It's that annual time to reflect on what worked on TV over the past year… and what didn't. Here is my personal list.

BEST

"Mad Men"
This intricately woven tale of 1960s ad men's work and home lives captured the imagination of an obsessively loyal fanbase. It's also one of the few things Emmy got right, awarding the show its outstanding drama trophy. And creator Matthew Weiner has become one of our favorite people this year. See our Q&A here.

DirecTV's deal for "Friday Night Lights"
A shared window plan between the satellite provider and NBC bought the critical darling another season. Those lucky few who subscribe to DirecTV have had the privilege of enjoying a season that approaches the greatness of the show's epic first season.

"Big Bang Theory"
This comedy about socially awkward geniuses has emerged as a surprise hit this fall after garnering fair ratings in the strike shortened 07-08 season. Creatively the show's never been better, with the razor sharp ensemble now firing on all cylinders and auds propelling it to season high numbers week after week. See our Q&A with star Jim Parsons here.

"Desperate Housewives"
Fast forwarding the ladies' lives five years added a much needed jolt to the flagging drama. See our Q&A with creator Marc Cherry here.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
Priceless

"Privileged"
A sweet dramedy that's too smart for the CW's core audience. More people ought to be watching.

"Worst Week"
Consistently laugh-out-loud funny.

"Dexter"
Jimmy Smits proved a suitable friend, then foil, to our favorite sociopathic hero. See our Q&A with exec producer Clyde Phillips here.

“The Office”
Anyone who works in an office has got to appreciate this painfully accurate laffer.

“The Biggest Loser”
As reluctant as I am to include a reality show in any best of list, I have to admit, this one hits on every emotion.

"The Capture of The Green River Killer"
This Lifetime mini was an engrossing and emotional account of the 20+ years search for a serial killer with stellar performances from Tom Cavanaugh and Amy Davidson. It's too bad the broadcast nets have given up on movies and minis.

WORST

The Emmy Awards
An embarrassment to the television community. Everyone involved should be ashamed. If you've blocked out how truly awful it was, read my review from that night here.

"Do Not Disturb"
Auds mercifully checked out early from this dreadful Fox comedy.

"Grey's Anatomy"
This show has lost whatever charm it once had and now just feels desperate.

"Knight Rider"
A bad idea, executed horribly.

"Crusoe"
Unwatchable.

"ER's" final season
I've been a fan for most of this hospital drama's 15 seasons but this last gasp has been a slow painful death.

"Boston Legal"
Someone needs to explain to me how this ever attracted an audience. I've never been so happy to see a show end its run.

Those are mine. What are yours?

For more best of lists, visit TVGuide.com's list of best shows and best TV moments. TV.com weighs in here. Our pal Mo Ryan of the Chicago Tribune has her say here.

Did you see other lists that resonated with you?

— Kathy Lyford

Season Pass has never been about a roundup of TV news around the Web. We figure savvy TV lovers can peruse the Net on their own. But today we'd like to give a shoutout to our favorite TV sites — some are old friends and a few are newly discovered.

Amuse yourselves while you wait for the latest posts in our Q&A series. Coming up shortly are “Friday Night Lights” showrunner Jason Katims, who is still trying to work us into his busy schedule, and “The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons, who is scheduled to sit down with me on Friday to answer your questions. Look for that post next Wednesday. For more upcoming features, have a look at the menu there on the right side of this page. And we are open to suggestions from readers as well.

Our favorite sites (in no particular order):
Cynthia Littleton’s On the Air blog: Our Variety colleague blogs about all things TV.
TV Series Finale, which remarks on the last episodes of your favorite (or not so favorite) shows. Recent posts include “The Riches,” “King of the Hill” and the MRC slate for the CW. I look forward to their take on the last ep of the venerable NBC series “ER,” which is on its its 15th and final season.
By Ken Levine, from the Emmy-winning vet sitcom scribe and baseball announcer. Hard for me not to dig someone who loves TV and baseball!
What’s Alan Watching?, by New Jersey Star-Ledger tube critic Alan Sepinwall. His “Mad Men” recaps left us feeling inadequate. We bow to his genius insights.
Television Without Pity for their snarky, in depth recaps of our favorite shows
Pop Candy, Whitney Matheson’s fun pop culture blog for USA Today
Coaxial, the TV page on fanboy fave site Ain’t It Cool News
The Watcher, our pal Mo Ryan’s TV blog on the Chicago Tribune site. Check out her funny comments on those silly CNN election night holograms. That ridiculous bit of technology reminded us of watching the NFL on Fox, where there are so many gimmicks and graphics you can scarcely see the play on the field.
Project Rungay, for a laugh-out-loud take from a couple of witty gay guys on one of our favorite reality shows and more
TV Tattle, a roundup of TV news and criticism

And there are many others. Check out our list of links on the bottom right-hand side of this page. Are there any we missed? Please clue us in.

Posted by Kathy Lyford

By far the most thrilling thing to come out of the big NBC scheduling announcement Wednesday was the news that our beloved “Friday Night Lights” will return with 13 new episodes next season. Wow. Clear eyes, full hearts, we really did win! NBC has engineered a unique deal with DirecTV wherein the sat provider will air the episodes first in the fall, with NBC airing them beginning in February. More to come on this later on Season Pass.

The other news was not so exciting. “ER” is back for another year, limping to its long overdue conclusion at the end of next season. Listen, I’m the biggest “ER” fan out there; I’ve never missed an episode. But this show is really a shell of its former greatness and should have been put out to pasture at least a year ago. I will still be there for every episode but it will continue to be a chore and no longer a joy, as it was for about 12 seasons. What? I’m going to stop now after 14 years?

“The Office” spinoff was met with mixed reaction here at Season Pass. It could be great, it could feel like a ripoff. And, God forbid, it could dilute the mojo of the original. It remains to be seen. More on "The Office" at Cynthia Littleton's On The Air blog.

As for the new offerings… you tell us. I will, of course give each of these shows a fair shot by viewing the pilot before forming an opinion. But at first glance, there’s nothing on the list that follows that engenders the least bit of anticipation for me. I don't see a lot of new Season Passes for my Tivo coming out of this bunch.

Opinions?

— Kathy Lyford

I used to be a dedicated "Law & Order" viewer, back before I came to feel years ago that if you've seen 100, you've seen them all. But with most shows on hiatus and Jeremy Sisto joining the cast, I actually set my DVR to record Wednesday's season premiere.

After about five minutes, I left the TV and went upstairs to waste time online. I just couldn't hack it. 

There wasn't anything wrong with what I saw. I just wasn't able to bring myself to settle in with its general dreariness, its all-too-familiar tone. The Sisto infusion meant almost nothing.

After a while, I feel, it's hard to repair disenchantment with long-running shows. However rational or irrational my feelings toward "L&O" are, there's no escaping it: I've moved on.

And so it will be for me tonight with "ER," another can't-miss show from another era that's a must-miss for me now.  Gloria Reuben — a face from my heyday with the series — returns for a special appearance tonight, boosting a cast that already features three favorites of mine (Maura Tierney, Linda Cardellini and Parminder Nagra). And yet, I know I just won't be able to sit through an episode, or even an act.

Sometimes, when you fall out of love, there's no going back. Know what I mean?

— Jon Weisman