AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR-OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

ALIAS

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR J.J. Abrams

SHOWRUNNER J.J. Abrams

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER J.J. Abrams, Ken Olin, John Eisendrath, Alex Kurtzman-Counter, Roberto Orci

PRODUCER Sarah Caplan

PRINCIPAL CAST Jennifer Garner, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, Bradley Cooper, Merrin Dungey, Kevin Weisman, Victor Garber, David Anders

DIRECTOR Jack Bender

WRITER J.J. Abrams

EDITOR Maryann Brandon

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Bonvillain

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Scott Chambliss

DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Kevin Blank

COMPOSER Michael Giacchino

RATIONALE: ALIAS is a weekly thrill ride that races through mind-bending plot twists and drops viewers in a maze of identity and motive. There is a rare, emotional core to this spy saga, however, as family and friends find themselves loving and loyal, but never trusting. With production values worthy of a James Bond film, ALIAS also boasts one of the finest acting ensembles on television.

ANGELS IN AMERICA

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Cary Brokaw, Mike Nichols

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mike Haley

PRODUCER Celia Costas

PRINCIPAL CAST Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, Patrick Wilson, Brian Markison, Robin Weigert, James Cromwell

DIRECTOR Mike Nichols

WRITER Tony Kushner, based on his play

EDITOR John Bloom, Antonia Van Drimmelen

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Stephen Goldblatt

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Stuart Wurtzel

DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Richard Edlund

COMPOSER Thomas Newman

RATIONALE: ANGELS IN AMERICA was born a masterpiece of the theater and lives on as a masterpiece of television. The imaginations of Tony Kushner and Mike Nichols explode and embrace as their collaboration expands the boundaries of the art form. This heroic achievement carries a message for the ages that is delivered by some of the greatest actors of our day.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR Mitchell Hurwitz

SHOWRUNNER Mitchell Hurwitz

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, David Nevins, Mitchell Murwitz

PRINCIPAL CAST Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter

DIRECTOR Anthony Russo & Joe Russo

WRITER Mitchel Hurwitz

EDITOR Lee Haxall

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY James Hawkinson

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Denise (Denny) Dugally

COMPOSER David Schwartz

RATIONALE: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT is a quirky comic voice in the grand tradition of MISTER ED and GREEN ACRES. Entertaining and distinctive in its documentary style, this eccentric look at the extremes of American family life delivers the all-too-rare belly laugh and instills new hope for growth and maturity in today's stunted comedy environment.

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR Philip Rosenthal

SHOWRUNNER Philip Rosenthal

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Philip Rosenthal, Ray Romano, Stu Smiley, Rory Rosegarten, Lew Schneider, Tucker Cawley, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Tom Caltabiano, Aaron Shure, Lisa Helfrich Jackson

PRODUCER Mike Royce, Ken Ornstein

CONSULTING PRODUCER Leslie Caveny

CO-PRODUCER Holli Gailen

PRINCIPAL CAST Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Peter Boyle, Doris Roberts, Madelyn Sweetin

DIRECTOR Jerry Zaks

WRITER Philip Rosenthal

EDITOR Pat Barnett

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Berlin

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Sharon Busse

COMPOSER Rick Marotta and Terry Trotter

RATIONALE: EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND continues to tilt America's laugh meter as it enters its eighth season. The show's writers never fail to find timeless comedy in the simplest details of everyday life. Each member of this peerless comic cast makes the effort appear effortless, and together, they have become part of the nation's extended family.

JOAN OF ARCADIA

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR Barbara Hall

SHOWRUNNER Barbara Hall, James Hayman

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Peter Schindler, Randy Anderson

PRODUCER Tom Garrigus

CONSULTING PRODUCER Hart Hanson

PRINCIPAL CAST Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Amber Tamblyn, Jason Ritter, Michael Welch

DIRECTOR Steve Gomer

WRITER Barbara Hall, Hart Hanson, Randy Anderson, Tom Garrigus, Joy Gregory

EDITOR Tracy Lee Curtis, Nina Gilberti, Lauren Schaffer

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Charlie Lieberman

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Bill Eigenbrodt

DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Dave Lezynski

COMPOSER Jonathan Grossman

RATIONALE: JOAN OF ARCADIA is proof of divine intervention. Just when it appeared that original family dramas were dead, the airwaves brought America this fresh and funny story of a girl who talks to God. Spiritual without being self-righteous, Joan's struggle to live with the inconvenience of a moral life raises issues the entire family can watch, discuss and enjoy.

