1.  Parks and Recreation: I did not enjoy this show in its first season. It was always all about “the pit” and getting rid of the pit. I adore Amy Poehler, but her role seemed a bit too Michael Scott-esque to me. However, whatever happened during the off-season was fantastic. Season two has been hilarious. The pit has taken a secondary role, and each character has had a chance to develop and grow. I didn’t care for Andy in the first season, but he has become one of my favorites. I think this show deserves a ton of recognition for really stepping up its game. It is a show I look forward to every week.

2. Lost: This past season has been phenomenal. Time changing, Dharma goodness, Hurley’s hilarious questions…it’s all been great. The creators are brilliant, and I have faith that they know exactly what they are doing and that the series finale is going to blow our minds.

3. How I Met Your Mother: This year has had such great episodes as The Playbook and The Front Porch (I will never forget how hard I laughed at suitjamas). While this show can have its up and downs, every episode makes me happy. And any excuse to watch Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) wax poetic about his “bro code” and “lemon laws” is great in my opinion.

4. The Office: Season 5 started off (in ’08) with the Jim and Pam proposal, and ended on a pregnancy. And season 6 had one of the best episodes of The Office ever with the Jim/Pam wedding. It was perfect in so many ways–hilarious but also showed us what we have been wanting for 6 years. I may have watched the boat scene upwards of 10 times. The show is at its best truly brilliant, and it has been a great season thus far. I can’t wait to see more.

5. Party Down: This show on Starz Network has garnered quite a following for itself. Created by Rob Thomas (of Veronica Mars fame) it stars many of his VM colleagues, and is truly fantastic. It is a hilarious and wonderful portrayal of a catering company in Los Angeles, and its employees who clearly want to be more than just cater waiters. It returns for a 2nd season in 2010, where Kristen Bell will be back, and Megan Mullally joins the cast. This is a show you must see! Catch up with it on DVD before season 2 begins.

6. In Treatment: I fell in love with this show on DVD. When it returned for a 2nd season, I was incredibly excited. It is brilliant and innovative, and you feel like you are going through therapy with each episode and character. I truly wish I could see Dr. Weston. Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest and the entire cast are brilliant. There was talk of it only being two seasons because the Israeli series it is based on (Bei Tipul) only had that number. But thankfully, it returns in 2010 for Season 3 on HBO, so be sure to look out for it.

7. Glee: It has been a really long time since a show made me quite as happy as Glee does, which is quite fitting given the name. Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk are creative geniuses who cast some of the most talented actors I have ever seen, and created one of the most unique shows out there. It will be a long winter without new episodes, but I will most likely be buying the DVD the day it goes on sale. Lea Michele’s voice and talent is unstoppable, and the rest of the cast is fantastic as well. I truly cannot wait until April.

8. Modern Family: This mockumentary style comedy was one of my favorite pilots of the fall season, and it has continued to live up to my high expectations. Each part of the family is hilarious in their own right, and I will never forget Fizbo the Clown, the Lion King moment, the ice dancing routine, and when Luke got shot by Phil. What makes it truly spectacular though is that at heart, it’s about a family. Even in its crazy, dysfunctional state, the family always comes together at the end. It is full of as many touching moments as it is funny ones, and I love it for that.

9. The Good Wife: I really enjoyed this pilot in the fall as well, and even in its first season, it has earned a place on my best of 09 list. It is very different from other law shows out there. Juliana Margulies makes a great leading lady, and I also love Archie Panjabi (Kalinda). With each episode, we learn more about Chris Noth’s character, and the law firm. I think it has a bright future ahead of it, and I hope to see more great episodes in 2010.

10. True Blood: Season 1 stuck mainly to the first book (with a few exceptions), and while Season 2 kept to Book 2 in some respects it also branched out quite a bit. I love Vampires…so this book series and TV series are quite wonderful. There is some fantastic acting, and lovely looking vampires, and I can’t wait for its return!

Honorable Mentions: V, White Collar, The Biggest Loser, The Vampire Diaries, Make it or Break It, and Secret Life of the American Teenager: All shows I loved and enjoyed, and would be on the best of 09 list if I had a list of 20.

Take a look at the list of (most) Television nominees and my thoughts:

BEST TV SERIES – DRAMA

• Big Love
• Dexter
• House
• Mad Men
• True Blood

I think most of these are good choices. Noticeably absent however, is Lost.

BEST ACTOR – TV DRAMA SERIES

• Simon Baker, The Mentalist
• Michael C. Hall, Dexter
• Jon Hamm, Mad Men
• Hugh Laurie, House
• Bill Paxton, Big Love

I support all these choices. They are all good leading men.

