AMC
Its first season only had six episodes, but that was enough to have viewers hooked and begging for more. The smart, gritty zombie drama studied how people cope after catastrophe just as much as it focused on the gross, graphic destruction of the undead.
ABC
This year's Emmy winner for best comedy kept the laughs coming in its second season, with a mix of smart jokes, sharp comedic timing from its impeccable cast and sweet moments that remind you it's still a show about family.
Fox
We may not have loved the barrage of tribute episodes, but Fox's hit has had a smooth sophomore season, buoyed by snappy dialog, good songs, a rotating cast of guest stars (John Stamos! Carol Burnett! Gwyneth Paltrow!) and, of course, the Sue Sylvester one-liners.
AMC
There's a reason "Mad Men" has taken home the Golden Globe for Best Drama for the past three years - and there's a good chance it will again. The fourth season was dark and compelling, chronicling what happens after Don Draper & Co. step out with their own ad agency.
NBC
NBC's backstage comedy just keeps getting better and better. The writing is sharp, the guest stars well cast (Elizabeth Banks and John Slattery, among them) and the gags are consistently funny.
HBO
HBO's chronicle of Prohibition-era Atlantic City is one of the best-looking shows currently on television. Whether or not bootleggers and gamblers get you going, the sets and costumes are something to admire. Strong performances by Steve Buscemi and Kelly McDonald give the substance behind the aesthetics.
CBS
A drama that is smart and has substance, "The Good Wife" explores the aftermath of a political scandal as it unfolds against the backdrop of a legal procedural.
AP Photo/ABC
Not everyone liked the ending. Some people even hated it (personally, we were satisfied). But the ABC drama's series finale left everyone talking about what happened and what it meant - for both the cast and its loyal viewers.
AP Photo/HBO
David Simon (of "The Wire" fame) heads south for this new drama, set in New Orleans in the months following Hurricane Katrina. Its ambitious storytelling and honest representation of the city it's set in were acclaimed by critics and viewers alike.
NBC
Who else could get away with doing an episode almost entirely in stop-motion animation? NBC's show has been schooling everyone in comedy - using its community college setting to jump off and tackle just about anything.
.jpg#)