It pains me to have to put together this list, surely something more wistful and somber than you have any right to expect right after the onslaught of family and fruitcakes. But with talks between the Writers Guild of America and the television producers at a standstill—not to mention news of the WGA refusing writing waivers for the Golden Globes—I felt it was only appropriate to take a minute to celebrate the TV characters and personalities I’ll miss most in 2008. These are the voices that shaped my viewing in 2007, and without them around, it’s going to be a long, cold year.

Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights won me over with its phenomenal first season, which is why I’ve been sticking with it during its somewhat rockier second year. (The sports-inclined among you could think of this year as a “rebuilding” one.) But of all the fantastic characters, I’ve most enjoyed the way Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) has developed from the bad boy with a heart of gold to a loyal friend who still makes the kind of casually destructive mistakes that come with the territory of being a teen. He may pound sixers before practice and drive a beat-up old truck, but he’s never a caricature. Clear eyes and full hearts, Tim. Come back soon.

 

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