Best TV Shows of the 2000's Part 1

Television is a changing medium. The things that can be done on a network or cable/satellite show today could not be done 20 years ago. The technology has changed, which is obvious to note, and the amount of networks out there is another change, but the audience has changed as well. We expect more from television and it has delivered, for the most part.

The 2000's saw a sea change in the television landscape. Shows with an episodic format emerged - and stayed on air and challenged the viewers. It challenged to viewers to pay attention to the shows from a week to week basis. The 'case-of-the-week' shows are alive and well and there is nothing wrong with them, as some of the favorite shows are based in those formats. But the episodic show really took off and now it's more widespread.

I am going to list the best TV shows from the 2000's in categories of Drama, Comedy, Animation, and Reality. These lists will consist of shows that started their run from 2000-2009 and I will give a little tidbit about why I chose that show. Granted, I did not watch EVERY single show from 2000-2009, but I feel confident that my choices illustrate the very best television from that time period.

I am going to divide this into two parts. In Part 1 I will look at Reality and Animated shows. In Part 2 I will look at the Comedy and Drama shows.

REALITY:
Reality television really came into the public eye in the 2000's, for better and for worse. Networks began switching to the low cost programming instead of creating new dramas or comedies that had a high risk factor attached in case they didn't pan out. It's smart, but it also gave us some bad - very very bad - TV. These are the best reality shows:

1. Survivor ~ I'm a Survivor nut. I love the show to this day. This competition show helped launch the reality competition show in the US and it's still going strong. Jeff Probst is still the reality show host. He deftly deals with big egos and the crazies.
2. The Amazing Race ~ Another competition show only this one takes us to exotic countries and educates us along the way about that country/city. It's exciting TV.
3. Jackass ~ Low brow entertainment done with charisma and flair. It's also spawned 3 feature films - all of which were funny and entertaining.
4. Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour & South Pacific ~ This is a personal preference here but these two seasons of the now extinct Road Rules were the best. Memorable cast members from LT to Msaada, Theo & Abram, Donell (and their fight), and Cara (and her later Playboy spread).
5. Real World San Diego & New Orleans ~ Another personal preference but San Diego featured future actress Jamie Chung and a compelling housemate with Frankie and her struggle with cutting  and cystic fibrosis. She would unfortunately lose the battle in 2007 but her public struggle with the disease brought light to it and that's why I place it here. New Orleans featured Julie, a BYU girl who wasn't supposed to live with males, and Danny & Paul (the gay military officer who had his face constantly blurred).
6. Real World/Road Rules Battle of the Sexes 1 ~ See my original thoughts here. This is the best challenge season ever.

ANIMATION:
More and more these days the animated shows shown on Saturdays or after school are computer generated. What happened to the hand drawn shows? They still exist but they're not as big as they once were. The shows I have chosen are ones that were largely hand drawn, as I'm sure there are elements in each that were helped by a computer. These are the best animated shows:

1. The Weekenders ~ This is unique cartoon in that the characters wear different clothes every show. That already makes it's attention to detail unparalleled but the characters Lor, Carver, Tish, and Tino are all different and bring something to the table. It's also quite funny and features a running gag of the ever-changing pizza place restaurant theme.
2. Fillmore! ~ A unique approach to middle school life: make it about a hall monitor but stage it in a way that is like a police serial. What you have is a show that features great mysteries, compelling characters and a cartoon that you wouldn't be embarrassed to be caught watching. 
3. Avatar: The Last Airbender ~ I was a little late to the Airbender train but it's a truly wonderful show. It takes the classic Anime elements and blends them with American animation techniques to create a world and story arc that was dramatic and imaginative. Bonus points for sticking with a story and telling it and not dragging it out over 6 seasons. 
4. Samurai Jack ~ Episodic, crazy-cool animation and a bad ass character in Jack. 'Nuff said.
5. Jackie Chan Adventures ~ Everything you loved about Jackie Chan now in animated form! I'm pretty sure there are a few of the animated stunts that the real Jackie could have pulled off.
6. Metalocalypse ~ A crazy, frantic, bloody, hilarious look at a fictional metal band that is, literally, the most popular thing in the entire world.
7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars ~ I am not talking about the CG animated one, but the traditionally animated one that ran for only three seasons. It succinctly told the story of The Clone Wars and throughout many episodes, it was done without words. It relied on the visual imagery and the sound effects. Truly remarkable.

If there is any show you feel that I may have missed, then respond below, as I am sure there are some that I just forgot about - but they might be noteworthy.

Stay tuned for Part 2...