The Riches (FX)
Starring Eddie Izzard – best known for his stand-up comedy and transvestism – and Minnie Driver – best-known for her 1997 turn in Good Will Hunting and enormously square jaw – in the title roles, few would have predicted just how good this show could be. Following the adventures of the Malloys (Izzard, Driver and three kids), a family of travelling con artists who get the chance to take over the identities of the deceased Riches in the Deep South, this show was several shades darker than its cast list may have suggested. The combination of savvy plots, ingenious scams, and superbly written characters put The Riches on a par with any other quality drama on the box this year; Izzard’s comic performances put them into a class of their own. Unfortunately the second series, which is yet to screen in Hong Kong, will be the last.

Runner-up: Mad Men (FX)
If, like us, you’ve had trouble filling the Sopranos-sized hole in your viewing schedule since Tony & Co said bada-bing, bada-bye, then Mad Men (made by US cable network AMC) was the show that plugged that gap. Set in the offices of the fictitious Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency in early 1960s New York, Mad Men charts the ambitions and affairs of a team of ad executives led by the suave Don Draper (Jon Hamm) against a backdrop of rapidly changing attitudes and ingrained prejudices. Masterful scripts, memorable lines, a great cast and painstaking attention to detail in visually recreating the era made this show a cut above almost everything else on TV this year.

2nd runner-up: Californication (FX)
Nothing in David Duchovny’s career to date suggested he had it in him to make Californication such a compelling series, but his portrayal of hard-drinking, womanising LA writer Hank Moody struck a chord with us. Relentlessly foul-mouthed, consistently funny, often disgusting, and occasionally touching, Californication found fertile new ground in the age-old battle of the sexes.

Honourable mention: Flight of the Chonchords (HBO)
Comedy gold from the Kiwi pair trying to make it big in New York with a little help from their hapless manager.

Honourable mention: Dexter (Fox Crime)
Everyone’s favourite friendly neighbourhood psychopath just gets better and better.

Honourable mention: Life on Mars (ATV/BBC Entertainment)
Inventive, funny, poignant and tense, the concluding second season of this BBC drama was addictive viewing.

Readers’ choice: House
You can’t get enough of Hugh Laurie’s sardonic charm it seems. Neither can we.