The state of anime on TV today is pretty sad compared to how it was just a few years back. But there's still some solid stuff that's being broadcasted and you shouldn't miss them.
Well, actually there's really only 2 that you should go out of your way to watch.
-Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. Easily the best anime premiering on American TV right now, Moribito is about a bodyguard who's been entrusted with protecting a prince that's been order by his father to be murdered.
That's the basic plot and it really doesn't do the series any justice. The ambiance that's put together by Kenji Kawaii's music, Production IG's visuals, and Kenji Kamiyama's token script and direction that's full of exposition detailing a intricate world is marvelous. Having one of the best lead characters around doesn't hurt either.
Moribito is finishing its run with only a handful of episodes left on [adult swim]. While it's been a bumpy ride for this show between the constant setbacks- to the point where there was a nine month gap between new episodes-it's also been more than worth the wait. Do yourself a favor and take a copy of the first volume out of your local library to see what all the fuss is about.
Airs on [adult swim] (Cartoon Network) on Sundays at 1:30 am EST.
-Monster: This one is still fairly early in its run, so you can definitely start to get into it now. The story revolves around a doctor who decides to save a boy over the mayor- a decision that haunts him for the rest of his life.
If that plot summary seemed a bit hokey, then that's fine. Monster is kinda like that too. Urasawa tends to moralize his plot a bit too much, but even so, Monster is definitely something that should be watched by anyone who has an interest in thrillers. Drawing upon historical facts and the development of an intricate storyline do seem slightly out of place at times, but Monster does get genuinely engaging at times and you cannot fault this series for trying.
Airing on the Sci-Fi (or SyFy, if you want to call it that) channel on Mondays at 11:00 pm EST.
NOTE: I would also put the specific episodes of Naruto Shippuden where it actually has a budget as something that you need to watch, but maybe some other time.