For me, this was the year of “What’s going to happen next?” Who killed Rosie Larsen? Will Emily get revenge? How long can Bridget fool people into thinking she’s Siobhan? What would you do in a zombie apocalypse? And … how is Amber going to pay the rent?
While many of the best plots of the year were simply well-done escapism, my No. 1 show of the year earned that spot because it never shied away from real-life situations. In 2011, I appreciated a little bit of both extremes, from the absurd-if-you-look-too-closely primetime soaps to the series that confront us with the problems (and potential solutions) of living in 2011.
Here are my top 10 shows of the year:
1. “Parenthood,” Season 2-3 (NBC) — Where to begin? Haddie’s breakup with Alex? Max’s struggles at school? Drew’s first girlfriend? Julia trying to adopt a baby? Sarah and Mark? The hot assistant at the music studio? “Parenthood” never leaves me bored as it explores not so much the struggles of being a parent as the struggles of being a human in modern society (along with the family bonds that make those struggles bearable). And just as I bounce between favorite plots, I also struggle to name my favorite actor. Lauren Graham? Sarah Ramos? Peter Krause? Or is it Sam Jaeger, who steals a couple scenes a year as the overlooked Joel?
2. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” Season 3-4 (Cartoon Network) — The animators keep pushing the envelope: The four-episode Umbara arc could be enjoyed as a silent film, it’s so beautiful. And the writers keep coming up with stories we want to see: In 2011, we are introduced to Darth Maul’s “brother,” Savage Opress; Tarkin; Chewbacca; Ackbar; and Pong Krell, a totally new take on Dexter Jettster’s race and an extreme illustration of how the war can corrupt a Jedi.
3. “The Killing,” Season 1 (AMC) — We still don’t know who killed Rosie Larsen, but we do know that dozens of people have been personally affected by this case. I’m most interested in detectives Linden and Holder, so skilled at their jobs but so flawed in their personal lives. Most of one typically rain-drenched episode is spent with the duo eating fast-food burgers and talking about their lives, and this is the heart of what makes the show great. Enough whining about the season finale; yes, it’s weak, but “The Killing” has earned the benefit of the doubt going into Season 2.
4. “The Walking Dead,” Season 2 (AMC) — At the end of every teaser sequence, the ominous score rises in volume, leading into the opening credits and permeating all that follows. On “The Walking Dead,” the fact that these people are trying to survive in a zombie — excuse me, “walker” — apocalypse hangs over everything, whether they are searching for a lost kid or eating dinner. And how about the Sophia reveal? It isn’t just the best “Holy crap!” moment of the year; it’ll also have repercussions going into the new year. A special mention goes to “Talking Dead,” the live talk show that follows every new episode; all good TV shows should get such treatment.
5. “Friday Night Lights,” Season 5 (DirecTV/NBC) — We shouldn’t be surprised that “Parenthood” transcends parenthood. After all, it follows in the footsteps of Jason Katims’ previous show, “Friday Night Lights,” which is about life decisions more so than high school football. Admittedly, prep pigskin fever in the Lone Star State is always a great backdrop, infusing everyday things with an epic weight. It’s telling that in the end, Coach doesn’t take a high-paying, high-stress college gig based on his success in Dillon. Rather, he takes a job with a crappy high school team in a Pennsylvania town where his wife lands her dream job. That’s life.
6. “The Secret Circle,” Season 1 (The CW) — This show, based on young adult novels from about 20 years ago, shouldn’t be nearly as good as it is. (Maybe it’s not as good as it seems to be; time will tell.) But with a sexy young cast playing characters who pop off the screen (special mention goes to Phoebe Tonkin’s Faye), plus the gorgeous Washington state shoreline, the best soundtrack on TV and the occasional silly-fun blast of witchcraft, “The Secret Circle” is a pleasure to watch. Feel guilty about it if you want.
7. “Revenge,” Season 1 (ABC) — Soapy and sudsy? Sure. But I give credit to “Revenge’s” writers for keeping track of everything they’ve dreamed up. Outside of the context of the show, it’s absurd that Jack would fall for the girl he thinks is Amanda after being dismissed by the girl who really is Amanda. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a plot hole: It holds together tightly yet tenuously, just like Emily’s revenge scheme. The next challenge will be to tie it all together when the story meets up with the pilot’s flash-forward scene of Emily’s wedding to the Grayson lad.
