John’s top 10 TV shows of 2025
TV list: The way we consume TV is changing, but luckily quality isn’t dropping.
NBC
Hitchcock mulls truth, POV, memory in hourlong episodes (1957-62)
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): Hitchcock directs one episode each of three NBC series he produced: “Suspicion,” “Startime” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.”
‘Dial ‘M’ for Murder’ (1981) remains gripping in Plummer’s TV movie
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): The remake is inferior in most ways, but it serves to remind us how ingenious Frederick Knott’s story is.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2024
2024 television: Network shows held on to some viewers thanks to diversity of main characters and premises, but streaming and premium channels continued to dominate.
‘High Potential,’ ‘Brilliant Minds,’ ‘Penguin’ showcase diverse brains
First episode impressions (TV reviews): Good ole comfort TV is also on the docket this fall, with “Murder in a Small Town,” “Rescue: HI-Surf” and “Doctor Odyssey.”
Fall TV preview 2024: 10 shows I wouldn’t mind watching
Fall TV preview: Fall TV is still a thing (sort of), so here are 10 new shows that might be worth checking out.
‘Psycho’ saga takes a truncated shot at TV with ‘Bates Motel’ (1987)
On a Hitchcock kick (TV review): It’s about as far away from Hitchcock’s classic as one can get, but this TV pilot is a bizarre curiosity.
‘The Omen’ TV pilot (1995) is a rightly forgotten branch of the lore
Frightening Friday (TV review): Although it didn’t go to series, “The Omen” – which has little to do with the same-named hit film — did air as an NBC TV movie.
John’s top 10 TV shows of 2023
2023 television: A couple of old-school network shows break into the streaming-dominated list of my favorite series of the year.
‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ ‘Fargo’ Season 5, ‘The Irrational,’ ‘The Spencer Sisters’
First episode impressions (TV reviews): “A Murder at the End of the World” goes to the head of the fall class of long-form mysteries, while “The Irrational” might intrigue procedural fans.