Best/Worst of TV | Best of Year 2007

The Best in TV

The Worst in TV

Anchorwoman

This was one of those blink-and-you-missed it shows, a pseudo-reality series about buxom blonde swimsuit model and former Barker's Beauty Lauren Jones, who tries her hand at being an anchor at a small Texas television-news program. Her uncomfortable encounters with her journalist colleagues and her first attempt at following along with the teleprompter were painful to watch, and it only went downhill from there. No wonder the show lasted a measly single episode. — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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Big Shots

On the surface, this series seemed like a winner, featuring a group of charming guys (Dylan McDermott, Michael Vartan, Joshua Malina and Christopher Titus) with an impressive list of bona fide TV successes under their belts. But not this one. Big Shots follows the four high-powered friends as they whine and obsess over business and love in an ill-conceived attempt at reinventing Sex and the City for the male gender. But it hasn't found its audience with either men or women. — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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Bionic Woman

Just what we need: another show with powerfully iconic hero characters. Although the concept of turning humans into bionic fighters without their knowledge is somewhat intriguing, there's not much more to this NBC series than a lot of high kicks and secret operations. Michelle Ryan, who plays the show's bionic star, Jaime Sommers, is fun to watch in action, but her tough-girl talk isn't all that convincing, and Isaiah Washington performs better as a heart surgeon. Bionic Woman is just not as hardcore as it wants to be... even with all those superhuman abilities. — Megan Cherkezian

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Carpoolers

The undeniably likable Jerry O'Connell heads up this beyond-formulaic sitcom about four guys who get to know each other while carpooling to and from work. And guess what: They're all sooo different! Guess what else: They're all different in ways that conform to the broadest suburban stereotypes. Not even a guest spot from O'Connell's real-life honey, Rebecca Romijn, could make a dent in the relentless predictability of this disappointing effort from creator and executive-producer Bruce McCullough (Kids in the Hall). — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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Cavemen

Did producers really take this for a winning concept? Granted, the Geico cavemen commercials had their moment, thanks in part to a catchy tune and snappy editing. But in sitcom form... not so much. A group of cavemen struggling to fit in while battling discrimination was groan-inducing for so many reasons. Now maybe if they had made a series about that debonair gecko.... — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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Journeyman

Before Journeyman even premiered, people were expecting it to be the next Quantum Leap. Boy, were they disappointed! The major problem with this show is not so much the time traveling as it is the two completely unnecessary love triangles. The time traveler was once engaged to a girl who supposedly died but instead has actually been jumping around the timeline just like him. This creates a lot of drama with his current wife, whom years ago he stole away from his own brother. Week after week, the show spends half the episode dealing with the family drama while the rest is spent in the past trying to help random strangers whose fate has them going on to do something great in the future. The characters are flat and most of the missions are yawners — Quantum Leap it ain't. Heck, it's not even Back to the Future Part 3. — Adam Schubak

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Nashville

Fox brought us this reality series about aspiring country singers in the Tennessee town that represents the Mecca of that genre. But instead of focusing on the gritty underbelly of these real youngsters trying to break in to the business, the short-lived show featured a primped-for-prime-time cast of pretty young things, including Rachel Bradshaw, the daughter of legendary Steelers quarterback and current Fox commentator Terry Bradshaw. Too heavy on the glamour and too light on the country. — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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Viva Laughlin

The grand experiment of the musical drama has once again failed — in a dramatic way. On paper, Viva Laughlin had lots going for it, despite all the singing — for one thing, there was an impressive list of talent attached, including Hugh Jackman, Melanie Griffith and the onetime it-girl Mädchen Amick. But when it came down to it, the series hit more than a few sour notes with viewers and critics alike. It was only further evidence (like we needed any) that just because a concept works across the pond (Laughlin was based on the popular English series Blackpool) doesn't guarantee success in the States. — Nina Hämmerling Smith

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The Dec. 17 issue of TV Guide offers more end-of-year revelry, including a revealing interview with Kate Walsh and a recap of the juiciest Watercooler moments.

On TV Guide Network: Watercooler recaps January’s big premieres (airs Jan. 7), Reality Chat previews the new reality shows (Jan. 8) and Reality Chat: Idol Wrap looks at American Idol's new season (Jan. 11).

Lauren Jones by Rebecca Brenneman/FOX, Dylan McDermott by Adam Taylor/ABC, Michelle Ryan by Carol Segal/NBC, Bill English by Mitch Haddad/ABC, Carpoolers by Dean Hendler/ABC, Kevin McKidd by David Moir/NBC, Lindsey Hager by Marisali McGrath/FOX, Hugh Jackman Robert Voets/CBS