8. “Law & Order: Los Angeles,” Season 1 (NBC) — I miss getting my weekly fix of ripped-from-the-headlines cop-and-law yarns. Yeah, I know we still have the sex-crimes “L&O,” but I prefer the meat-and-potatoes approach of the original (which ended last year) and this spinoff, which takes the reins. It starts off clunkily, but “LOLA” had put together a nice cast by the time it was canceled, including scene dominators Terrence Howard and Alfred Molina.
9. “The Simpsons,” Season 22-23 (Fox) — “Is this a list for 2011 or for 1996?,” you’re asking. Well, it’s easy to forget about the steady “Simpsons” among all the sitcoms that have buzz (“Parks and Recreation”) or cult followings (“Community”). But consider these new classics: “Holidays of Future Passed,” where we meet the next generation of Simpsons and see creative futuristic devices (Internet that you plug into your head) that would be appreciated by the scribes of “Futurama” (which had a rare down year); “The Book Job,” which cleverly skewers young-adult literature; “The Food Wife,” where Marge bizarrely becomes a successful food blogger; and “Flaming Moe,” where Moe’s becomes a gay bar (called Mo’s).
10. “Ringer,” Season 1 (The CW) — Like an inside-out “Revenge,” the pleasure of “Ringer” is in watching Bridget dig herself deeper and deeper into a hole she can’t get out of. Everyone thinks she’s Siobhan, except Siobhan herself, who might be manipulating a lot of what’s going on. Sarah Michelle Gellar sells it all with twin sisters who are nothing alike, and who are nothing like Buffy (which is a good thing; I have my “Buffy” DVDs if I need a fix). It also has a juicy side mystery: What really happened between Juliet and her teacher behind that closed classroom door?
What were your top 10 TV shows of 2011? What were the biggest snubs from my list? (Yes, I know “Breaking Bad” was the best show of the year; I just haven’t seen it yet. I make no excuse for that.) Share your thoughts below.
Comments
Without further ado, here are my Top 10 TV shows of 2011 …
1. How I Met Your Mother — Unquestionably the best show of the year because it delivers the laughs and tugs on the heart strings. For instance, one episode features Robin struggling with the fact she can’t ever have kids (she never wanted them to begin with but still a sad thought), while another is about Barney hatching some elaborate scheme to see Lily’s big, pregnant boobs (the episode I described to you, John). Another features Marshall going to see his recently deceased dad (Dobber from “Coach”) at his grave. Sad, right? Not quite. He brings with him tailgating gear and beer to watch a Vikings game and while there, his brothers show up with the same thought. Meanwhile, in the same episode, Barney and Ted open a bar in their apartment on New Year’s Eve and make a Cheers-like theme song on the piano. This show’s range is endless.
2. Parks and Recreation — While it will never match the wit of Arrested Development (What show can?), Parks and Rec is as close it gets in the sarcastic, deadpan humor category. From Li’l Sebastian dying (I nominate for best single show of the year) to Tom Haverford and Donna coining a day where you “treat yo self” to the emergence of Snake Juice and Entertainment 720, a workplace where Roy Hibbert and Detlef Schrempf shoot hoops, the receptionists makes more than 100,000 and there’s a party button on the wall, Parks and Rec delivered on every episode. This show will never be overrated, John, bc it still doesn’t get the press it should.
3. True Blood — Despite a rough start to the season (Sookie is transported to the fairy world and things get a little too bizarre), things pick up after she realizes she’s been gone from Bon Temps for a year (time in fairy world goes faster). Bill’s king of Louisiana, Andy’s addicted to V, Tara has a girlfriend, Eric owns Sookie’s house and Arlene and Terry’s baby (Rene, season 1 killer, is the father) is an “Omen” kid.
Then things really take off. Eric is spellbound and turns nice, even starting a steamy relationship with Sookie (which upsets Bill), Sam and his brother’s relationship develop a heart-wrenching relationship, Jessica and Jason fall in love, Alcide is also secretly in love with Sookie, and Sam falls for with a shapeshifter who’s married to a werewolf that he later kills. Add in the villain Marnie, who’s been possessed by a medieval witch that was sexually assaulted by vampires and is casting spells to rid the world of vampires, and this season was the best since the first.
4. House — This was a tough one because House is on the surface is so one note. House is a jerk, his assistants can’t figure out case, House solves it while being a smug dick. But this season, he gave up drugs, was dumped by Cuddy (hospital director), drove through her house, went to prison, and has emerged with some pep in his step, showing some sympathy for his peers in the process. Every episode, you become attached to main patient, who is no longer guaranteed to be cured and many times dies. Throw in some raunchy comedy, and this show is perfection. In fact, when I get some wine or liquor in me, I always get teary eyed when watching it and profess it’s my favorite show on television.
