It's time for our annual list of the 50 best episodes of the past year. (For previous lists check the bottom of this column.) We'll be counting down 10 episodes a day until we get to the best episode of 2005 on Friday. The episodes on this list are based on nominations by myself and regular visitors to the site as to what we think the standout moments of the year were. In some cases while we were fans of certain series we couldn't pin down a particular episode we thought was of special merit so don't be stunned to see a few of our regular favorites missing from the list. Anyway, on with the show...

20. "grey's anatomy: deny, deny, deny" (abc)
(originally aired: october 16, 2005)

Burke (Isaiah Washington) climbing into Cristina's (Sandra Oh) hospital bed. End of story.

19. "desperate housewives: one wonderful day" (abc)
(originally aired: may 22, 2005)

As note-perfect of a finale as you could expect from a show that's been juggling dozens of plotlines - the truth about Mary Alice's suicide finally comes to light.

18. "the shield: back in the hole" (fx)
(originally aired: may 24, 2005)

Vic and Monica's interrogation of Antwon might be the most magnetic performance on the show to date.

17. "gilmore girls: wedding bell blues" (the wb)
(originally aired: february 8, 2005)

100 episodes later, this show hasn't lost its step. A perfect example, Lorelai's closing comment to Emily: "We're done."

16. "deadwood: childish things" (hbo)
(originally aired: march 24, 2005)

Somehow the writers, producers and actors of "Deadwood" found a way to make a simple bicycle ride through the camp into a cool-beyond-words moment - only to sideswipe us with a fatal wounding of Bullock's son.

15. "entourage: exodus" (hbo)
(originally aired: august 28, 2005)

Ari's (Jeremy Piven) meltdown in the parking lot after being fired has to be the funniest moment on the show since he berated Josh Weinstein for trying to steal Vince at a beach party last season.

14. "everybody hates chris: everyone hates the pilot" (upn)
(originally aired: september 22, 2005)

One of those rare comedy pilots that actually lived up the hype, "Chris" out of the gate proved it had one of the most unique voices in television.

13. "veronica mars: normal is the watchword" (upn)
(originally aired: september 28, 2005)

"Veronica" doesn't know the meaning of the phrase "sophomore slump."

12. "battlestar galactica: pegasus" (sci fi)
(originally aired: september 23, 2005)

Only "Battlestar Galactica" could find a way to make what should have been a cause for celebration (another "battlestar" is found) into an emotional gut punch. I mean, who didn't gasp during Boomer's "interrogation?"

11. "rome: kalends of february" (hbo)
(originally aired: november 20, 2005)

Oh, where to start. There's Servilia's chilling speech to Atia about what's going to happen to her, Vorenus learning the truth about his son (and the subsequent suicide of his wife), Pullo's quest for forgiveness and lest we forget - Caesar's murder.