BEST

1. Alias

This was my number one pick last year too. A truly exciting blend of action, great direction, and a first rate cast. Just when you think you have the show figured out, it hits you in the face with an incredible plot twist. The "Sydney lost two years of her life" season-ending cliffhanger was big enough, but you just know that the show has an even bigger one coming up in early '04. (Side note to all you fans of 24: this show is 1000 times better).

2. The Late Show With David Letterman

I'll use this line for the 50th time: Dave is the true heir to the Carson throne.

3. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

The smartest political and news satire on TV today.

4. Lucky

What happens to a show that is extrordinarily well-written, funny, sly, well-acted, moody, and just hits everything right on the mark every episode? Well, it gets cancelled, that's what. Too bad another network didn't pick it up.

5. Queer Eye For The Straight Guy

Oh, come on, you know you love it. The best of the makeover shows, because it's done with humor and real caring.

6. Still Standing

I am quite possibly the only person on the planet who is going to pick this show as one of the best on television. But it's true. The show is genuinely (and consistently) funny, and the cast is just terrific.

7. World Poker Tour

I can't help it, I'm completely addicted.

8. Dinner For Five

Host/creator Jon Favreau and 4 other celebs sit around, eat dinner, and shoot the shit. A simple, brilliant idea.

9. The first 15 minutes of Jimmy Kimmel Live

When he talks about current events, insults people in the news, shows funny pictures, etc. The rest of the show isn't half as good; just a mish-mash of bad guests (could we cool it on the rap stars and Kimmel friends?) and bad music.

10. Triumph The Insult Comic Dog

Whenever he's on, expect something funny as hell.

11. Arrested Development

Deserves all the critical acclaim it gets.

12. Adult Swim on The Cartoon Network

As if The Simpsons didn't already make the point, here's proof that cartoons aren't just for kids.

13. Food Network

Who could have thought, say 20 years ago, that there would be an entire TV network devoted to food and recipes? This is truly great stuff, from Good Eats and Unwrapped to all the chef shows, this is one of only a few networks where you are guaranteed to find something entertaining, no matter what time of day or night it is.

14. Spike on Angel

This show was always half-great, half-terrible (unlike Buffy, which was always at least good), and it needed a kick in the ass. If this show continues next year, it will for one reason, and that's James Marsters being added to the cast.

15. The Trio Network

How can you not love a network that shows old reruns of Battle Of The Network Stars AND lets people like Quentin Tarantion and writer Joel Stein head the network for a week?

Honorable Mention: The Simpsons, Keen Eddie, and Countdown With Keith Olbermann.

Best Show I've Never Seen Because My Cable Company Doesn't Carry BBC America, But It's Probably Great Because Everyone Else Picked It

The Office

Best DVD Set For A TV Show

It would be easy to pick the sets for The Simpsons or Alias, but my vote goes for seasons 1 and 2 of The Dick Van Dyke Show. These sets were a surprise, since fans have waited so long and they've been delayed so many times. These sets are put together with much care, from the great box design (a hologram pic on the front, the back of an old TV set on the back cover) to the easy menus, and especially the extras thrown in, like commentary from the stars, still shots from episodes, and hidden gems like commercials for Kent cigarettes (go to each chapter listing in each episode and hit the left arrow key on your remote - a halo will appear above Dick Van Dyke's pic if there is a hidden extra), and even the full episode of an old game show the cast was on. This is a Dick Van Dyke Show fan's dream gift.

WORST

1. Larry King Live

AKA "The Scott Peterson Show." Unless Michael Jackson did something that day.

2. Livin' It Up With Ali And Jack

I swear that every time I watch this show, for a split second I think it's clips of a skit from Saturday Night Live or Mad TV. Ali Wentworth has to one of the most unbearable hosts on TV today, and Jack, well, he has the charisma of a comatose Al Gore.

3. The Anna Nicole Show

Hopefully this needs no explanation.

4. Jay Leno

I'm still amazed - amazed - that this show gets better ratings than Letterman. I truly don't understand the world sometimes.

5. American Juniors

Everything that's disgusting about FOX and bad parents all rolled into one package.

6. Coupling

Proof that it's not so easy to make a show as good as Friends, just because you have good looking stars and a coffee shop/bar setting. And also proof that a comedy based only on sex (instead of, um, you know, good characters and good writing) will really suck. It made one long for Inside Schwartz, and NBC showed some smarts by cancelling it quickly.

7. My Big Fat Greek Life

Or How To Ruin A Hit Movie In 6 Episodes Or Less.

8. Are You Hot?

Certain ABC execs are going to hell for this.

9. Whoopi

I think I asked several years ago if anyone knows how or why this woman has a career. I'm still waiting for an answer.

10. Old Navy commercials

Let's see. Crappy clothes and an annoying spokeswoman (Fran Drescher). Great job, guys.

Dishonorable Mention: Dr. Phil and FOX News, for two of the most embarrassing gaffes of the year: trying to sue Al Franken for his use of "fair and balanced" on his book cover, and for the truly tasteless and jaw-dropping use of epic music while showing a montage of Iraq war footage. I think the anchor said something like "we leave you now with some sights and sounds of the Iraq war..." or something to that effect. Like it was oooh and ahhh fireworks.

Biggest Fall From Grace: The West Wing. Is it one of the worst on TV? Of course not. But people who thought that the show wouldn't suffer (or the truly crazy people who thought it would improve) when creator/head writer Aaron Sorkin left were proven wrong when the show started focusing on - ugh - Bartlett family problems (I knew it was trouble when they started showing the President's kitchen a lot more), and had other characters acting inconsistently and spouting truly inane dialogue (Josh screaming "you wanna piece of me!?" at the Capitol Building comes to mind). The show even looks drab and dreary. What was once energetic and unpredictable and well-written has turned into just another mediocre drama. How disappointing.