Didn't see this one coming, but kudos to Charlie.

Why are two people known mainly as writers sharing the top slot on this list of the decade's most important directors?

They're here because they spent the decade working within the same entertainment industry that otherwise prizes reassuring clichés and flashy stupidity, and produced work that was more compelling and unified than the work of all but a handful of full-time movie directors. They're here because their visions kicked down the doors of the audience's and the industry's preconceptions and showed them what's possible. They're here because their insights into human nature (not coincidentally the title of one of Kaufman's scripts) are so sharp and evocative that when we want to remember what it meant to be alive in the aughts, we'll only need to watch an episode of "The Sopranos" or a movie written by Kaufman and it will all come flooding back. (Source)

But if you really want a great TV drama that doesn't peter out halfway through, I highly, highly recommend The Wire and The Shield.

Big thanks to Tim S. for the news! And Happy New Year, folks. I owe emails to a few people - I've been slacking off over X-Mas. (Actually I've been slacking off over 2009, but don't tell anyone.)