1. & 2. The Practice/Ally McBeal

The only things these two shows seem to have in common are their Boston setting and their creator, David E. Kelley. But, whatever their differences in tone and subject matter, combined they equal the best of television in 1998. Kelley's Picket Fences was one of the best shows of the decade. However, toward the end of its run it fell apart due to its inherent split personality. It excelled at quirky, outrageous plots, but often, and not always successfully, fused them with timely ethical debates. Now, Kelley has found a way to appease his dual interests. While Ally is whimsical and outrageous (the Mud-wrestling episode springs to mind), The Practice is intense and provocative (standouts include the arc centering on Joey Herrick, played brilliantly by John Larroquette). They both revel in the gray areas of law and justice and excel when the shows' lawyers are allowed to be even grayer. Capable of compassion, anger, naivete, cynicism, and unending neuroses, Kelley's characters are never boring, never cliché, and never exactly who we assume they are. It's interesting to note that as we debate society's preoccupation with weight and thinness, the two poster girls from either side appear on Kelley's shows: Ally's svelte star Calista Flockhart and The Practice's Camryn Manheim, who dedicated her well-deserved Emmy to "all the fat girls". This man has a firm grip on the zeitgeist. [Did I really say that? Kill me now.] Above all, however, these two shows are damn entertaining, so bring on the dancing babies and the severed heads, the future of television is secure. [Oh, dear God!]

3. South Park

It's rude, it's crude, it's -BLEEEP-, it's the antithesis of all that is good and decent and that's the fun of this cable cartoon. Trey Parker and Matt Stone's two-dimensional, construction-paper cutouts have more depth of emotion, more social responsibility, more entertainment value than most anything on the networks, and everything on UPN. As offensive and scatalogical as the humor can be, there is a message to be found in South Park. Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny remind us what it was like to be innocent, adventurous and even sweet. Last season's outstanding Christmas Episode, which featured Mr. Hankey, the Talking Poo, was as outrageous as anything done on television. But beneath the poo-smeared surface lie a gentle story about finding common ground and learning to accept each others differences. Yes, this is the show where a mumbling kid on public assistance gets eaten by rats in every episode, but it's also the show where Stan's gay dog found a home and Jesus beat Satan in a wrestling match. It's not exactly wholesome, but that's the -BLEEEP-in' point.

4. Buffy, the Vampire Slayer

If you've never watched Joss Whedon's snarky, spunky, sublime little show, you have no right to cringe at it's placement on this list. This show kicks ass. In the case of Sarah Michelle Gellar's titular character, that statement is literal. Part Kung-Fu, part Twilight Zone, part Square Pegs, Whedon's creation is both adrenalin-pumping and riotously funny. This is a show that loves language: the withering barb, the declaration of love, the arcane poetry of spells and curses. Buffy only got better this year as Angel, the Slayer's true love, fell from grace and she had to face the reality that her duty to mankind forced her to kill the one she loved. Add to this the ever-deepening relationships between Buffy's pals (Nicholas Brendan's Xander, Charisma Carpenter's Cordelia, Alyson Hannigan's Willow and Seth Green's Oz) and the growing attraction between Buffy's mother and her "Watcher", librarian Mr. Giles, and you have the makings of great soap opera. Throw in a few blood-crazed zombies and a demon or two and you've got the best teen show on TV today, and maybe, ever.

5. Will & Grace

Here's another show that loves language, with zingers and witty retorts coming fast and furious. Much has been made about its premise and its promise as Ellen's successor in the gay-sitcom arena. But while Ellen was timidly political in its portrayal of gays and lesbians, Will is giddy and unabashed. So what if Will hasn't started dating yet, neither has Grace. Finally, we are getting the kind of neurotic, multi-dimensional lovable characters we deserve, gay or straight. Eric McCormack and Debra Messing make a delightful pair as he plays Ted Bissel to her Marlo Thomas. But the true joy here is the supporting cast. Megan Mullaly is a riot as Grace's well-connected socialite assistant. She stands condescendingly above the fray but secretly longs to come down and join in. Her partner in crime, Sean Hayes's Jack, may well be the most stereotypical gay character ever portrayed on television, but he's also the funniest, deepest, and, yes, the truest. I know a Jack and I make fun of him just as much as Will does. But finally, Will is on this list simply because its the most consistently funny, verbally inventive and uproariously entertaining show since…

