The 50 best TV Episodes of 2006

[Angelus 0]

From The Futon Critic.com

 

 

50. "the king of queens: apartment complex" (cbs)

(originally aired: february 6, 2006)

 

Still doing a yeoman's job all these years later, "Queens" knocked out another winner last season in which Doug and company rent an apartment above a Chinese restaurant to use as their own club house. Things deteriorate over time though as Deacon and Doug assume husband and wife roles respectively. Plus who could forget: bologna darts!

 

49. "monk: mr. monk and the actor" (usa)

(originally aired: july 7, 2006)

 

Just when you think the show has run out of ways to poke fun of Monk's behavior they roll out this gem in which Stanley Tucci plays a method actor who shadows Monk - only to take on the most extreme aspects of Monk's personality.

 

48. "psych: 9 lives" (usa)

(originally aired: august 4, 2006)

 

For a show whose premise already skirts the absurd, you gotta love the moxy of having Shawn say a cat was a murder's only witness. And then having the cat "partner up" with Shawn to solve it - genius.

 

47. "the west wing: tomorrow" (nbc)

(originally aired: may 14, 2006)

 

A genuine celebration of the show's post-Aaron Sorking resurgence, the finale once again reminded us what "The West Wing" was - a handsomely constructed love letter to what an honor public service is.

 

46. "the sopranos: johnny cakes" (hbo)

(originally aired: april 30, 2006)

 

Who would have thought a subplot involving a gay mobster on the lam and his subsequent romance with a volunteer fireman was going to be the most intriguing part of "The Sopranos" final season thus far?

 

45. "big love: the ceremony" (hbo)

(originally aired: june 4, 2006)

 

The Governor's wife declaration to Bill - "That would be a matter for you to discuss with her... and your other wives" - as she escorts Barb out of the "Mother of the Year" competition was about as heart-sinking a moment as any of 2006.

 

44. "brothers & sisters: northern exposure" (abc)

(originally aired: november 5, 2006)

 

I may be off a week or two, but I think this was the episode of "Brothers & Sisters" where it stopped being "that depressing show with all the alleged behind-the-scenes trouble" and started being an honest, authentic show about family.

 

43. "studio 60 on the sunset strip: pilot" (nbc)

(originally aired: september 18, 2006)

 

Sure this show frustrates me like no other and sure it's "en vogue" to jump off its bandwagon nowadays, but damn was this a fantastic hour of television.

 

42. "south park: the return of the chef!" (comedy central)

(originally aired: march 22, 2006)

 

The latest example of "South Park's" awesomeness: its explanation of why Chef (Isaac Hayes) is leaving the show.

 

41. "rescue me: beached" (fx)

(originally aired: august 29, 2006)

 

A sobering reminder - literally - of the long journey all of these characters have taken. The crew's visit to a 9/11 Firefighter's Memorial and confession of their respective failures was about as big of a "chill moment" as this series has ever had.

 

40. "desperate housewives: bang" (abc)

(originally aired: november 5, 2006)

 

Both shocking and touching, the show's much-ballyhooed "hostage crisis" episode delivered on all counts as a touchstone to moments past (Lynette's dreams involving Mary Alice) and another 90 degree turn in one of its major subplots (the murder of Nora).

 

39. "saved: a day in the life" (tnt)

(originally aired: june 12, 2006)

 

Worth a spot on this list alone for the harrowing sequence set to Johnny Cash's Hurt, this short-lived TNT drama will be sorely missed.

 

38. "scrubs: my lunch" (nbc)

(originally aired: april 25, 2006)

 

While the show itself has waded deep into cartoonish waters as of late, this installment reminded us of classic "Scrubs'" balance of the absurd - a look inside "The Todd's" efforts to walk into conversations at the right time - and the very real - an annoying patient (Nicole Sullivan) confesses to trying to kill herself while Dr. Cox battles to break a streak of transplant patients dying.

 

37. "entourage: vegas baby, vegas!" (hbo)

(originally aired: august 6, 2006)

 

Johnny Drama cold cocking Seth Green. End of story.

 

36. "heroes: genesis" (nbc)

(originally aired: september 25, 2006)

 

A swift reminder that making our imaginations sizzle - what would you do if you woke up with super powers one day? - is the hardest thing to do in television.

 

35/34. "lost: live together, die alone, parts 1 & 2" (abc)

(originally aired: may 24, 2006)

 

After its disappointing send off in season one, we got the info dump of info dumps in its season two finale - the hatch exploding, the Others capturing Jack, Kate, Hurley and Sawyer, Desmond's backstory and the show's first post-crash visit off the island.

