The Countdown Breaks the Top 10! Plus 'CSI' and others Take to the Net, Casting News From 'Mars' and 'Scrubs' Baby Names

Pass the Remote's

Best Episodes of the Season

Well PTR readers, we've finally reached the Top 10 in the summer-long countdown of the Best Episodes of the Season. We're entering into the zone where it's the most difficult to decide which episodes are better than others because all of the 10 are outstanding. They're true examples of the brilliance of television and how the medium can move us in ways that we didn't think possible. For those who are new to the countdown, here is a refresher of the rules that I employed to determine the 31 episodes that compose this summer-long countdown. 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! This is a summer-long countdown, so I will reveal a few episodes each week all summer until we reach the #1 episode of the past season. Be sure to tune in each Wednesday to see the next set of episodes to make the list. Here’s a closer look at numbers 10-8.


10: "My Lunch" - Scrubs
It's rare for a comedy to move you so much that you walk away at the end of the half hour wondering if you just watched a sitcom or a drama, but Scrubs has always skirted that line beautifully. The best example, though, came toward the end of the season with an emotional episode where Dr. Cox lost all three of his patients to rabies, which they all contracted while staying at Sacred Heart. The tragedy begins with JD asking Dr. Cox to go to lunch with him and ends with the two bumping into an old annoying, hypochondriac patient who ends up at the hospital. After she suddenly dies, the hospital uses her organs to save the two other sick patients. Unfortunately, the hospital missed the signs and the other patients become infected with rabies -- the disease that claimed the first patient's life. Dr. Cox blames himself for the terminal error, and it sends him into a downward spiral. The moment when they realize what has happened is very emotional and made more poignant by the beautiful "How to Save a Life" by The Fray playing in the background. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this episode, though, is the way the writing had us thinking that the annoying patient was just overreacting. We thought all the same things as the doctors at Sacred Heart (she's annoying, she's a hypochondriac, etc.) until she suddenly died. Then, we felt the same guilt that the doctors were feeling, and that quickly changed to remorse when we learned what the oversight had cost. Written by Tad Quill and directed by John Michel.


9: "Not Pictured" - Veronica Mars
One of the most intense season finales once again came from this little show that could. Things were going along calmly until Veronica discovered that little Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas was "not pictured" in a photo of mayor Woody Goodman's little leaguers -- little leaguers that Woody sexually abused. Suddenly, Beaver was the prime suspect in the season-long mystery of who crashed the bus, killing several members of the Neptune High community. Things grew more intense when Veronica and Beaver collided on the roof of the Neptune Grand. Suddenly, it was every man/woman for himself/herself as Beaver held a gun to Veronica, and she watched as he blew up the plane that carried Woody and her father. Or so she thought because unbeknownst to her and the viewers, Keith had decided to catch a ride home instead of a short flight. The episode took us from the edge our seats with its intensity to the brink of breaking down emotionally when Veronica and Keith shared a joyous reunion, and it still managed to leave us hanging and wanting more. It doesn't get much better. Written by Rob Thomas and John Enbom and directed by John T. Kretchmer.


8: "An Ounce of Prevention" - Everwood
It's episodes like this one that cement Everwood's place in television history. There are two outstanding storylines that leave you wondering how a show of this caliber could be left off any network's new schedule. The first one deals with an 18-year old girl's decision to take preventative measures after discovering that she carries the breast cancer gene. The decision reminds us how scary cancer can be and it makes us question the lengths we would take to ensure that we don't get it down the road. Of course, nothing is a guarantee and the teenager struggles with the pros and cons of having and not having a mastectomy. The second story focuses on piano prodigy Kyle who is struggling with his own battle. He knows that he is gay, but he thinks that if he doesn't admit it, then it will simply go away. Ephram, who grapples with the revelation at first, talks Kyle through his battle and helps him to see that his sexuality doesn't define him or change who he is, and most importantly, it doesn't change how Ephram sees him. It's one of television's most beautifully poignant scenes because it is written so delicately and acted so brilliantly. Written by Bryan M. Holdman and directed by Perry Lang.

So, there's a closer look at #10-8. What did you think about them? Do you agree? Disagree? Drop me a comment with your thoughts. If you missed #31-11 or just want to revisit them, click HERE. The countdown is taking the week off next week (along with most of your regularly scheduled PTR features) to make room for Emmy week! Television's biggest night is only a week from Sunday and PTR will have complete coverage of the event beginning next week with my predictions for who will/should win all of the big categories. So, be sure to tune in to PTR next week for the beginning of Emmy coverage!


QUICK CUTS

*CBS is giving you another chance to catch some of its hit primetime programming. The network will stream episodes of some of its shows on its online broadband channel INNERTUBE the morning after they air on the network. Episodes of all three CSIs, NCIS, Numb3rs, Survivor and new series Jericho will be available for free on the network's Web site via INNERTUBE beginning next month. All episodes will be shown with limited commercial interruption.

*Actor Ed Begley, Jr. will join Veronica Mars for its third season per TVGuide.com's Mike Ausiello. The actor will play the dean of Heart College where Veronica and other Neptune High grads will attend this fall.

*TNT has another hit on its hands -- this time in the form of its original TV movie The Ron Clark Story. The Matthew Perry film, based on a true story, brought in 6.8 million viewers for its premiere Sunday night. The numbers were good enough to crown the movie "Ad-Supported Cables #1 Original Movie for the Year to Date among Young Adults." You can catch an encore presentation of The Ron Clark Story this Thursday night on TNT.

*And finally, you gave your baby name suggestions for Turk and Carla's pending bundle of joy on Scrubs, and now it's time to vote for your favorite. NBC released the top 10 names that you guys submitted. So, will the baby be named Curk, Isabella, Olivia, Curla or a host of other choices? Click on over to NBC's official site to vote for your favorite. Scrubs will return for its 6th season later this year on NBC.

Don't forget to vote for your favorite Scrubs quote of the season in PTR's exclusive poll!!

To get more of today's biggest TV news and headlines, visit the TV News section at PassTheRemote.Net.

That's all for today. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a Flashback Edition featuring another classic episode of Cold Case. Tomorrow, we'll take a look at an episode that took some of the wind out of Lilly's sails (although, she bounced right back as usual). Plus, all the latest television news! And coming this Friday, it's an edition dedicated to the new show Vanished that premieres on Fox next week! I'll have a preview of this new serial drama that will unlock mysteries and conspiracies.


To get more television coverage, including the network's new fall schedules and a complete archive of the best of Pass the Remote with a photo gallery featuring pictures from the set of Veronica Mars, click on over to PassTheRemote.net.