NDSU Spectrum: Top 10 TV shows of 2002

‘Futurama’ among last beacons of TV’s golden age

By JOHN HANSEN

Dec. 13, 2002

The golden age of television seems to be coming to close. Several of TV’s best shows were cancelled in May (including three on this list), and Matt Groening’s “Futurama” is merely burning off unaired episodes from previous seasons before it ends in May. It might also be the last season for Joss Whedon’s “Buffy,” and his “Firefly” is probably doomed in its Friday time slot. At least “Law & Order” and “The Simpsons” should be around for awhile.

1. “Futurama” (Seasons 4-5, Fox)

It’s amazing what you can get away with when you’re an animated show constantly being preempted by football. Nary an episode goes by without something inexplicably bizarre happening — i.e. Hermes and Dr. Farnsworth playing chess naked in the background of a scene. “Futurama” also offers up poignant stories, as with the episode about the dog Fry left behind in the 20th Century.

“Where No Fan Has Gone Before,” featuring the universe’s biggest Star Trek fan (an obnoxious energy cloud) and most of the original Trek cast, was “Futurama” at its finest. It’s a shame that this season, consisting entirely of episodes that Fox didn’t run the last two seasons, will be the series’ last.

2. “Once and Again” (Season 3, ABC)

The understated performances and sweeping emotions of Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz’s masterpiece are sorely missed on TV since its cruel cancellation by ABC. The three struggling and/or forbidden romances of the final weeks were among the series’ best plot lines. Sela Ward, Shane West, Evan Rachael Wood and Mischa Barton were the elite among TV’s best cast.

3. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (Seasons 6-7, UPN)

Joss Whedon’s larger-than-life drama turned inward in 2002, as the drama came from characters’ personal failures. “Normal Again” was an excellent distillation of Buffy’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) inner turmoil and “Grave,” where Xander (Nicholas Brendon) saved Willow (Alyson Hannigan) with his love, was a nice season finale. The geek trio was an entertaining set of villains, and the ominous First Evil (introduced in Season 3’s “Amends”) looks to be an epic baddie for the gang to face. James Marsters as Spike and Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn continue to do amazing work, which bodes well if Whedon decides to create another spin-off.

4. “Law & Order” (Seasons 12-13, NBC)

Dick Wolf’s incredibly consistent law franchise enjoyed perhaps its finest year yet, tapping into terrorist paranoia and other ripped-from-the-headlines themes. The current lineup is “L&O’s” best ever: Jesse Martin and Elisabeth Rohm are finally grasping the lightning-fast acting style and Fred Dalton Thompson, as DA Arthur Branch, is a master scenery-chewer with an ego that gives Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) some competition.

5. “Firefly” (Season 1, Fox)

In the first half-season of his space Western, Joss Whedon has laid down the foundation for a sci-fi mythology that might some day be as rich as “Buffy” and “Angel.” But it’s the simpler charms of the homey spaceship and the backwater Old West settlements that have carried the show so far. The cast, notably Jewel Staite, Nathan Fillion and Adam Baldwin, have embraced the challenge of their complex, colorful roles.

6. “The Simpsons” (Seasons 13-14, Fox)

The past year saw Matt Groening’s masterpiece unleash iconic story ideas such as Angry Dad, the wilderness retreat, the infamous trip to Brazil (Fox was sued by Brazil’s tourism board), medicinal marijuana (complete with a prescription bong) and Homer’s rock ‘n roll camp. “The Simpsons” is one reason it’s still OK to, as Bart put it, “suckle off the six-network teat.”

7. “Gilmore Girls” (Seasons 2-3, The WB)

Amy Sherman-Palladino’s unique creation took some risks, but also played it safe, in 2002. The writers are almost daring viewers to dislike Rory (Alexis Bledel) after her decision to dump loyal boyfriend Dean (Jared Padalecki) for rebel Jess (Milo Ventimiglia). And Lorelai (Lauren Graham) is going through the torture of seeing her should-be husband Christopher marry another woman (who also happens to be unbearably annoying, causing the viewer to sympathize with Chris as well). Meanwhile, the humor (Lorelai is forced to eat “tofurkey” at Thanksgiving) and the fact that the title characters never mature helps make the show a mainstream hit.

8. “Roswell” (Season 3, UPN)

It’s not hard to understand why Jason Katims’ show built up the most loyal cult following on TV: “Roswell” boasted an attractive cast of young characters and an appealing location, and the scripts were always good, occasionally great. The final episodes did a nice job of wrapping up the epic romance between Max (Jason Behr) and Liz (Shiri Appleby) and giving the gang a suitable ride off into the sunset. “Smallville” will no doubt be ripping off “Roswell” for years to come.

9. “24” (Seasons 1-2, Fox)

Even in the somewhat predictable terrorist-fighting action genre, the stylish “24” gets the job done with the masterful way it blends its plot lines, utilizes split screens and keeps pounding home the suspense with a booming “tick, tick, tick.” I questioned the decision to kill off Jack’s wife in the Season 1 finale, until I saw the new, cynical version of Jack Bauer this season. Kiefer Sutherland carries the show, but supporting players like Dennis Haysbert and Elisha Cuthbert are also a joy to watch.

10. “The X-Files” (Season 9, Fox)

OK, so Chris Carter’s show had some clunkers in its final season, opting to kill off the Lone Gunmen and hit us with the not-so-climactic revelation that the alien invasion is coming … in 10 years. Nonetheless, those final episodes saw Agents Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Reyes (Annabeth Gish) gelling as partners (and perhaps as a romantic couple), and the supersoldier plot line was starting to get interesting. And as always, we got some crackerjack stand-alones like the mind-bending “Joe Doe,” the compelling “Release” and the happy “Sunshine Days.” I really miss this show.