 

33. "how i met your mother: come on" (cbs)

(originally aired: may 15, 2006)

 

The fact that this series can make us care about relationships that we know are destined to fail is a true testament to how great this show is. In this case, Ted finally gets together with Robin in the show's season finale while Marshall and Lily split up.

 

32. "grey's anatomy: it's the end of the world" (abc)

(originally aired: february 5, 2006)

 

The cannon shot that marked the show's first visit to the top of the Nielsens, the famed Super Bowl episode did for America the one thing all post-Super Bowl episodes should do - check out a promising series they might not have watched before and stick around for the long haul.

 

31. "24: day 5: 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m." (fox)

(originally aired: may 22, 2006)

 

About as perfect of a finale this show has ever had - from its teaser for the upcoming season (Jack being literally shipped off to China) to the chief villain being caught (Martha Logan gets her husband to confess his part in the day's events).

 

30. "entourage: sorry, ari" (hbo)

(originally aired: august 27, 2006)

 

The most watchable show on TV once again closed its season with a great "chill moment," in this case watching Ari torpedo his chance to make things right with Vince - and subsequently being fired.

 

29. "arrested development: development arrested" (fox)

(originally aired: february 10, 2006)

 

The series wrapped its run with literally 30 minutes of in-jokes and we loved every single one.

 

28. "how i met your mother: swarley" (cbs)

(originally aired: november 6, 2006)

 

Proof positive of how great this show has become as literally the same joke is repeated fifty times (Barney's name is mistakenly written as Swarley on his coffee order) - and it got funnier after each one.

 

27. "veronica mars: spit & eggs" (the cw)

(originally aired: november 28, 2006)

 

The conclusion to "Veronica's" latest chapter had everything we love about this show - heartfelt moments (Logan's breakup with Veronica), "holy shit" reveals (Mercer... and Moe???) and fist-pumping climaxes (Parker blowing the rape whistle to save Veronica).

 

26. "deadwood: tell him something pretty" (hbo)

(originally aired: august 27, 2006)

 

Not only did the "bad guy" win, he got to ride out of town with his head held high. There's just nothing else like this show on TV.

 

25. "lost: the 23rd psalm" (abc)

(originally aired: january 11, 2006)

 

In an age where promos and previews give away everything, the big "smoke monster" reveal in this episode - during a non-sweeps month no less - had to be one of the most unexpected twists this show has ever had.

 

24. "house: no reason" (fox)

(originally aired: may 23, 2006)

 

"House" always knocks it out of the park when it breaks from the norm and this episode was no exception as we go down the rabbit hole of House's mind after he's shot by a patient.

 

23. "love monkey: the window" (vh1)

(originally aired: april 25, 2006)

 

An unexpected gut punch came during this usually breezy series as Bran (Judy Greer) shows up and falls apart on Tom's (Thomas Cavanagh) doorstep after learning she can't have children.

 

21/22. "grey's anatomy: deterioration of the fight or flight response/losing my religion" (abc)

(originally aired: may 15, 2006)

 

Shonda Rhimes said it best in her blog: "I cried. When Denny died, I cried. I cried when I wrote the script page where Denny dies. I cried when we had the read through and the cast found out that Denny dies. I cried when Mark Tinker filmed Denny dying. I cried when Ed Ornelas edited Dennys death. I cried watching them mix the song playing during Dennys death. Im a freaking crybaby when it comes to Denny."

 

20. "it's always sunny in philadelphia: dennis and dee go on welfare" (fx)

(originally aired: july 6, 2006)

 

Yup, they did an episode where Dennis and Dee become crack addicts. And it was awesome.

 

19. "friday night lights: crossing the line" (nbc)

(originally aired: november 28, 2006)

 

Coach Taylor's (the awesome Kyle Chandler) talk with his daughter about boys - not to mention his wife's (the equally as awesome Connie Britton) prodding him to do so - felt so real you didn't think you were watching a TV show.

 

18. "the office: gay witch hunt" (nbc)

(originally aired: september 21, 2006)

 

"Do you think Oscar's roommate knows he's gay?" was just one of several stellar lines in this episode, its most cringe inducing since the famed "Diversity Day" episode.

 

17/16. "everwood: foreverwood, parts 1 & 2" (the wb)

(originally aired: june 5, 2006)

 

A parting gift to the fans, the show's two-hour swan song tied all its various plots into neat little bows - Andy/Nina, Ephram/Amy, Bright/Hannah and Harold/Rose. Everything a finale should be.

