Welcome to the Monthly Ten! Top-Ten Lists are fun to read and to write, and depending on the subject, they allow the writer to examine film in new and different ways. Each month, I'll pick a topic and then rank the ten best entertainment-related things that fall under that topic.

For my money, I love TV as much as or more as films. When a good movie comes out, it's out and you can either re-watch it or wait for the possible sequel. With a good TV show, you can revisit your favorite characters and see the story progress from week to week. In fact, when TV is good, I think it's a more entertaining medium than film. What you're about to read is the Monthly Ten list I've been waiting to share with my readers for months, because I love absolutely everything on this list to death and prefer DVD sets of these shows to DVDs of any given film. TV is a very subjective thing, and I don't expect anyone to necessarily agree with my list; but that's what makes TV (when it's good) great-there's something out there for everyone. Here are the ten shows out there that seem made for me, the ones I love the most. And yeah, I know, most of these are relatively recent shows, but in many cases they are the ones I've grown up with, and that alone makes them special. The TV season starts again this month, so I thought it was the perfect time to publish this list. With that, let's get started!

10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Aired: 1997-2003
Favorite Episode: Becoming, Part Two

According to many people, no list of TV's best can be complete without the Emmy's all-time favorite snub, Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I agree-but I just got into this show this summer (a mixture of getting into other Whedon shows and WalMart having incredible prices on the DVD sets), so I can't really tell where it would end up on this list had I seen every episode. Thus, it gets the number 10 spot. I'm near the end of season 2, and so far, this is just an all around excellent show. Like all of Whedon's work, it's about social satire and commentary using grandiose metaphor-but I love it for the character's. The chemistry of the cast is off the charts, with each character as interesting as the last. This could easily have been a formulaic "Demon-of-the-Week" show, but Whedon and co. cleverly side step that by keeping things focused on the characters and never taking things too seriously. Camp has never been used this effectively since Star Trek. Anyway, this is a great show, I'm glad I finally got around to watching it, and the number 10 spot is well deserved.

9. Monty Python's Flying Circus
Aired: 1969-1974
Favorite Episode: Live From the Grill O'Mat

It's easy to underestimate this show's importance, but the fact of the matter is that without Monty Python, comedy wouldn't be what it is today. The Beatles revolutionized music, and the Pythons revolutionized the art of humor. Much of their TV show is silly and nonsensical (something they often make a point of), but it's also extremely smart and clever. This show has given the world many classic comedy routines, like "The Lumberjack Song," "Dead Parrot," "Dennis Moore," etc. In fact, the modern meaning of the word "Spam" originated on this show! I could talk about it's importance for pages, but when we really get down to it, Monty Python's Flying Circus is loved because it's so darnfunny, a half-hour of pure entertainment. If you've only seen Holy Grail, stop reading this and buy some DVDs-you've got watching to do.

8. 24
Aired: 2001-Present

The quality of 24 has been up and down over the years, sort of like a long-going action movie saga that won't die. It hasn't necessarily gotten worse over time-the recent season seven was excellent, but some of the middle chapters have been iffy. Despite that, 24 has always been a very fun, exciting, and entertaining show. Kiefer Sutherland deserves more credit that I can give him-even when the writing is bad, he never gives up, dutifully playing a secret agent that we'd all like to think is actually out there protecting us. The show does provide extremely simple answers for exceedingly complex issues (torture doesn't solve everything, Jack), but then again, it exists in a reality where nukes are as easy to come by as a burrito. At the end of the day, 24 is big, over-the-top fun, almost always packing an emotional wallop while keeping us glued to the television. I've been watching the show for years and if the upcoming season 8 is indeed going to be the last season, then a large piece of my adolescence will have passed.

7. Batman: The Animated Series
Aired: 1992-1995
Favorite Episode: Almost Got 'Im

Heck yeah! There have been dozens upon dozens of takes on the Dark Knight over the decades, but for many fans, this is the definitive one. You're probably thinking: but wait! How can an animated series handle such a dark character? My answer: Have you watched it? This is a dark show filled with complex plots and often terrifying villains. It never panders to a lowest common denominator, and while it is kid friendly, it's just as enjoyable for adults. The voice work is perfect, the writing is top-notch, and almost all of Batman's rogues gallery is expertly realized. My single favorite thing about this show, though, is the Joker, played by Mark Hamill. Forget Luke Skywalker, this is what Hamill should be remembered for-apart from Heath Ledger, you won't find a better Joker anywhere.

6. The Office (US)
Aired: 2005-Present
Favorite Episode: Stress Relief

The Office is freaking brilliant. There's no other way to say it. Everything about this show is genius. And granted, a lot of that comes from the original British show the American version is based on, which was groundbreaking in many ways. But the British show was only 12 episodes long, and the US version has kept things going for five seasons without any quality loss-the fifth season was my favorite thus far. This is due to the fact that the writers really know and love the characters. Few shows on TV have such a great ensemble that is always expertly utilized. We care about these people and their lives intimately, but the show is never exploitive about it. The emotions are realistic and never shoved in your face-they're quiet and usually in the background. More is said without words on this show than with them. But it's also funny-no other show I've ever seen has made me laugh really hard at least once an episode. Sure, this show has some bad episodes-but even those are hilarious. The Office is undoubtedly the best American sitcom of the decade.

