Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

Although it has been three months since the last installment of The Quiet Pool Perspective Power Rankings, they will keep the Bi-Monthly moniker, because I am simply shifting everything back one month.  August, October, December, February, April, and June works better anyway.  There's that, and there's the fact that I was way too busy moving and starting a new job to post anything at the start of July.  I still don't have time to say a lot, but I do have some new rankings for y'all so take a look...

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

20. Cougar Town (-, -) Unknown on TBS
Jules and crew have really come into their own after a dreadful start to the series.  This show is worth it for the Bobby/Andy bromance alone.

19. Survivor (17, 14) Wednesdays on CBS
It's still the most watchable and interesting reality competition out there.  If they could just find more successful ways of tweaking it every season.

18. Shameless (16, 16) Sundays on Showtime
I continue to be surprised at how much I enjoy Shameless given how many characters I absolutely detest on screen.

17. Sherlock (-, -) Sundays on PBS
If this series kept its quality while changing the episode style to 12 eps of an hour, it would be one of my favorites on television.

16. 30 Rock (14, 2) Thursdays on NBC
Wait really?  30 Rock is still this high?  It hasn't had a bad season yet, which means it's getting by on decent years with at least some laughs in every episode.

15. Parenthood (15, 13) Tuesdays on NBC
There probably isn't much time left in Parenthood's lifetime, so we better enjoy it while we have it.  Maybe if they got rid of Jabbar more people would tune in.

14. Boardwalk Empire (13, 12) Sundays on HBO
A fantastic finale leaves me excited for the story to be told in season three.  The issue is that they killed off one of the most intriguing characters.

13. Mad Men (12, 3) Sundays on AMC
The most recent season wasn't bad at all, but it kept feeling like nothing was happening.  Slowly but surely, things happened, but it didn't feel that way while watching.

12. Wilfred (19, 12) Thursdays on FX
Easily the best comedy of the summer, Wilfred stepped up in a big way this second season.  They continue to come up with hilarious situation after hilarious situation.

11. The Vampire Diaries (11, 11) Thursdays on The CW
Unfortunately it seems my favorite version of Klaus won't be with us in the near future, which has me worried.  On the other hand, there's always Damon Salvatore.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

It is that time again, and with the Fourth Annual Poolies only a month away, the most recent installment of the Quiet Pool Bi-Monthly Television Power Rankings could not be any more relevant.  As always, these rankings take into account current success or failure, as well as those achievements or defeats that occurred well in the past.  We now move onto those ranked 20 through 11.

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

20. Top Chef (-, 18) Wednesdays on Bravo
It wasn't the best season that Top Chef recently finished, but you can never go wrong with sitting down to a nice and easy episode of this cooking classic.  If the unbelievably annoying Sarah hadn't made it to the final three, this reality competition might have made its way even further up the rankings.

19. Wilfred (16, 16) Thursdays on FX
This strange comedy returns to television screens in less than two months, premiering its second season on June 28.  Jason Gann and Elijah Wood were terrific in the first season, with the former putting forth one of my favorite individual performances of the year.

18. The River (HM, 18) Tuesdays on ABC
In all likelihood, with the below average ratings it continually brought in, The River was probably a single season endeavor.  It was a pretty good season though.  The eight episode run made it possible to keep things tight and not bore the audience at all, while the mystery always kept me guessing.

How long could this mockumentary go on with The River?

17. Survivor (14, 14) Wednesdays on CBS
While I still find it as the top reality show in the game, Survivor takes a bit of a drop due to the severe lack of talent on this year's cast.  Thanks to the fact that the women have taken control of the game, we are probably in for a mediocre end to the season, especially since the lone entertaining dude - Troyzan - is out the door.

16. Shameless (18, 16) Sundays on Showtime
Even though the show found a way to ruin my favorite first season character - Lip - Frank and Kevin made such great strides in season two that Shameless continues to climb up the Power Rankings.  Now that I'm thinking of it, Frank's ex, his mom, Sheila, and Ian all were absolutely worthless as well.  Maybe I didn't like this season as much as I thought I did.

