Better Late Than Never: Sara's Best of 2008...

I’m a little late to the “Best of 2008” game, but I decided to go ahead and join in on the fun. I picked my Top 5 TV shows/moments this year, and while admittedly, I did not get to watch as much television as would have liked to, I think it’s a pretty good list. So, for what it is worth, here they are:

1) Lost
I have always been a big supporter of Lost, never missing an episode. I watched this entire season via iTunes, which was sometimes frustrating as I waited for each new episode to become available. This was the season that Lost showed its true sci-fi feathers (and I for one couldn’t be more happy), picked up the story telling pace, gave us a few answers and more mystery, got Penny and Desmond back together, and generally got its groove back. All those that left came crawling back, and those of us that stayed go to be smug about staying. He he. I can’t wait for the new season, and I suspect it will be one of the things that will get me through the dreary London winter.

2) Summer Heights High
My most recent post tells you why I love it, and it ranks as my best find of 2008. It also is my first non-American or English show to fall in love with, and is indicative of what I get see while in England. Hopefully this will lead to some exciting new posts.

3) The calling of California, Washington, and Hawaii for Barack Obama on the BBC, and the subsequent election coverage…
On a cold November morning, at 4 am GMT, thousands of miles away from my country, and in the quiet of my living room, I watched history being made. The BBC had a countdown, the calling of the win, and then just showed the jubilation, sans commentary for a few minutes. It was the best way to cover it since the election itself had all the pieces to a good drama, with suspense, a history making aspect, and most of all great dialogue. I was glued to the television that night through Obama’s speech, and after some sleep, all the next day. I can say it is a television moment (and a life moment) I will never forget.

4) Battlestar Galactica
While not its best year, it still delivers better than most. With great acting, generally great storytelling, and the weight of a penultimate season, it, like Lost, has me biting my nails to see what’s next. This leads me to ask of you, once again, please rent the DVDs from previous seasons, realize what a great show this is, and give it the send off it deserves.

5) Comparing the two Life on Mars
I tried not to do it, but do it I did. As a major fan of the BBC’s Life on Mars, I just couldn’t help comparing the American version to the original. Once I realized I was going to compare, I embraced it, and went all out. It was fun to be in the know on many storylines, to wonder about the differences in the two shows and why they were made, argue with myself on the merits of John Simm v. Jason O’Mara, or more importantly Philip Glenister v. Harvey Keitel, and to wonder just how different the ending will be.

A television related highlight for me, that didn’t occur on TV, was being a featured blogger on TV Guide.com. Unfortunately, TV Guide.com has ended that community, but it was fun while it lasted! It was for my post, originally published here, about how hard it is to watch tv legally. I was going to link to it, but it seems to have disappeared. In fact I see there are a lot of changes at that website, and I'm not sure I like it. But, that's another whole post!

I should also give Ashes to Ashes, Lost in Austen, The Bill, Fringe, and SNL’s election coverage aHonorable Mentions, for entertaining me greatly this past year.

I also cannot let the new year pass without some Two Girls in Love, with TV resolutions. The first being: BLOG MORE OFTEN. The rest are a little more nuanced, and start with watching Mad Men, catching up with 30 Rock, discovering new British shows, and oh did I mention, BLOG MORE OFTEN.

I am also really going to work to increase the readership of the blog, so if you read please comment and send your friends on over here. I promise there will be posts on a more regular basis.

I will see you all soon. Happy New Year!