And guess what? The show has actually recognized my undying love for it! The hour-long Jim/Pam wedding episode airs on my birthday! That's one of the best presents ever!

5. The Simpsons
Aired: 1989-Present
Favorite Episode: A Fish Called Selma

What can one say about The Simpsons that hasn't already been said? It's entering its 21 st season, which says a lot. America loves this show, and has since it premiered. Personally, I really, really don't like where the show has been going in the last seven or eight years. It's not terrible, but it's certainly not good. But the first 10-12 seasons were gold. They're extremely funny, but they resonate because you really do care about the characters and their lives. When Homer is utilized correctly, he's not just a big idiot-he's dumb, yes, but not mean-spirited and would do anything for his family. He's a very loveable protagonist, and that's why we keep coming back to watch his exploits. The family dynamic is great, but the supporting cast is what makes the show so amazing-the world of Springfield is incredibly iconic, and that's because it's inhabited by such a rich cast of well developed characters. The Simpsons is truly one of the most remarkable TV shows of all time, even if it has overstayed its welcome by a number of seasons.

4. Star Trek: The Original Series
Aired: 1966-1969
Favorite Episode: The Menagerie

Wrath of Khan is awesome. The Next Generation was very fun. J.J. Abrams' Star Trek hit all the right notes. But for me, nothing beats the original series. Every episode of this show, even the bad ones, are incredibly fun to watch. It's cheesy, but in a good way-everyone on screen is obviously having a good time, and that fun translates to the audience. Most of the stories are inventive and well-written, and are often pretty thrilling. We all know Kirk and the crew aren't really ever going to get killed or stranded somewhere, but somehow, the show often manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's all around great television, and the best part is the cast. They have excellent chemistry, and there's nothing like watching the original crew of the NCC-1701 interact.

3. Firefly
Aired: 2002
Favorite Episode: Jaynestown

The cancellation of Joss Whedon's Firefly is infamous among TV fans as being one of the saddest events in the history of the medium. But Fox didn't just cancel this series-they slowly tortured it to death by airing episodes out of order, mis-promoting it, and completely leaving off three episodes. They got the DVD right at least, and since the DVD release, the show has come to be hailed as the masterpiece that it is. I have trouble summing up my feelings for this show-it's so good I don't even know where to begin. But like most great shows, it's the cast that makes everything come alive. Nine main characters, each as interesting as the next, and all played to perfection by their respective actors. This is absolutely Joss Whedon's masterwork (along with the sequel film Serenity), and a show that deserves to be seen by everyone. In fact, it would be my favorite show of all time, if it weren't 14 episodes long. That's not the show's fault-the blame is on Fox's shoulders-but still, a show that short can't really make the impact the next two shows on this list do. Fox as a company has done plenty tomake me mad-their terrible superhero films, their incessantly biased journalism, their recent cancellation of Terminator: SCC-but they've never done anything as evil as sabotaging Firefly.

2. Chuck
Aired: 2007-Present
Favorite Episode: Chuck Versus the Ring

If you aren't watching Chuck, you should be. It's the second best show on TV, and if it makes it past season three, it will be the best show on TV. The concept is simple, but makes for great week-to-week entertainment. There's a formula, but the writers are creative enough to never let it get stale. Chuck mixes great comedy with fun espionage stories and gripping action-but above all that, it's (you guessed it) the amazing cast that makes Chuck a winner. Led by the amazingly talented Zachary Levi, this is a group of actors that love their job-and we love them for it. They could have an episode made entirely of this group of characters sitting around hanging out, and it would still be amazing. Fans fought hard for the show to get a third season, and NBC listened (instantly making them a better network than Fox)-that's a big victory, one that shouldn't be taken for granted. I've been trying to do my part to keep awareness for the show up with Chuck Me Mondays posts, but...oh yeah, I stopped those. Sorry about that. My life got too busy with school starting to keep a weekly column going, but trust me-I didn't stop because I suddenly stopped liking the show. Chuck rocks.

1. Lost
Aired: 2004-2010
Favorite Episode: There's No Place Like Home, Part 2

This probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. After all, I've written in-depth analysis's of each episode of this show's fourth and fifth seasons for this very site, one of my most well-received writing ventures. It's hard to single out my favorite TV show of all time, but I couldn't go with anything but Lost. Few shows can juggle a complex, mysterious, and incredibly smart plot with such a phenomenal cast of characters. Usually, either the characters of the plot get lost in the mix-but not on Lost. The writers never let their big mysteries get in the way of letting the characters breath. It's a rewarding show to watch, one that constantly makes you think but never fails to reward that mental effort. Watching it week to week these past few years has been so much fun because of what a discussion based show it is. If you watch Lost with other people, one episode will give you at least a week's worth of conversation. No other show I know of can do that.

Lost's final season starts airing in January-and the quality of the show as a whole depends on these crucial final episode. If the ending doesn't hit it out of the park, this show could drop a few notches on my list. But I have no reason to doubt the writers-they've consistently made all the right moves since hitting their stride in season 3, and nothing since Flashes Before Your Eyes has given me reason to doubt this series. It's my favorite show of all time.