Best TV Shows Period

Action/suspense/thriller. Take "Ocean's 11" mix that with "Robin Hood" and you get "Leverage." This show is intelligent, action packed, funny, exciting, and yet holds itself back from becoming a stereotype of any one genre. Well worth the investment of your time.

Murder/mystery. Smart and witty "The Mentalist" plays out like many other good detective shows, namely Monk, Columbo, Psych (it borrows from these three without becoming a clone). However, there is a dark side to this show as the shows hero (The Mentalist of the shows title) is hunting down a serial killer called Red John who killed his wife and son and who unfortunately is always one step ahead of him.

Murder/mystery/comedy. Funnier than most sit-com's, this show mixes the tried and tested detective formula with liberal helpings of laugh out loud humor. If you like stupid college and slapstick humor with loads of 1980's references thrown in for good measure you'll love "Psych."

Sci-fi. Cheesy, cheap, and cheerful, this remake of the original "Doctor Who" is the best of British. It's a shame David Tennant moved on after season 4 as he was for me the best Doctor ever! Oh well, from what I've seen and heard the new guy is pretty good. Lots of great sci-fi story lines and therein lies this shows strength.

Murder/mystery. One of the best detective shows of all time... one par with the best that "Columbo" had to offer. At times Mr Monk could be just plain annoying, but that was the point. A detective show with a difference, the main character Mr Monk has OCD. This makes for an enjoyable and quirky detective show.

Sci-fi. Off the wall hit about a town of geniuses and the ordinary sheriff who always saved the day when disaster looms... which is in every episode. Funny and well thought out sci-fi for the discerning fan of this genre.

Action/thriller/sci-fi. One my favorite shows "The Pretender" was a clever mix of action, thriller, and sci-fi. Earlier episodes are reminiscent of "Quantum Leap" "Early Edition" and the like, in that the shows hero sets about helping those in need. However, the shows back story take more a center stage in later seasons and that's when it comes into it's own.

Action/comedy/sci-fi. Awesome! That's the one word I would use to describe this show. Right from the start I knew this show was going to be something special. If you looking for a good show, one that will keep you entertained with no filler episodes, then check out "Chuck." Awesome!!!

Murder/mystery. Nathan Fillion ("Firefly" see below) is back on the small screen in yet another amazing show. He may have given up his space cowboy outfit for a tailored suit, but Fillion's wicked sense and boyish charm of humor continue to shine through.

Sci-fi/western. One season!?! Seriously, what was Fox thinking. I wasn't too sure of a space cowboy adventure but by the end of the series I was hooked. Nathan Fillion starts as the shows hero who is reminiscent of a certain Mr Han Solo, but with a wicked sense of humor. Throw in the fact that Adam Baldwin ("Chuck") plays his usual grunting self and you have a winning combo. Cancelled way too soon "Firefly" was followed up by the brilliant movie "Serenity" in 2005.

Fantasy. Set in the days of ancient lore, "Merlin" is like the "Smallville" of the ancient world. For a BBC produced show the FX are very good, but as with anything produced by the 'Beeb' the writing is this shows strength.

Action/adventure. If James Bond and Jason Bourne had a love child then you would get Christopher Chance, the hero of this show. Lots of action, there is a fight in every episode, this show rocks. Some of the episodes are a little weak, but hey what show doesn't have weak ep's?

Comedy. Still one of the best sit-com's ever! Funny, sarcastic, witty, and even slapstick humor is on offer here, but it's the deep loving relationship's that hold this show together and make it one of the most poignant shows to ever air.

Sci-fi/thriller. Based on the novel of the same title by Stephen King I hated the 1983, movie but loved this show. Sure it's a little cheesy in places and there are some episodes that were extremely weak, but at the end of the day the show works. Dark and foreboding, yet hopeful, this show lasted six seasons.

Sci-fi. This show was amazing. The premise was very simple, yet brilliant - 4400 people who were abducted by "aliens" are returned to earth, each with a special power. The show lasted 4 seasons and to be honest could have gone on for at least a couple more.

Drama/comedy. I love this quirky little show from Britain. It's about a big city doctor who goes to live and work in a small seaside town; the quirkiness comes from the fact that he suffers from hemophilia (fear of blood). As a Brit I totally got this show, but I know some of my friends here in North America didn't get it at all.

Legal drama/spiritual. "Eli Stone" takes the familiar idea of helping those in need and mixes it with a legal drama then adds in spirituality. Oh, and then there's those song and dance routines. Sounds like it shouldn't work but it does, and well. I was sad to see Mr Stone go away never to grace our screens again, but at least we have 2 wonderful seasons to watch again and again.

Sci-fi/thriller/drama. Pre-destination vs. free will. A huge subject to cover in a TV show, but FF did it well. I was PO'd at the end because they left so many loose ends and more questions which they probably would have gotten to if they had filmed a second season. A good example (like "Firefly") that studios don't know a classic when it bites them on the ass.

Sci-fi/drama/thriller. One of the few Canadian shows I own, this show borrows much from many places but makes it work. A little dark and deals with subject matter that most other shows tend to shy away from. Not my favorite, but worthy of a mention.

Sci-fi/drama. Dr Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished! And thus began one of the all time best shows. A heartfelt and warm show that got better as it progressed through it's 5 seasons. A classic to be sure.

Sci-fi. Similar to the brilliant show "Quantum Leap" in that the Sliders help those in need on their travels. The big difference is that they aren't jumping from time to time they are 'sliding' between parallel worlds. The early episodes are a little weak and show really takes off in season 3.

Sci-fi. I love the Stargate franchise. The first of three shows that follow the adventures of a team of 'off-world' explorers who use the Stargate to travel to world's throughout space. Lost steam around season 8 but as a whole worth watching.

Sci-fi. In my books this was far superior to SG1 in that it has stronger characters, better bad guys, and is way funnier. If you loved SG1 you'll love this!

Sci-fi. Stargate in name only. This show is more Battlestar Galactica than SG1 of Atlantis. Saying that, it did grow on me and by the end of season 1 I was hooked. More adult oriented than SG1 and Atlantis.

Comedy. Classic comedy with many memorable moments.

Comedy. Funny and surprisingly touching this show focuses on a family living in Chicago. Some episodes were just plain weak, but most of them were laugh out loud funny.

Action/thriller. I for one loved this remake of the 1960's show. I was shocked when it didn't come back for a second season as it had all the right elements to make a long lived show - action, thrills, good story-lines, great acting, and heart.

Leave it to the Brits to come up with a show in which dinosaurs roam modern day England. Havoc and mayhem ensue as a plucky band of dino-hunters save the day again and again...

Think X-Files lite mixed with Indiana Jones lite and you get what this show is like. Good fun; no big shocks or genre altering storylines... just good fun!

Without doubt one of the funniest things ever to grace the TV screen. John Cleese is brilliant as the OTT hotel owner Basil Fawlty. A classic in every sense.