What is PTR's Best Episode of the Season? Plus a CBS Sneak Peek and You Can Be a Pussycat Doll

Pass the Remote's

Best Episodes of the Season

Well, we have made it through the summer-long countdown, which means that it is time to reveal the #1 Best Episode of the Season. For the final time, here is a look at the rules I employed to compose this list of 31 episodes. 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! Before we get to #4-1, here's a quick review of #31-5:

31 - "There's Something About War" - Desperate Housewives
30 - "25 Days, 50 Cities, and More than 600 Consecutive Hours as a Family" - The Amazing Race: Family Edition
29 - "The Shed" - Alias
28 - "The Unusual Suspect" - CSI
27 - "Fault" - Law & Order: SVU
26 - "Sanctuary" - Cold Case
25 - "White Lie Christmas" - My Name is Earl
24 - "Knowing Her" - Medium
23 - "A Day in the Life" - Without a Trace
22 - "Everybody Hates Food Stamps" - Everybody Hates Chris
21 - "The 23rd Psalm" - Lost
20 - "Lucky in Love" - Medium
19 - "911" - Law & Order: SVU
18 - "My Transition" - Scrubs
17 - "Donut Run" - Veronica Mars
16 - "Man of Science, Man of Faith" - Lost
15 - "Everybody Hates the Lottery" - Everybody Hates Chris
14 - "Joseph" - Cold Case
13 - "Tomorrow" - The West Wing
12 - "Getting to Know You" - Everwood
11 - "Gum Drops" - CSI
10 - "My Lunch" - Scrubs
9 - "Not Pictured" - Veronica Mars
8 - "An Ounce of Prevention" - Everwood
7 - "Y2K" - My Name is Earl
6 - "White Balance" - Without a Trace
5 - "My Way Home" - Scrubs

And now, the Top 4 episodes of the season...

4: "Saving Patrick Bubley" - Cold Case
The set up is emotional enough -- a mother loses four of her five sons to gang violence over a 6-year span -- but the execution is what makes this exceptional hour of Cold Case stand out. Lilly, who worked the first Bubley murder in 1999, begins to worry that she's getting too desensitized to cases like this one. It takes her on an emotional downward spiral that ends with her erupting at Maeve Bubley, who is addicted to drugs after getting hooked in exchange for the location of her son's body. The episode explores the grief in losing so many of your children, the inner struggle to avoid becoming another cop with "NHI" (No Human Involvement) and some hope for the future. The youngest Bubley, Patrick, wants to avenge his brothers' murders, but Lilly and the others know that it will only lead to his own death, so Lilly does everything in her power to get through to the teen. Did she succeed? We don't know, but we do know that she conquered the urge to go down the NHI route by reaching out to the people who were still alive. Written by Tyler Bensinger and directed by Marcos Siega. (Screencap courtesy Kathryn Morris Online).

3: "Look Who's Stalking" - Veronica Mars
This late season outing combined suspense, emotion and humor as Veronica helped Gia discover who was stalking her, and Logan and his fellow 09ers threw an "alterna-prom." The episode reveals that Woody Goodman may not be the upstanding citizen that he pretends to be as mayor of the seaside community. The episode's best scenes, though, happen at the "alterna-prom." First, there is a hilarious, awkward elevator scene with most of the prom's guests, and then another hilarious scene with Veronica talking to Madison Sinclair about "taking it on the Lamb" (an inside joke since she knows that Madison is dating Sheriff Lamb). There is also a heavy scene between Logan and Veronica where Logan tells her that he thought their relationship would be "epic." It seems he still has feelings for our favorite P.I. The episode's most emotional scene is its last. Veronica goes to tell Logan that she thought about what he said the night before and just as she finishes, Kendall appears from the bedroom. Veronica turns and walks away, trying not to tear up in front of Logan. Written by John Embom and directed by Michael Fields.

2: "Live Together, Die Alone" - Lost
Hands down, the most intense season finale that I have ever seen. I was literally at the edge of my seat for the entire 2 hours. And unlike season 1's finale, which left many viewers frustrated and upset with the lack of answers, this one struck the right balance between giving us plenty of interesting information and leaving plenty of questions. Learning that Desmond's decision to abandon the hatch, and therefore not push the button, caused the plane to crash was a HUGE revelation!! I loved it! We also got a closer look at "The Others" and then there was that random foot statue. What does it mean? And what about those two men in the boat at the artic circle? Knowing Lost, the answers won't come easily, but that's what makes it so fun. Written by Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof and directed by Jack Bender. BONUS: Download this episode from iTunes (Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE).

And now, after an entire summer of counting down episodes, we're finally up to the number one episode of the past season. Drum roll please....

1: "Foreverwood" - Everwood
Sure, this was the series finale of one of the best shows on recent television, but it was also a lot more. It was a visual example of how a television show can move us in ways we didn't think possible. It was an example of how complicated our relationships can be, but how worth it they are as well. And it was a celebration of a show that gave us four wonderful seasons filled with beautiful storylines and interesting characters. The finale brought the show full circle, most memorably with the Ferris wheel. Amy and Ephram's first heart-to-heart happened on a Ferris wheel at the Annual Thaw Festival back in season one, and their final heart-to-heart -- the biggest of them all -- happened right next to a Ferris wheel that Amy rented in this finale. The emotional scene had Amy admitting that she wanted to be with Ephram, and Ephram admitting that she was "it" for him. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful show, and PTR's number one episode of the past season. Part 1 written by Anna Fricke and Josh Reims and directed by Bethany Rooney. Part 2 written by Rina Mimoun and David Hudgins and directed by Perry Lang.

Well, there you have it -- the complete list of PTR's Best Episodes of the Season! Do you agree? Disagree? Are there episodes that PTR left off the list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts on the final list. If you would like to take a closer look at numbers 31-5, click on over to The Best of Pass the Remote. Coming soon... PTR will reveal the summer's best episodes in an upcoming edition. So, stay tuned...


QUICK CUTS

*CBS and TiVo are teaming up to bring you an early look at the network's new comedy The Class. The DVR service will offer the premiere episode of the new comedy, about former grade school classmates who reunite, up to a week before its traditional network premiere. In addition, the service and the network will also offer exclusive sneak preview clips, footage and information on CBS' other new shows Jericho, Shark and Smith. The Class premieres September 18th on CBS.

*Worried about the Gilmore Girls season premiere now that showrunners Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino are no longer helming the show? Well, TVGuide.com's Mike Ausiello has seen the premiere, and he says that there is little to worry about so far. For his exclusive review of the upcoming hour, click on over to TVGuide.com. Gilmore Girls premieres September 26th on the new CW network.

*And finally, the new CW network is giving you the opportunity to be one of the Pussycat Dolls. The network is casting for its upcoming reality competition, with the working title The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll, in cities near you. The winner of the competition will become the newest member of the popular, chart-topping female pop group. Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin will guide the contestants as their singing ability, dance moves and self-confidence are judged in the competition. Here's a schedule for the just announced casting calls:

LOS ANGELES - Sept. 9th
HOUSTON - Sept. 15th
ATLANTA - Sept. 20th
CHICAGO - Sept. 23rd
MIAMI - Sept. 30th

For more information on the casting process, visit The CW's official site.

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 thoughts on Bones and Justice's second episode (Will it stand up to the promise of the first?). Plus, all the latest television news!



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.