15. Parenthood (15, 13) Tuesdays on NBC
I feel like it has been forever since Parenthood has been on the air, and I've wanted to slap Jabbar across the face.  Do I just have too much hate built up right now?  There ARE characters on these shows that I enjoy.  Adam, Max, and Joel are a fantastic trio on Parenthood.  If they could find a way to get Sam Jaeger more screen time, this show could be in contention of the Top Ten.

14. 30 Rock (17, 2) Thursdays on NBC
Maybe I am still on a high from the great live show last week, which introduced us all to this instant classic - "Alfie and Abner" - but I think 30 Rock is having itself a fine season.  If Tina Fey could only figure out to write her own character in a way that didn't make me want to throw up so much, this comedy could make it back to the top of the heap.



13. Boardwalk Empire (13, 12) Sundays on HBO
Nothing much to see here as Boardwalk won't return again until this fall.  The HBO drama concluded its season in fine fashion, not unlike the similarly loved Breaking Bad.  It's just too bad that neither can figure out a way to start its seasons the way they end them.

12. Mad Men (10, 3) Sundays on AMC
Mad Men is great and all, but a conversation I had with T-Time recently helped me understand why it will never be in the same league as the top dramas on television.  The stakes are just never as high, and nothing ever seems as important as what goes on during an episode of Justified or Game of Thrones.  That's not to say that you need murders to make a show fascinating, but it is just the scope of everything that is happening just seems a bit trivial.

11. The Vampire Diaries (11, 11) Thursdays on The CW
The CW's lone hit has continued its success this season.  To go along with non-stop action, unlimited twists and turns, and some great romance among its characters, The Vampire Diaries benefits from what I have discovered is the best looking cast on television.  Top to Bottom, male and female, TVD's cast is the best looking, and I'm not sure how close it is.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

For my 81st post of the day, here are shows 20 through 11 of the March Power Rankings.

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

20. Dexter (17) Sundays on Showtime
I'm still holding out hope that this awful season, and the anticlimactic reveal at the end of it, haven't ruined the series completely.

19. Big Brother (-) Summers on CBS
I've missed this summer series so much that it makes its way back into the top 20.  As annoyed as I get by its contestants, it's still more interesting than most of the competitions on tv.

18. Shameless (-) Sundays on Showtime
The increased role for Steve Howey as Kevin has me thoroughly enjoying season two.

17. 30 Rock (-) Thursdays on NBC
It's been a long time since this laugher has made the power rankings, but a back-to-form sixth season will do that for you.  Jenna Maroney has been on point this year.

16. Wilfred (16) Thursdays on FX
The second season premiere date of June 28 already has me excited to watch my favorite man in a dog suit this summer.

15. Parenthood (13) Tuesdays on NBC
It hasn't gotten me as emotional as of late, but I always enjoy sitting down to watch the Bravermans.  I nice guest appearance by Kadeem Hardison a couple weeks ago didn't hurt either.

14. Survivor (15) Wednesdays on CBS
This season looks to be as good as ever, with a bunch of dudes taking out the chicks one-by-one...well except for the women winning this week.

13. Boardwalk Empire (14) Sundays on HBO
It won't return for a while, and with that finale, it's going to be tough to wait.

12. Fringe (HM) Fridays on FOX
I am still angry that I gave up on this show after seven episodes in season one.  I'm glad that I made my way back though.  It's been a fun ride, and I really hope it doesn't get cancelled this year.

11. The Vampire Diaries (12) Thursdays on The CW
The only bad thing about this underrated show is the fact that it takes such long breaks sometimes.  I wish all shows would use the cable formula of running straight through a season with no breaks.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- 20 Through 11

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. Next up are spots 20 through 11 on my list.

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

20. The Walking Dead (11) Sundays on AMC
I had a difficult time keeping The Walking Dead inside the Top 20 after its horrendous fall run. They aired seven episodes of action that easily could have been done in three. This, of course, led to an extremely slow pace, and not a lot of interesting material. Also, I still haven't found a character that I enjoy.

19. The Office (12) Thursdays on NBC
The Office has not been good in its first season without Steve Carell, but it also hasn't been all that bad. Even though most write it off as awful while touting the much worse Parks and Recreation, it has been much better than expected this year. If they can figure out how to work Ed Helms out of the starring role, The Office has a chance to stay in the Top 20.