5. The Walking Dead—While I preferred the first season, the second season delivered the drama and developed the characters more. I enjoyed the countryside setting, but I’m hoping the writers can dial up the action a bit more next season.
6. The Killing — We’ve talked about our love, fascination and disappointment with this show ad nauseam. And if we keep talking about it, the show must be doing something right. It is, however, gonna have to come out of the gates running in season 2 or my patience will wear thin.
7. Modern Family — It’s just so damn clever and funny, and each episode ends with some heartwarming revelation. I wish I was as close with my extended family as this cast, who always make me and Jenelle smile.
8. Project Runway — Definitely a guilty pleasure that brings out the fashionista in me. Here we watch competitors design and style garments for great-looking models. Of course most of the guys are queer and the women are divas, so it lends itself to a trainwreck of emotions.
9. Bones — This season, Bones and Booth revealed they’re having a baby together (teased at a relationship for 6 seasons) and their relationship blossoms. And of course, dead bodies are found, mysteries are solved and justice is served by the always-entertaining Smithsonian team.
10. The Office —Just had to include it. Still one of my favorite shows which has skyrocketed with the inclusion of James Spader as the CEO. Mike Scott was a tough loss to absorb, but Andy has stepped up his game as the new boss and the writers have kept it fresh every week.
HM: Louie/Curb Your Enthusiasm — I have to admit both would be in the top six (Curb prolly top 2) had it not been for me only seeing only six of the 13 episodes of Louie and around half of Curb (discontinued HBO midway through).# Posted By seth Stringer | 1/12/12 3:57 PM
I can’t really comment on HIMYM, True Blood, House, Modern Family, Project Runway or Bones, having not watched them. I dumped The Office, perhaps prematurely. I watch P&R but as you know I don’t really like non-animated sitcoms other than Curb and the good episodes of Always Sunny. Nice to see we are the lone supporters of The Killing on the web; nice to see Walking Dead on your list too as the backlash starts to come in for that show. I think you really snubbed the two Jason Katims shows, Friday Night Lights and Parenthood, but I think you mentioned you haven’t been keeping up with those. And you snubbed The Simpsons, but so does everybody nowadays. Heck, I almost snubbed it again, but because Futurama had a down year I appreciated The Simpsons more. The other five shows on my list are more personal taste. Like if you watched Secret Circle and said you disliked it, I wouldn’t be at all offended. But it’s in my wheelhouse I guess. I think you were too quick to dismiss Ringer, but by no means should it be a top 10 lock. All told, a respectable list and well argued.# Posted By John Hansen | 1/12/12 6:36 PM
This is long overdue (I blame my recently spotty Internet and lack of will to type this up on my phone), but better late than never, I suppose.
Top Ten TV shows of 2011:
1. Breaking Bad — In my opinion, this is the only show that can be justifiably compared to “The Wire” in the great debate over the best television show of all time (which is not really fair because of the countless series I’ve completely missed but whatever). It is a bit more focused a a core set of characters and can therefore feel slightly less ambitious than “The Wire,” but the acting, writing and production values are all top notch. The show is just incredibly visceral and entertaining. I cannot gush enough about it. As an exploration of a tragic character devolving into a villain and the impact that journey has on the people in his life, this show can be a bit dark and gut-wrenching at times, but it is almost always riveting. I would say any fans of TV owe it to themselves to check it out.
2. Community — “Community” narrowly edged out “Parks” as my favorite comedy of 2011. After starting the year with the back half of a second season that featured some fantastic concept episodes –- including a wonderfully Western-themed paintball episode, a Dungeons and Dragons homage that tread through surprisingly dark emotional territory with the whimsy of a fantasy role-playing game, a fake clip show and other highly referential fare -– the show once again hit its stride to wrap up 2011 after a somewhat mundane start to its third season. But beyond the meta, occasionally high-concept nature of the show that gets a lot of attention (and provides some of the series’ high notes), I find “Community” to be just a fun place with an interesting set of characters to hang out with for 22 minutes a week.
3. Parks and Recreation — I almost feel bad about slotting this one in at third. This show has it all. It’s hilarious, heart-warming and has probably the most lovable set of characters on any series I’ve watched. I’m pretty sure any human person would fall in love with this show within a handful of episodes.
