Television has changed tremendously since the beginning of the new millennium almost ten years ago. Today, it seems as if everyone has TiVo or DVR, and everywhere you look there are advertisements for new high-definition televisions. Yet, the biggest changes in television in the past decade are the shows themselves. Although we witnessed some of the classics like Friends and Will & Grace come to an end, we also enjoyed the birth of several new hit shows. In order to pay homage to this momentous decade in television, I have attempted to recount some of the best television shows of the decade according to their genre.
Reality
Survivor- First broadcasted in May of 2000 on CBS, Survivor is a show in which a group of strangers are marooned on a tropical and often desolate location, and they must provide for themselves while also competing in challenges in order to keep from being voted off the show. In the end, the winner earns the title of “Sole Survivor” and gets a million dollar prize. Survivor has consistently remained one of the most popular and highest rated reality TV shows to date, and it is currently on its nineteenth season.
American Idol- American Idol first debuted on FOX in 2002, and it is a show in which nation-wide auditions are held in order to find a new singing sensation. This show has given us amazing performers such as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks, and it has been so successful since its debut that numerous video games have been made after it. Additionally, it has even propelled the careers of contestants who did not win such as Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson. Originally, the show began with a panel of three judges including Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul, but, last season, a new judge, Kara DioGuardi was introduced. For its ninth season, the show will go through even more changes as Paula Abdul will be leaving the show to be replaced by Ellen DeGeneres.
Medicine
House- Premiering on FOX in 2004, House focuses primarily on Dr. Gregory House and his team of associates who try to solve strange medical cases that no one else can. Portrayed by the brilliant Hugh Laurie, Dr. House is a man who is addicted to the prescription pain killer, vicodin, who does not get along well with his superiors, and who often has very unconventional ways of treating his patients. In the typical episode, a patient is brought to see Dr. House with a strange illness that no one else has been able to diagnose. House and his team search frantically to find a cure for the patient, often treating them for the wrong disease. Thus, the patient’s condition only worsens until it has become critical, at which point House steps in to save the day. By introducing new characters and radical storylines, House has remained a very popular show and is currently on its sixth season.
Grey’s Anatomy-Grey’s Anatomy debuted on ABC in 2004, and it originally centered on five surgical interns: Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Izzie Stevens, Alex Karev, and George O’Malley. These five interns reported to their surgical resident, Miranda Bailey, while being overseen by chief of surgery, Richard Webber, and they worked closely with neurosurgeon, Derek Shepherd, cardiac surgeon, Preston Burke, orthopedic surgeon, Callie Torres, neonatal surgeon, Addison Montgomery, and plastic surgeon, Mark Sloan. Throughout the seasons, several new characters have been introduced to the show, while others, such as George O’Malley, have left it. Yet, despite the numerous changes, Grey’s Anatomy is still a very popular show and is currently on its sixth season.
Crime and Action
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS in 2000, and it follows Las Vegas criminologists as they try to solve gruesome murders. Immensely popular and immediately well-accepted, CBS decided to capitalize on the success of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation by introducing spin-offs such as CSI: New York and CSI: Miami. Each spin-off contains a different cast, but the general plot remains the same. Currently, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is on its tenth season, while CSI: New York is on its sixth, and CSI: Miami is on its eighth.
Bones- Bones debuted on FOX in 2005, and it based on the life of forensic anthropologist, Kathy Reichs. The show centers on Dr. Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute, and FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth as they work together to try to solve murder cases in which the only thing they have to go on are bones. Other characters that are important to solving these cases include Jack Hodgins, entomologist, Angela Montenegro, forensic artist, Lance Sweets, psychologist, and Camille Saroyan, coroner and Head of the Forensic Division at the Jeffersonian. Bones has consistently brought in good ratings for FOX, and it is currently on its fifth season.
24- 24 first aired on FOX in 2001, and each season depicts a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, a man who works with the United States government to help fight different terrorist threats against the United States. The first six seasons were all based in Los Angeles and other nearby areas in California with small portions taking place in Washington, D.C. Despite the postponing of the seventh season of 24 due to the Writers Guild of America Strike in 2008, fans remained loyal to the show, and they are currently awaiting the eighth season of 24 that will premiere on January 17, 2010.
Science Fiction
Lost- Lost first debuted on ABC in 2004, and it follows the lives of plane crash survivors on a mysterious, tropical island. Each episode typically features a primary storyline with a secondary storyline about a certain character’s life using a flashback or flashforward. While seasons one through three focused on developing each character and the history of the island, season four focused on why the characters needed to leave the island, and season five focused on what happened once they did and why they needed to return. Although Lost has kept a predominantly loyal fan base, some viewers have criticized the show for its strange concepts and storylines. Yet, show producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse promise answers for all Lost fans in the show’s sixth and final season premiering on February 2, 2010.
Comedy
TheOffice- The Office debuted on NBC in 2005, and it was developed from the British version of the show for American viewers by Greg Daniels. The Office centers on the paper company Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and it is often referred to as a “mockumentary” because it is shot like a documentary in which the characters openly acknowledge and speak to the camera. These characters make the show as good as it is, and they are the main reason it has been so popular for so long. Currently, The Office is on its sixth season.
Family Guy- Family Guy, created by Seth MacFarlane, originally debuted on FOX in 2000, but after its third season ended in 2003, the network cancelled the series. Yet, due to an impressive number of rerun viewers and DVD sales, FOX decided to renew the series in 2004. Family Guy centers on the Griffin family including Peter, Lois, Chris, Meg, Stewie, and Brian, and probably one of the most entertaining parts of the show is Stewie Griffin, Peter and Lois’ diabolical and deliciously evil infant who wants to take over the world. Since its renewal, Family Guy has maintained an impressive number of viewers and is currently on its eighth season, and it has even produced its own spin-off called The Cleveland Show.
