Here are my top 10 TV shows of 2012:
1. “Parenthood” (Season 3-4, NBC) — I hate to have the same No. 1 two years in a row, but “Parenthood” — the only current series where having a Kleenex box nearby is a must — gives me no choice. During the run of “Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood” was “Jason Katims’ other show.” Now it is filling “FNL’s” niche as the major-network show that best captures the universal human experience even though parenthood, like football, isn’t universal. This fall has been dominated by Kristina’s cancer arc, but it’s the non-awards-baiting moments such as Max winning the student presidency or Julia finally connecting with Victor that really stand out.
2. “The L.A. Complex” (Season 1-2, The CW) — Leave it to Canada to produce the edgiest soap about Hollywood in recent memory. Featuring a home-base hotel filled with aspiring stars a la “Melrose Place,” “The L.A. Complex” chronicles every type of industry problem you can think of, performed by a great cast and backed by a house band (Leslie Stevens and the Badgers provide the tunes). The most daring arc follows closeted rap star Kaldrick King; Andra Fuller’s performance is alternately terrifying and heartbreaking. Meanwhile, Sabrina and Nick provide a funny counterpoint as a sparring comedian couple.
3. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” (Season 4-5, Cartoon Network) — The decision to become more serialized and streamlined has allowed the characters to pop; Ahsoka Tano, initially a risky character, is now one of the most beloved in the whole saga. Highlights of this calendar year included the return of Darth Maul, the possible redemption of Asajj Ventress, the rise of an embryonic Rebellion on Onderon, and the introduction of a half-dozen lovable young Padawans. Plus, you can’t go wrong when Hondo Ohnaka is on screen.
4. “Bunheads” (Season 1, ABC Family) — I didn’t realize how much I subconsciously longed for a new Amy Sherman-Palladino show until this ballet dramedy came around; in fact, I never even tuned in to her first “Gilmore Girls” follow-up, “The Return of Jezebel James.” Dancer-turned-instructor Michelle has a bit of Lorelai in her, while the four main dancers gradually emerge as distinct characters. Meanwhile, the town of Paradise is what you’d expect if Stars Hollow was mashed up with West Coast culture.
5. “The Walking Dead” (Season 2-3, AMC) — Every time those creepy, tantalizing opening-credits strains kick in, I know I’m in for the most unusual, disgusting, scary, thrilling show on TV. The most recent development on this deliberately paced series is the clash between the Governor (of the would-be refuge of Woodbury) and our heroes, who are holed up in a prison. In an era where a diversified audience has led to the demise of watercooler shows, “The Walking Dead” somehow legitimately retains its aura of “must-see, must-discuss.”
6. “New Girl” (Season 1-2, Fox) — In the second half of its debut season and the first half of its sophomore year, the Zooey Deschanel comedy finds its groove — but not merely because of Zooey. Rather, it’s the charms and travails of Schmidt, Nick and Winston (all rife with flaws that rival the title characters’) — and the organic sense of humor among the four roommates — that makes “New Girl” into TV’s best sitcom.
7. “Comic Book Men” (Season 1-2, AMC) — This is easily my favorite reality TV show ever. That might not be saying much, because I usually hate the genre, and indeed I could do without some of the sideshow contests that fill out the Season 1 episodes. But in Season 2, the show chronicling workers at Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash finds its groove. When the gang talks about their love of specific comics or superheroes or the latest collectible brought in by a prospective wheeler-dealer, that’s clearly not acting — it’s reality in its purest form.
8. “The Killing” (Season 2, AMC) — I know it’s not cool to still be a fan of “The Killing.” In fact, “The Killing” will probably show up on some “worst of the year” lists. But I have to be honest: Despite a few flaws, I think this is a wonderful show exploring both grief and the investigative process. I love the mood of rainy Seattle, and I could’ve easily followed Detectives Linden and Holder into a new mystery (alas, the show was canceled after the two seasons of the Rosie Larsen case). As for who killed Rosie — we get a nice mix of culprits: One that’s obvious, one that’s shocking yet plausible, and one who gets off scot-free.
