sammi says

Here's an idea. Let's take the most popular and highest rated shows on television and write an article about how bad they are and insult all their viewer's intelligence in the process.

(see "The Most Overrated Shows on Television")

Thanks, TV.com for telling me that my shows suck. The article lists "Lost," "The Office," "Weeds," "American Idol," "NCIS," "Glee," "Mad Men," and "30 Rock" as the most overrated shows on television. Hit me where it hurts, why don't ya! "Lost," "The Office," and "Weeds" are three of my all time favorite shows. "Glee" is still too new to call it an all time favorite, but right now it's pretty high up there on my list. "30 Rock" isn't a favorite but I have definitely enjoyed it on the occasions that I've caught an episode.

I'm having a real problem with this article mostly because it's written by so called television lovers. As a television lover myself, I can find value in all TV shows even if I think they are pieces of crap. People like TV for different reasons. Some watch for information, some for entertainment, some watch out of boredom and some watch for escape. I respect all TV viewers. As a TV critic it's one thing to review a show and say that you don't like it...but to say that everyone else who does is wrong makes me angry. TV.com could write an article on the TV shows they think no longer work or were never good in the first place, but don't call them overrated insinuating that the viewers are wrong for watching. These are some of the highest rated shows on television, so did they really think it was a good idea to alienate a large portion of their readers?

I don't watch "American Idol," "NCIS," or "Mad Men." In fact, I would go as far to say that I hate "American Idol," and "NCIS." My dad watches "NCIS" reruns like it's his job and on occasion I've had to suffer through watching it during dinner. So even though I can't stand it, I can respect that my dad likes the show...it's clearly not targeting my demographic. "American Idol," is the show that will never die. The show is so popular because people like the familiarity. They know it's going to be on every six months or so and it's just for fun. No complicated story lines, no major drama (my definition of drama is Walt almost getting his head chopped off for wronging drug dealers on "Breaking Bad" not wondering if folk-singer, Crystal, is going home this week) and if you miss a week, you're not completely lost.

No one is being forced to watch television shows they don't like. So all you watchers of the good, bad and "overrated" TV shows, keep tuning in as long as you're still entertained. If you don't like a show, don't watch but don't hate on everyone else that loves it.

Ummm....Wow! That's pretty much what comes to mind when summing up the first season of "Nurse Jackie" on Showtime. I watched the final episode of the season last night On Demand. If there's one thing Charter Cable's good for it's On Demand, which let me watch the season finale a week early. I couldn't wait after I saw the cliffhanger of episode 11!

If you're not familiar with the show it takes place in New York City and tells the story of Jackie, played wonderfully by Edie Falco of "The Soprano's" fame, and her life as a hardass nurse, wife and mother. Did I mention that she's also addicted to pain killers and is cheating on her husband with the hopsital pharmacist? It sounds a little crazy but you really do end up pulling for Jackie despite her morally gray behavior. She does what is right for her patients whether it's ethical or not, keeps her family hidden from the entire hospital and comes home at the end of the day as a woman who loves her husband and kids.

The show features a hilarious and intriguing supporting cast of characters played mostly by people I've never heard of before. Zoey, a nurse-in-training, kitten lover and all around too-upbeat-for-her-own good is played Merrit Wever. In the final episode of the season she decides to punish herself for giving a patient a wrong dose of medicine by wearing dark gray scrubs instead of her normals bright pink, bunny scrubs. It's so much fun to watch her character and Falco's interact because they are polar opposites.

A familiar cast member is Peter Facinelli (aka Carlisle Cullen for all you "Twilight" lovers) who plays the newest doctor, Fitch Cooper, a wannabe guy's guy and ladies man. Although should he get nervous, say when he's being yelled at by Jackie, he has what he calls "sexual tourrette's" which makes him grab people's breasts uncontrollably. This could perhaps be a result of growing up with lesbian mothers played fabulously in one episode by Swoosie Kurtz and Blythe Danner.

Showtime has really been quickly becoming my favorite television network. Between "Nurse Jackie," "Weeds," and "United States of Tara," I don't know that I've ever seen such comical, dramatic, smart and realistic writing and acting in shows starring women. But don't get me wrong, these shows aren't only meant for women viewers. My recommendation to you is to hurry up and watch all 12 episodes for free while they're still available On Demand or else you'll have to wait a couple of months when it comes out on DVD. If you don't have Showtime you should make friends with someone who does and take a couple hours and watch this show!