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But, as I said, this show has been very awesome in the last few years. Though it hasn't been honored with a Best Drama Emmy since its first season, Terry O'Quinn (as John Locke) and Michael Emerson (as Ben Linus) have both won Emmys for Best Supporting Actor, and they were well deserved. In general, the actors on "Lost" are uniformly excellent, as are the daring steps the writers have made to further the story. The twists come quickly, the pace has not let up in a while, and, most importantly, I still very much care about the answers to some of the big questions. What is the smoke monster? Why doesn't Richard Alpert age? What is the island? As bad as some episodes have gotten, I've never stopped caring about these answers, or these characters. With "Mad Men" off until the summer, "Lost" remains the best thing that TV has to offer right now.

2. Arrested Development
Here is my choice for, hyperbole be damned, the very best TV comedy ever. Better than "Monty Python's Flying Circus", better than "Fawlty Towers", better than "Seinfeld", better than "The Office". "Arrested Development", about an extremely quirky, self-involved family with only one truly sane person, was only on FOX for 53 episodes, 53 golden half-hours that you must discover if you haven't yet. More than any other show on this list, if you want to experience the funniest, most nutty, yet somehow heartfelt television series, this is it. Watch this show, please. Even now, three-plus years after its heartbreaking cancellation, "Arrested Development" remains as fresh as ever. Starring Jason Bateman (in the straight man role to end all straight man roles), Will Arnett, Michael Cera, David Cross, Ron Howard (as the narrator), and featuring guest turns from Carl Weathers, Liza Minnelli, Ben Stiller, Zach Braff, and many more, this show is consistently hilarious.

By the time the second and third seasons began, it was clear that the show's creator, Mitchell Hurwitz, and its writers were more interested in rewarding the viewers who'd stuck with the show from the very beginning, frequently referencing old in-jokes or building on them. Now, of course, with the magic of Hulu, iTunes, and cheap deals at various stores, "Arrested Development" isn't hard to find. Yet, despite the rises to fame some of the show's stars have had, it's still not as iconic to more people as shows like "The Office", which is still a shame. The day will come when I wear my "Annyong, Hermano" T-shirt and more people will smile than look at me oddly. Until then, I can only continue to beg you to check out the most hilarious TV comedy ever. As the final narration from Howard says, it was "Arrested Development".

1. Deadwood
And, at my top spot, is yet another show that got cancelled before its time. I hate that the majority of the shows I love are constantly being threatened with cancellation, but there you have it. This fantastic TV Western fell victim to failed negotiations between HBO and Paramount Studios, which distributed "Deadwood". After only three seasons and 36 episodes, the program was no more and, though there were constant rumors of TV-movies to end the series proper, nothing's ever come of it. What a shame. Of course, "Deadwood" never really hit the zeitgeist in the same way as "The Sopranos" or "The Wire" ever did, despite being as excellent as it was. The show never had any huge stars, though many of its actors have found work in more popular work (the showrunners of "Lost" seem to have a love affair with the show, as many "Deadwood" denizens have appeared on that show).

The story revolved around Deadwood, part of the Dakota Territory at the time the show picks up the action, and its slow march into being part of civilization. Timothy Olyphant plays Seth Bullock, who reluctantly becomes the sheriff; Ian McShane, though, steals the show as the uniquely vicious yet somehow awesome Al Swearengen, a profane, violent, yet extremely shrewd saloon owner and pimp. Swearengen is the real master of Deadwood, and rightly fears the oncoming onslaught of civilization, which will ruin the very profitable business he's been running. There were countless supporting roles, filled by sterling performers such as Garret Dillahunt (who played two characters in seasons 1 and 2), Gerald McRaney (yes, Major Dad), William Sanderson, and Powers Boothe. Created by David Milch, filled with some of the most proto-Shakespearean dialogue, and populated by the most colorful band of characters in any TV show I've seen, "Deadwood" is simply the most powerful piece of television I've laid witness to. It was one hell of a show, and, just like the other nine shows on my list, something you must see.

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