18. Revenge (HM) Wednesdays on ABC
It's so very soapy, but Revenge has been extremely fun to start the year. It's refreshing not seeing Emily Van Camp complaining every second after those last few years on Brothers and Sisters. The back half of this first season is going to have to go somewhere interesting to keep Revenge in the running for a top spot.

17. Dexter (9) Sundays on Showtime
I don't know what was worse, the terrible imaginary killer story line in which the imaginary character did non-imaginary things, the terrible Deb story line in which she seemingly fell in love with her brother, or the terrible moment to end the season when they wasted an epic moment in the series with an absolutely non-dramatic scene. I have faith that next season will be interesting though.

16. Wilfred (18) Thursdays on FX
Since June, very few have recorded comedic acting performances like Jason Gann had over the first 12 episodes of Wilfred. As long as series like The Office and Modern Family keep heading in the wrong direction, Wilfred's first season looks more and more like one of the best comedies of the year.

15. Survivor (20) Wednesdays on CBS
This move up in the rankings is more of a reflection on its competitors than on Survivor itself. This season was very good, but so many series (Dexter, Walking Dead) took nose dives that this reality giant moves up by default. With any luck the next season of Survivor will not feature Redemption Island, and will not feature a Hantz showdown.

14. Boardwalk Empire (17) Sundays on HBO
As slow-moving as the second season was for a majority of the time, it did feature one of my favorite episodes of the year. The season finale was so rewarding that it made up for some lackluster moments early on. They really went for it, and the story they decided to tell in year two was brilliant.

13. Parenthood (15) Tuesdays on NBC
The family drama never stops for the Bravermans. At this point I'm really curious what they're going to do with some of these child actors as they begin to grow up. It is already becoming glaringly obvious that Jabar is ridiculously obnoxious. He was fine as a tiny kid, but as an older one, he's brutal. Less screen time for him would be preferable.

12. The Vampire Diaries (13) Thursdays on The CW
Nobody does the cliff hanger like Vampire Diaries. Well nobody does it as often. After marathon-ing my way through the first two seasons, the third has gotten off to a quality start with Joseph Morgan stealing the show thus far.

11. Happy Endings (14) Wednesdays on ABC
This ABC comedy has become a must watch on Wednesday nights. This gang has gelled in ways that not many casts do. Adam Pally is excellent, and it has three funny females, a feat almost never achieved. Who would have thought that The Girl Next Door would be one of the funniest women on tv?

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- Honorable Mentions

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.

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

The Amazing Race- (HM) Sundays on CBS
This All-Star season has brought back plenty of my favorite teams from the past three years or so, including the Globetrotters, the Cowboys, and Dr. Ned Shneebly-ba-deebly and his dad. But it also has brought back the 2009 winners of the Crazy James Zinkand Award for worst reality contestants, Margie and Luke. No one wanted to see them back on the show! What on Earth were you thinking?

American Idol- (-) Wednesdays and Thursdays on FOX
The first live show of Idol begins tonight and surprisingly I'm still as into it as ever. I will no doubt be disappointed as the weeks go on, but I am thus far impressed with the judging team. I am pretty ambivalent towards JLo, but I really like Steven Tyler. Switching those two for a Simon that had gotten extremely bored, a ridiculous Ellen, and Kara - who I hated with all my being - seems like a pretty fair trade. If Simon from the first five seasons was in the mix, then I'd be really upset, but he lost his mojo a bit towards the end.

Californication- (20) Sundays on Showtime
I have yet to watch this week's episode, but I have been a little disappointed in the season thus far. Maybe I was overrating because last year's finale finished in just spectacular fashion, because other than Hank's usual charm, nothing has been exciting in season four.

Cougar Town- (-) Wednesdays on ABC
Nothing has made me realize more that Cougar Town was actually a good show than watching Mr. Sunshine after Modern Family. A show that similarly started out awful, Cougar Town did grow into itself and was really great this second season.

Episodes- (-) Sundays on Showtime
The Mat Lablanc comedy finished its seven episode run last week and it was rather mediocre. There were a few decent bits here and there, but the main problem was that neither of the main characters were remotely interesting or likable. You can be awful and likable - see: Larry David - but this woman Beverly was nothing of the sort. I honestly wanted to slap her through the television screen every scene she was in. It was not a good year for Friends comebacks.

