By staff writers, Tribune Media Services
Anna Paquin stars in the made-for-HBO movie "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."
Television isn't just our profession; it's our passion. So coming up with a countdown of the 10 best programmes, people, networks, moments and more from the year in cable was hard work. We argued and fought for our favorites with the ferocity of a Hip-Hopopotamus (see No. 6), and we did it all for you.
10. Fiery Personalities
USA Network's smartly funny spy series Burn Notice features can't-miss performances from Jeffrey Donovan, Bruce Campbell, Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless. USA's motto is 'Characters Welcome', and in this series, it has created several memorable ones to join the ranks of those already inhabiting series like Monk and Psych.
9. Doing A Body Good
National Geographic Channel started the year with In the Womb: Multiples and In the Womb: Animals and by year's end had moved up to exploring the entire adult body with more jaw-dropping specials: Inside the Living Body and Incredible Human Machine. While other cable networks showed us new things out in the universe, NGC completed the picture by taking us into the equally wondrous world of 'inner space'.
8. Henry VIII's Extreme Makeover
Could young Henry VIII have really looked as hot as he did in Showtime's series The Tudors? Was Anne Boleyn that gorgeous? Did Thomas More deserve sainthood? Did Cardinal Wolsey die under those circumstances? Does it make a difference when the cat-and-mouse game between the king and his mistress, and the intrigues of Henry's court, were so wonderful to watch?
7. Smoke Gets In Our Eyes
AMC gave Sopranos producer Matthew Weiner full creative control for its flagship original series, Mad Men. In turn, he's given us more bygone-era sexism and chain-smoking than anyone's seen on TV in years - and we have to admit, we're entranced. Weiner's Madison Avenue admen and the women who make their worlds go 'round mix like a top-shelf martini, making Mad Men almost as smooth.
6. We Fancy 'Flight'
If we compiled a list of the 10 funniest TV moments from the past year, almost half would be from the HBO series Flight of the Conchords. If we have to pick a favourite, though, it was the Hip-Hopopotamus vs the Rhymenocerous rap. Who's the motherflippin'?
5. An Epic Film Of America's Expansion
It won an Emmy Award for outstanding made for TV movie, and August Schellenberg, Anna Paquin and Aidan Quinn were all Emmy nominees for their supporting roles in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, HBO's epic drama about the tragic effects of America's westward expansion on American Indians. Watching Schellenberg's Sitting Bull realise that his entire culture is dying as he faces down a by-the-book army officer over his food ration provided one of the most poignant moments on television.
4. The Joy Of Ex
A bit of a guilty pleasure despite 10 Emmy nominations, USA Network's miniseries The Starter Wife was vibrant, fun and soapy as it told the story of a Hollywood wife who finds new life after being dumped. It also gave Debra Messing a fresh start of her own after eight seasons on Will & Grace.
3. 'Earth'ly Delights
The amazing Planet Earth series was seen by more than 65 million viewers, which is certainly impressive. But while the show's ratings were important to Discovery Channel, its impact was even greater to those watching its wonders unfold before them. Never before had many of the places and creatures captured by the show's cameras been seen by the average person (or even, in some cases, by scientists). Do you really think a broadcast network would have given up the years and budget it took to create this artful and important snapshot of our world?
2. 'HSM2' Beats, Like, Everything
Disney Channel's High School Musical 2 officially holds the record as the most-watched cable TV show of all time (17.2 million) and the number-one rated basic cable movie of all time. It also gets props for being the only cable movie that's been released in more than 37 countries, has produced six teen superstars and is the most overmerchandised, overmarketed (both pre- and post-airing) film we can remember.
1. Don't Stop Believin'
Maybe you loved it. Maybe you hated it. Maybe you thought there was something wrong with your TV and were completely confounded. Either way, HBO's The Sopranos series finale will go down as one of the all-time great finishes in television history. But if you're one of those people who hates abrupt, open-ended conclusions, then you can just ...
Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar and Sharon Gless (from left) star in the USA Network series 'Burn Notice'.