 

15. "the unit: first responders" (cbs)

(originally aired: march 7, 2006)

 

60 minutes of David Mamet at this best.

 

14. "house: euphoria, part 2" (fox)

(originally aired: may 3, 2006)

 

Sure it will always be the "House" show - it's the title after all - but this episode was proof his supporting cast could very well carry a show on their own.

 

13. "battlestar galactica: lay down your burdens, part 2" (sci fi)

(originally aired: march 10, 2006)

 

Who didn't curl up into the fetal position after seeing "One Year Later" flash on the screen? Okay, so maybe it was just me.

 

11/12. "my name is earl: south of the border part uno & dos" (nbc)

(originally aired: december 7, 2006)

 

Just one giant buffet of everything I love about this show - anachronistic references (Red Dawn, Bugle Boy jeans and House of Pain's "Jump Around" to name a few), great guest stars (John Leguizamo), random throwbacks to previous episodes (Randy's fear of birds, Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time" as Randy's heartbreak song) and "it's so ridiculous but it fits in this universe" plots (the trials Earl and Randy must go through to marry Catalina, Randy being mistaken for the spirit of a couple's dead son).

 

10. "24: day 5: 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m." (fox)

(originally aired: january 15, 2006)

 

All it took was one gunshot to make it Jack's most personal - and riveting - day since season one.

 

9. "dexter: pilot" (showtime)

(originally aired: october 1, 2006)

 

100% not the show I expected to see, "Dexter" was a genuine surprise. An even bigger surprise? Its "I need to check the locks and under the bed" ending - in which the ice truck killer leaves a present for Dexter in his refrigerator. I literally can't wait for season two of this show to start.

 

8. "smith: pilot" (cbs)

(originally aired: september 19, 2006)

 

The awesome start to the unfortunately short-lived series was a true pleasure to watch from start to finish. From its taut action sequences to its only-when-necessary dialogue to its unabashedly "we are bad people" attitude, there was so much to love - and now miss - about this show.

 

7. "veronica mars: not pictured" (upn)

(originally aired: may 9, 2006)

 

The end of season two's imposing plot labyrinth was simply mind blowing - Logan's father (Harry Hamlin) being released from jail, the mayor (Steve Guttenberg) on the lam from being exposed as a pedophile, an alternate reality in which Lilly Kane never died, Weevil getting arrested, Wallace trying to track down Jackie and Beaver being exposed as the guy behind the bus crash and - has your mind exploded yet? - that he actually raped Veronica last year. Excuse me while I pick up the pieces of my brain.

 

6. "friday night lights: pilot" (nbc)

(originally aired: october 3, 2006)

 

"Lights" TV debut was everything that was so great about the film and so much more - it's attention to small, fleeting moments (a brief shot of the crowd all holding up crossed fingers when one of their heroes goes down), an "unknown" ensemble cast that feels like real teenagers (Scott Porter, Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Gaius Charles and Minka Kelly your names are certainly known now) and gut punching plot developments (Jason Street's soul crushing injury).

 

5. "the office: casino night" (nbc)

(originally aired: may 11, 2006)

 

Who knew such an offbeat, often times irreverent show had the emotional beat of emotional beats of 2006 - the Pam/Jim kiss - in it?

 

4. "how i met your mother: slap bet" (cbs)

(originally aired: november 20, 2006)

 

I'm sure plenty of people have called it before me but this was "Mother's" "The Chinese Restaurant" episode, i.e. the one where it made the leap into greatness. As Robin Sparkles says, "Let's go to the mall... today."

 

3. "the shield: post partum" (fx)

(originally aired: march 21, 2006)

 

I was this close to putting episodes 3-13 as every episode of "The Shield" this season but somehow that felt very Time's Person of the Year is "You." Nevertheless, the show's 11 installments this season were about as close to perfection as you could get from a TV show. But its finale, in which Shane covers up the Strike Team's wrongdoings - by putting a grenade in Lemansky's car and then watching him die, pushed buttons I didn't know TV could. I literally am getting chills writing this.