BEST ACTRESS – TV DRAMA SERIES

• Glenn Close, Damages
• January Jones, Mad Men
• Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
• Anna Paquin, True Blood
• Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

I adore Kyra Sedgwick, so I am happy to see her get a nod. Julianna Margulies has been wonderful in The Good Wife, so that nomination is well deserved. And Anna Paquin is just great in True Blood. Although where is Mariska Hargitay?

BEST COMEDY SERIES

• 30 Rock
• Entourage
• Glee
• Modern Family
• The Office

So, so, so, so, so glad Glee and Modern Family are on this list. Perhaps the 30 Rock era is done? Not that I have anything against the show, I am just so totally in love with Glee and Modern Family. I’m going to pick Glee to win by a narrow margin. The only series I would have liked to see up there is Parks and Recreation. They have had an amazing second season, and they deserve some recognition.

BEST ACTRESS – TV COMEDY

• Toni Collette, United States of Tara
• Courteney Cox, Cougar Town
• Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
• Tina Fey, 30 Rock
• Lea Michele, Glee

Lea Michele — for the win! I’m glad to see Cougartown represented there, and United States of Tara, but Lea Michele is unstoppable. I sense an Emmy nomination in her future.

BEST ACTOR – TV COMEDY

• Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
• Steve Carell, The Office
• David Duchovny, Californication
• Thomas Jane, Hung
• Matthew Morrison, Glee

I am so excited for Glee! I want to pick Matthew Morrison to win, but he is in a category with Steve Carell and Alec Baldwin, so I say it’s anyone’s game.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS- SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

• Jane Adams, Hung
• Rose Byrne, Damages
• Jane Lynch, Glee
• Janet McTeer, Into the Storm
• Chloe Sevigny, Big Love

The nominees are truly wonderful. But if the Hollywood Foreign Press doesn’t honor Jane Lynch for her comedic genius, I’m pretty sure I may swear off the show next year. (Who am I kidding, I’d never do that–but I am clearly rooting for Lynch here)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE

• Michael Emerson, Lost
• Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother
• William Hurt, Damages
• John Lithgow, Dexter

My heart wants Neil Patrick Harris to win. I absolutely adore How I Met Your Mother. However, John Lithgow is amazing on Dexter. We shall see!

Overall thoughts: I have been writing about Glee since Day 1. It feels so great to see it honored at the Golden Globes. Lea Michele and Jane Lynch are so incredibly talented (as is Matthew Morrison), and I can’t wait to see them recognized. Also, if Lea wanted to sing Don’t Rain On My Parade, I would have no objections. Modern Family has been one of my favorite comedies since the pilot. I wish it were nominated for more than just Best Comedy Series, but I’ll take it. Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell will get their nominations one day. I think that overall, I like most of the nominations. I think Ricky Gervais will make it an interesting night, and I can’t wait to see who wins. (But a preliminary congratulations to Lea Michele…)

However, there was an ongoing blogger debate earlier this week about “Glee,” stemmed from this article. The article’s main point was that the show relies on stereotypes and they need more depth of character. Some TV critics agreed with the article, saying they loved the musical numbers, but not the over-the-top drama. Others were saying that they could do without some of the characters. But for me, this show is pretty close to perfect. I understand that it can be over-the-top, but how did you feel in high school? I felt like little things could be the end of the world. And that feeling is portrayed perfectly through the main characters on Glee. Yes, they do spontaneously burst out in song (but hey, who doesn’t?), and sometimes Sandy is just too much for words. But deep down, Glee is charming and wonderful. Not to mention full of extremely talented actors and singers, that each week leave me eagerly anticipating the next episode. I am loyal to a number of shows, but there are few that I must watch that night no matter what time I get home from work, and Glee is one of them. So keep doing what you’re doing, Ryan Murphy and all the creative staff. You are brilliant!

And because I know you need to watch these videos over and over again until next week, please enjoy!

Glee cast sings Keep Holding On:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGUuhXnSXvg&hl=en&fs=1&]

Glee cast sings No Air:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so7knu1djB8&hl=en&fs=1&]

In addition, throughout the entire episode, Finn is trying to convince Rachel to come back to Glee by shamelessly flirting with her. He wants to get a college scholarship for music, and the only way Glee can win regionals is with Rachel. In the end, she comes back to Glee and quits the musical, but not without her (and the rest of Glee) finding out about Quinn’s baby. The ending number is “Somebody to Love,” where Mercedes (Amber Riley) ends it on a note that will take your breath away.

Glee very clearly understands what viewers wants to see, and knows how to leave the audience wanting more. While I was wishing for a big Lea Michele solo song (because how amazing were her renditions of “Take a Bow” and “Taking Chances”), this episode was still fantastic. I can’t wait to see more guest stars and more incredible duets.

Glee airs every Wednesday on FOX at 9 pm.

And in case you missed the stunning duet of “Maybe This Time,” with Kristin Chenoweth and Lea Michele, check it out here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nhSz0ckG1M&hl=en&fs=1&]