Amazon Blogs: Armchair Commentary Daily Digest

Check out these Updates from Armchair Commentary for December 2, 2009.

Most Watched Shows of the Decade December 2, 2009 In this era of DVR and On Demand, it's hard to gauge people into, to borrow an old phrase, Must See TV anymore (at least live). According to the Hollywood Reporter, seven out of the top 10 most watched episodes of the decade aired in the first half. The winner? The series finale of Friends, entitled "The Last One." (It should be noted that a show could make the list only once.) 1. "Friends" Episode: Series finale, "The Last One" Airdate: May 6, 2004 Viewers: 52.5 million A practically perfect ending to a landmark series and Must See TV. 2. "Survivor: Borneo" Episode: Season One Finale Airdate: Aug. 23, 2000 Viewers: 51.7 million The infamous season one capper where Richard Hatch won and Sue gave that "rat and snake" speech 3. "Joe Millionaire" Episode: Finale Airdate: Feb. 17, 2003 Viewers: 40 million "Yeah, I don't live in a castle. I'm a construction guy."To this day, if you watched this finale you are probably cursing yourself for doing so. 4. "ER" Episode: "All in the Family" Airdate: Feb. 17, 2000 Viewers: 39.4 million Lucy (Kellie Martin) and Carter (Noah Wyle), having been stabbed by a schizo patient (David Krumholtz), are both at death's door and whole ER unites to try and save them. As we know now, one didn't make it. Truly one of the saddest, most harrowing episodes of the series. 5. "American Idol" Episode: Premiere Airdate: Jan. 16, 2007 Viewers: 38.1 million Before the ratings slide of recent seasons, season six's opener hit the show's all-time high. Lest you forget, it was the year of Jordin Sparks and... Sanjaya. 6. "Grey's Anatomy" Episode: "It's the End of the World, Part I" Airdate: Feb. 5, 2006 Viewers: 38 million In this post-Super Bowl episode, the world was introduced to the term "Code Black." Christina Ricci guested as a paramedic with her hand on the trigger of a bomb that was inside a patient, who was re-enacting a war cannon... oh, never mind. 7. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Episodes: Three from the same week Airdate: May 3, 2000 Viewers: 36 million Who here bought the Regis monochrome color tie? They were snazzy. 8. "Frasier" Episode: "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue" Airdate: May 18, 2000 Viewers: 33.7 million In the seventh-season finale, the ultimate will-they, won't-they moment: Niles professes his love for Daphne on the eve of her wedding. 9. "Everybody Loves Raymond" Episode: "The Finale" Airdate: May 16, 2005 Viewers: 32.9 million In the series finale, Ray (Ray Romano) has surgery, resulting in a moment where his family thinks he might have died. 10. "Spin City" Episode: "Goodbye" Airdate: May 24, 2000 Viewers: 32.8 million Don't let the title fool you; the show would go on two more seasons. But this was the final episode for star Michael J. Fox, who left because of his worsening Parkinson's symptoms. --Ellen

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