There you have it, folks! My favorite television of 2010! Hope you enjoyed it, even if you didn’t agree with it all. And in case you missed any, the final list is:
1. Parks and Recreation
2. Sherlock
3. Community
4. Breaking Bad
5. Party Down
6. Doctor Who
7. Mad Men
8. Friday Night Lights
9. Bored to Death
10. Justified
Special Place of Honor: Late Night Edition - Craig Ferguson
Special Place of Honor: LOST
Honorable Mentions: 30 Rock, Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Modern Family, The Walking Dead
Favorite Television of 2010 - #1
Parks and Recreation
The fact that this show is number one and hasn’t even had a new episode since May should tell you something about how much I adored Parks and Recreation this year. I was pretty sure we didn’t need another documentary style TV show about a group of people working together in a mundane job, and after the first season, I was still pretty sure of that - but I was very very wrong. There is not another cast on television I love more than this one, and though I’ll miss Paul Schneider, I am so pumped for Adam Scott. The latter half of season 2 (since the first half doesn’t count seeing as it was in 2009) was consistently laugh-out-loud funny (DJ Roomba! Ron as Woman of the Year! the Telethon!) and just more fun then anything else I’ve watched all year. It’s crossed my mind that this might be number one because NBC’s kept it off the air so long and I’m jonesing to have it back - it’s pretty much neck-and-neck with Community, especially after how great Community has been this season - but I think what gives it the edge is that it has the heart without some of the cheese Community sometimes has. And Amy Poehler is just perfect in every way. It’s just such a delightful show, and I’m ready for it to be back in January!
Favorite Television of 2010 - #2
Sherlock
I think the best way to explain my unabashed adoration for this show is this: shortly after Sherlock started airing in the States, I read a review of it that wasn’t necessarily negative, but not quite positive either. If it were graded, it probably would have been in the ‘B’ area. It pointed out some of its flaws, and from what I can remember they were all valid points, and I couldn’t help but nod in agreement as I read it. But when I reached the end, I sat there for a moment and then thought- Yeah but… so what? It’s just so insanely entertaining!! And there it is. Sherlock might not be the best show of the year (although I’d argue it into the top ten, probably) but it is by far my favorite drama that I’ve watched all year. I love a show with a quick pace and a quicker wit, and the fact that I’m still watching House after 7 years should tell you I love a good pompous smartass saving the day. The dialogue is just delicious and while I’m not as big of a fan of the Holmes/Watson bromance as some people (have you seen some of the fan art floating around out there? …creepy), Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are just wonderful together. But the fact that there were only three episodes (even if they were an hour and a half long) is just cruel, even as a supporter of the quality over quantity rule. You’ve given us a good year, Steven Moffat. There’s a reason you’re the only person on this list twice!
Favorite Television of 2010 - #3
Community
I remember watching the pilot of Community last year and thinking, this is probably going to be pretty good. And I was right, the first three quarters of the first season were pretty good. It was funny, and liked the characters, but it wasn’t wowing me like some other comedies were. And then came Contemporary American Poultry. The minute Abed’s Goodfellas voiceover began, I paused for a minute and thought, Oh. I like where this is going. Then two episodes later we got Modern Warfare- an episode I literally had to watch two times in a row just to comprehend how it even existed. And from there on out this show leaped from pretty good to pretty freaking amazing. As a pop culture nerd this show is a goldmine, and when Dan Harmon said at the beginning of this season that they were just going to go for it, he wasn’t kidding. There have been one or two episodes this season that have fell a little flat for me - the Abed-as-a-filmmaking-Jesus episode was almost a little too weird - but overall they have been killing it this season. The KFC ‘rocketship’, the Halloween episode, the bottle episode, that Christmas episode - they have been pulling out all the stops and it has been glorious. It’s been getting a lot of recognition this season, and it totally deserves it all. Go Human Beings!
Favorite Television of 2010 - #4
Breaking Bad
Were there two more deserving Emmy winners this year than Bryan Cranston & Aaron Paul? The answer is no. Everything about this show is phenomenal. Breathtaking visuals, flawless performances, and heartstopping moments that will stay with you long after you turn off the TV. It’s an anxious, intense drama that is somehow also darkly comic, and features some of the most truly terrifying characters on television right now (vampires and werewolves got nothing on the Cousins… and even Walter White at his most desperate). I know I’ve been trying to avoid branding anything ‘the best’ because it’s such a subjective term, but I would love to hear an argument against this being the best drama on television right now. AMC gets a lot of love for Mad Men, and most recently The Walking Dead, both shows I love immensely (see previous entries), but in my opinion Breaking Bad blows them both clear out of the water. This is what you call top quality television, ladies and gentlemen. Look no further.
