In an excellent article I read today in the New York Times I discovered that Laura Linney, the wonderful film and stage actress, is coming to TV. On Showtime, also home of Weeds and The United States of Tara, The Big C is a dark comedy about a mother and wife in Minnesota who has incurable cancer. It premieres on the USA in August. But it got me to thinking that years ago an actor of Linney's credentials would never have touched television. The 'idiot box' was the home of sit coms and light entertainment. You might start there, like George Clooney, but you didn't end up there. That stigma is now well and truly gone. Actors the quality of John Goodman, Toni Collette, Mary Louise Parker and many others now ply their talents on the small screen. I truly believe we are in a golden era.

Having said that there is also plenty of lowest common denominator product. We are awash with reality shows that make no sense to me. Australian drama is still stuck mostly in soap opera land and there are plenty of American shows that are formulaic and tired with laugh tracks and poor dialogue. For every 'Hung' we have a 'Two and a Half Men'. But let's concentrate on the good. Such as the new David Simon creation in Treme (pictured above). It premiered recently on Australian screens and two episodes in we are hooked. Beautifully shot and written it captures the drama of Post Katrina New Orleans with great effect. We are also loving Modern Family, which no has laugh track and for a mainstream comedy show is very well written and very funny. Good Australian TV is hard to find, but thankfully the ABC still delivers with shows like 'The Gruen Transfer' and also the creations of Chris Lilley.

I thought it would be an idea now to list my 10 favourite shows that are currently live and ongoing, plus a list of shows that are no longer with us. Either recently finished or favourites from the memories of the past. I would love to hear your favourites.

Television I Love Now
1. Mad Men
2. Breaking Bad
3. True Blood
4. Big Love
5. Weeds
6. The United States Of Tara
7. Hung
8. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
9. Entourage
10. Modern Family

Television from the Past
1. The Wire
2. Deadwood
3. Arrested Development
4. Six Feet Under
5. The Simpsons (I know it's still going, but I haven't watched for a while)
6. Fawlty Towers
7. Hill Street Blues
8. The West Wing
9. The Office (UK)
10. Seinfeld