My Favorite TV Shows

This is the grandfather of all the alternative-structure sitcoms of the past decade. An endless stream of double entendres, clever puns, long-running inside jokes and pop culture references comes at you so fast you'll miss half of them the first listen. In fact, you can watch each episode ten times and still pick up something new.

This series made me appreciate David Lynch. Every episode is a surreal mix of mystery and hilarity, unlike any dramatic series you've ever seen. Some of the most emotive and memorable scenes I've ever seen on the small or big screen occur in this fascinating show.

The zenith of the traditional sitcom. No other TV show has had as profound a mark on TV or pop culture in general. One of the best casts in any sticom combined with a writing corps adept at mixing disparate stories together made for consistent laughs all nine seasons.

The single most influential sitcom of the last ten years. It has a stellar core cast, and more star-studded cameos than any TV show I know of. It's loaded with word play, double entendres, and long-running jokes that change subtly over the course of the series.

As good as Family Guy in its peak years, and, unlike Family Guy, it's still funny.

A lot more dramatic than my other choices, but Dexter has such a dry sense of humor and such a detached view of humanity that it's often darkly funny. Really sharp writing.

What The Office wishes it was. More likable characters, better writing, less claustrophobia.

The natural successor to Arrested Development with a little bit of The Office thrown in, Community is more creative and edgy than any of its counterparts.

Hilarious. The raunchy offspring of Arrested Development.

The ultimate animated comedy. It's like Arrested Development + Party Down + The Simpsons. Edgy, smart, and surprisingly subtle.

It was critically maligned, and so unpopular that it only lasted six episodes. But I enjoyed the time that Perfect Couples was on the air. Each character started as a standard carciature, but each episode showed a new, unusual quirk that made each one that much more interesting. I like how the creators structured the show, too.