I've been re-watching the third and fourth seasons of Mad Men with Darby, and it's reminded me what we've been missing this year. But even with its absence, television has been sky-rocketing in quality.
All the talent is draining from Hollywood, and it's heading to HBO, STARZ, AMC and NBC.
I've compiled my second annual list of the Top 10 TV Shows of the year below. (I guess the title of this blog post is pretty self-explanatory...) If you want to compare it to last year's list, you can read it HERE.
Agree with me? Disagree? Let me know.
#10. The Office
Yup, it's sunk a few spots. But I haven't given up on The Office yet.
I think Ed Helms was the right choice to replace Steve Carrell, but his performances have been uneven. I feel like he hasn't found his groove yet.
That being said, the ensemble is still strong. I watch it for Erin the secretary, and Gabe has been hilarious too. But the brightest spot has been James Spader, who is killing it as the new CEO, Robert California.
#9. 30 Rock
Tina Fey put the show on hold for her pregnancy, and it has been dearly missed.
But the episodes earlier this year, which included Matt Damon as Liz Lemon's boyfriend and a stint where Tracy Jordan took off to Africa, have been just as strong (and brilliant) as the earlier seasons. I think Alec Baldwin is one of the best male comedians working in TV today.
Favorite line from him: "I am extremely secure in my athleticism, my masculinity and my rectal integrity".
#8. Community
It's growing on me.
Community has never been my favorite, and I'm not a huge fan of Chevy Chase or Joel McHale. But the writing has consistently gotten better, I love how meta it is, and there have been a few truly hilarious episodes.
And I'm a proud participant in the #SaveCommunity Twitter campaign. ("Six Seasons And a Movie!")
Troy and Abed are still the main reason for watching. My favorite episode this season was "Remedial Chaos Theory", where the gang goes through a number of alternate realities during a dinner party.
I think they should kick Ken Jeong off the cast, though.
#7. Justified
I love Timothy Olyphant.
This show is based on Elmore Leonard's short story "Fire in the Hole", and is about a badass U.S. Marshall named Raylond Givens. It's got great villains, riveting story-lines and it's just a fucking fun show to watch.
The show has had two stellar seasons, so if you're behind it won't take you long to catch up. It's the best show on FX (Apologies to Sons of Anarchy) and seems like it's just going to get better.
#6. Parks and Recreation
Ever since Rob Lowe and Adam Scott joined the cast, this show has gotten way, way, way funnier.
Ron Swanson is one of the best characters on TV, and this season we got to meet his first wife Tammy #1 (played by the amazing Patricia Clarkson). Aziz Ansari and Chris Pratt routinely steal the show. But Amy Poehler continues to be the heart and soul of the show, and I would vote for her to get that city council seat.
Parks and Recreation is my favorite part of Thursday nights.
Also, I have a big crush on Rashida Jones.
#5. The Walking Dead
Despite one of the best pilots of all time, The Walking Dead didn't even make my list last year.
Why not?
Well, the next five episodes were cliche-riddled, melodramatic garbage. I'm not surprised they fired the entire writing team, and got rid of Frank Darabont (the showrunner). The sixth episode, when they reached the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, was one of the worst hours of television I've ever seen.
But this year, they redeemed themselves. There were still a few weak moments, but the mid-season finale was shocking as hell and the characters have really grown on me. I especially love Norman Reedus as Darrell.
(The episode where he pulls an arrow out of his stomach and kills a zombie with it, all while chatting an imaginary vision of his brother, was wicked.)
And Shane? Oh, Shane. I love Shane.
#4. Modern Family
Still the best comedy on TV.
Manny is annoying, but the rest of the cast is on top of their game. (Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson are carrying the show on their shoulders.) It's cool to see Lily as a toddler, too.
I love the episode "Hit and Run", where the men of the family try to retrieve $900 that was stolen from Haley.
While the other comedies are pretty niche, I think Modern Family appeals to basically everyone. My friend Max hates it (he thinks the gay characters are too stereotypical) but I think it's heart-warming, earnest and wholesome, which is rare these days.
#3. Boss
You can read my earlier post on Boss HERE.
I watched the pilot (which was directed by Gus Van Sant) four times, and it got better every time. It is extraordinary well-written, the cinematography is astounding and Kelsey Grammer is terrifying.
Yeah, you heard me. Terrifying.
I thought I would never be able to look at him and see anything but Frasier. But now I only see Tom Kane.
The pilot also has one of the hottest sex scenes I've ever seen.
The pilot also has one of the hottest sex scenes I've ever seen.
The problem with the show, though, is it never lived up to that first hour. It still has some great moments and some cool story-lines, but it ultimately disappointed me (a little).
The season was a little up-and-down (episode 5 was awful) but the majority of it was nearly HBO-quality.
It's been renewed for another season, and I can't wait.
It's been renewed for another season, and I can't wait.
#2. Breaking Bad
There has never been another show like Breaking Bad.
It's like an ultra-violent contemporary opera. The action sequences are mind-bogglingly well-orchestrated. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are just as brilliant as ever, but the real star of this season was Giancarlo Esposito, who played Gus.
If you've seen the season finale already, you know what I mean when I say it was explosive. Literally.
In a different year, it would take the top spot.
But not this year.
#1. Boardwalk Empire
Nothing else compares.
I don't even know where to start, and I'm pretty sure I'm preaching to the choir here. I mean, what can I say to adequately express my deep devotion to this television show? Really, it's just math.
Steve Buscemi + Michael Pitt + Michael K. Williams + 1920s gansters + Writers and Directors from The Sopranos + Oedipus + Martin Scorsese = HOLY SHIT.
The first season was good. The second season was EPIC.
I mean, seriously. How do they do it? At least once an episode I can't understand how they pulled it off. They've got the KKK, the IRA, Al Capone, Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano--the costumes, the characters, the sets, the story-lines...
I'm literally at a loss.
But my favorite part? Jack Huston as Richard Harrow, the half-faced World War I vet who moonlights as a ruthless assassin. He's simultaneously terrifying and heart-breakingly human.
If you're not watching this, then what's the point of watching TV? This is the master class of entertainment.
Boardwalk Empire is about the past, but this is the television of the future.
...
That's it folks. Comments welcome!
Will!!
