After an unfortunate delay to a rather unexpected deluge of new programming and a return to university, it’s time to return to Cultural Learnings’ 10 Shows to (Hopefully) Watch in 2008. In terms of shows we’ve already spent time with, it was officially announced today that Dexter will air its first season in a heavily edited for on Sunday Nights at 10pm on CBS starting on February 17th. Should be interesting to see how the ratings for the series turn out, but not quite as interesting as today’s entry into the list.
It has been over seven months since the last episode of Lost aired, and it will be eight by the time the show’s fourth season premiere hits ABC. When the show returned from an extended hiatus in February 2007, having suffered from an intriguing if a bit lackadaisical opening salvo, it hit new ratings lows and seemed to be fading from its role as “the” show. Hating Lost became a fad of sorts, and it seemed like there was nothing that Lindelof and Cuse could do in order to revive the series in the eyes of some fans.
The backlash wasn’t surprising, nor was the decline in ratings and popularity which has hit Heroes this season. The reality is that these series become successful quickly, but over time viewers not attuned to genre television slowly bleed away for more casual fare. What Lost maintained, then, were those viewers willing to accept questions over answers, character over action, and a slow build as opposed to a barrage of development.
Those viewers patient enough to let Lost move at its own pace were rewarded with the best finale of the year, a blistering two-hour spectacle of action, emotion, and a stunning flash-forward revelation which was more than worth any rough spots earlier in the season. Leading up to this finale, a series of episodes of staggering quality showcased the show’s ability to develop the Others, specifically Ben and Juliet, into well-rounded and fully realized characters. This section of episodes was perhaps its best run since the first season, and represents one of the greatest creative turnarounds in quite some time.
As a result, it’s hard not to place Lost on the top of Cultural Learnings’ 10 Shows to (Hopefully) Watch in 2008. It’s ABC’s cornerstone, their only surefire midseason programming. Airing in the prime 9pm Thursdays timeslot currently dominated by Grey’s Anatomy, Lost is suddenly the biggest non-American Idol series on network television again.
I’ve been loathe to post news notes over the last six months or so because, ultimately, I just don’t have the time – stopping mid-day to post the latest television updates is satisfying but also time consuming. However, as a rather busy schedule has the final two portions of the 10 Shows to (Hopefully) Watch in 2008 being pushed into Sunday/Monday, I figure I should share some news for my Canadian brethren about one of the shows that 
Cultural Learnings’ 10 Shows to (Hopefully) Watch in 2008 is a list which reflects not the best series to possibly air in the calendar year, but rather those which shall prove most interesting to watch both in terms of the show itself and the buzz surrounding it. Some shows have made this list due to curiosity, hype, or a genuine interest in their creative future. Some of these shows may not air a single new episode of television until the fall, but it’s never too early to look ahead. On with the list!
Last year, I designated an episode of Heroes (“Company Man”) as the #1 episode of television during February Sweeps, and perhaps during the entire year. Ultimately, I’d probably give that distinction to an episode from another series, but the fact remains that Heroes did some great things in the past year that should make them something to watch in 2008. Unfortunately, almost all of that goodwill has been squandered.
I feel obligated to place one of the season’s midseason debuts on the list, but don’t view this as a token selection – Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles is perhaps one of the most interesting drama series to hit the airwaves this year. This attempt at spinning off the Terminator franchise seems a terrible idea on paper, but its execution is solid: the pilot presents a level of action and drama that at the very least appears to offer a smarter and more cohesive alternative to NBC’s fading sci-fi series.
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