In a new article on The Hollywood Reporter, Tim Goodman questions whether such a thing as contemporary “great network drama,” but a few network series did make his cut, including FOX’s Fringe.

In the article, Goodman writes,

CBS produces a number of very good dramas. So does Fox. Almost every network has a drama to be proud of, artistically. But as a commercial venture, broadcast television isn’t really worried about its shows winning acclaim. It’s more important to win the time slot. […] After scouring the network dramas from this past season, here’s the scorecard I came up with:

Very Good: The Good Wife (CBS), Chicago Code (Fox) Parenthood (NBC) Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC), CSI (CBS), Fringe (Fox), House (Fox).

The level of quality has risen impressively through the years on broadcast television. Good shows fail. Entertaining shows fail. But those series that make up the majority of “good” shows are what they are — no shame in that. Plus, with good ratings come renewals and with renewals come paychecks. Don’t whine about success — it makes you look bad.

This is not the first time Fringe (and The Good Wife, for that matter) has been singled out as one of the best dramas currently on television. Personally I am glad to see Fringe receive so much critical acclaim, as any praise for the first (and arguably second) season of the show seemed very understated. Fringe is one of the few shows I would argue has only gotten better after season 1, and I think it deserves all the praise it’s getting.

Read the full article here at The Hollywood Reporter.