Parenthood- (-) Tuesdays on NBC
I had a difficult time keeping this show out of my top twenty. There have been a bunch of great episodes in a row, thanks in part to Michael B. Jordan's appearance as a much more enjoyable character than his Vince on Friday Night Lights.

Perfect Couples & Traffic Light- (-) Thursdays on NBC & Wednesdays on FOX
These two get one spot because they are basically the same show; three couples at different points in their respective relationships. I'm really enjoying both shows. Roy from The Office is killing it on Traffic Light, but I'm not two big on the other two guys in that one. The reason I was excited for Perfect Couples, Kyle Bornheimer, is one of the worst parts about it at this point. There's really nothing special about either of these, but they're nice enough shows to spend 21 minutes per week on.

Shameless- (-) Sundays on Showtime
I am currently a couple eps behind on this Showtime drama, but I've been enjoying it thus far. Down on their luck family scraping by isn't exactly a revolutionary story, but their spin on it has been interesting enough. I really enjoy Fiona as the quasi-matriarch of the family, and it is always kind of ridiculous to see William H. Macy as a stumbling drunk.

Survivor- (-) Wednesdays on CBS
Like I stated in my last post about the show, I have high hopes for this cast of characters. Agent Phil is getting weekly spots with Joel McHale on The Soup, so that is a good sign.

Wizards of Waverly Place- (-) Fridays on Disney Channel
As the current gold age of Disney Channel gets closer and closer to an end - with Jonas and Hannah Montana now off the air, and Wizards and Sonny With a Chance to follow shortly - David Henrie, Selena Gomez and crew are really making it difficult on me. Justin Russo is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters on television and this recent gimmick with the angels has been a joy. They're dealt with vampires, zombies, werewolves, and now angels. What mythical creatures will be next to take on the Russos?

Fallen out of the Top 20...Friday Night Lights (6, finished its run)
Now that it has finished its run on DirecTV, I decided to take Friday Night Lights out of the rankings. I never got a chance to write about the finale, so I'll take a quick moment here to mention how awesome it was. T-time tweeted something following the last episode that really resonated with me. "FNL finale has to be one of the most satisfying conclusions in memory." I completely agree. It wasn't the best finale I've seen...I mean wasn't even close to the Lost finale (begin shouting argument now), but it was definitely the most satisfying. You cannot argue with the way they ended the show. Just fantastic decisions all around. Deciding where to leave each characters story was perfect. Great stuff by the people at Friday Night Lights. I will definitely miss this show.

Bi-Monthly Power Rankings- Honorable Mentions

Well it's that time again. Along hearing myself talk, here at the Quiet Pool Perspective we like to let you know what tv you should be watching. Every two months I give you a few quick thoughts on the best television out there for viewing in what we call here at The Pool, the Bi-Monthly Power Rankings. As always I will rank the top 20 series on tv and then come up with 10 more as honorable mentions. Because of the sheer volume of great tv out there in 2010, the honorable mentions won't necessarily be 21-30, just the one's I want people to know about at the time being. For example, this time around Californication, House and Greek aren't on my list of Honorables, but that doesn't mean I don't like them more than those that are. They got a shout out last time so I'm making room for some newcomers.

Honorable Mentions

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

90210- (16) Tuesdays on The CW
The acting and writing continues to be terrible, but that's never stopped me before. 90210 is worth watching for nostalgia, atmosphere and Naomi Clark. She is still somewhat of a villain, but she's really the best on the show because she is just completely out there about every topic on earth.

Bored to Death- (-) Sundays on HBO
This dry, subtle comedy had only a short first season to wet my appetite, but I'm hungry for more. Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis are quite the trio. I'm still waiting for Zach's character Ray to throw some of his empty Schweppes cans down a tube into the basement.

Flash Forward- (20) Thursdays on ABC
They still haven't sold me with a lot of character development on this show, but the mystery keeps it a worthy watch. What's the deal with the blackout? Who's a bad guy? What will happen next? These are all questions that keep me involved in the plot of the show. Now if they could only get me to care about what happens to the characters, it might move up the rankings.

How to Make it in America- (-) Sundays on HBO
Another HBO series that got a short first season order. How to Make it, which was labeled as Entourage East early on, was much better than the LA dramedy this year. The way they use New York City as a character is fantastic, and it might be worth the watch just for the superb opening credits alone.

