Crix Pix: 'Mad Men,' 'Blood' Yea, 'Disturb,' NBC Nay

[Mark J.]

In the winter edition of TVWeek's semi-annual critics' poll, the AMC
ad drama is the first basic cable series ever at the top of the best
chart, while HBO's vampire drama "True Blood" bites into the best new
series prize--meanwhile, the Fox sitcom bomb and all of NBC's new
scripted series made the worst list (PDF--site was running slow
today):

http://www.tvweek.com/2008/12/31/twcriticschart4web.pdf

Two of the best series are done voluntarily ("The Shield," "Boston
Legal"), two more are probably done ("Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone"),
nine of the top 10 worst series are new ("According to Jim" the
kneejerk exception), one was technically a special, not a series
("Rosie Live"), four of the ten worst are officially gone ("Own Worst
Enemy," "Opportunity Knocks," "Ex-List" and "Disturb"--"Crusoe" is
considered officially a one-and-done series and "Hole in the Wall"
returns later this month). The Ex-Chief did not participate in the
poll this time out.

[Thomas Allen Heald]

> Two of the best series are done voluntarily ("The Shield," "Boston
> Legal"),

Well, sorta.

two more are probably done ("Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone"),
> nine of the top 10 worst series are new ("According to Jim" the
> kneejerk exception), one was technically a special, not a series
> ("Rosie Live"), four of the ten worst are officially gone ("Own Worst
> Enemy," "Opportunity Knocks," "Ex-List" and "Disturb"--"Crusoe" is
> considered officially a one-and-done series and "Hole in the Wall"
> returns later this month).

AKA last Sunday.