OTHER TECH

4. Heroes (NBC, Mondays 9 PM)

While NBC's house of angsty supermen and clichéd villains took a creative tumble in its second season, Heroes has largely redeemed itself with a return to the tight pacing and twisty tales that made its debut season a household favorite in 2006. Personally, I'm more of a casual fan than a Petrelli-junkie (series baddie Sylar is really the only thing that draws me back week after week), but I can still understand the show's ongoing appeal. It's even easier to understand if you watch Heroes in HD. Pause any episode on your DVR and the series' comicbook inspirations quickly become evident - flashes of strong colors and palette-skewing shots leave key scenes feeling cold, lonely, or chaotic, deep shadows look as if they've dribbled off the tip of an inker's pen, and revealing delineation highlights the detailed sets and cluttered backgrounds. Environmental exteriors are sharp, dimly lit interiors are refined, and the increased resolution doesn't make the series' abundant special effects appear overly disjointed from other elements on the screen. When you factor in the startling pans, precise directionality, and booming nature of the show's surround sound, you have a bombastic winner. I may have fallen out of love with Heroes as a series, but I can't help but nuzzle up to its tantalizing HD presentation.

3. The Mentalist (CBS, Tuesdays 9 PM)

I honestly thought I was done with police procedurals until CBS's latest hit, The Mentalist, finally gave me something new to get excited about. While Psych fans may be tempted to write this network series off as little more than a dramatic clone, The Mentalist is skillfully helmed by Rome creator Bruno Heller, focuses on the development of its characters over quick laughs, and anchors itself to a chilling and bleak origin for Simon Baker's Patrick Jane. The series also continues to demonstrate CBS's commitment to quality HD presentations with engaging audio and lush visuals. Since its main character so relies on his observational prowess, image clarity and sonic acuity are extremely important elements of its broadcast. Luckily, The Mentalist pairs crisp edges and textures, impressive depth, and a high level of fine detail with playful rear channel support, a well-crafted soundscape, and a three dimensional soundfield. Ultimately, with a top notch presentation, high ratings, and a second season already a foregone conclusion, The Mentalist is worth some serious attention.

2. Pushing Daisies (ABC, Wednesdays 8 PM)

Sweet, quaint, and oddly hypnotic, Pushing Daisies has had a difficult time gaining network traction and building an audience. Even with a captivating premise, fantastic performances, and a bounty of surprises from week to week (not to mention a pile of awards and nominations), the series has been continually overlooked by people looking for flashier entertainment and gun-toting action. It's a shame too because those same people are missing one of the most dazzling HD shows on television. With a painterly palette that allows colors to ooze off the screen, a convincing three dimensional picture, and nicely resolved shadows, it would be easy to fool the uninitiated into thinking they were watching the show on Blu-ray disc. In fact, it's a cinch to spot individual hairs, clothing textures, and other fine details that populate the rich image. And while the surround sound presentation isn't blessed with hyperactive action or intense explosions, the series' 5.1 sound design envelops the listener in character dialogue, sound effects, and a quirky score. Based on its current ratings, I fear we won't see a third outing from Pushing Daisies, but I hope it can somehow save itself and win over more viewers . . . if for no other reason than to keep its gorgeous visuals on the air.

1. CSI: Miami (CBS, Mondays 10 PM)

Confession time. CSI: Miami may be number one when it comes to its HD presentation, but it's never been a show I've particularly enjoyed. Lifting the more problematic elements from its parent series (overly convoluted murders and contrived plot developments among them), tossing a few bland characters into the mix, and falling back on the same tried-and-true setup again and again has left me cold to Horatio Caine's stoic expressions and forensic know-how. However, to its great credit, there isn't a show on television right now that looks better or more like a feature film with each passing episode. Sweltering sunsets drenched in orange, realistic facial textures, individual droplets of sweat, the tiniest flecks of blood . . . these are just a few of the arresting visuals fans are privy to every time their favorite Florida investigators hit the streets. Add to that crystal clear long shots, detailed close-ups, and flawless contrast, and bask in the resulting picture. Yes, fast camera pans are still haunted by the occasional burst of compression artifacts, but it's a negligible issue that comes with HD broadcast territory. To top it all off, powerful LFE support, busy rear channels, and crisp high-end tones leave little doubt that CSI: Miami is the best HD presentation television has to offer.

The Seven that Almost Made the List

30 Rock, Criminal Minds, CSI: NY, Desperate Housewives, Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, and Stargate: Atlantis

Kenneth Brown is a staff writer and reviewer at High Def Digest.