Zack did a nice Gateways to Geekery on The X-Files a couple of years ago. He recommends starting with "Pusher, " which I agree is the best possible introduction to the show.

Zack did a nice Gateways to Geekery on The X-Files a couple of years ago. He recommends starting with "Pusher, " which I agree is the best possible introduction to the show.

His Red Skull is my favorite performance as a comic book villain from the past few years. I really wish they had brought him back for The Avengers.

His Red Skull is my favorite performance as a comic book villain from the past few years. I really wish they had brought him back for The Avengers.

The X-Files is dearer to my heart than just about any other TV show, but even I have to admit that it was hugely uneven. Even in the third season, which I agree with Todd was its finest moment, it was only batting about .500 at best.

The X-Files is dearer to my heart than just about any other TV show, but even I have to admit that it was hugely uneven. Even in the third season, which I agree with Todd was its finest moment, it was only batting about .500 at best.

"Humbug" was probably the show's biggest game-changer. At the funeral scene, when Mulder says "I can't wait for the wake," I knew we were entering new and wonderful territory.

"Humbug" was probably the show's biggest game-changer. At the funeral scene, when Mulder says "I can't wait for the wake," I knew we were entering new and wonderful territory.

As long as we're listing omissions, I'd add "Eve" (the classic casefile at its best), "Paper Hearts" (another great Vince Gilligan episode), and "Quagmire" (a silly but sweet installment that almost incidentally serves as a perfect summary of the show's underlying spirit).

As long as we're listing omissions, I'd add "Eve" (the classic casefile at its best), "Paper Hearts" (another great Vince Gilligan episode), and "Quagmire" (a silly but sweet installment that almost incidentally serves as a perfect summary of the show's underlying spirit).

I love "Clyde Bruckman," but whenever I need a Darin Morgan fix these days, it's always "War of the Coprophages."

I love "Clyde Bruckman," but whenever I need a Darin Morgan fix these days, it's always "War of the Coprophages."

For what it's worth, I'm also aware that Todd loves "Jose Chung," so I'm sure it wasn't an easy call to make.

For what it's worth, I'm also aware that Todd loves "Jose Chung," so I'm sure it wasn't an easy call to make.

I know that the whole point of this sort of article is to generate discussion about the omissions, but I can't for the life of me see how the top ten list leaves out "Jose Chung."

I know that the whole point of this sort of article is to generate discussion about the omissions, but I can't for the life of me see how the top ten list leaves out "Jose Chung."

I don't think I've ever seen Cruise just "phone it in," although Knight & Day comes pretty close. Even when he gives a bad performance—and I've enjoyed most of his movies from the past decade—he's clearly working incredibly hard. In fact, I'd say that his one great weakness as an actor, at least in recent years, is…

I don't think I've ever seen Cruise just "phone it in," although Knight & Day comes pretty close. Even when he gives a bad performance—and I've enjoyed most of his movies from the past decade—he's clearly working incredibly hard. In fact, I'd say that his one great weakness as an actor, at least in recent years, is…

I just saw Jaws on the big screen this past Sunday, at the Siskel Film Center in Chicago. It's really fun to see with an audience, especially for the moment when the dead man's face appears in the sunken boat. It's the equivalent of the second murder in Psycho—the one big scare that everyone forgets.

I just saw Jaws on the big screen this past Sunday, at the Siskel Film Center in Chicago. It's really fun to see with an audience, especially for the moment when the dead man's face appears in the sunken boat. It's the equivalent of the second murder in Psycho—the one big scare that everyone forgets.