The nation’s television critics agree that “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives” were the best TV had to offer this year, even if they can’t agree on the order of finish.
The ABC shows finished 1-2 in critics’ polls published Monday by two trade publications, Television Week and Broadcasting & Cable. In the TV Week survey, “Lost” came out on top, while a larger numbers of critics picked “Desperate Housewives” in the B&C poll.
The poll results were released just before Thursday’s announcement of the Primetime Emmy Award nominations, which often don’t match up with what critics pick.
“Lost” ranked No. 1 among critics for the second time in TV Week’s semiannual survey, which asked 62 critics to list their 10 favorite and five least favorite shows. It also topped the year’s first list, released in January.
The repeat performance for “Lost” is considered a surprise, considering ballots were due about two weeks after its season finale, which created a wide range of opinions among both critics and fans.
Rounding out the TV Week top five were HBO’s “Deadwood,” FOX’s “Arrested Development” and FX’s “The Shield.” The rest of the best include FOX’s “House” and “24,” Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” The WB’s “Gilmore Girls” and UPN’s “Veronica Mars.”
The survey’s bottom five were “Britney and Kevin: Chaotic” (UPN), “Stacked” (FOX), “The Simple Life: Interns” (FOX), “The Bachelor” (ABC) and “Fear Factor” (NBC).
In the B&C poll, 103 critics were asked to name the best show overall as well as their favorite comedy, drama and reality series, along with their least favorite show and the best new show for 2005-06. “Desperate Housewives” won the best show title over “Lost,” “Deadwood,” “The Daily Show” and “Gilmore Girls.” “Lost” and “Arrested Development” were at the top of the drama and comedy lists, while “The Amazing Race” was a big winner for best reality show.
“Fear Factor” was named the worst show in the B&C, edging “The Simple Life” and “Britney and Kevin.”
The TV Critics Association hands out its own awards on July 23.
Credit: Zap2It.com
