Best of Television 2010

I fell behind on several critically acclaimed shows this year (some which apparently bounded back to their best seasons ever I've been told, but alas, won't be on this list due to my slack) but of all the shows I manage to keep watching in time, the ensemble comedies seemed to have bounded back with a vengeance.

Here are my picks for the Best of Television for 2010
(With the ranking from the three previous lists (Best of 2009, Best of 2008/ Best of TV - Fall 2007/ Winter 2008 Season) in parenthesis.):


1. Friday Night Lights (DirecTV/NBC) - (1, 1, 3)

New team, new kids, new problems, same Tammy, same Coach Taylor, same clear eyes, same full hearts, still can't lose.


2. Breaking Bad (AMC) - (Favorite But Not Caught Up)

We know drugs creates a lot of drama but who knew it could also be so funny? Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul are intensely brilliant together as the drug-making odd-couple.


3. Community (NBC) - (Not Ranked)

Inanity at its best, with attention to details while going for the comedy gusto.


4. The Good Wife (CBS) - (Not Ranked)

A perfected balance of procedural law cases and personal drama with a strong ensemble AND guest cast.


5. Modern Family (ABC) - (3, New)

Delightfully heartwarming with some charming zingers.


6. Cougar Town (ABC) - (Not Ranked)

Nicely settled into older friends who like to drink, and drunk friends can be very very funny.


7. Parks & Recreation (NBC) - (Not Ranked)

Another tight comedy ensemble that only seems to get better as they've finally figured out their awkward workplace rhythm.


8. Better Off Ted (ABC) - (9, New)

Sadly, this terrific workplace comedy that skewered big corps and their minions never found an audience but hopefully will live on with DVD.


9. 30 Rock (NBC) - (8, 5, 4)

Still insane, still completely all over the place, but still getting in the laughs.


10. Bored to Death (HBO) - (Not Ranked)

A show that stars three folks I tend to think of as annoying, but totally lovable and hilarious here in this pseudo-detective noir comedy.

11. Nurse Jackie (Showtime) - (5, New)

12. Party Down (Starz) - (Not Ranked)

13. Ugly Betty (ABC) - (11, 7, 9)

14. Lost (ABC) - (2, 2, 1)

15. Glee (FOX) - (4, New)

16. The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - (10, 20, Not Ranked)

17. Bones (FOX) - (13, 15, 15)

18. Greek - (abcFamily) - (17, Not Ranked)

19. Desperate Housewives (ABC) - (15, 13, 18)

20. The United States of Tara (Showtime) - (6, New)


New Shows I Enjoy:
Sherlock (BBC)
The Walking Dead (AMC)
How to Make It In America (HBO)
Life Unexpected (The CW)
Raising Hope (FOX)

Most Overrated New Show:
Boardwalk Empire


Shows I Still Enjoy But I've Totally Fallen Behind On:
Mad Men
Fringe
Dexter
True Blood
Leverage
Damages
Burn Notice
Supernatural
Men of a Certain Age
Being Erica
Royal Pains
White Collar
Parenthood

Great Shows I'll Miss:
Lost
Ugly Betty
Better Off Ted
The New Adventures of Old Christine
10 Things I Hate About You
My Boys

Shows I Haven't Seen Yet
Terriers
Treme
Justified
Rubicon
Big Love

______________________________________

Best of 2010 Lists:
Best of Music 2010
Best of Television 2010
Best of Stage 2010
Best of Movies 2010

Previous Best-of Lists:
Best of 2009 Lists:
Best of Music 2009
Best of Television 2009
Best of Stage 2009
Best of Movies 2009

Decadeworthy - The Best of 2000-2009 Lists:
SYTYCDworthy (w/ Videos) - List Format
Theatre of the Decade
Best Films of the Decade
Favorite Films of the Decade
Television of the Decade
Television of the Decade - 1 Season Wonders

Best of 2008 Lists:
Best of Music 2008
Best of Television 2008
Best of Stage 2008
Best of Movies 2008
Best of Television Fall '07 - Winter '08 List

Best of 2007 Lists:
Best of Music 2007
Best of Television 2007
Best of Movies 2007
Best of Stage 2007
Best of 2007 (The Final Wrap Up)
Best of Television Fall '06 - Winter '07 List

Best of 2006 Lists:
Best of Music 2006
Best of Television 2006
Best of Movies 2006
Best of 2006
Best of Television Fall '05 - Winter '06 List

Best of 2005 Lists:
Best of Television 2005
Best of Movies 2005
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 9pm on DirecTV

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Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose That Emmy! LET'S DO THIS!

Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler are FINALLY Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama Series Nominees (respectively) for Friday Night Lights.

