A little bit of business first: Happy 79th birthday Dad. We love you.

Beginning today I will take the next few Tuesdays to dole out my superlatives for this year: books, music, movies, etc. Today I will be recounting my top TV shows of the year.

I will be working on the calendar year rather than a typical TV season. Therefore, all of these shows are not playing currently. However, all of these shows have run in 2006.

10. 30 Rock–Going into this TV season this was not the SNL-inspired show that I was most looking forward to. However, as this season progresses Tina Fey is turning out a more consistent script than the much vaunted Aaron Sorkin. I’m hoping Studio 60 continues to improve to the point that it makes my list next year. But at this point 30 Rock is the superior show. It gets funnier each week. And it is obvious that Alec Baldwin is a comedic genius.

9. House–Hugh Laurie is stellar in his portrayal of the “curmudgeonly acerbic” title character. Sure, the show is formulaic with the case being solved just in time for the closing credits but Laurie delivers the most compelling character on network television. You root for him at the same time you know you would hate him if you ever met him.

8. Prison Break–This show is pure escapist fare which, by the look of this list, I am a huge fan of. That this show is still gripping is testament to the twists and turns that are delivered each and every week. It’s so improbably that its highly laughable at times. But if I liked popcorn I’d be eating each week while tuning in to this show.

7. What About Brian–I typically don’t go in for a show like this. Yet Brian, with the exception of Roseanna Arquette who looks about 30 years older than the rest of the cast, had great story lines and likable actors. I find myself coming back each week because I care about the characters. This is a hidden gem.

6. Heroes–This show takes the slot that belonged to Lost the last two years. But where Lost gets mired in its own mythology, Heroes gives answers and advances the storyline along. Whether or not that remains the case as the series progresses remains to be seen. If it maintains this momentum it will continue to move up my list. Save the Cheerleader, Save the World.

5. How I Met Your Mother–This show is hitting its stride in its second season. The “Slap Bet” episode was one of the funniest episodes I’ve seen in a while. And Neil Patrick Harris is top-notch as “Swarley.” This is the second best sit-com on TV today.

4. Jericho–Yep, I love it. It faces the same problem that the glut of serials today face: how to continue to stretch the story-line into multiple seasons. But so far, I’m engrossed with a small town striving to maintain normalcy in the midst of nuclear uncertainty. Who to trust. What exactly happened. How to continue life without knowing what’s going on. Those are entertaining themes to explore. Is it great TV? Probably not. But I enjoy it just the same.

3. Rock Star: Supernova–This is the only reality show that I can stand. American Idol and Dancing With The Washed-Up Football Players gets more ratings, but this is the one show that truly rocks. I couldn’t wait each week to see the performances of songs that Idol could never hope to get clearances for. Supernova is a horrible band, their album that just released is downright dreadful and they made the wrong choice of a front man. But the show was pure entertainment, none the less.

2. The Office–Not only is this the best sitcom today but I’m willing to go out on a limb and make a bold prediction: if Steve Carrell stays committed and doesn’t go off in search of box office stardom this will end up the greatest sitcom of all time. It’s that good. Every character is a master comedian and every episode leaves you cringing as Michael Scott walks the tightrope between boorishness and downright offensive. I love this show so much I made the theme song my ring tone.

1. 24–Two Words: Jack Bauer. The baddest man on the air. Enough said. January can’t get here soon enough. They reinvented the serial and every show that has followed in its footsteps can’t come close to matching the tension and adrenaline that this show churns out.

What are your thoughts?