My absolute favorite lists come out at the end of each year: the "best of" lists! I'm no entertainment expert, but I am now officially a blogger and therefore my opinion is really, really important. Thus, I feel it is my duty to put together a few posts on my own "best of 2012"choices. After much consideration, I have narrowed it down to four categories: television shows, movies, books and viral videos.
So without further ado, let's begin with my list of the Best Television Shows of 2012.
10. "The Office" (NBC). Yes, "The Office" is well beyond its mid-2000s heyday. And yes, the show has suffered since Steve Carell's departure. The 2011-2012 season was nearly unwatchable, but the current (and final) season has shown great improvement. I still miss Carell, but the laughs are back.
9. "Amazing Race" (CBS). This show deserves the Emmy it wins for Oustanding Reality-Competition Program each year (aside from that one year when it was bested by "Top Chef"). The premise is always the same: pairs of contestants race around the world and the winners take home $1 million. Despite being on for 20 seasons, "The Amazing Race" remains fun because it still manages to take viewers to places we'll never get to see in person and allows us to vicariously experience some of the things that make different cultures unique. Plus, the foot race to the finish line (or weekly "pit stop") always makes for good old-fashion excitement.
8. "Modern Family" (ABC). This show has achieved the rare feat of being successful with both audiences and critics. It's easy to see why. The writing is consistently funny and each of the actors manages to earn his/her keep, even the child actors. My only concern: A new character is often the kiss of death for a sitcom, so we'll have to see if the show can keep it up when it throws a new baby into the mix later this season.
7. "Louie" (FX). Louie is a comedy, but it isn't conventionally funny. Often times after watching a new episode, my husband and I will turn to each other and say "Well, that was weird." But that's what makes "Louie" so great. Louis C.K., who writes, directs and stars in each episode, is not afraid to take risks. He's willing to take Louie (who you can't help but imagine is autobiographical) to uncomfortable places that you just don't see anywhere else on TV.
6. "New Girl" (FOX). I get it, Zooey Deschanel, with her big doe eyes and hipster bands, is just too darn "adorkable" for some people to stomach. And yes, that episode about how woman act crazy when they are on their periods was super annoying. However, I challenge all the haters out there to sit through an entire episode without laughing. If you can do it, I'll add a dollar to the "douche jar."
5. "Portlandia" (IFC). This sketch comedy show appeals to a niche audience: hipsters (or wannabe hipsters or former hipsters or occasional hipsters) between the ages of 20-40. This show is for people who think it's ridiculous to wait in line for 2 hours to try out a trendy new brunch place, yet do it anyway (and yes, I will reluctantly admit that I am probably one of those people). It hilariously spoofs Portland's too-cool-for-school culture with exaggerated characters who are just real enough to be funny. Plus, "Portlandia" showcases Fred Armisen's talents in ways that "Saturday Night Live" has never been able.
4. "Happy Endings" (ABC). It's another show about six friends living in a big city. Networks have been trying to create the success of some little show from the '90s (I think it was called "Friends." Perhaps you've heard of it?) for the past 15 years. But "Happy Endings" is different. The humor is more out-there, featuring a lot of pop-culture references and unbelievable plot lines. Jane (Eliza Coupe) and Brad (Damon Wayans Jr., in fine "Wayans" form) are one of the best married couples on TV, Penny (Casey Wilson) is wonderful as the klutzy single girl, and Max (Adam Pally) is refreshing as a schlubby gay schemer. Admittedly, the other two characters are less interesting, but all six actors have a chemistry that's hard to find on TV these days.
3. "30 Rock" (NBC). Some say this show, like its Thursday night counterpart "The Office," is past its prime. I disagree. Currently in its last season (the final episode was shot in December), "30 Rock" is still bringing us the smartest humor on TV. Tina Fey & Co. have never been afraid to make fun of political, racial and gender stereotypes in its fast joke-a-second manner, and this season has been no exception. It will be sorely missed. Blurg.
2. "Mad Men" (AMC). The only drama to make this list, "Mad Men" returned in 2012 after an excruciatingly long 18-month break. Perhaps to make up for the absence, the famously slow-moving show packed a lot of action into this season: marriage, divorce, the resignation of a crucial character, suicide, an LSD trip, an ill-fated trip to Howard Johnson's, affairs, prostitution, and of course, lots of sex, alcohol and good-looking people in stylish clothes. How this show failed to earn a Golden Globe nomination this year (the first time it hasn't been nominated in its five-year run) is beyond me.
1. "Parks and Recreation" (NBC). I'll readily admit that some of the shows on this list are not for everyone. "Portlandia" might be too generational; the humor on "Louie" might be too esoteric. However, I have no idea why more people don't watch "Parks & Rec." This show has the funniest writing and some of the most interesting characters on TV, including delicious recurring characters who are used sparingly and to maximum comedic effect (Jean Ralphio!). "Parks & Rec" also has something this increasingly cynical world lacks: heart. Last season followed Leslie Knope's (Amy Poehler) successful bid for a seat on the Pawnee City Council, while the current season is focusing on her engagement to Ben (Adam Scott) and her constant struggle to make Pawnee the best city in Indiana. If you aren't watching this show, you must start now.
Other notable mentions:
The "Hey, this show sounded awful, but it's actually kinda funny" award goes to: "The Neighbors."
The "…wait for it" award goes to: "How I Met Your Mother." Let's meet this "mother" already!
Second runner-up for the "…wait for it" award goes to: "The Mindy Project." It shows promise, but I'm still waiting for it to be great.
The "I really need to start watching this show" award goes to: "Homeland," "Breading Bad," "Downton Abbey" and "Girls."
The "Please don't cancel it" award goes to: The enjoyable but low-rated "Ben & Kate."
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