Despite a lackluster fall season on the broadcast networks, overall 2005 was a good year in TV entertainment. So good, in fact, that it was particularly difficult to pick which shows made the Top 10 and which fell just outside.

Although "Desperate Housewives" had a stellar spring and a terrific first-season finale, the show's sophomore slump, which it appeared to be recovering from in its most recent episodes, knocked it out of contention for the Top 10. But it would have made the Top 20, no sweat.

ABC's "Commander in Chief" missed making this Top 10 list because it painted President Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) as far too saintly, and her rival, played by Donald Sutherland, as mustache-twirlingly evil. It's getting old. Fast.

Other good shows that didn't quite make the list but warrant mention for their quality: "24" (Fox), "The Daily Show" (Comedy Central), "Deadwood" (HBO), "Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN), "Gilmore Girls" (The WB), "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC), "House" (Fox), "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS), "Related" (The WB), "Rescue Me" (FX), "Scrubs" (NBC), "The Shield" (FX) and "South Park" (Comedy Central) for its Scientology episode, if nothing else. Who says there's nothing good on TV?

1. 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA' (Sci Fi Channel)

Go ahead, deride it as kiddie science fiction, but do so at the risk of displaying ignorance and ingrained bias. Filled with political and religious allegory, great character drama and exciting storytelling, this thoroughly human story is as good as TV drama gets.

If you need a quick primer on the characters and story, "Sci Fi Inside: Battlestar Galactica" is the perfect catch-up. It's available at www.itunes.com and will air on Sci Fi Channel at 10 p.m. Monday.

2. 'LOST' (ABC)
Some viewers complain that the original cast hasn't gotten enough screen time this season, but does anyone rant when reading a novel and a character isn't mentioned for a few chapters? Not that I've ever heard. And yet that's exactly what "Lost" is: a thriller that unfolds like a novel, chapter by chapter. I'll leave it to others to puzzle over the meaning of Hurley's numbers or the goal of the Dharma Initiative. "Lost" is best enjoyed when you're willing to go along for the ride.

3. 'SLEEPER CELL' (SHOWTIME)
Not since "Beggars & Choosers" has an hour-long Showtime series grabbed me as did this edge-of-your-seat drama about a Muslim FBI agent (Michael Ealy) infiltrating a Los Angeles-based terror cell. The entire first season aired this month and told a complete story, so I'm not sure there's any real need for it to return, but it sure was a timely, effective and fair-minded program while it lasted.

4. 'ENTOURAGE' (HBO)
A light-hearted, fun series about fame and friendship, "Entourage" delved deeper into the psyches of its characters in season two without getting too dark or serious. That's a tricky balancing act to pull off, but this HBO comedy did it in style.

5. 'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' (FOX)
Gonzo comedy, totally out-there humor that requires acute attention, this comedy is brilliant in both its silliness and its reliance on viewers having an attention span. No wonder it never developed a wide following.

6. 'THE WEST WING' (NBC)
Before the sad death of actor John Spencer, "The West Wing" was experiencing a creative renaissance. The race between two good men -- that fact alone qualifies this as a political fantasy land) -- was handled with attention to detail and great care. The story line of Republican Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) vs. Democrat Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) has been far superior to the Aaron Sorkin-penned re-election campaign Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) ran against straw man Robert Ritchie (James Brolin) in season three. With Spencer's passing likely necessitating the death of his character, Democratic vice presidential candidate Leo McGarry, "West Wing" will probably get that much more dramatic as it nears the end of its run.

7. 'THE OFFICE' (NBC)

We've all had a boss like Michael Scott (Steve Carell) or a co-worker like Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), so we can relate to working under the thumb of incompetence and alongside the immature and tactless. What makes "The Office" bearable, especially in its second season, is that we identify with good guy Jim (John Krasinski) and perky Pam (Jenna Fischer). We might not want to work in their office, but it's a lot of fun to eavesdrop.

8. 'MY NAME IS EARL' (NBC)
"Earl" is just as loony as "Arrested Development," but it's got a lot more heart, which may be why it's found a following that's eluded the Fox comedy. "Earl" also benefits from an extremely likeable cast of characters, whether it's good-natured Earl (Jason Lee), dim but well-meaning Randy (Ethan Suplee), vicious Joy (Jaime Pressly) or quiet, cool Crab Man (Eddie Steeples). Here's hoping Earl's list of reparations takes several years to complete.

9. 'VERONICA MARS' (UPN)
Another drama that requires close attention, but like "Lost," "Veronica Mars" rewards loyal viewers with compelling mysteries and even better character arcs. Densely plotted and carefully layered, this story of a teen sleuth is smart and sometimes baffling. It's certainly not a show you read a magazine while watching and catch all the nuances and clues. It's that rare TV show that respects the intelligence of its audience.

10. 'OVER THERE' (FX)
An audacious attempt to dramatize an ongoing U.S. military engagement, now-canceled "Over There" succeeded in creating tension and introducing grunts whose safety you worried about week-to-week, even if they weren't the most likeable characters. Not enough viewers supported this Iraq war drama by tuning in (admittedly, it lost its way a little in its midsection), but "Over There" picked up its pack and soldiered on in its final episodes, pulling out of prime time banged up and bruised in the ratings, but not creatively defeated.