The 5 Best Shows on TV Right Now

1. Weeds

Yes, I’ve written about Weeds before (see Weeds: The Best Show Ever Made, which was quoted on the official Weeds website), but I can’t help but continue to sing its praises. This show’s writers are fantastic at getting characters, especially our hapless lady protagonist, out of seemingly impossible situations, but seriously, after watching the finale of the third season, I have no idea how in the world they’ll be able to continue the story. No spoilers here, it’s not that kind of website, but let it suffice to say that the fourth season premiere is going to be something to watch. Also, Justin Kirk is hot.

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(Photo courtesy of Showtime)

2. House

I just want the same things every girl wants — marriage, a house, to marry TV’s House — is that too much to ask? It isn’t much of a secret that I find Hugh Laurie to be something of a dreamboat (see my article “Hugh Laurie is a dreamboat” if you don’t believe me), so it should come as no surprise that I am a faithful viewer of the medical dramedy House. But guess what? As if I didn’t already need to turn on the TV every Tuesday night at nine prepared with a drool rag in one hand and a jar of smelling salts in the other, now those diabolical studio heads have gone and added my other heartthrob of the moment to the mix! I am referring, of course, to sexy Kal Penn.

(photo courtesy of DesiClub.com)

Thank you, FOX. Thank you.

3. MANswers

Just when I thought that no TV show would ever fill the hole that Max X left in my heart when it went off the air, along came Spike TV’s MANswers. If Maxim were a TV show, this would be it. It attempts to answer the really tough questions, like “Are women with fake boobs hornier?” And as if that wasn’t enough, all the while they provide sassy commentary that sounds suspiciously like the voice-over on Max X. Whatever you do, don’t miss the opening credits — they’re just amazing, a testosterone-oozing, quasi-surrealist collage of symbols of manhood, such as a chainsaw and fire. It really has to be seen to be believed. Sheer genius.

4. Big Love

Yeah, I know, Season 2 wasn’t so great, and the writers really need to leave the plot twists to 24 and focus on the relationships that made us want to watch the show in the first place, but it’s still one of the most daring shows on TV, and I think it’s making a lot of people wonder what they saw in monogamy in the first place. At least, I hope so. I read a while back that quite a lot of actual polygamists (many of them Mormon or of a related sect) watch the show, ahem, religiously, and that makes me really happy, that they are finally being represented in a fair way on TV. This show is like the Will and Grace of the poly community!

Oh, and I almost forgot, David Byrne does the original music for the show now. David Byrne! This is clearly a show after my own heart.

5. 30 Rock

It took a little under a decade, but I’m finally starting to like Tina Fey. Mean Girls made me give her a second chance, but 30 Rock sealed the deal. I really can’t say anything bad about this show, except it sucks that they didn’t let Rachel Dratch play the role she was originally given. I’m not surprised, but it sucks. Oh well, NBC isn’t known for making good decisions, or even decisions that make a lick of sense, goddammit!*

*Full disclosure: Laura has applied for several dozen jobs and internships at NBC and has been summarily rejected every time. Plus, the head writer at Passions never responded to her fan mail. Stupid James E. Reilly.