Top 10 TV Shows of the Decade (2000-2010)

Comedy, with a little drama, is what made Prime Time television interesting this decade. Especially lately, everyone needs some laughter and lighthearted moments. More than that, people need a distraction from everyday life. What better distraction than laughing at FRIENDS, or The Office? Why not find something to relate to while watching Everybody Loves Raymond? Even House can be funny at times, with, of course, some drama and suspense. And week after week, day after day, millions of viewers tuned in to see what wise crack Simon Cowell would come up with next, and of course to vote for America's next Idol. These are just a few of the shows that made my top 10 list of the decade (2000-2010). And here is my complete list of the top 10 television shows of the decade.

#1 Friends - aired from September 22, 1994- May 6, 2004

Friends is "a show about six friends in New York as they navigate their way through life and learn to grow up." (http://www.tv.com/friends/show/71/summary.html). The six characters are Monica, Ross, Chandler, Joey, Rachel and Pheobe. Each has their own little quirk that makes them who they are, and important in the circle of friends. The spot that all these characters find comforting is the coffee shop, which is downstairs from the apartment complex where most of the six reside. This is where they spend their time when they're not at home, or one of the others homes. This is the place where they find comfort, relax and unwind, get advice, or plot their next scheme.

Who doesn't love FRIENDS? There are so many main characters that everyone has to like at least one of them! Then again, that one you didn't like could ruin the show for you. My husband doesn't like FRIENDS because he can't stand watching Pheobe! But it is still my all time favorite show!

#2 The Office - premiered March 24, 2005

The Office is simply what the title leads you to believe, it takes place in an office and is about office life. Dunder Mifflin is a paper supply company. It has everything you would find in a normal office job, but with an exceptionally over the top boss, Michael Scott. You have characters that get along and are friends, and characters that don't get along at all. You have the comedians, the promiscuous one, the conservative, and the one that does everything by the book, just to name a few. And you, of course, have the occasional office romance!

When this show first aired I didn't get it! It seemed like it was supposed to be a reality show the way it was set up. They had interviews where they explained certain situations and events, and they were always looking at the camera. To me, it was like a staged reality show! What is worse than that? Well, I still don't know if the point is to seem like a reality show or not, but now I just don't care. I got into the story of these characters and it just took off from there.

#3 Prison Break- aired August 25, 2005- May 15, 2009

The show starts by main character, Michael Scofield, purposely getting himself jailed! His point was to get into the same jail his brother, Lincoln Burrows, was in, to break him out. Lincoln was wrongly incarcerated and on death row. Michael hid the blueprints of the prison in tattoos all over his upper body. They come across many obstacles while planning the escape, and trying to clear Lincoln's name.

This suspenseful drama had me on the edge of my seat every week. What was he going to get himself into next? How was he really going to pull this off? But the 3^rd season really didn't impress me. I wondered how they would stretch this drama out, but that surely wasn't the way to do it. I know a lot of people who stopped watching at that point. But I was relentless; I was the faithful follower. And it paid off, the forth season was back almost as good as the first. And it left you with a fulfilled- yet; "wish there was more," -ending.

#4 Everybody Loves Raymond- airedSeptember 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005.

This is another sitcom about a family.The main character, Ray, lives across the street from his parents. This is a constant struggle for Deborah, Ray's wife, having to deal with her in-laws. They walk right in at any given time, multiple times a day, and cause havoc on their lives and the way they do things.

It is just a good laugh every episode! There is always something quirky going on, jokes, or amusing situations. They take everyday events and put a twist on them to make you laugh.

#5 American Idol- debuted on June 11, 2002 .

This reality series is all about music! It's essentially a big talent show. Everyone sings, but some play instruments as well. There are 3-4 judges who get their say, but it's the audience that picks who goes on to the next round.

This is a very popular show, because America has a say in how it's going to turn out. Not only that, but everyone seems to want to be famous! Everyone has a chance to audition, and you have the possibility to get your 15 minutes of fame even if you don't make it. I really like music and wish I could sing, so I enjoy watching these every day people getting the chance to make it big!

#6 My Boys- debuted 2006

PJ is a Tomboy; she loves to hang with the guys. They have weekly poker games at her house, and she's a sports writer for the Chicago Sun Times. She only has one girl friend; she is ironically very girly. The others in the group include her brother, her male roommate and 3 other male friends. PJ doesn't just like to hang with the guys, she's really one of them; that is when she's not being their motherly figure they sometimes desperately need.

Another sitcom! I love comedy if you can't tell! I like that a girl can hang with the guys without trying too hard, she just fits in. I like that she also has a soft side though, and they show her dating, and hanging out with her very girly girlfriend. She's a good mix between being one of the guys, and being a lady as well.

#7 House- Pilot aired November 16, 2004

House is a medical drama. The main character/doctor, Dr. Gregory House, is brutally honest, seemingly with no ability to be sympathetic. House often clashes with fellow colleagues, and even patients, but it doesn't faze him.. This makes his diagnosis's even more surprising when he is right about his theory, which he usually is, but especially when he is proven wrong.

Dr. House can be somewhat annoying at times, but it's really what makes his character, so you have to look past it and find the funny side to it. I think it is interesting that it takes you from symptoms, to theory, to figuring out the real reason for the person to become ill. More times than not, the doctor's figure out it's a rare case and the person is healed.

#8 King of Queens- 1998-2007

This show featured a married couple, Doug and Carrie, who had Carrie's dad, Arthur, living in their basement. There is always some sort of unresolved conflict in each episode, a battle between husband and wife, a scam on each other or one of their friends or an issue with the Arthur. More likely than not, their plan or their day or event, is foiled.

This isn't my favorite sitcom, but I like to watch the re-runs when nothing else is on. There is something about the bickering between husband and wife that I find amusing, but at the same time annoying. It's a good show, and gives me a lot of laughs, but it's not something I like to watch all the time.

#9 Gossip Girl- debuted September 19, 2007

Gossip Girl is an anonymous blogger who gossips about the students in an elite private school on the upper east side of New York. The main focus of her attacks is usually one of a small group of friends who rule the school, Blair, Serena, Chuck or Nate. Somehow the two siblings, Dan and Jenny, who don't exactly fit into this life style, find their way into this group, along with longtime friend, Vanessa, who doesn't attend the school.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I did at one time watch this show. It is one of those guilty pleasures you can't help but partake in. It's not because it's such a terrible show, but because I'm a 20-something, not a teen. But the previews looked interesting and once I started watching, I couldn't help but catch the next one to find out more.

#10 Dawsons Creek- aired 1997-2002

Dawson's Creek is a show that "chronicl(ed) the passage from adolescence to young adulthood." It starts out with a boy-girl friendship between Dawson and Joey (Josephine) and as they mature they realize they may have feelings for each other. It gets complicated when other people become involved and they second-guess the feelings for each other at different times.

This was teen focused show, with older characters and a really extensive vocabulary. It didn't feel like it was targeted at the younger crowds, however it did deal with some of the issues they would face. It was somewhat another of those guilty pleasure shows, which is why it's last on the list, but still good enough at the time it aired to mention.