FINALLY NOMINATED!

Ok, but let's not stop there. CONNIE BRITTON and KYLE CHANDLER deserve to WIN GAWDAMNIT!


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Screening Dads

While DameJames has already done a good job rounding up hot daddies, I'm gonna wish everyone a Happy Father's Day with the best current TV dads! Now to be honest, anybody can really become a dad. That's not hard (actually, that's how it started. Badabing! ) but becoming a GOOD dad is difficult. So here's to the television fathers that are worth being role models!:

And for four years running, Friday Night Lights' Coach Eric Taylor is hands down the best dad on TV. And maybe one of the best on TV ever. Not only is he a great father to his family, but he's a great father to the town of Dillon.

New fathers to TV, Modern Family's Cam and Mitchell are my picks for best TV comedy dads! Their love and devotion (if sometimes slightly neurotic) to the always adorable and newly adopted Lily is heartwarming.

Even if they sometimes lose her in a jungle.

Actually, all the modern dads, Cam, Mitch, Jay and Phil are pretty great. Jay and Phil are still figuring it out, but at least they're trying!

Best Guest TV dad is definitely Burt Hummel for his turnaround into the pro-gay defending dad that he became on Glee.

And while he may not actually be the best dad, we still love Cougar Town's Bobb-ay!

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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Friday Night Lights. Still At The Top Of Its Game

Friday Night Lights (*****) is back TONIGHT for it's 4th season! And on network TV! For the diehards, we've probably already seen S4 on DirecTV (or ahem, other ways) last winter but NBC is finally airing the 4th season starting tonight, Friday at 8pm so there's no excuse not to watch the best show on television anymore.

And for newcomers, it might be the best time to join, since the show sort of brilliantly restarts itself while still building on our favorite characters.

The last time we left Dillon, TX, Coach Eric Taylor was being forced out of Dillon High and made to coach at East Dillon High, where there's barely a field, let alone funding for a proper football team. It's up to Eric to find himself a brand new team and an ounce of hope.

Tami Taylor remains principal at Dillon High where her kindness is gonna be put to the test. Let me just say that I've never felt so angry and frustrated at the politics of the town as much as what happens in the later parts of Season 4. It's a chilling story line that sadly probably reflects a lot of what is going on in America today.

We'll get to meet a bunch of new characters, mostly over at East Dillon High, the school on the poor side of town, a town not already known for having that much money. Eric Taylor's potential new players are a ragtag bunch including troubled Vince (Michael B. Jordan) and boy-next-door Luke (Matt Laura, Lipstick Jungle).

And due to the new redrawn district lines (again, only FNL can make local civic politics into a truly dramatic story arc), Landry Clarke ends up on the wrong side of town and must attend the new school, where by default, he becomes one of the stronger players, which is more of a sad statement of East Dillon than it is about Landry's football skills.

There's also Jess Merriweather (Madison Burge) and her mom (re-occurring guest star Alicia Witt, Cybill) who also seem to collide with Tim Riggin's life, just as Tim tries to forge a future with brother Billy (Derek Phillips in an Emmy worthy performance in his increased screentime).

And don't forget, J.D. McCoy and overbearing father Joe McCoy will still become thorns in Coach Taylor and force Buddy Garrity to rethink his allegiances.

Meanwhile, this is the season that will slowly merge out Zach Gilford from the show, and just as the show did a beautiful job saying farewell to Smash and Jason Street (Gaius Charles and Scott Porter), Matt Saracen's post Dillon life is powerfully moving and realistically genuine, and Julie Taylor's life never becomes quite the same. Make sure you have tissues on hand for the 4th and 5th episode as Gilford turns an Emmy worthy performance amongst a show of Emmy worthy performances (seriously, when are they going to hand Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton the gold statues?).

Friday Night Lights easily manages the season 4 cast switch by keeping Tami and Eric at its moral centre while new stories on the harsh lives of Dillon's poorer residence comes into light. The Blind Side and Superior Donuts had nothing on what this show can convey in a simple look from Coach Eric Taylor to his players. Still moving, still relevant, still at the top of its game. Friday Night Lights can't be beat.

Here's the Season 4 Cast Promotional Gallery:
Connie Britton as Tami Taylor:

Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor:

Taylor Kitsch as Tim Riggins:

Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen:

Aimee Teegarden as Julie Taylor:

Jesse Plemons as Landry Clarke:

Brad Leland as Buddy Garrity:

Michael B. Jordan as Vince Howard:

Matt Lauria as Luke Cafferty:

Jurnee Smollett as Jess Merriweather:

Madison Burge as Becky Sproles:

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

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