For many reasons (the economy, the scourge of reality-TV wannabes, the Tiger Woods scandal, the too-many legends who passed away), many of us are going to be happy to put 2009 behind us. But as the year comes to a close, it’s also the time to look back with fondness (usually) on the entertainment that helped define the year.

I had the great fortune over the weekend to once again sit on the jury for the American Film Institute’s annual AFI Awards for television (a separate jury for film met the next day). It’s a process of civilized debate where it’s OK to express an unabashed passion for the art form that is TV. The mix of jurors—critics, academics, AFI trustees and industry professionals—always makes for a stimulating and re-energizing day. This year’s was no exception.

The jury included Deadwood-NYPD Blue visionary David Milch, the wonderful actress CCH Pounder (The Shield) producer Stanley M. Brooks (AMC’s Broken Trail), Law & Order: SVU executive producer Neal Baer as the jury’s chair, production designer and TV Academy chairman John Shaffner, fellow critics Maureen “The Watcher” Ryan and Variety scribe Brian Lowry, and esteemed and exacting scholars Bambi Haggins, L.S. Kim, Lisa Parks, Ellen Seiter and Robert Thompson.

Here are the shows the AFI jury, after several rounds of discussion, honored this year (alphabetically): The Big Bang Theory, Big Love, Friday Night Lights, Glee, Mad Men, Modern Family, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Nurse Jackie, Party Down (the most eclectic choice, from Starz) and True Blood.

There is some heft and variety to this list, but there’s no question the emphasis this year is on pure entertainment, shows emphasizing character over attitude, rewarding creative exuberance without apology. As coincidence would have it, so does my own top-10 list, out this week in the new issue of TV Guide Magazine. Unlike many years, a majority of my own choices (7 out of 10) are reflected in AFI’s picks.

Here’s my annotated top 10 (and comparing the lists, the only change I’d make now is to try to find room for the lovely Ladies’ Detective Agency, but what would I cut?):

Modern Family It takes all types to make a modern family, and ABC’s brilliant new comedy (anchoring a strong Wednesday lineup), the one thing each of these types—young and old, straight and gay—has in common is their uncommonly sharp humor. With character revealed in a subtle mockumentary format that somehow makes the belly laughs more surprising and delightful, we experience true ensemble magic. Standouts include Ty Burrell as a hopelessly tone-deaf dad who thinks he’s cool, Rico Rodriguez as wise-beyond-his-years little Manny, and Eric Stonestreet as the flamboyant Cameron (partner to Jesse Tyler Ferguson's more uptight Mitchell). To get to know this family is to love them—unconditionally.

Mad Men The ’60s as a cauldron of volcanic change: Never has that been more thrillingly dramatized than in the third season of AMC’s landmark series, where the entire world went topsy-turvy. The Sterling Cooper agency broke apart in the wake of a pre-Beatles British invasion, while the Drapers’ marriage collapsed after Betty discovered Don’s hidden past. All that and JFK’s assassination, plus a bloody office mishap involving a John Deere mower. Romantic, tragic and darkly exhilarating, Mad Men is truly one for the ages.

Battlestar Galactica A milestone in sci-fi TV, delivering thrilling action with mind-blowing mythology, Syfy’s enriched Battlestar survived an explosive mutiny to achieve its ultimate destiny: life on Earth. Turns out we are all part-Cylons, with hybrid child Hera our evolutionary Eve, as the space travelers land on a prehistoric Earth in a mystical-spiritual fadeout that honors the soul-searching humanism of this unforgettable epic.

Nurse Jackie Healer, heal thyself. If only it were that easy. In her second role of a lifetime, Edie Falco erases all traces of Carmela Soprano in Showtime’s pitch-black medical comedy. She fearlessly exposes the flaws of this ferocious angel of mercy, who keeps her family life a secret at work while carrying on with the nice-guy pharmacist who supplies her drug habit. Jackie is a mess. Nurse Jackie is a must.

The Big Bang Theory More fun than a game of “rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock,” CBS’ comedy of science-geek camaraderie continues to grow in popularity and hilarity. There’s a spark of divine inspiration in Jim Parsons' uproarious Sheldon Cooper, a prickly genius who regards the new relationship between roomie Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Penny (the underrated Kaley Cuoco) as an unfathomable mystery.

Breaking Bad There’s a reason Bryan Cranston has won back-to-back Emmys for his unsparing, career-redefining portrayal of Walt White, milquetoast chemistry teacher turned cancer-ridden meth wizard. With his disease in remission, Walt sees his soul metastasize in the shattering second season of AMC’s parable of twisted redemption and corruption. Walt’s misadventures in crime (with the remarkable Aaron Paul as his tragically twisted sidekick) have horrific consequences that end up bringing two planes down in his suburban neighborhood. The sky is falling, indeed. Far from a Wisteria Lane farce, Breaking Bad is a devastatingly ironic study of moral rot, so Bad it’s terrific.

Torchwood: Children of Earth Quite simply the most terrifying thing I’ve seen in years. BBC America’s rollicking Doctor Who spin-off about sexy alien-hunters took an unexpected spin into epic dark fantasy with this riveting five-part miniseries. Not for the weak of spirit or stomach, this thriller pits the immortal Captain Jack (John Barrowman) against an impervious alien menace demanding 10% of the planet’s children. Torchwood proves as ruthless as 24 when it comes to sacrificing major characters, risking fan outrage as the story (with its unnerving “final solution” Holocause metaphor) shocks our system while breaking our hearts. I haven’t a clue where Torchwood goes next, but I can’t wait to follow.

Glee What a joyful, raucous noise Fox’s high-school musical comedy makes, spotlighting an Ohio show choir whose diverse members sing the praises of being different. It’s an often fabulous mess, mashing up spectacular show-stoppers with bizarre melodrama (a ludicrous faked pregnancy) and over-the-top comedy from the riotous Jane Lynch. Glee isn’t perfect, but its tuneful exuberance and reckless originality is a rare find on network TV.

True Blood HBO feeds pop culture’s vampire craze with a delectably entertaining Southern gumbo of torrid supernatural shenanigans. “I didn’t have any say about being normal,” says telepathic Sookie, torn between the fang-tastic Bill and Eric as a demonic creature (the always-surprising Michelle Forbes) turns all of Bon Temps into Orgy Central. What fun would normal be? This show will never know.

Friday Night Lights Three cheers for TV’s undying underdog, kept alive by DirecTV (episodes air later on NBC) to tell more heart-wrenching stories about Dillon, Texas. This every-town is wracked by economic woe, as Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler, so immersed in the role I’m convinced the industry thinks he is this character) tackles a new job at victory-starved East Dillon. No show feels more real as life goes on and people move on, scoring emotional points at every turn.

I’m sure these lists will stimulate debate of their own, so fire away in the comments section or feel free to address me directly by sending questions to askmatt@tvguidemagazine.com