News TV critic examines 2007

Forced to write a year-end, best-of-TV story a year ago, I gave you my Top 5 Reasons I Hate Doing This.

No. 5 on the list was, "I'm afraid I'll forget something." And I did. No sooner had the story been published than I realized I'd forgotten to include "The West Wing," which wrapped up a spectacular final season in the spring of 2006.

It's not on anymore, so "West Wing" can't make this year's list. But here's an extremely belated nod to a fantastic show.

As for this year's list, I have to add one to my Top 5 Reasons I Hate Doing This. (1) There are too many good shows to narrow it down to just 10; (2) I think it's kind of stupid to compare soaps and dramas and comedies and talk shows and animation and sports; (3) The end of the year is the middle of the TV season; (4) My obsessive-compulsive tendencies kick in and I agonize over what's No. 8 and what's No. 9; and the aforementioned (5) I'm afraid I'll forget something.

Now, there's (6) The ongoing writers' strike is depressing those of us who love TV.

Or maybe I'm just depressed because so many shows on my Top 10 list a year ago took nose dives in 2007. No. 3 "24" went down the drain; No. 2 "Grey's Anatomy" has struggled mightily; and — dare I say it? — even No. 1 "Heroes" seems to have lost some of its magic.

But there's still a lot to love on the tube. And my list isn't one of those pompous, artsy rundowns of the classiest, most prestigious shows — although some of them fall into that category. Once again, these are shows I really look forward to watching every time they're on, shows that I record, shows that I watch with my family and friends, shows that we talk about after they air.

If you toss in the honorable mentions (see Reason No. 1), some are shows that I wish I had time to watch more often than I do. Others are old favorites past their prime, but I'm still watching.

Plus, I'm going to expand the Top 10 list to a Top 15 list this year because ... well, it's my list and I can do whatever I want. (And I've been struggling to cut it to 10 because of that whole obsessive/compulsive thing.)

Here goes:

1. Pushing Daisies: This was the scariest new show this fall — the pilot was so fantastic it seemed impossible subsequent episodes could come close to matching it. But they exceeded expectations. "Daisies" is funny, charming, goofy, heartfelt and gorgeous to look at.

2. Desperate Housewives: In its fourth season, this show is the best it's ever been.

3. Ugly Betty: This show was great when it started and has only gotten better. It's fun to see a show that's not afraid to go over the top and still is so fantastically heartfelt.

4. Heroes: OK, maybe it's not as good in the first half of Season 2, but it's still a great show.