4. The Walking Dead — Despite the growing backlash to the zombie drama based on (though thankfully not handcuffed by) an excellent comic book series, I thought the first half of the second season of “The Walking Dead” was a big step in the right direction. Certain elements of the series don’t hold up all that well to excessive scrutiny, but I find this show offers as fun a time as can be expected in a post-apocalyptic world. I’m looking forward to the second half of the season returning next month.
5. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon — Jimmy Fallon may not be the funniest guy or the best interviewer on late night TV, but he is easily the most likable. He always appears to be having an absolute blast, which shows every night on his show. Having one of my favorite bands of all time as his house band certainly doesn’t hurt either.
6. Portlandia — The sketch comedy show starring Fred Armisen spends the bulk of its time gently sending up the hipster culture prevalent in the Pacific Northwest city and many other places. Although I overlooked the show for a while because it is hidden on IFC, the recent inclusion of its first season among Netflix’s streaming lineup prompted me to seek out the rest of the series online (legally, I’m sure), and I was pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable I found it.
7. Archer — This raunchy spy spoof features an awesome cast and outrageous plots that helped build on the momentum of its first season in 2011. I don’t know if this one has the staying power of some of the others on my list, so I felt this would be the year to include it.
8. 30 Rock — I have been playing catch up recently on the 2011 episodes I missed of “30 Rock,” and while it didn’t hit the heights of season one or two, in my opinion, the show is still consistently funny from episode to episode.
9. Louie — Like Seth, I didn’t see all the episodes of Louie’s second season, but I figured I had to throw it somewhere on my list because I watched all of season one in 2011 as well, even though that aired a year earlier. It’s a great show even when it’s not funny, and its experimental nature gives it a unique feel compared to much of what’s on TV at the moment. I imagine it will also be pretty influential for a lot of shows we see in the coming years.
10. The Daily Show — This feels like kind of a cop-out because I haven’t kept up with all the new episodes of ten shows I really liked in 2011, but “The Daily Show” is one that always seems to make its way in front of my face a few times a week. I really like the supporting cast, especially John Oliver and Wyatt Cenac, the writing is usually sharp and the topics it had to work with this year lent themselves nicely to the show’s satirical strengths.
My top non-2011 shows of 2011:
Much of my entertainment time this year has been devoted to introducing myself to or rewatching some of my favorite series on Netflix, so while I was scraping to round out my ten favorites from 2011, I thought of what I had been spending all my time watching instead of new shows last year. Here’s what I came up with:
Battlestar Gallactica, ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series, Star Trek: TNG, X-Files, Star Wars: Clone Wars and earlier seasons of pretty much every show on my top ten of 2011 list.
2011 stuff I fully intend to catch up on in 2012 and beyond (AKA list of shame):
Parenthood, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, Fringe, Friday Night Lights, Homeland and probably The Killing.# Posted By Another Matt | 1/19/12 3:11 PM
Very nice list and well argued. I wouldn’t be too worried about snubbing shows for your all-time favorite; we all do it. I have Once and Again, Freaks and Geeks and My So-Called Life dueling for my top spot, but those might not be your types of shows, just like Breaking Bad and The Wire aren’t totally in my wheelhouse, although I do need to try them someday. Your all-time No. 1 will likely be something that is not only creatively brilliant, but also something that appeals to your sensibilities.
As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t understand the Community and Parks & Rec and 30 Rock love, but I don’t like most live-action comedies other than Curb.
Good pick of The Walking Dead. Yes, the intense scrutiny since it became a pop-culture phenomenon has led to criticism whereas less popular shows would probably get a pass. I still thoroughly dig the show, though. The only qualm is that it probably wouldn’t hold up to repeat viewings as well as some other shows.
Portlandia and Louie should definitely be on my list of shows to check out someday. I love Portland as a TV setting (Life Unexpected, for example, although it was filmed in Vancouver). And I’ve heard great things about Louie. I believe it was the AV Club’s No. 1 pick for 2011. I’ve also heard plenty of good things about Archer.
Don’t know if Parenthood or Friday Night Lights would be in your wheelhouse, but The Killing should be. Also, I am interested to see what you think of Fringe once you start watching it in quick succession, as you did with Lost. I think it will play much better that way than it does with the one-week gap between episodes. Right now, I have no idea what is happening on the show even though I have seen every episode.
Nice to see you are marathoning some X-Files. You should comment on my X-Files season-by-season posts when you get a chance. Also, you need to watch the amazing Clone Wars Season 3 (especially the second half). I am surprised that it is not on more top 10 lists. It’s odd to describe a Star Wars show as being underrated and under-watched, but I guess it is for some reason.# Posted By John Hansen | 1/21/12 10:58 PM