6. Friends

To call this show, now in its fifth season, resurgent is to do a disservice to its great first four years. While most shows take a creative breather in their fifth season, relieved to finally be in syndication, and therefore rich, the most copied show on television is doing its best work ever. The pairing of Chandler and Monica in a clandestine affair has been the single funniest plot of the new season. Combined with Ross's newfound loserdom and Joey's efforts to out the aforementioned lovers, each episode has been a solid winner. Loved especially the Thanksgiving episode where each friend flashed back to their worst holiday ever. A classic simply for Chandler's Flock of Seagulls hair-do, the episode explained so much about each character's personality that the great sight gags were merely gravy.

7. ER

Sure, it's an easy choice, the number-one show in the country. But there's a reason it's number one. No drama is more consistently exciting and heart-breaking or uses it's thrilling ensemble as equally or as richly. Not enough Doug Ross this week? Don't worry, he'll have a great story next week. Missing Gloria Reuben's Jeanie since her brilliant work with Anspaugh's dying son last season? Her time is coming. [Yeah, I know. I also said DEK had a frim grip on the zeitgeist. Shoot me] I must give special mention to Laura Innes and Eriq La Salle (Weaver and Benton). While their characters could easily become so uptight or self-possessed as to lose viewer favor, each actor maintains a compassion or humor that makes the audience root for them, sometimes even more than the obvious heroes like Anthony Edward's Dr. Green or Noah Wyle's Carter. While we're on the subject, I may have left this show off the list had Wyle kept that ridiculous Grizzly Adams beard.

8. Everybody Loves Raymond

If the term family sitcom gives you visions of Beaver Cleaver, Cindy Brady or, most frighteningly, Bob Saget, you may have shied away from this deadpan gem. As star Ray Romano is fond of saying, it's not about the kids. But it is about the children - grown ones still struggling to break free of their parents. Romano is a charming lead. Raymond is petty, immature and snide. He is perfectly matched with Patricia Heaton as his slow burning wife. Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle round out the peerless ensemble, each finally getting the witty comedy they so richly deserved.

9. General Hospital

Soaps get little respect by television critics, but this long-running series had a great year in 1998. After languishing for a year and a half with tired plots and head writers with no sense of storytelling rhythm, GH came back in 1998 thanks to the return of head writer Robert Guza, Jr. In the most daring plot in the shows 35 year history, Guza re-explored the thing everyone tried to forget: the world's most famous super couple was created after Luke raped Laura. By telling the story through the eyes of Lucky Spencer, Luke and Laura's teenage son, the characters as well as the audience were forced to discuss the dirtiest secret in daytime. When Luke finally admitted to his son exactly what he had done, Anthony Geary (Luke) and Jonathan Jackson (Lucky) proved once and for all they are the greatest, most inventive soap actors of their respective generations. Add to this Genie Francis's earth mother power as Laura, Sarah Brown's sympathetic bitch, Carly and Jaclyn Zeman as her reformed bad girl mother, Bobbi, Guza has cemented the Spencer clan as the most interesting, complex and entertaining family in soap history.

10. Special Achievements in Television

The Larry Sander's Show Finale - for giving a great show it's proper, hilarious and touching (if only for a second) send-off

Merlin - for great special effects and Miranda Richardson as the indelible Queen Mab

The 1998 Golden Globe Awards - for giving us the most unexpected fun, from Christine Lahti's bathroom break to Ving Rhames' generosity, we've had in years.

The Daily Show - for bringing snarkiness to new heights and finally treating the world to a performance by Kandy, the Klan Klown.

Runners Up

SportsNight; Spin City; The Simpsons; Just Shoot Me; Law and Order; The Young and the Restless

Worst of TV 1998

The Seinfeld Finale

MTV

When Anything Attacks

MSNBC's All Monica All the Time philosophy

Any of Jerry's thoughts, Final or otherwise