Case 5: Veronica Mars

When teen soap meets crime drama, which side carries the day? Or does it matter?

Compliment Case 4: The Venture Bros.

The current crown of the adult swim line-up, the world of Hank and Dean Venture, and their father, Dr. Thaddeus S. Venture, provides a stark warning to Avatar Aang.

Case 4: Avatar: The Last Airbender

I love my cartoons, but I hate the current crop—all trading cards, no love. It would take something pretty special to impress me.

Compliment Case 3: Community

Though not a ratings success, Arrested Development was part of a beachhead of single camera comedies, and Community is one of its successors.

Case 3: Arrested Development

This? Really?

Compliment Case 2: The Shield

We all love a good bad-ass, don’t we? Sure we do. Someone capable, always on top of things, unflappable, supremely confident. Dexter fits this mold in a very uncomfortable way—we like him for his bad-assness, but we shouldn’t. He’s part of an anti-hero wave that Tony Soprano began. Vic Mackey of The Shield is another.

Case 2: Dexter

Police procedurals. YAWN! But if you make the cop super-scientist a murderous psycho, will that spark my interest?

Compliment Case 1: Fringe

It seemed like, if I were going to go on about new experiences, it might be wise to go over something old, something complimentary. In this case, we might as well just follow creators from Lost on to Fringe.