With über-noël 2k8 fast approaching (the yuletide equivalent of über-fest) I find myself getting into lots of conversations about american TV shows.  Such debate has provided me the opportunity to revise my opinions and place into context many of the great TV shows of the late nineties and early “naughties”.

For me the key to a great TV show is a  compelling ongoing storyline.  Surprisingly few programs engage with this style - and the ones that do often run out of ideas after the first season (Desperate Housewives, The O.C.).  I think the episodic style only really suits sitcoms, in fact TNG is the only counter example that sprang to mind during my rigorous scientific research.

With such ideas in mind please enjoy the following preview of my upcomming Nature article:  An Analysis of some TV show’s awesomeness vs. Time, A.P.M. Smith Et Al.

Figure 1: TV shows: Awesomenes vs. Time