Life Unexpected- (-) Mondays on The CW
The first of two straight family dramas just finished up its first season run and still hasn't been re-upped for a second. Life Unexpected always give off a loving feeling, even if the given episode deals with some strange form of tragedy. I for one continue to want to see good things for this small family of three.

Parenthood- (-) Tuesdays on NBC
And then there is the big family drama. If you ever have enjoyed Brothers and Sisters, this is the show for you. Parenthood is basically a good version of it. Less stupid drama, more real life issues and comedy. Oh and there are actually characters on this show that are likable. One of them happens to be Dax Shepard's Crosby. I never thought I could like this dude, but he brings it here.

Party Down- (-) Fridays on Starz
Adam Scott is leaving the show for greener pastures at NBC next year so watch it while it's still around. Season two has opened with Adam's Henry Pollard as team leader of the catering company and he has a new outlook on life. It's much different than the down on life Henry we first met in season one, but Adam Scott can pull anything off in my book, even an acapella Sweet Child O' Mine.

Rules of Engagement- (-) Mondays on CBS
It always seems to get a half season order, but Rules is not only the only Monday CBS comedy that is good, but the only one that is tolerable. All five leads bring something good to the table. Adam, although he gets less air time than David Spade's Russell or Patrick Warburton's Jeff, is the highlight of every week for me. His combination of self-deprecation, loser attitude, and femininity bring about most of the laughs every episode.

Treme- (-) Sundays on HBO
As I mentioned in my first review of the series, Treme has gotten off to a good start. The quality of the writing and acting has been great so far. The only thing holding it back are story lines that don't give you much to hold on to. In the same way that Mad Men started out as a period piece about people working at an ad agency, Treme has started as the same in post Katrina New Orleans. If the new David Simon series can grow in plot the way Mad Men did over its second and third seasons, I'll be excited.

V- (-) Tuesdays on ABC
V has returned from its long hiatus, and done so in fine fashion. The battle between good and evil is on the verge of coming to the forefront. If there is a major downfall in V it is that they really haven't kept it a surprise that the Visitors are bad. Before the show started they made it seem like it was going to be a question of whether or not you should trust the Vs (not that different than The Others on Lost). Although many of the people in this universe may trust the Vs, there is no mistaking that they should not be trusted, and that just leaves a lot of mystery out of the equation.

NBC Upfronts- Gut Reactions

Well the best news coming from the NBC upfronts was that Chuck WILL be returning next season. It will be cut down in episodes and air in the spring at it's regular 8:00 timeslot on Mondays. Heroes moves to 8 in the fall and will also be a shortened season.

What's Gone
Life, Medium, My Name Is Earl, Kath & Kim, Kings, Knight Rider

--I'm sad to see Earl and Kath & Kim go, but only because they're much better than Parks & Recreation and SNL Thursday Update (which will be on Thursdays this fall)
--Everything else I'm glad to see is gone.

What's Back
Heroes, Chuck, Biggest Loser, SVU, SNL Update, Park & Recreation, Office, 30 Rock, Law & Order, Southland, Celebrity Apprentice, Friday Night Lights

--Pumped that Chuck is back and hope Heroes can try to turn something around. I was hoping L & O had kicked the bucket and do we really need two hours of Biggest Loser? Of course the classic comedy hour of Office and 30 Rock are back in action. With Friday Night Lights airing in the summer, I'll probably download them while they air on DirectTV this fall.

What's New
Trauma, Parenthood, Community, Day One, 100 Questions, Mercy, Marriage Ref

--I will pass on your regular old hospital shows, Trauma and Mercy, and I will definitely not catch 100 Questions with how bad the preview looks. You should check out Parenthood, Community and Day One.

--Parenthood looks like a dramedy about families taken from the first tv series and movie before it. It has Peter Krause (Dirty Sexy Money, Sports Night) and Craig T. Nelson (Coach, Blades of Glory) so sign me up.

--Community is a comedy about life at a community college and it stars Joel McHale (E's The Soup) and Chevy Chase (Vacation, Caddyshack) so I am obviously game.

--Now I feel Day One could be hit or miss. A global event devastates the world and Day One tells the story of those survivors that try to rebuild society and figure out why the event occurred.