9. “The Mindy Project” (Season 1, Fox) — I love Mindy Kaling (formerly of “The Office”), and I was prepared to love this sitcom where she has her first starring role. After a sluggish start, “The Mindy Project” is growing on me and I think I could love it down the road. I also really enjoy Betsy, one of the receptionists at the doctor’s office, an adult who is still treated like a child by her well-meaning family. And “The Office’s” Ed Helms has made a couple of great cameos as an ex-flame of the title character; he needs to become a regular — stat! At its best, “The Mindy Project” is wild, unpredictable fun in a similar vein to “New Girl.” At its worst, it still has Mindy Kaling.
10. “Futurama” (Season 9, Comedy Central) — After a mediocre 2011, “Futurama” bounces back nicely with a batch of episodes that feature Bender having a son (named Ben, of course), Leela and Amy getting hooked on steroids, Hermes gradually upgrading himself until he becomes more machine than man (or “mon,” as it were), and the bizarrely funny season finale where the gang — for unexplained reasons — inhabits the bodies of animals.
What were your top 10 TV shows of 2012? Share your thoughts in the comment thread below.
Comments
Did you watch Homeland? It should at least be in the top 10. Good job adding New Girl.# Posted By john | 12/19/12 2:54 AM
I have not seen “Homeland.” I hear it is outstanding and I’ll have to check it out someday.# Posted By John Hansen | 12/19/12 2:56 AM
With a little help from my brother and Netflix, I saw the light this fall. Yes, I finally gave in to “Breaking Bad.” And several sleepless nights later, I’m a better person for it. With that said, it still isn’t the best show on television. That would be “Game of Thrones.” And it ain’t even close.
1. “Game of Thrones” — After watching Peter Dinklage collect acting accolade upon acting accolade and reading all of the EW features and profiles, I couldn’t resist. So first I read the first book, then I locked myself in a room and watched the first season of GOT.
The result was TV at its finest. Seven Kingdoms at war, multiple kings assuming false thrones, backstabbing, incest and lots of glorious nudity, sword-fighting violence and stunning war scenes in a visually stunning backdrop – including The Wall, which just gives me chills – make this show perfection in so many ways. And no bad guy on TV is as deplorable as King Joffrey, and no heroin as loveable as Jon Snow of the Night’s Watch. There’s no show I look forward to more than this gem.
2. “Breaking Bad” — Aside from Tyrion Lannister and Ron Swanson, Walter White may be the best characters on television. The meth-making, former teacher-student duo of Walt and Jesse Pinkman is the most dysfunctional combo ever, and their takeover of the drug game manages to be both thrilling and hilarious. It’s Walter, the consummate perfectionist whose just trying to do right by his family while also dodging his DEA agent brother-in-law Hank, and Jesse, the ultimate eff-up who’s just looking for a purpose in life, teaming up to make great TV.
3. “True Blood” – Tara is made, we learn of Vampire Bible and of Lillith (the vampire Jesus), the seedy underbelly of the Vampire Authority is revealed, Terry battles an old demon (or, more specifically, a fire ghost), Alcide becomes pack master, Sookie learns more of her fairy ancestry and confronts the death of her parents, Russell Edgington is murdered and, oh yeah, Bill drinks Lillith’s blood and turns into the most powerful, evil, bad-a$$ vamp ever. Yep, this season of True Blood was Fu*kin’ A.
4. “Parks and Recreation” – If the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department did indeed exist, I’d drop everything to work there. Every year, the show finds a way to reinvent itself yet provides that familiarity with the best ensemble cast of any show on television. Its deadpan, Arrested Development-esque sense of humor is like no other show on television. And more importantly, I’m invested in the lives of each character. Leslie, Ben, Ann, Tom, Ron, April, Andy, Jerry (or Garry), Donna, Chris, Bobby Newport, Tammy (both), etc … What other TV show boasts so many great characters?
And when Leslie won the election over the brilliant Paul Rudd, it felt like I was cheering on one of my best friends. That this is fourth on the list just shows the greatness of the 2012 TV season.
5. “Comic Book Men” – I’m not even into comics, yet the staff at Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash brings out the comic-book loving kid in me. It’s real, it’s honest and the emotional attachment and love they have for their craft just draws you in. This is what reality TV should be. The childhood memories and stories Walt, Bryan, Ming, Mike and Kevin spin aren’t an act. They come from the heart, and the end product shows. Like when Stan Lee visits the Stash and they all, esp Walt, became thesewide-eyed and star-struck 8-year-olds again, that was just great. It’s also hilarious, like the laugh-out-loud variety.
