Season 1 of The Shield. Started off with a bang and never relented. I defy you to come up with a better Pilot episode of any show.
The best season of television ever is Paranoia Agent. I say this without having watched a lot of TV shows, but I’m confident in my statement nonetheless.
Argh! I thought I’d be the first to mention it.
I mean, season 1 was awesome but they really HIT it in season 2. I’m in love with this show after that season, and I will be right there for season 3 when it premieres.
Also, I really enjoyed USA’s season 1 of Psych. There’s not an episode that I dislike. The show is fairly light entertainment but the cast work really well together and it always picks me up. Bring on season 2!
Blake’s 7 season 2. Lots of things about it that are standard now, but were innovative and shocking at the time: a story arc, the death of a major character, and a season cliffhanger.
With all the mentions of Arrested Development, The Wire, Deadwood and such, I almost forgot how amazing the Simpsons used to be.
I don’t know how many times I’d seen that clip, and then I noticed something. Jim looks at the paper, and then says to Bobby “what does a…”, and then he looks down at the paper again before he finishes.
And he does it every time.
Even the fourth time through the line, reading at a snail’s pace, he has to refresh his memory for “yellow”. It’s like his brain can only hold three words at a time. It’s a funny scene to begin with, but Christopher Lloyd made it absolutely immortal. Subtle, but brilliant.
I came in here to preach about The Wire, but I see its already been mentioned. As Trunk said, Season 4 was absolutely brilliant. That fact that it was so watchable despite being so tragic made it all more of an accomplishment. Can’t wait for the next season…
Instead I’ll send some love to that other great Baltimore project: Homicide: Life on the Streets. The early seasons, before the network suits got Ned Beatty and Jon Polito bumped off for not being “pretty enough” were outstanding. Still always immensely watchable if you happen to catch a random syndicated rerun.
Very much agree. The Mayor in Season 3 was certainly more entertaining, and to some degree a little frightening (until he turned into the giant dragon–then it was a little silly), but Angelus as Big Bad was more gut-wrenching because of the emotional parade he forced Buffy to march through. She hated him, she loved him, she hated him, she couldn’t kill him, he stalked her, he killed her friend, she blew up his demon. It was the first time that it felt like she and the Scoobies was vunerable; that they could be really hurt. Plus, unlike a dragon, he was in human form (sometimes a little bumpy in the face, but still human), and people make the most frightening villains because they’re us. And the rest of you scare the shit out of me. 
Finally, when she skewered him? My god, that was quality emotional drama. The pain! The tears! The confusion! The sacrifice! The perfect song as she leaves town!
I don’t…I don’t think so…it was always an ABC Family show…it premiered in June of '06…the only reason I know so much about it is because Matt Dallas is a Phoenix boy…
Ah well, it’s a fun show.
I think I might have to go with Season 4 of The Shield. It was just as, if not more, intense, and the characters were already firmly established. Agree with you on the pilot, though.
Newsradio season 3. Stargate Defender, Jimmy James runs for president, daydreams, Bill finally discovers that there are actually lyrics to rap music, Toobelcane, the kids, Jon Stewart is Matthew’s identical twin, Bill vacations in a mental hospital, Mr. James has a heart attack, Matthew loses his virginity in the break room while everyone waits outside, WNYX in space. Man I loved that show.
Fawlty Towers, first series of six episodes:
A Touch of Class
The Builders
The Wedding Party
The Hotel Inspectors
Gourmet Night
The Germans
Go on, beat that.
I also think Hill Street Blues, series #1, should be given a mention. It was doing something very new at the time, and doing it very, very well.
I stayed away from short run seasons on purpose.
The original (and only) 6 episodes of Police Squad were as funny or perhaps if possible ‘funnier’ than even the first 6 episodes of Fawlty Towers. These tiny little masterpieces combined wordplay, additional background jokes for the observant and physical slapstick. Each episode was wacky and very funny. They were a bit like Get Smart on Speed and Nitrous Oxide. Look for the DVD of the Police Squad Show to rent and give it a watch, if you never saw them. They were better than the movies.
Jim