A Decade of Favorites: Top 10 TV Episodes

I've spent a decent amount of time watching TV over the last 10 years. I started coming up with my 5 favorite episodes but instead stretched it to a top 10, one from each year. I tried to use discretion in spoiler situations, but read and view videos at your own risk.

10. Community - "Introduction to Film" (October 1, 2009)
It is extremely difficult for me to put an episode from the past few months in my top ten list of the decade. Community has yet to withstand the test of time, like the rest of my list has. But as far as new shows go, Community (along with Modern Family) contains my favorite kind of humor: funny. "Introduction to Film" features Abed, the quirkiest character on TV, making a zany film against the wishes of his strict father. Like the rest of my list will prove, my idea of a good episode features a delicate balance of humor and heart.

9. West Wing - "College Kids" (October 2, 2002)
I don't know if this episode is as enjoyable on a stand-alone basis as some of the others on my list. Part of it's magic is the way it continues the story of the two-hour premier of season four: Josh, Toby, and Donna finally back in D.C. after being left behind by the presidential motorcade in Iowa. In all honesty, there are probably better episodes of West Wing, but this one includes my all-time favorite musical moment in a television show (link above). At a Rock The Vote event, Aimee Mann performs James Taylor's powerful "Shed a Light" while Josh and Amy Gardner reunite with a conversation full of emotion, honesty, and good ol' unfortunate timing.

8. LOST! - "Greatest Hits" (May 16, 2007)
I don't want to say much about this episode because I know that my brother is still trying to get caught up on LOST. Then again, I'm not sure he reads this. Very heartfelt episode, with plenty of great flashbacks to satisfy any LOST fanatic.

7. Arrested Development - "Bringing Up Buster" (November 16, 2003)
Arrested Development started the documentary-style comedy, and in a way it was far too clever for it's own good - perpetuating inside jokes on top of inside jokes that ran from the first episode to the last, not even making faint sense to anyone besides absolute fanatics. In other words, people either watched AD religiously or not at all. "Bringing Up Buster" features some classic Buster moments, Tobias as the director of Maeby's play, the introduction of Steve Holt (Steve Holt!), and of course "The Cornballer." "I've made a huge mistake."

6. How I Met Your Mother - "Drumroll, Please" (January 23, 2006)
Probably the girliest episode on my list, but so be it. "Drumroll, Please" consists of Ted recounting the events of a wedding where he met a mystery dream-girl. As he slowly unravels the mystery of her identity, we realize that Robin's got the hots for him. Oooo! It also includes your standard classic Barney clip.

5. Scrubs - "My Screw Up" (February 24, 2004)
Nominated for 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
( watch part 1 / part 2 )
It's sometimes amazing what television shows can do in twenty minutes. Scrubs is slapstick and hyperbolic, but it's also got a lot of heart. This episode features Brandon Fraser, who appeared in a couple earlier episodes. Every episode of Scrubs contains priceless moments, but "My Screw Up" stands out in my mind (along with "My Last Chance") far above the rest. It provides a very unique look into Dr. Cox's psyche.

4. The Office - "The Dundies" (September 20, 2005)
The first episode of the second season of the office contains some of the most beloved moments of the series: drunk Pam falling off a stool, emcee Dwight, the Spicy Curry award, "That was a FUN-raiser, I think I made that very clear in the fliers", drunk Pam kissing Jim, and of course Ping. Michael (Steve Carrell) is at his best, but unlike in the short first season, viewers are finally given the opportunity to feel anything but annoyance toward him. Now that the Office is in it's 7th (!!) season - some better than others - watching the early stages of Jim and Pam is priceless.

3. Freaks and Geeks - "Discos and Dragons" (July 8, 2000)
"Discos and Dragons" is the final episode of the greatest single-season show of all time. After falling in love with the characters all season, we continue to see their fluid high school identities change, as Daniel Desario (James Franco) hangs out with the A/V Club. I didn't realize it, but my top-ten includes two different Jason Segal shows. Another classic clip: The truth about jocks.

2. LOST! - "The Constant" (February 28, 2008)
Time Magazine Best TV Episode of 2008 - more reaction...
(watch the first three minutes)
"The Constant" is the best episode of LOST but it also works well as a stand-alone forty minute film. Again, I would hate to spoil anything for anyone, but this episode has it all: love, action, mystery, and even a little time-displacement. This episode is the fifth episode of the fourth season; not even a premier or finale.

1. West Wing - "Two Cathedrals" (May 16, 2001)
2001 Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series - more awards...
I've said it a hundred times, but the first four seasons of West Wing contain the best television writing and acting out there. This episode is simply the best hour of television you will ever see (James Lipton agrees with me), whether you watch any more West Wing or not. Death, strong internal religious conflict, flashbacks to a young President Bartlett in boarding school grappling with his own developing greatness, scandal, shouting at God in Latin, Dire Straits, rain, and a unique cliffhanger that lets the audience in on it's resolution while the other characters anxiously await.

Honorable Mention:

• 30 Rock - "MILF Island" (April 10, 2008)
• Arrested Development - "Top Banana" (November 9, 2003)
  
• Freaks and Geeks - "Carded and Discarded" (January 10, 2000)
• Freaks and Geeks - "Smooching and Mooching" (July 8, 2000)
• Californication - "Blues from Laurel Canyon" (December 7, 2008)
  
• The Office - "Office Olympics" (October 4, 2005)
• Scrubs - "My Last Chance" (October 26, 2004)
  
• West Wing - "Bartlett for America" (December 12, 2001)
• How I Met Your Mother - "Slap Bet" (November 20, 2006)

Also receiving votes:

• LOST! - "The 23rd Psalm" (January 11, 2006)
• 30 Rock - "Rosemary's Baby" (October 25, 2007) - funniest clip on this page
  
• Community - "Introduction to Statistics" (October 29, 2009)
• Californication - "California Son" (October 1, 2007)
  
• Arrested Development - "Mr. F" (November 7, 2005)
• How I Met Your Mother - "Swarley" (November 6, 2006)
  
• How I Met Your Mother - "Okay, Awesome" (October 17, 2005)
• How I Met Your Mother - "The Pineapple Incident" (November 28, 2005)
  
• How I Met Your Mother - "Slutty Pumpkin" (October 24, 2005)
  
• The Office - "The Alliance" (April 12, 2005)
• The Office - "Conflict Resolution" (May 4, 2006)
  
• The Wire - "Final Grades" (December 10, 2006)
  
• West Wing - "20 Hours in America" (September 25, 2002)
• West Wing - "Noel" (December 20, 2000)