6. “How I Met Your Mother” – Is there a cooler group of friends than Ted, Marshall, Lilly, Barney and Robin? The short answer is no. This is the group of friends we all wish we had. Laugh track or not, this is the funniest show on television. Cheap, clever, potty, bro, sex – all the humor categories are covered. But it’s so much more than a comedy. Its romantic and heart-filled drama always delivers. It is truly a legen (wait for it) … DARY show.
7. “The Walking Dead” – Whether paced slowly in a country residence or quickly in a kill-a-minute prison setting, this show always delivers. I did grow tired of Laurie and Shane and their episode-dominating arcs, so I think their deaths (both beautifully done) allowed the show to take off a bit. And in the most recent season, I loved how Darryl and Glenn were finally able to shine. And the split between the group and the introduction of Woodbury was a nice addition. I still think this show has yet to take off, though, with the best yet to come.
8 (Tie). “House” – The series finale was labeled “Everybody Dies,” and the 2-hour capper to one of the top-25 shows ever couldn’t have ended better. For the whole series, we’ve seen this brilliant doctor’s battle with drugs take him – and the viewers — on a roller coaster ride. And it was only fitting that he relapse in the finale and seemingly dies in a fire. But in true House fashion, things are not as they appear. He appears alive, ready to take a motorcycle road trip with his best bud, Wilson, who has terminal cancer and is looking for that last hoorah. For a man never at peace, it was the perfect closure for him and us diehard House fans.
8 (Tie). “Modern Family” – While I think that the Emmy love is a little overdrawn and that the show does cater to stereotypes, it’s still funny and heartfelt. And I love me some Phil Dunphy, who I see a lot of myself in. I also love how like the old G.I. Joe/TMNT episodes, there’s always a message brought to light at the end of the show, but in a more eloquent and genuine way. It’s all about family with this show, which is comforting.
9. “The Big Bang Theory” – When this show came out, it was a guilty pleasure. People almost wouldn’t admit to liking it. Now it’s the most popular show on TV. And for good reason. It’s literally smart humor, and the nerdy quartet of Sheldon, Leonard, Raj and Howard are like no other group on television. The addition of Mayim Bialik as a main player was a key addition and Penny serves well as the contrast to their dungeons and dragons, comic book bubble.
10. “New Girl” – This show just continues to grow on me. Jess, Schmidt, Nick and Winston are what I call the perfect living situation. They’re all funny, they can all carry the show any given night (well, not Winston), and they each have their strong suits. The always angry Nick, the quick-witted and sex-driven Schmidt, the awkward, “normal” Winston and the quirky Jess just all come together. But in the end Jess is the show, and how each character reacts to her current situation is what unites them all. This show could easily be in my top five next year.# Posted By Seth Stringer | 1/8/13 2:42 PM
Great write-up Seth. Made me smile. Obviously I can’t comment on the shows I haven’t seen, and obviously I agree with Comic Book Men and New Girl and I think your critique of The Walking Dead is fair. I think Parks & Rec is a little overrated — I think New Girl, Mindy and Apt. 23 (and Always Sunny when it’s good, not when it’s bad) are all superior at that type of humor. It’s firmly on my viewing schedule, but I’ve never understood where it’s fans’ level of passion comes from. How much did The Killing miss your top 10 by? (By the way, you actually have 11 in there; Big Bang Theory is technically No. 10 and New Girl No. 11.) I figured if anyone else would give Season 2 of The Killing some love, it’d be you. Did any of my other top 10 almost made your list?# Posted By John Hansen | 1/8/13 3:28 PM
I wanted to include “New Girl” yet stay within the top-10 dynamic, so I just awarded two items for No. 8. As for just-missed-the-list shows, the Killing was No. 1.
