Best Episodes of '05-'06 Season Kicks Off! Plus AFI's Inspiring Movies and 'Closer's' Big Numbers

Pass the Remote's

Best Episodes of '05-'06

It was an awesome year of television, wasn't it? So awesome that I had a difficult time deciding which episodes of your favorite shows would make the cut and become a part of the 1st Annual Best Episodes of the Season Countdown. I ended up with 31 incredible episodes that demonstrate the diversity and quality of the current television state. Before we start with the first set, let's take a moment and go over the rules for making the list. All of the shows and their episodes are from NETWORK television only, meaning that I did not take any cable series into consideration (since I only watch a few and felt that it would be unfair). All episodes aired between September 2005 and June 2006. Each episode that made the final list moved me in some way; either by making me laugh out loud, cry my eyes out or just left me with that "wow" feeling that stays with you for a few days. So basically, it's completely subjective! Since this is a summer-long countdown to the number 1 episode, I will reveal a few each week all summer. So, be sure to tune in every Wednesday to find out which episodes are on the countdown! Today, we're going to take a look at numbers 31-29.


31:"There's Something About War" - Desperate Housewives
Sure this season was campy in a 80s nighttime soap kinda way and nowhere near as funny or as quality as the first season, but that didn't mean that all of the episodes were a wash. About halfway through the season, this little gem took to the airwaves and restored my faith in this show and all of it funniness. Too bad this episode wasn't a sign of better things to come, but the sheer fact that it had me rolling and made me feel good about a few of the characters is enough to make it stand out. This episode had a Dynasty-style catfight between Gaby and Sister Mary Bernard that had them rolling all over the church aisles instead of the fabled Dynasty swimming pool, Lynette trying to sabotage Tom's interview at her firm, Bree and Betty Applewhite keeping each other's dirty secrets and Susan deciding that she wasn't going to jump through hoops anymore to keep a guy after she told Dr. Ron that she didn't want him doing her spleenectomy. The antics in this episode were funnier than the entire season combined, which is why it earned the final spot on this year's list. Written by Kevin Etten and directed by Larry Shaw.



30:"25 Days, 50 Cities, and More than 600 Consecutive Hours as a Family" - The Amazing Race: Family Edition
Say what you will about the family edition experiment gone wrong, but it sure went out with one of the most thrilling finales in the franchise's history. The remaining teams struggled to navigate through the French-speaking Montreal, got lost in that city's Underground City, flew from a trapeze without the greatest of ease, learned all about the sport of Curling, sailed in Toronto and raced through a boating task that took them over the border to the United States and the single most exciting final moments of any episode of this series thus far. With the Linz family and the Bransen family neck and neck coming off the boating task, both teams had to complete the final Roadblock. One team member had to put together a giant puzzle of North and Central America and then place pictures of the tasks they completed on the race in the right location. Both teams struggled and kept it very close, but the Linzes wound up on top and walked away with the $1 million. For those who stuck around for this slower version of the Race, two intense hours that culminated in a heart stopping finale was our reward.


29: "The Shed" - Alias
This was the final season of the cult favorite Alias, but its best episode came early on and not in the form of a finale. With Syd's (and her portrayer Jennifer Garner's) pregnancy benching the high flying spy for most of the season, the show had to come up with a "replacement," if you will. Enter Rachel Gibson, a young protege with a similar backstory as our very own Sydney. Seems she was duped too, but by the newest badass group led by the evil Gordon Dean. When Syd and co. inform Rachel about the duping, she's eager to dismiss it. But, Syd shares her story and the gang offers up some proof (via Marshall's technology display), so Rachel gets onboard and helps APO steal Dean's encryption key in a very intense scene at the rogue group's office. Peyton is wise to the antics, and she gets herself and Dean out before blowing up the office and leaving Rachel banged up, but no worse for the wear. The episode was pivotal because it proved Rachel could hang with the big kids. Written by Breen Frazier and directed by Tucker Gates.

So, there's a look at the first set of episodes on the countdown. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. And be sure to tune in next Wednesday for #28-26 on the list.

QUICK CUTS

*TV TONIGHT: CBS counts down the American Film Institute's 100 most inspiring films of all time on AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers (8-11 p.m.). Which movie will top the list? Seabiscuit? Rocky? It's a Wonderful Life? Tune in tonight to find out with special guest stars ranging from Jessica Alba to Sidney Poitier. Commander in Chief ends its run on ABC (1o p.m.) with the series finale.

*And finally, TNT's The Closer is celebrating today after record numbers for its second season premiere Monday night. The Kyra Sedgwick crime drama pulled in more than 8 million viewers the other night, making it the largest audience ever to view a scripted program on ad-supported cable according to Nielsen Media Research's preliminary data. The show also outperformed programs in its slot from ABC, NBC, Fox, UPN and WB. The Closer airs Monday nights on TNT. Meanwhile, Sunday's premiere of The 4400 on USA brought in more than 4 million viewers, which was good enough to claim the top scripted series on basic cable trophy for the week (which ended Sunday).

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That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for another season review edition. This time, we'll take a look at Cold Case's interesting third season. Plus, all the latest television news!



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