 

2. "the wire: final grades" (hbo)

(originally aired: december 10, 2006)

 

David Simon did it again. He made us think these four boys - Namond (Julito McCullum), Michael (Tristan Wilds), Randy (Maestro Harrell) and Duquan (Jermaine Crawford) - could have at the very least a future and ripped the rug out from under nearly all of them. He gave us a voice in Bodie (JD Williams), who rallied against the current state of "the game," only to silence it. He gave us a saintly mayor (Aidan Gillen) only to muzzle him with bureaucracy. In the end however he did give us the "old" McNulty (Dominic West) back and the promise to fight the good fight once again. And I'm sure he'll make us believe again - and rip the rug out from under us again. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

1. "battlestar galactica: exodus: part 2" (sci fi)

(originally aired: october 20, 2006)

 

When television can make our jaw drop, pick it up and make it drop again a few minutes later it deserves to be the top episode of 2006. Such was the case for this episode, in which Galactica attempts an impossible rescue mission on New Caprica - complete with a jump into the planet's fraking atmosphere - only to get rescued at the last minute by the Pegasus - which suicide runs itself into a Basestar, blows up and has its pieces smash into another Basestar. Holy shit people - this is what TV should be.

[naiwf 0]

Waaaaaaaaaaaay too much love for the craptastic How I met Your Mother, and not nearly enough for The Shield.

[2GOLD 0]

I honestly didn't think the pilot to "Smith" was really all that good. Second episode was actually better than the so so pilot and that wasn't saying much.

[Anakin Flair 0]

1. "battlestar galactica: exodus: part 2" (sci fi)

(originally aired: october 20, 2006)

 

When television can make our jaw drop, pick it up and make it drop again a few minutes later it deserves to be the top episode of 2006. Such was the case for this episode, in which Galactica attempts an impossible rescue mission on New Caprica - complete with a jump into the planet's fraking atmosphere - only to get rescued at the last minute by the Pegasus - which suicide runs itself into a Basestar, blows up and has its pieces smash into another Basestar. Holy shit people - this is what TV should be.

 

Fraking right. This was my favorite episode of TV last year, period- and one I still keep on my iPod to watch over and over again.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

They didn't mention the show on FOX with the initals AD that doesn't suck - American Dad.

[razazteca 0]

What no Dr. Who?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

How the Hell is the finale of 24 not higher than the premiere?

[Special K 0]

Has anyone seen "Dexter?"

 

I've read both books (Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter) And they're great.

 

Plus Michael C. Hall is just dead-on for the lead.

[Craig Th 0]

You can't really do one of these lists because there is no way they watched every show on TV. Well, you could but it would be very hard. Unless they staff voted on it or something.

 

But not enough Office.

[2GOLD 0]

What no Dr. Who?

 

British shows don't count I guess. Unless they are remakes of British shows done by Americans, then they count.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Has anyone seen "Dexter?"

 

I've read both books (Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter) And they're great.

 

Plus Michael C. Hall is just dead-on for the lead.

 

I Saw the first two eps when Showtime was free but Im not gonna pay $12 a month for one show on Showtime that at the time was uncertain as to whether it would be renewed for a 2nd season or not. It will, which is good news I suppose. I'll probably rent the dvds when they come out.

[randomguy 0]

I like BSG but The Shield finale was an order of magnitude better. The key scene was the best scene in a show I've watched, easily. Well acted, well scripted, everything leading up to it was very well done. You just *knew* something bad was going to happen but it was still an amazing fucking shock when it did. That's the sign of a job well done - it was both predictable (on some level) and a complete surprise.

 

Best scene in a show ever? Quite possibly. Best character death ever? Almost certainly. Obviously I haven't watched every show ever made and I don't like to throw around hyperbole and superlatives but that episode was just all kinds of fucking amazing. The BSG 2-parter was "wow cool!" but The Shield was just epic, incredible TV.

 

Not only the best episode of the year, but one of the best episodes ever.

[Special K 0]

Well, spoilers of course. But if you've read the first post, you've already got them

 

I like BSG but The Shield finale was an order of magnitude better. The key scene was the best scene in a show I've watched, easily. Well acted, well scripted, everything leading up to it was very well done. You just *knew* something bad was going to happen but it was still an amazing fucking shock when it did. That's the sign of a job well done - it was both predictable (on some level) and a complete surprise.

 

Totally agree with this. Maybe the only other example of this I can think of off the top of my head is the finale of Veronica Mars season 1. Maybe not exactly parallel, but you think 'Wow, I didn't see that,' and then 'of course!'

 

There have been many more poignant deaths on TV (Black Adder Goes Forth is the best I can think of) but that might be one of the most shocking scenes ever. Maybe a couple of scenes in Oz were more shocking. The aftermath is what really makes it, with Lem trying to choke out a couple words which will always be unknown, and Walt Goggins tearfully apologizing after he kills his best friend. Damn.

 

The Shield series finale is certainly one of the best episodes of anything I've seen.

 

'Course, I don't watch the Wire. I watched the first season, and though it was tremendously well-acted, for some reason I couldn't get that much into it. Probably because the episodes are so dense. I'm sure it's great on HBO, but watching a few episodes in a row on DVD is almost echausting.

