Arrested Development - Righteous Brothers (2005)

In my opinion, there was no show in the Aughts that was on the same stratum as Arrested Development. The brilliance on display can be seen by the casual viewer in the smart writing and top-tier comic acting, but for those who invested in the show were rewarded with skillfully crafted callbacks and references that enriched the experience of watching the Bluth Family.

In 2005’s Righteous Brothers we are given one of the best examples of what Arrested Development did best. Not to mention, the above clip shows one of the most ridiculous moments in TV in the 2000s, but really was just par for the course in the AD universe.

How I Met Your Mother - Slap Bet (2006)

The 2000s will be remembered for the transition to single camera comedies like Arrested Development, Scrubs, 30 Rock, The Office, etc. However, CBS has resisted the trend and it has paid off as they not only have the highest rated comedies on TV, but one of the best in How I Met Your Mother. However, HIMYM has taken the format and melded it with the mentalities of the single camera format and a story structure that has rarely been seen on television. By allowing it to be told through narration in the far off future it allows for the writers to play with time and perspectives that not only aid in telling the story, but in many of the funniest parts of the show.

In 2006’s Slap Bet, the shows high point, Robin refuses to go to the mall with the gang and won’t tell them why. Marshall and Barney wager a slap bet that she was previously married in a mall or did porn, respectively. As you’ll see neither are right and the truth is 10x better and results in a Slapathon that is still going on to this day.

Lost - Through The Looking Glass (2007)

2007 was the hardest year to pick with fantastic episodes from 3 of my favorite shows. The OC’s series finale The End’s Not Near It’s Here was the perfect ending to a show that came back from the cellar to deliver a fantastic closing season. House’s One Day, One Room went against the usual procedural formula and let Hugh Laurie shine in a rare glimpse into the character’s past.

That being said, I thought I would go with Lost’s Through The Looking Glass because no episode of any series has ever turned everything on its head quite like the shows 3rd season finale. For those of you unaware of what I’m talking about and still want to see it, I won’t spoil it; for those who do, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

30 Rock - Rosemary’s Baby (2008)

This selection is for what is bar-none the funniest scene I’ve seen on TV in the decade in one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the decade. In the scene, Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy impersonates Tracy’s mother, father, and even Tracy himself in an effort to get Tracy back to work (to his therapist’s horror). You might not laugh harder than the first time you see this scene.

The Office - Niagara (2009)

I wanted to go with Chuck’s Chuck vs. the Colonel but I have talked about my love for that episode and the show before and I would be remiss to not include The Office on this list and especially after the superb season they are having this year.

This season has been, at the least, one of the best seasons of the series, if not the best. Niagara is the pinnacle for the show as it not only blends the ridiculousness of Steve Carell’s Michael Scott and Rainn Wilson’s Dwight Schrute and the culmination of one of the most endearing and believable romances on TV between Jim and Pam. I really admire the writers for not making them a will they/won’t they couple and just doing what every one wanted to see anyway.