NIP/TUCK

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR Ryan Murphy

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Ryan Murphy, Greer Shephard & Michael M. Robin

SUPERVISING PRODUCER Lyn Greene & Richard Levine

PRODUCER Patrick McKee, Sean Jablonski

CO-PRODUCER Jennifer Salt, Michael Weiss

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Bonnie Weis

PRINCIPAL CAST Dylan Walsh, Julian McMahon, John Hensley, Valerie Cruz and Joely Richardson

DIRECTOR Michael M. Robin

WRITER Dell Chandler & Ryan Murphy Story by: Dell Chandler

EDITOR Byron Smith

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Christopher Baffa

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Ed McAvoy

COMPOSER James S. Levine

RATIONALE: NIP/TUCK takes a glamorous look at the ugly reality of plastic surgery. The series is propelled by an addictive storytelling style that graphically cuts under the skin of America's obsession with appearance and, ultimately, will change the way audiences look into the mirror.

PLAYMAKERS

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR John Eisendrath

SHOWRUNNER John Eisendrath

PRODUCER John Eisendrath, Orly Adelson, Michael Angeli, Charles Holland, Jamie Paul Rock

PRINCIPAL CAST Tony Denison, Omar Gooding, Russell Hornsby, Jason Matthew Smith, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl

DIRECTOR T.J. Scott

WRITER John Eisendrath

EDITOR Michele Conroy

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY John Berrie

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Rocco Matteo

COMPOSER Lou Natale

RATIONALE: PLAYMAKERS takes viewers into the locker room for an unsparing look at the lives of professional football players, coaches, fans and fanatics. This courageous programming for an evolving sports network not only shatters assumptions about the world of football, but it also humanizes these modern day gladiators by dramatizing the pressures they endure both professionally and personally.

SOLDIER'S GIRL

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

PRODUCER Linda Gottlieb, Doro Bachrach

CO-PRODUCER Ron Nyswaner

PRINCIPAL CAST Troy Garity, Lee Pace, Andre Braugher, Shawn Hatosy, Philip Eddolls

DIRECTOR Frank Pierson

WRITER Ron Nyswaner

EDITOR Katina Zinner

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Paul Sarossy

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Lindsey Hermer-Bell

COMPOSER Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

RATIONALE: SOLDIER'S GIRL carries the flag for thoughtful television movies that address extraordinarily complex and emotional matters through the strength of character. Inspired by the true story of a soldier who falls in love with a transgendered woman, the film skillfully finds a voice for two people who grapple with emotions they can't explain, all without exploiting the haunting tragedy of their destiny.

24

CREATIVE ENSEMBLE:

CREATOR Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran

SHOWRUNNER Joel Surnow

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Brian Grazer

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Evan Katz

SUPERVISING PRODUCER Michael Loceff

CONSULTING PRODUCER Stephen Kronish

PRODUCER Kiefer Sutherland, Tim Iacofano, Jon Cassar

PRINCIPAL CAST Kiefer Sutherland, Dennis Haysbert, Carlos Bernard, Elisha Cuthbert, Reiko Aylesworth, James Badge Dale, Penny Johnson Jerald, Xander Berkeley, Sarah Wynter

DIRECTOR Jon Cassar (series director), Ian Toynton

WRITER Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Howard Gordon, Evan Katz, Michael Loceff, Stephen Kronish, Duppy Demetrius

EDITOR David Latham, Scott Powell, Chris Willingham

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Rodney Charters

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Joesph Hodges

COMPOSER Sean Callery

RATIONALE: 24 is a Molotov cocktail of conflict, tension and surprise. Hour by hour, this groundbreaking exercise in sustained suspense never ceases to amaze. Most importantly, what may appear to be a sheer guilty pleasure is also a rumination on how far people will go for their country and demands viewers to ask this question of themselves.

THE WIRE

CREATOR/SHOWRUNNER David Simon

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Robert F. Colesberry, David Simon

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Nina Kostroff Noble

CO-PRODUCER Karen L. Thorson

PRINCIPAL CAST Dominic West, Chris Bauer, Paul Ben-Victor, John Doman, Idris Elba, Wood Harris, Deirdre Lovejoy, Clarke Peters, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Amy Ryan, Sonja Sohn

DIRECTOR Ernest Dickerson

WRITER George P. Pelecanos Story by: David Simon

EDITOR Thom Zimney

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Uta Briesewitz

PRODUCTION DESIGNER Vince Peranio

DIGITAL EFFECTS ARTIST Company 3NY

COMPOSER Blake Leyh

RATIONALE: THE WIRE portrays mundane police work with tragic grandeur and, in doing so, captures the seemingly intractable problem of drugs in American society in a daring and unique way. Complex and subtle, the series offers a look at police procedure more realistic than any show on television.