Top Ten ... er ... Eight TV Moments of 2007

It's that time of year again -- to reflect on all the things that made television in 2007 good, bad and sometimes just plain ridiculous. This has been anything but a year of normal, so I'm going to break from the traditional "Top Ten" format to bring you my version of the Top Eight TV Moments of the Year. It'll catch on, I promise.

8. Lorelai Gilmore's heart-wrenching karaoke version of "I Will Always Love You" on "The Gilmore Girls."

Thanks to this episode, I will finally stop associating this song with Kevin Costner. In one of TV's most bittersweet moments, Lauren Graham perfectly captured the heartbreak over her relationship with diner owner Luke, proving again how misguided Emmy voters have been to overlook her for one of their shiny prizes. Although the last season suffered creatively from the departure of writer and creator Amy Sherman-Palladino, this moment reflected how Gilmore fans felt about the timely end of their beloved show - brokenhearted but always in love with it.

7. The season finale of "Friday Night Lights."

I don't think I've almost cried over anything sports-related since the Houston Astros choked in the 2005 World Series (and that was just out of sheer frustration), but I felt like I was tearing up when the fictional Dillon Panthers won the state championship at Texas Stadium. At the same time, the off-field drama was pitch-perfect with just enough sentiment to make us sad to see the season end.

6. Jim asks Pam out to dinner on the finale of "The Office."

For Jim-Pam enthusiasts everywhere, this has been three seasons in the making. True, their subsequent romance has overshadowed what "The Office" is all about, but they simply could not have dragged on the "will-they-won't-they" drama for another season.

5. David Letterman doesn't let Paris off the Hook

Now, I've always been partial to Leno, but Letterman got my respect when he refused to let Paris Hilton off the hook after her infamous 23 days in jail. After he threw endless questions at the vapid socialite about her time in the big house, Paris pouted and said she didn't want to talk about it anymore. Letterman didn't back down, saying: "This is where you and I are different, because (that's) all I wanna talk about."

4. The "Flight of the Conchords" episode with Bowie.

I'll spare you my ode to Bret and Jermaine (inspired by the show, I'm already penning a tune). This episode features an excellent cameo from Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman (PC from those Mac commercials) and is a tribute to Ziggy-era David Bowie. Plus with lyrics like this "Are you OK, Bowie?/What was that sound?/I don't know man/I'll have to turn my ship around" capture the glorious wackiness of the show.

3. "South Park's" Imaginationland trilogy.

A three-episode arc that unleashes fictional characters from both the "South Park" world and ours, the Imaginationland trilogy seamlessly transitions from biting satire of the real world to ridiculously crude fun. Basically, it's "South Park" at its finest. (Plus, there's an appearance from the Cavity Creeps!).

2. Alec Baldwin's brilliant performance of a therapy scene on "30 Rock."

Proving once again why this is the funniest show on television, Baldwin’s over-the-top NBC executive Jack Donaghy does a one-man recreation of Tracy Jordan's (Tracy Morgan) family in a therapy session that could be borderline offensive if it weren't so preposterous and hilarious.

1. Stephen Colbert declares his candidacy for President on "The Colbert Report."

Sadly, the electoral system has even less of a sense of humor than the talking heads on the now defunct "Crossfire" and Colbert's efforts to get on the ballot in South Carolina are flatly denied by the state's Democratic Party. Still, for two glorious weeks, Colbert managed to outshine actual candidates in the polls and gave a whole new meaning to corporate sponsorship. Nacho Cheese Doritos, anyone?

I'm sure I missed a few key moments, so feel free to let me know if any others belong on this not-so-complete list.

-- Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com