Top Boomer TV Shows

Blue Bloods - For fans of straight-ahead NYPD crime dramas, with a family-conflict angle thrown in. Tom Selleck is the lantern-jawed police commissioner, Frank Reagan, who presides over a family affected by events as various as the Iraq War and police brutality.

Entertainment Tonight- The longest-running entertainment gossip and news show began 39 years ago, with Mary Hart as host until this year, when Nancy ODell took over. The show has had boomer special correspondents like Marie Osmond and Lisa Rinna.

NCIS - This series about criminal investigators for the Navy has been going strong since2003. Big tactical advantage: The investigative team is headed by hunky Mark Harmon, recently voted the most popular man onTV.

American Idol - Although it lost a little of its luster last season, the groundbreaking show is back with some new and welcome edge provided by Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Depending on our mood (and the contestants talent), we can laugh or feel compassion for the in-over-their-head applicants. J.Lo may be overdoing the pity angle, and Tyler (like many other aging rockers) can look a little weird, but theyre always entertaining.

Two and a Half Men - The ongoing consistency of Two and a Half Men, which debuted in 2003, is surprising, given the likelihood that its star player, Charlie Sheen, could l implode during his never-ending scandals involving prostitutes, drugs, alcohol and the occasional hotel-room rampage. But CBS thinks the shows consistent top ten ratings are worth the trouble. They reportedly pay him $2.5 million per episode to play Charlie Harper, a devil-may-care alcoholic . Doesnt sound like much of a stretch, does it?