(And yes, I realize this is #4 on my list, which doesn’t really make sense with me calling it the best, but remember this is a list based on enjoyment, rather than what I think is the best- as much as I enjoy this show, I’ll always pick lighter fare over the dark)
Favorite Television of 2010 - #5
Party Down
The sad thing about Party Down is that if it was on HBO or Showtime it probably would have done really well and everyone would know about it and love it. But instead it was on Starz. I’m not knocking Starz, because you gotta hand it to them for trying (and for giving it a chance) and I think in a few years time, they will have their own successful roster of original programming. Unfortunately, this absolute gem of a show came a little too early, and therefore has suffered the axe of cancellation too soon. But we did get two insanely good seasons of the most consistently hilarious show on television. I honestly don’t remember not liking a single episode. The characters, the writing, the amazing guest stars - this show will definitely join the ranks of cult shows gone too soon, next to Freaks and Geeks and Arrested Development. RIP Party Down, you were brilliant.
Favorite Television of 2010 - #6
Doctor Who
There is just something about Doctor Who, in all its geeky and cheesy glory, that knows how to hit the right spots. I don’t know if it’s the secret sci-fi nerd that’s been buried inside me since I was a kid, or if it’s that sense of danger, excitement, and adventure you get from each episode, but I always find this show massively enjoyable from start to finish. It can make me laugh like an idiot and sob like a baby all within the span of a few minutes, and then somehow leave me feeling optimistic and hopeful about the world (despite it sometimes being quite a dark show). I’m relatively new to the Doctor Who universe (despite me loving television so much, I’m usually late to the party on most shows) but I still found it hard to believe that anybody could replace David Tennant. But I have to say, it took approximately 10 minutes for me to fall in love with Matt Smith, and I really thought this year’s series was wonderful. Steven Moffat is very good at his job (spoiler alert - this won’t be his last appearance on this list). There were just some really great episodes this year, from that wicked Weeping Angels two-parter to the Doctor Who Comedy Hour with The Lodger. And the Van Gogh episode. It was borderline emotionally manipulative, but god, did it hit you right in the heart and stay there for a bit. Not bad for a man and his little blue box.
Favorite Television of 2010 - #7
Mad Men
Well, there’s really not much I can say that hasn’t already been said about this show. It’s almost annoying how much praise gets heaped onto Mad Men, but it really does deserve it all. Four seasons in and it hasn’t lost its footing yet (even when it has a few dull episodes, it makes up for it with an episode like The Suitcase). So all I will say about it is that drunk Don Draper pitching slogans to Life Cereal made my entire summer.
Favorite Television of 2010 - #8
Friday Night Lights
I know I use the word ‘underappreciated’ a lot, but Friday Night Lights is definitely the most underappreciated show on television, no contest. I don’t know how it’s made it to Season 5, but I’m incredibly thankful it has (thank you, DirecTV!). And I totally get it. It’s essentially a teen drama based in a small Texas town that revolves around football. None of those things even remotely interest me. And considering I grew up in a small town that revolved around football, I always thought it would be like reliving high school all over again, which is the last thing I ever want to do. But holy shit guys, this show is so good. It is by far the most honest and realistic portrayal of teens (and the adults around them - because this isn’t an exclusively teen show) I’ve ever seen on television. It can be heartwarming and gut-wrenching and beautiful and sad all at the same time. And don’t get me started on Coach & Mrs. Coach. Their relationship is perfection and it’s hard to find a pair of characters I love more. So don’t let what you think this show is about get in your way. It’s ending after this season, but we got 5 wonderful years of TV out of it. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!
Favorite Television of 2010 - #9
Bored to Death
Considering the insane amount of talent involved with this show, I’m always surprised at the lack of people who seem to watch it. I’m not sure if it’s that nobody watches or they just don’t talk about it, but either way, Bored to Death deserves a lot more attention then it seems to get! This season especially has been so so great and hilarious, and it’s starting to really show some heart (George’s faux-cancer storyline had some surprisingly touching moments and Ray’s determination to get back with his girlfriend is sweet). It also has an authentic New York City show vibe (well, more Brooklyn hipstery, but whatever), and some of the greatest guest stars. Guys, you’re missing out!
Favorite Television of 2010 - #10
Justified
I feel like this might be a little biased because of my love for Timothy Olyphant (I think we can all agree Deadwood was A-freaking-MAZING), but oh well. I wasn’t sold when I first heard about it, but it quickly won me over. The writing’s sharp, the characters are great, and the drama never feels forced. With the exception of the first episode or two (and TV shows always need an episode or three to get the momentum going) every week it was wickedly entertaining. And when there’s always the possibility of a shirtless Olyphant showing up, well… count me in.
