The first entry is a football show, so consider these my final power rankings for the 2008-09 TV season (only returning series are included, as a canceled show would be the equivalent of a franchise that folded).
1. “Friday Night Lights” (DirecTV and NBC) — I’m glad it’ll be back, and I’m kind of stunned it’ll be back. Here’s a rare example of a network going out of its way to support a good show; this past year, NBC split the cost and profits with DirecTV, and apparently it worked out. (In a more recent example, NBC worked out an advertising deal with Subway to keep “Chuck” on the air; it’s nice to see creative solutions like this in a tough economy — although it means that Subway will eventually take over America. But that’s OK because they make tasty sandwiches.)
Season 3 was the series’ best, featuring wrap-up arcs for Smash, Street, Saracen and Riggins. The football stuff is actually the weakest element (there’s a disconnect, for example, between Riggins lazing around in his apartment and bowling people over on the field). But the everyday stuff makes “FNL” TV’s best show; topical highlights included Street flipping a house (risky) and the Taylors thinking about buying a house (also risky, because there aren’t many more unstable jobs than Texas high school football coach, as Eric found out).
Up next: Eric will take the reins of newly minted East Dillon High, so the Panthers will become the enemy. “FNL” has done a few silly things (Remember when Eric quit for a while, then came back? Or when the players built a football field in one week?), but this is a cool twist.
2. “Fringe” (Fox) — It’s an absolute joy to watch the elder and younger Bishops and the FBI agents crack cases, and to see what kind of cracked cases the writers come up with.
Up next: “Fringe” explores the alternate reality that William Bell has been living in, and asks “How would the 2000s have unfolded if there had been no 9/11 attack?”
3. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (Cartoon Network) — Criticize the prequels all you want, but at their best, they were fast-paced fun. “Clone Wars,” fortunately, is only interested in the best parts of those movies. In other words, these are the kind of political negotiations that are performed with lightsabers.
Up next: The possibilities are endless, except that the tales will eventually butt up against “Episode III” — hopefully later rather than sooner.
4. “The Office” (NBC) — A season of new classics included Casual Friday, the Michael Scott Paper Company, Café Disco and the company picnic.
Up next: Pam and Jim have a baby, and “The Office” jumps the shark. Actually, I think TV’s best comedy could even survive a baby.
5. “Gossip Girl” (The CW) — Josh Schwartz’s previous show, “The O.C.,” collapsed during its second season, but “Gossip Girl” sidestepped that fate. It basically stuck with what works, concluding with Chuck’s long-overdue admission that he loves Blair.
Up next: We find out how being lovey-dovey changes our favorite human/porcupine hybrids. Also, Georgina becomes Blair’s roommate. Michelle Trachtenberg has a new medical drama (yech), but “GG” will hopefully shoehorn Georgina into as many episodes as they can.
6. “Dollhouse” (Fox) — A cool, high concept series with a lot of old Joss Whedon favorites, including Eliza Dushku and Amy Acker. So far, it’s Whedon’s weakest show, but that still puts it ahead of 90 percent of what’s on TV.
Up next: I’d like to see “Dollhouse” become what it was originally pitched to be: An acting showcase for Dushku.
7. “Medium” (switching from NBC to CBS) — This is probably the least cool show that I’ve ever seen every episode of, but I like it anyway. I’ll leave it at that for now, and defend “Medium” further after the season finale (9 p.m. Central Monday on NBC).
Up next: More crime solving via dreams, I imagine.
8-10. “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” (Fox) and “Law & Order” (NBC) — I’m glad I can take for granted that these three veterans will return every fall.
Up next: It doesn’t bode well for our culture that two shows that make fun of the human race and one show about murder never run out of fresh material. But it does bode well for quality TV.
Did I snub “Lost” and “24?” Sure, they’re flawed, but are they top 10 material anyway? How about “Heroes?” “American Idol?” What else should be on this list? Here’s your chance to defend your favorite shows.