Let me set the scene for you: I’m sitting at home, enjoying my last vacation day of 2008, when it hits me like a ton of bricks — I totally forgot to tell you what/who rocked my casbah in TV this past year. So in the spirit of getting the job done before the clock strikes midnight, I’ll dispense with formal commentary and just give it to you straight. But feel free to justify my selections for me in the comments section.
Best Drama Series: The Shield
Runners-up: Friday Night Lights, Lost, Gossip Girl, Mad Men, True Blood, Life on Mars, and Eli Stone
Best Comedy Series: Chuck
Runners-up: Little Britain USA, The Big Bang Theory, The Office, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, How I Met Your Mother, and Family Guy
Best Lead Actor in a Drama: Michael Chiklis/The Shield
Runner-up: Kyle Chandler/Friday Night Lights
Best Lead Actress in a Drama: Connie Britton/Friday Night Lights
Runner-up: January Jones/Mad Men
Best Lead Actress in a Comedy: Kaley Cuoco/The Big Bang Theory
Runner-up: America Ferrera/Ugly Betty
Best Lead Actor in a Comedy: Jim Parsons/The Big Bang Theory
Runner-up: Zachary Levi/Chuck
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama: Walton Goggins/The Shield
Runner-up: Michael Emerson/Lost
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Lisa Edelstein/House
Runners-up: CCH Pounder/The Shield and Leighton Meester/Gossip Girl
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Neil Patrick Harris/How I Met Your Mother
Runner-up: Michael Urie/Ugly Betty
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Amy Ryan/The Office
Runners-up: Ana Ortiz and Vanessa Williams/Ugly Betty
Agree with all my picks, or only certain ones? Did I forget anything/anyone? Interested in sharing your own best-of list with the AF crowd? Get thee to the comments section at once. Time’s running out!
More Best/Worst:
Ken Tucker’s top 10 of ‘08
The best episodes of ‘08
Comments (1-30) of 371 Add your comment
Best Actor in a comedy?? ALEC BALDWIN. Bet the bank (if it is still in business).
No HIMYM?
Great pics Mike. I really hope the Emmys honor The Shield.
Someone really has to explain what is so great about Ugly Betty. I’ve tried watching the show again and again and again with my girlfriend and I can’t understand what is so good about it?
Never any love for the boys at Supernatural.
Thank you so much for making Chuck your favorite comedy, it is so under-rated!!!! I love it, my other faves are The Office and 30 Rock!! Love Amy Ryan!
What about Itty-Bitty as best supporting actress in a comedy (aka Kristen Chenowith)
No Tina Fey or Julia Louis-Dreyfus for best actress in a comedy? Seriously? Not even as a runner-up?
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama: Lisa Edelstein/House
Score! Lisa is underrated, I’m glad SOMEONE acknowledges her talent.
Yes! Jim Parsons! Sheldon is the best!
Lisa Edesltein as best supporting actress! I think you’re giving her too much credit, she’s average at most.
Thank you for recognizing Eli Stone. I am still sad that it has been canceled. I wrote to the ABC last year to keep it. I am a lady with a brain cancer tumor and I love watching the guy on TV with the brain aneurysm.
No Dexter for best drama. I liked Trublood as much as you do but it isnt on par with Dexter. And the fact Gossip Girl is in there instead of Dexter is absurd. Having said that, the props to Big Bang Theory makes up for the previously mentioned transgression.
I was filled with chair-jumping joy to see “Chuck” as your favorite comedy. It quickly turned to bat-wielding anger seeing Michael Emerson as runner-up in Best Supporting Actor: Drama territory.
Ausiello, you never let me down. But this?!? Nobody puts Ben in the corner…
What about Hugh Laurie and House???!!!! Props to Lisa E though. I agree she gets overshadowed a lot, truth is she is the best female lead on the show altogether I LOVE HER!!
Where is Kristin Chenoweth in the Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy category?!? She is much funnier (and cuter) than Amy Ryan(although she is also funny)
Lisa Edelstein is such an amazing actress…she definitely deserves attention for her fabulous work!
Kaley Cuoco in a best comedy actress of the year award? Is this column now being written by the writers of Grey’s Anatomy?
Thanks Ausiello! I’m glad to see you picked some people and shows that usually don’t make the typical Emmy list. And probably won’t make the 2009 Emmy list. Thanks for acknowledging Chuck! The show is so cute and funny. Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Great to see “Chuck” get the nod. I really love that show…I hope it survives. Jim Parsons and “The Big Bang Theory” are great as well. Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock anyone?
Oh my gosh yay!! Lisa Edelstein ROCKS! I’m so glad that she finally got acknowledged for her kick-ass acting!! Lisa all the way!!
LOVE the Friday Night Lights shout outs. I don’t know how to get more people to watch that show – but EVERYONE should!!! It never ever disappoints, but unfortunately never seems to get the credit it so deserves. For a show that is primarily made up of teens, Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler FINALLY make the parents’ storyline just as interesting as the kids’ stories. And if nothing else, just watch it for Taylor Kitsch.
Not even a final nod for Boston Legal!
SO psyched that you picked Chuck as your fav comedy series. That show is AWESOME and so under-appreciated!
You forgot The Wire!
*sob*
Michael!! I so totally agree with you with Chuck! It’s so underrated, it drives me crazy. I am all over Kaley Couco as actress…She is a freaking hoot. And, as for Jim Parsons and Zachari Levi..DEAD ON my brotha
*shriek* Aussie, you remembered Chuck! Seriously, how do we get more people to watch this show?! Wait, wait, I know . . . RELEASE THE CASEY.
LOST!!!! Best drama….hands down!!! Michael Emerson….best supporting actor!!!!!
These choices are not at all what I expected. hmmm.. strange.
You are revving up my New Year with Chuck love! Thanks Ausiello!!
Thanks so much for the Chuck love! That show has it all: comedy, action, romantic chemistry, family drama, friend drama. And it just makes me smile! Watch, people, watch!