Favorite Television of 2010 - Special Place of Honor: Late Night Edition
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
In terms of late night television, the year seems to belong to Conan. And yes, his last week of shows at NBC are some of the best shows in late night I’ve ever seen, let alone 2010. The whole feud seemed to invigorate everyone with a show after 11pm, and Jimmy Fallon really came into his own. Late night has a tendency to get a little tedious and uneventful, but it really seemed like everyone was on their A game this year.
But then there’s Craig. Feud or no feud, he brings the funny more consistently than anyone else out there. I’ve talked about why I think he’s the best there is before and in addition to being the only genuinely funny monologue around, the way he treats his guests is just refreshing. He rips up the pre-interview question cards before every guest, and just wings it, asking whatever happens to come to his mind. Which is why no matter who the guest is, whether I like them or dislike them, or have never even heard of them, I always give it a shot. And he rarely ever misses.
He barely ever does sketches, has no band, and any sort of pre-taped bits are few and far between. He likes to joke about how his show has no money, but I think that’s part of why it’s awesome. It’s literally just him, standing in front of the camera, entertaining you for 45 minutes a night. I have no idea how he does it, but he manages to pull it off every time. It’s such a boring concept, the late night talk show, but I don’t think I’ve ever been bored watching him.
And this year especially has been great - having him gleefully watch NBC crash and burn, Geoff Peterson, his sit down with Stephen Fry, the Doctor Who special, Secretariat and his freaking Peabody award - I always get frustrated when I come across people who don’t really give him a chance (I used to be one of them; for the longest time he was just that Scottish dude who used to be on the Drew Carey Show) because he’s not as hip as Jimmy Fallon or as absurdly weird as Conan, or even because he’s on CBS, the old people station. Comedy is the most subjective thing in the universe, so I understand his particular brand of humor isn’t for everyone, but I really do believe if more people gave him a shot (although I do know he regularly beats Jimmy in the ratings), they’d fall in love just like I did.
(and in case I got your interest, there is a kind soul who uploads every show he does on YouTube every day. So you have no excuse to miss him! Heaven knows I barely ever watch his show when it actually airs!)
Tomorrow: the Top Ten start!
Favorite Television of 2010 - Special Place of Honor
LOST
I liked the ending. I know a lot of people hated it, and I can understand that, but what it comes down to is that it’s hard for me to hate on something that has kept me invested for the last six years. Even when it sucked, LOST was pretty great, and while it didn’t make the Top Ten, I thought it still deserved a special spot for being awesomely entertaining for six pretty badass years.
Tomorrow: Special Place of Honor: Late Night Edition (and then we’ll finally get to the top ten, promise)
Favorite Television of 2010 - Honorable Mentions
The Walking Dead, 30 Rock, Dexter, Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire
These are all top quality shows, and I couldn’t talk about the best of TV without mentioning them. There’s really no reason why they didn’t make the top ten other than the fact that I loved the ones that did just a teeeeeny bit more. What can I say… life’s unfair.
Tomorrow: A Special Place of Honor for a show that didn’t quite make the Top 10 either, but deserved it’s own special post for lifetime achievement.
Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present Brynn’s Favorite Television of 2010! (apologies to non-American followers for the missing ‘u’ in ‘favorite’)
Man oh man, so much good television this year! This was very hard.
It’s incredibly hard to rank TV in terms of favorites. You can’t really compare Community with, say, Dexter. I was going to break this up into comedy/drama, but I think instead I’m just going to rank them based on how much I enjoyed them this year. Regardless of genre, it’s still really hard to rank any of my favorite shows, because I love them all for different reasons, and I enjoy them all pretty equally, but I’m going to do it anyway. The top ten are all thisclose to each other, believe me.
After much thought and consideration, I narrowed it down to a top ten list. But there were shows that didn’t make the top ten that I still thought deserved some props, so I have an Honorable Mention list as well. First up will be the Honorable Mentions, and then one from the top ten—starting with ten, of course—per day. So stay tuned!
Disclaimer: I feel like I should also make this clear: these are only my opinions! Which is why I refrained from calling this a ‘best’ list, because television is so subjective to begin with, it’s hard to really call anything ‘the best’. So feel free to disagree! Or agree! If there’s one thing I can discuss endlessly, it’s television, so my ask box is open to all opinions.
also, I promise the posts won’t be this annoyingly long. I could go on for ages about every show, but I like keeping things short and sweet (or at least trying to). So tomorrow: Honorable Mentions!
