rd)

Runner-Up
2. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family) 28 points (2nd)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
48 points (1st)

Here with his thoughts on Larry David is Poolie voter, T-time...

Larry David's run in this category is similar to Shaq's in the early part of this decade. He dominates the field but when it comes to collecting votes for MVP, he is competing not only against the other characters, but against his own prior performances. It may not be fair to hold him to this higher standard, but it is the way of the world. We, as voters, look for reasons not to give the award to Shaq, to Jordan before him, and now to Larry David. We expect greatness and refuse to reward him unless he surpasses his own lofty standards.

Having said that, the highlight of season seven was the interaction between LD and Jerry Seinfeld. The pairing provided a glimpse of what must have been going on behind the scenes at Seinfeld for years. After witnessing the two of them discuss the minor details of human behavior, it's easy to see where many of the plotlines from two classic shows came from.

Even before that, Larry was having a season for the ages. We learned he knows all the words to West Side Story and that he enters names into his cellphone with descriptors such as Denise Handicapped. We watched him kill a swan, protest tipping and berate a 9-year old for over-texting. In the most exceptional Larry move of the season, he launched a Seinfeld reunion, involving all the stars of the show, in an effort to win back Cheryl. He began by attempting to break up with a cancer-stricken Loretta and ended with a hilariously-off attempt to play George. Everything in-between was gold.

by Tim Forcella

The 'The Dealership' Award- Best Comedy Episode

Named For: 'The Dealership' Episode 911 of Seinfeld
Awarded To: The best episode in a comedy series from
June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: no award

Place. Character (Show) Points (My Vote)

5. 'Double Date' (Jonas) 1 point

4. 'He Could Be the One' (Hannah Montana) 9 points (1st)

3. 'Moon Landing' (Modern Family) 12 points

Runner-Up
2. 'Contemporary American Poultry' (Community)
15 points (2nd)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. 'The Table Read'
(Curb Your Enthusiasm)
21 points (3rd)

Congratulations...

The Arthur Spooner Award- Supporting Character Comedy

Named For: Arthur Spooner played by Jerry Stiller in King of Queens
Awarded To: The best supporting character in a comedy series from
June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: Kevin Malone- The Office

Place. Character (Show) Points (My Vote)

10. Robby Ray Stewart (Hannah Montana) 1 point

9. George Christopher (Bored to Death) 6 points

8. Andy Dwyer (Parks and Recreation) 8 points (5th)

7. Frank Reynolds (It's Always Sunny) 10 points

6. Kevin Malone (The Office) 11 points

5. Luke Dunphy (Modern Family) 16 points

4. Pierce Hawthorne (Community) 19 points (3rd)

3. Abed Nadir (Community) 21 points (4th)

Runner-Up
2. Manny Delgado (Modern Family) 24 points (1st)

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Leon Black
(Curb Your Enthusiasm)
32 points (2nd)

In what was an acclaimed eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, filled with plenty of guest star's from Seinfeld, Leon Black might have been the best thing about the show for the second year in a row. It has been his ability to be completely oblivious that continues to make me crack up appearance after appearance.

The Black family wormed their way into Larry's life in season six and were still kicking around to start season seven before LD got Loretta to hit the road by being a complete jerk. That was no problem for Leon though. His sister and the rest of his family left LD, but Leon was perfectly comfortable where he was. When LD assumed he would follow Loretta's move and move out, Leon instead decided to "go upstairs and eat this f*ckin' chinese food...in his room."

You see he's completely oblivious. Not only does he not realize what you're supposed to do in given life situations like previously stated, but he also has no idea what Seinfeld is. His complete lack of knowledge while watching Jerry and Julia rehearse for the reunion was classic. He was cracking up like he had never seen the show before; rightfully so because he hadn't. This moment was summed up perfectly when he saw Newman and laughed at how short and fat he was.

The fact of the matter is that Leon Black does what he wants when he wants, and he does it hilariously. I know LD is the cornerstone of this show, but I can't imagine it without this year's winner of the Arthur Spooner Award.