Truth be told, I looked forward to “The Killing” more than any show outside of my top three. But I found myself constantly angry at the writers for their need to blatantly steer us in the direction of a killer at the end of the episode, only to introduce the implausibility of said character at the beginning of the next episode. Then they’d do it all over again, like we hadn’t endured hours and hours of the same who-done-it $hit. Then the reveal of the killer was ho-hum. The slow pace just started to piss me off because, unlike the first season, I was tired of the story. Also I started to hate Detective Linden. With all that said, Jenelle and I still tuned in every week and enjoyed it. But it was a really strong year for television and the fat needed to be trimmed.
Also just missing the cut were shows like “Go On” and “Bones.”# Posted By Seth Stringer | 1/8/13 11:54 PM
Those flaws with the Killing are accurate enough, but to me they were overshadowed by the great lead characters (Linden and Holder) and the mood. And I thought the mystery was pretty well handled. I thought it was incredibly creepy and harrowing to think about how the aunt accidentally yet purposefully killed Rosie. To think that she has to live with that? Wow. And then they also gave us a more predictable killer, plus one who gets off scot-free, underscoring the political corruption theme. Would’ve loved a Season 3 of The Killing. … You say it was a strong year, but it seems we both agree the fall was not strong. You had zero new fall shows on your list and I only had one.# Posted By John Hansen | 1/9/13 12:04 AM
As for your list, I always kid about you missing the mark. But each list is uniquely you. How can I fault that? It always amazes me how, for instance, people say you’re wrong when you pronounce your favorite actor or your top-10 list of favorite movies (happens a lot, like when i said Ron Swanson is the best character on TV and everyone said I was wrong).
But back to your list, it’s solid. I really like four of the selections. Four of the shows I’ve never seen and two I dropped. One was Futurama, which to me is OK. I do watch reruns occasionally, but I haven’t watched this season because I’m just not invested in
the characters. And the humor is hit or miss to me.
I’ve also seen “Parenthood” and I loved the first season. But for some reason it was dropped when Jenelle picked up a new show and again, we had DVR conflicts. It sounds like I need to pick it back up.
As for “The Mindy Project,” I’ve been meaning to watch it. To my credit I had it taped, but Jenelle watched the pilot by herself and didn’t like it. Add that to it conflicting with two staples taping at that same time slot, and it was nixed. But then again, I have On Demand here and can watch anything, so no excuses.
As far as surprises on your list, I thought “Comic Book Men” would be higher, especially after you called it the best show on TV on Facebook. Then here you put it below “The Walking Dead” at No. 7. I guess that social media nod was hyperbole. I wanted to put it in my top three but I’ve become so invested in “True Blood.”# Posted By Seth Stringer | 1/9/13 12:25 AM
If I’m really going to be truthful here, I originally made the list with “The Killing” in the top 10 at No. 9 and “Go On” at No. 10 and actually posted it on your blog around New Years Eve. Well, I thought I did. When I opened my computer the next morning I saw my post had been flagged for cuss words and thus was not posted. But before I could clean it up, my computer went into hybernation. I know, FML I thought.
Well, I rewrote the whole effin thing a week later and I forgot about “The Killing” and “Go On.” By that point I had talked myself into “New Girl” and “Big Bang Theory”, two shows I really do love. By that point it was a toss-up, and my list was already at 11 strong.# Posted By Seth Stringer | 1/9/13 12:35 AM
Probably a bit of hyperbole on my part, although to be honest my top 7 were locks for a long time and I could shuffle those and put them in any order and I’d be happy with it. I guess I just went with how I felt on that particular day. I had probably watched an amazing Parenthood or was getting excited about Bunheads coming back or something. The last three on my list were really borderline. I knew if I didn’t show Futurama and The Killing some love, no one else would. And I wanted to include a fall show, and Mindy Project is clearly the best one, so I figured it deserved a nod for that. Also could’ve reasonably put Apt. 23 on my list. Fringe was also borderline. And The Simpsons and Parks & Rec. And of course I always want to put Always Sunny in there but it just has too many bad episodes.# Posted By John Hansen | 1/9/13 12:57 AM
Actually, if I’m going to be really truthful, I overrated The Mindy Project because I’m in love with Mindy Kaling and on some subconscious level I imagine her reading my top 10 list, being appreciative and then we start dating. But that’s not a very professional answer, so I decided to go with my above analysis of my picks.# Posted By John Hansen | 1/9/13 1:02 AM