The Onion AV Club recently published their list of Best Shows in the first decade of the 20th Century. The list is OK but I can't say that I agree with a lot of what they say. First off, they give a lot of shows credit for just having one great season, ala Deadwood and Veronica Mars (and, to me, Lost). The Veronica Mars inclusion might be the worst (well, besides Buffy which was basically over by the time 2000 rolled around) because they try to defend the choice by arguing that the second season was "paid off brilliantly" even though I don't think I've ever met anyone who liked how the season concluded.

Still, the list got me thinking, what would I say was the best television of this first decade of the new millennium? (The opening disclaimer is the best show that I actually watched. I didn't see Battlestar Gallactica and haven't been able to get itno Mad Men so those and many others won't be on the list.)

The first and, in my opinion, most obvious debate is at the top. The Wire vs. The Sopranos vs. The Shield. I know that a lot of people wouldn't put The Shield up there with those two but that show was a bit more accessible than the HBO shows and, most importantly, never had a down season. I don't think any show has done as good of a job adding new characters and keeping up the intensity like Shawn Ryan's LAPD story. I know I might get a lot of flack from people but I'd actually go with:
#1. The Wire
#2. The Shield
#3. The Sopranos
The last couple seasons in Jersey disappointed me. There was a lot of filler and a number of storylines dragged on a lot farther than they should have (while many others just were never tied up).

#4. The West Wing: I really don't know how the Onion had this ranked at #30. Even if you don't count the first season (which premiered in 1999) and subtract points for the end of the series which clearly wasn't as strong as the earlier years, the show still has some of the best writing on TV in the decade. Even better, most of the great moments in the show are still relevant to what is being discussed today. The arguments over gay rights, the Middle East, etc. are powerful and still better than anything that even Obama could deliver. Honestly, I might even slip it into the #3 spot over The Sopranos.

The next debate IMO is over the best comedy. You have The Office (UK), 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I'm sure some people might throw in Family Guy but I really haven't watched enough of it to weigh in on it. I know I'm in the minority on this one but I have the fifth show being:
#5: 30 Rock: Again, I know I'm in the minority but this is one of the few shows that I watch religiously and it always deliver. Well, almost always, last week's episode might have been the worst of the show's run. After that, it's a tough call. Curb's had the longest run but can you blame Ricky Gervais for quitting before the show got stale? In the end, I might go with:
#6: Curb Your Enthusiasm
#7. Arrested Development
#8. The Office (UK)

At number 9, I think I have to go with a show that wasn't always consistent, definitely didn't run very long, but cemented its place in the Pop Culture and inserted the word "bitch" into everyone's vocabulary.

#9. Chappelle's Show

At this point, I'm sure the twelve readers of this site are probably grousing about the shows that I've left off or are threatening to swear off the blog if I don't name their favorite show as #10 but, again, I have to give myself an out and say that I haven't watched a lot of the so-called great TV shows. I've seen about five minutes of "24" and it included Jack Bauer coaxing a retarded guy into getting a message or something. I saw parts of "Freaks and Geeks" but all I ever remember is John Bonham dying (and if that's a spoiler then you should really should be listening to more music rather than watching TV). As I said, I haven't watched enough of "Family Guy" and I don't think I watched much "South Park" either. I want to say "Dexter" but the Jimmy Smits season killed me and I quit watching after that. I loved early season "Entourage" but I can't defend pretty much everything after Medellin. I never watched "Six Feet Under". So in honor of you readers, fair and few, the #10 slot will be reader's choice.