Having watched series on HBO and other pay cable stations, I've found that most network shows are just not that good. The production value is not near as high as it is on the pay cable stations. The network shows have to fit in a narrow time constraint (gotta get those commercials in) and it hurts how the story can be told. And they have to hook you before every commercial break instead of just letting the story progress on its own. Censorship doesn't help either (can you see Tony Soprano being as realistic on CBS?). Watching shows on HBO is likeing watching mini-movies instead of a television show. HBO's ad line is true, "It's not TV, it's HBO".
There are exceptions however. The Office is very good (though a rip-off of the British version). I like "Earl" though it gets tedious as times. I can't think of any dramas that have kept me coming back more than two episodes in the last few years. Lost started off pretty good, but got ridiculous pretty quick.
Almost all reality shows are over-rated and not that good. Even Survivor is not interesting anymore. Dancing with the Stars is okay but predictable (pretty girls in skimpy outfits is the saving grace for me on that one). I hate, I mean hate American Idol.
The best show I've seen recently is on basic cable. Basic cable scored a coup with Mad Men. That show beats about any show on network television hands down. I would have loved to have seen Mad Men on pay cable. Imagine how much grittier it could have been.