UNDERRATED / OVERRATED

The ‘00s: With the homestretch of the decade just around the corner -- something we can’t quite believe, either -- our mind is reeling about how this decade will be remembered. We think we’ve been spared such pop culture missteps as the fashion sense of the 1980s or the angst and irony of the 1990s, so let’s hope the decade continues its relatively inoffensive, hard-to-categorize run for one more year. The 2000s: They’re not bad.

The hourlong TV drama: Jay Leno’s much-ballyhooed move to a 10 p.m. time slot on NBC coupled with this year’s death of “The Wire” and “The Shield” as “ER” drifts into euthanasia has us a

little misty-eyed for prime time’s mini-movies of years past. We’re not sure where these rough economic times are taking some of our TV land favorites, but may “Damages,” “Big Love” and “Lost” keep the torch lighted in 2009.

UNDERRATED

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OVERRATED

‘Return to form’ albums: This may not be the first time Britney Spears and Axl Rose have shared a sentence, but it’s probably close. “Chinese Democracy” was so delayed everyone forgot to stay curious about it; “Circus” proved an artist really should be missing in action for a while before we start talking comeback. And the less said about this year’s anticipated but still lackluster efforts from R.E.M., Brian Wilson and Metallica, the better.

Superhero summers: Yes, “Iron Man” (specifically Robert Downey Jr.) was fun and “The Dark Knight” took command at the box office, but we’re a little burned out from all those secret identities and lonely vigilantes at this point. Here’s to hoping for a new year of twisted crime stories and fighting-for-justice tales that don’t require a complicated wardrobe change. Consider yourselves warned, “Watchmen.”