Six Feet Under

The first season of HBO’s Oz really sucked. Then, it became one of the best, and nastiest, shows on TV. Six Feet Under has a much better start, and could prove to be a great substitute until The Sopranos returns sometime next century. It’s a dark comedy about a dysfunctional family that runs a funeral home. Written and directed by American Beauty screenwriter Alan Ball, the drama seems forced and soap-opera-like at times, but is still full of disturbing fun. It’s also the only show on TV where you’ll hear two brothers exchange a line like, “Talk to me when you’ve had to stuff formaldehyde-soaked cotton up your father’s ass so he doesn’t leak.”