Our latest post at BrevityTV is one I’m pretty proud of. Unfortunately, it’s good enough that I start to care about all the things that aren’t quite perfect… but overall it makes me laugh, so that’s a good thing.

When you think L.A., you think sunshine, right?  After all, in every movie you’ve ever seen, when the protagonists go to L.A., there will be three establishing shots: the Hollywood sign, a girl in a bikini, and a palm tree.  All of Los Angeles is located at the beach, or maybe in a convertible.

In truth, those of us lucky/intelligent enough to live on the west side get to experience the annual phenomenon of June gloom.  It’s basically a tendency for the ocean to produce a lot of mist and clouds, such that the mile or so closest to the water is grey and gloomy, even though it might be sunny and bright in L.A. proper and parts east.  It’s been starting in recently, and after a couple of mini heat waves the last couple of weekends, I welcome it gladly.

I was leaving a student’s house Wednesday night and I was struck by a sensation of comfort.  For the briefest flash, I felt as if I belonged here, and I had no idea why.  The house was only a few blocks from the beach, so I knew the cool temperature had something to do with it, but what else?  Then it hit me: wood smoke.  Someone had a fire going, and for that instant, cedar warming someone’s home transported me.

Then I got into the L.A traffic.  The sensation went away quickly.

“I’m staying in this race until we have a nominee.”

We do. It’s not you.

Couldn’t be happier that NBC has consolidated a worthy line-up of comedy onto Thursday nights again.  Between that and ABC marrying Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, my DVR runneth over.

Better still?  Tonight’s episodes of Lost and Grey’s really showed that their creative teams have hit a stride.

Lost has been DELIVERING this year.  My complaints with middle seasons involved too many riddles being tossed at us at once, never any answers.  Sure, there’s still plenty of puzzles and cliffhangers this year, but there are also answers.  Storylines move forward.  The big picture slowly reveals.  Frustration is the good kind, and overarching mysteries slowly unravel.  Sweet.

Meanwhile, Grey’s finally has the one component it’s been missing for years: chemistry.  During all its seasons, Grey’s  has tried to make me care about the central romance between Derek and Meredith.  And I haven’t.  But tonight, in one simple, elegant scene (finally featuring some compelling acting from Ellen Pompeo) I actually cared about the “central” characters more than the peripheral ones.  And they did it all with eyes.  Fantastic.

We are in the Golden Age of Television people.  That’s taken?  OK… Platinum Age.  Enjoy it.

Empire just released its list of the best 50 television shows of all time.  At the risk of getting all meta, I think it’s one of the top lists of top shows I’ve ever seen.  TV Guide made a similar top-50 list a few years back, and theirs included shows like 60 Minutes and Sesame Street.  While there can be no doubt that these are significant touchstones in American culture, that makes for an apples-to-oranges comparison.

Empire’s list just compared entertainment.  What’s impressive is the lack of snobbery about mainstream shows, yet the thoroughness of sifting through premium cable.  They include Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, Dexter, the Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire, Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc.  And what list of the best television wouldn’t?  Better still, they don’t miss small-audience gems like The Shield and Arrested Development.

Of course, their list skews British, being a British publication.  But if you haven’t seen shows like period police drama Life on Mars, maybe it’s time that you do.

Naturally there are a few unforgivable placements. Family Guy at #12 while the British The Office is #23?  I don’t think so. Plus, for an “all-time” list, few slots include older television hits. As written, a few 80s classics are the most aged representatives.

It also has too much sci-fi, even for my taste.  Calling the Dr. Who remake #16 is giving far too much deference to the British icon, given that show’s scattershot character development and story logic.  Babylon 5 belongs nowhere on a list of 50, let alone ABOVE the three flavors of Star Trek included.  (OK, OK, I hear Babylon 5 becomes genius if you endure something like two whole seasons to get to the good stuff, but I shouldn’t have to invest forty hours into a show before I can enjoy it…)

At least they gave Firefly and the remade Battlestar Galactica highest sci-fi marks. Spot on.

At the end of the day, I’m on board with any list that ranks Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2.  And they only place it second to The Simpsons, which, body of work-wise, has it coming.  Check the list out for yourself.