The Zack and Kelly Award- Best Couple

Named For: Zack Morris and Kelly Kapowski played by
Mark Paul-Gosselaar and Tiffani Thiessen on Saved by the Bell
Awarded To: The best couple on television from June 1, 2009 - May 31, 2010
Last Year's Winner: no award

Place. Couple (Show) Points (My Vote)

10. Cappie and Casey (Greek) 2 points

9. Jeff and Jordan (Big Brother/Amazing Race) 4 points (5th)

8. Rigsby and Van Pelt (The Mentalist) 7 points

7. Joe and Stella (Jonas) 8 points (3rd)

6. Hank and Karen (Californication) 9 points (4th)

5. Andy and Erin (The Office) 14 points

4. Andy and April (Parks and Recreation) 14 points

3. Chuck and Sarah (Chuck) 26 points (1st)

Runner-Up
2. Mitchell and Cam (Modern Family) 28 points

and the Poolie goes to...
1. Desmond and Penny (Lost)
39 points (2nd)

'Happily Ever After' and 'The Constant' were my seventh and third favorite Lost episodes, respectively. Why were they so good? Because they revolved around Desmond David Hume and Penelope Widmore Hume. These two were so good together. They went together like lamb and tuna fish. Desmond was such a stud since we first met him, so to see him finding his one true love in the sideways universe during 'Happily Ever After' was fantastic. It's a testament to how much the fans love these crazy kids that this was the only episode of the season that the two of them were in together. Henry Ian Cusick and Sonya Walger had such great chemistry on Lost that it hindered my enjoyment of Flash Forward. I really couldn't see Olivia Benford with Mark or Lloyd Simcoe, because all along we all knew she was supposed to be with Desmond. So congratulations on winning the Zack and Kelly Award during your last season together. I'm sure you'll both enjoy the afterlife together.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Top Ten

Today the Quiet Pool Power Rankings conclude with the July 2010 version of the top ten tv series. There has to be a new number one, as the long-time champion Lost has ended forever (single tear). Not much movement other than that as not much has happened since May.

Top Ten

Show- (last time)...red=moving down, green=moving up

10. Dexter (-) Sundays on Showtime
And 48 episodes later, I've seen all of Dexter. The reason I started the series, John Lithgow, ended up being well worth the wait as the fourth season was terrific.

9. The Office (9) Thursdays on NBC
Certainly a weak season in terms of The Office, but I'm not one too jump off the bandwagon too soon. Too late? Maybe.

8. True Blood (10) Sundays on HBO
The first season has started strong this summer. Let's hope the addition of were wolves doesn't send it into a turn for the worst.

7. Breaking Bad (6) Sundays on AMC
This is the best show on television. Blah, blah, blah. You can't just say it. You have to prove it by entertaining. Still great, but not my favorite.

6. Community (8) Thursdays on NBC
Just re-watched paintball ep, 'Modern Warfare' and my God is this show unbelievable at times. Some of the early season stuff wasn't great but we're definitely on the right track.

5. Friday Night Lights (7) Wednesdays on 101 Network
One final season of the football drama set to go and lucky for us many of the characters we've lost or are going to lose will be back for the final four episodes or so. Sounds like a great ending is in store.

4. Modern Family (5) Wednesdays on ABC
Unlike Community, Mod Fam started out with a bang, and finished with one as well. There were a few duds here and there but it's the best comedy to hit network tv since The Office.

3. Sons of Anarchy (4) Tuesdays on FX
Have yet to watch my third favorite series live, so I'm nervous about it holding up the same way as when I was able to watch four eps in a row. Starts up again this fall so get pumped.

2. Curb Your Enthusiasm (3) Sundays on HBO
LD usually takes longer than this to guarantee another season. Curb will be back again and the only thing we know is that Ricky Gervais will guest star.

1. Chuck (2) Mondays on NBC
We didn't have to worry as long as last year to get a renewal for Chuck. Having said that, I assume and hope that next fall will be the final season of the spy comedy. End it well and don't let it drag on Schwartz.