[ZGangsta 0]

Actually, I'm in total agreement with their top 5. Although I find it really hard to judge 'The Wire' on single episodes since it tells a story so damn well over the whole season.

Overrated or not, that episode of 'How I Met Your Mother' was one of the funniest episodes I've ever seen.

[Special K 0]

Really have to see that "how I met your mother" episode.

 

I think it may be a little overrated (series not espisode) just because it's one of the only funny shows to have the typical sitcom setup instead of the single-camera. As opposed to the singel camera setup, (AD, Earl, Office, Scrubs) Which I think is vastly superior. But Doogie is really funny, and the supporting cast is charming. Plus it has Allyson Hannigan for added nerd appeal.

 

What other laugh-track shows are any good at all? I can;t think of one, myself. Not asking for excellence, just comptence.

 

It's really hard to judge comedy vs. dramatic. That's why I actually like the Golden GLobes.

[In Credible 0]

The last episode of The Wire this year was amazing. Bodie went out like nobody else has on the show and he brought McNulty back, which is what every fan wanted.

[Special K 0]

Is The Wire as confusing after the first season? As I said, it's really, really hard to follow.

 

Marvin: Did you like Dexter?

[Angelus 0]

I'm pretty agreed with the list, i would have put The Shield's Post Partnum in number one but i guess it's a matter of taste. My only problem is with Lost's The 23rd Psalm episode, i hate everything who has this shitty black cloud inside, it's lame. I would have put the "I Do" one witch is in my opinion one of the better episode of Lost, if not the better.

 

And Casino Night from The Office deserved a spot in the top three ... It was heartbreaking

[razazteca 0]

What no Dr. Who?

 

British shows don't count I guess. Unless they are remakes of British shows done by Americans, then they count.

It's on the Sci-Fi channel and I prefer the David Tennant, Doctor Who.

[In Credible 0]

Is The Wire as confusing after the first season? As I said, it's really, really hard to follow.

 

Marvin: Did you like Dexter?

 

The Wire isn't confusing at all, you just can't watch it without paying attention to it. They never flat out give you the answer to things, because in life they don't usually stop to explain it all. They give you the pieces a bit at a time and you put it together as the characters do. Also having an interest in the subject matter is important, if you don't then it might be hard to follow.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

I'm agreeing with the episode of House when he gets shot. That's still a mindfuck to watch. I either missed "Euphoria, Pt. II" or I'm not remembering it at all (either one is entirely possible), and I don't remember Foreman, Chase, Cameron, Cuddy, and/or Wilson being in any ep I've seen of season 3 without House there moreso.

[Ginger Snaps 0]

They didn't mention the show on FOX with the initals AD that doesn't suck - American Dad.

 

That show sucks.

[Special K 0]

Arrested Development was tremendous, heathen.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

not enough Office.

[2GOLD 0]

What no Dr. Who?

 

British shows don't count I guess. Unless they are remakes of British shows done by Americans, then they count.

It's on the Sci-Fi channel and I prefer the David Tennant, Doctor Who.

 

But the show is made in the UK with UK actors. Believe me, I agree with you because Doctor Who is awesome and one of the best Sci-Fi pick ups.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

"The Other 48 Days" from Lost Season Two is getting grossly overlooked here. From what I can recall, up until that point the season was dragging like a motherfucker and needed something seriously fresh to liven things up. This episode turned the season around and made us sit up and take notice.

[Jericholic82 0]

needs more House. and what no "Bones" entry? (the new orleans one for example, plus the buried alive and the last new episode where Bones meets her dad again) funny thing is I only watched about 4 of those shows on the list (House, South Park, Sopranos,Sunny in Philly)

 

maybe some more SP too (like the satans party one and the hockey one)

[Boon 0]

I'm agreeing with the episode of House when he gets shot. That's still a mindfuck to watch. I either missed "Euphoria, Pt. II" or I'm not remembering it at all (either one is entirely possible), and I don't remember Foreman, Chase, Cameron, Cuddy, and/or Wilson being in any ep I've seen of season 3 without House there moreso.

Euphoria, Pt. II was the one with Foreman on his death bed, his dad comes to see him, his conflict with Cameron comes to a head, etc.

Omar Epps thoroughly carried the episode on his shoulders.

 

Great addition to a solid list.

[Black Lushus 0]

sweet The Wire made #2, good to see!

[luke-o 0]

Wait, the Chef episode was on there but the Warcraft episode was left out?

 

I hate warcraft, that show mocks warcraft. Its great in my books.