Best of the Decade

I decided to wait a couple of posts between this list and my list of my favorite ones of the year. But since we have reached the end of a decade, its only right that I give the 00s the respect they deserve. Here is my decade in review:

Albums:

1. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb-U2 (2004)
2. A Rush of Blood to the Head-Coldplay (2002)
3. Funeral-Arcade Fire (2004)
4. I'm Not There official soundtrack-Various (Sufjan, Glen Hansard, Jim James, Jeff Tweedy, Eddie Vedder, Iron & Wine, Cat Power, Karen O, Jack Johnson, Black Keys and Calexico all covering Bob Dylan songs. come on now) (2008)
5. We Have Cause To Be Uneasy-Wild Sweet Orange (2008)
6. All That You Can't Leave Behind-U2 (2001)
7. Viva La Vida and Death to All of His Friends-Coldplay (2008)
8. everything Jason Upton released this decade....all 11 albums
9. The Okonokos Project-My Morning Jacket (2005)
10. For Emma, Forever Ago- Bon Iver (2008)
11. No Line On The Horizon-U2 (2009)
12. Hello Hurricane-Switchfoot (2009)
13. Give Up-Postal Service (2003)
14. Plans-Death Cab For Cutie (2005)
15. Can't Love, Can't Hurt-Augustana (2008)
16. Cease to Begin-Band of Horses (2007)
17. Chutes Too Narrow-The Shins (2003)
18. Public Radio-Mark Mathis (2005)
19. Absolution-Muse (2003)
20. Nothing Left To Lose-Mat Kearney (2006)

Favorite Film of the Decade- Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
runner up: Memento (2000)

Favorite Director-Wes Anderson:Royal Tenenbaums, Life Aquatic, Darjeeling Limited, and Mr Fox. All in a decade's work. Bravo Mr. Anderson. You truly are fantastic.
runner up: Judd Apatow

Favorite Performance- Daniel Day-Lewis as The Butcher in 'Gangs of New York'

Favorite Comedic Performance: Will Ferrell as Mugatu and Ron Burgandy are comedic brilliance.

Television: Arrested Development takes the cake. (2003-2006)
honorable mention: Extras (The Office creator's other, superior show) (2005-2006)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (our generation's Seinfeld) (2005-???)

TV Host-Colbert and Stewart win. It was a great decade to be a political pundit. So much to work with!
runner up: Conan O'brien. it was a close race.

TV moment-The return of Family Guy to FOX in 2004 after being cancelled in 2001. Although the show has slightly gone downhill since the original 3 seasons, it is very rare that a network accepts a mistake and un-cancels a show (A.D.!!!). It was great to see the little guy win for once.

Fall TV

Well, its that time of the year again. A beautiful and glorious time when that box in the middle of your living room comes to life. The new seasons of the best shows on television are returning. 30 Rock is on its way to us, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is on its 5th season that premieres on the 17th (the kitten mittens preview on hulu has me laughing hysterically already and its only 30 seconds long), Michael Scott makes his way back to our homes (and our hearts) after giving me a scare that the series was ending when he quit last season. The Office does have a challenge though to keep its viewers because the Jim/Pam (Jam?) relationship is going so great that people are beginning to lose interest in that area of the show which was their biggest draw. Personally i always thought that the Jam(yes, i went for it) relationship was getting in the way of the good comedy. the 30 minute long episodes would be filled with 15 minutes of "will they, won't they" and i just wanted to see Dwight pepper spray someone, or Andy Bernard harmonize with himself. How I Met Your Mother is possibly the only current show that i love that still has a laugh track. I think laugh tracks are silly and outdated. i dont need a crowd of people telling me when to laugh (be sure to thank Ricky Gervais for getting us past those into a new era of sitcoms). But still, Jason Segal as Marshall practically makes the show for me (and i wouldnt mind seeing him in more movies seeing as "I Love You Man" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" were both fantastic) but the other characters are strong and the show is original. The Simpsons come back and hopefully this season they will come out of that 4 year slump they have been in. I do still chuckle and laugh at the episodes, but they are nothing like the golden years (Season 3-Season 8).

Interestingly enough, "Sit Down, Shut Up" is back for a new season i think (they were supposed to be cancelled but a new episode just hit Hulu). Mitch Hurwitz(Creator and writer of Arrested Development) is the writer of this offbeat cartoon which features the voices of Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Henry Wrinkler (barry zuckercorn on AD. he's very good), Kenan Thompson, Will Forte, and Cheri Oteri. Its nowhere near the greatness of Arrested Development, but it is still a fresh cartoon that isnt constantly trying to put us over the edge like Family Guy. Also unlike Family Guy, it doesn't rip off half of it's material from the Simpsons. So watch this before it gets cancelled (again. its bound to happen. the american public cant handle mitch's creativeness as they have shown time and time again).