Where does Mad Men end up on the list?
Photo Credit: AMC TV
We continue to look back on the best that I saw during my
high school and blogging career so far with TV. TV is going to be a more interestingly
structure list as there has to be some rules that go along with it. First is
that the show has to have aired at least part of its run from the year 2009 on
anything that ends just before doesn’t count. The other rule is that I have to
have seen all the way through the run of the show so far. So without further do
here is the best TV of the last five years:
10. Community (specifically the Dan Harmon years 2009-2011
not the 2012 season)
When Community was created by Dan Harmon it was easily one
of the smartest, funniest and bravest shows on television. It provided unusual
laughs in unusual circumstances and had one of the finest ensemble casts in the
business. Then the fourth season happened but we don’t talk about that because Dan
Harmon will be returning to the show again next season and attempt to set thing
back to the greatness they once were.
9. Girls (2012-Present)
Well it’s only aired just two seasons HBO’s fantastically
brave and hilarious Girls is easily one of the best new shows to come out in a
long time. The first season debuted walking a tight rope of hilarious unlikablity
and commentary on the young and foolish. The second season, well less focused
was equally as amazing allowing for more experimental and thus more interesting
work from Lena Dunham and crew. Only the future will decide whether Dunham can
keep walking the tight rope with such skill but so far so very good.
8. Game of Thrones (2011-Present)
I thought adapting George RR Martin’s epic saga could never
be done right. Boy was I wrong as Game of Thrones the TV show has proven time
and time again that Martin’s books can be transformed into a coherent and
powerful TV show that worked on so many different levels. The cast is perfect highlighted
by Peter Dinklage and creators Benniof and Weiss have shown time and time again
that they can write fantastic books into a beautiful TV show.
7. Boardwalk Empire (2010-Present)
Since the first episode Boardwalk Empire has had a lot to
live up to. Its first task was being an HBO gangster show post the amazing
Sopranos. The next was having Martin Scorsese as the director of the first episode
and an executive producer on the series. While it didn’t fully hit its stride
until the end of the first season Boardwalk Empire has proven to be a very fine
show ever since. With a great cast and a Wire like weaving plot structure along
with some killer camera work Boardwalk Empire has truly been a fantastic
addition to the HBO lineup.
6. Lost (2004-2010)
People say they don’t like how it ended and blah, blah,
blah, but that never takes away from the fact that Lost is a super fantastic show.
The show was strange and wacky but it always seemed to work (well except for
early season 3) melding the world of sci-fi to a brilliant cast of fully
fleshed out characters. The show always felt right even in the bad times and it
was always one of the best shows on TV.
5. The Daily Show (1999-Present)
While it doesn’t feel right to put it on a top 10 every year
but on this list it seems appropriate. The Daily Show is still one of the
funniest and most important shows on television as it provides a funny spin on
the news in a time where the news feels as morbid as ever. Perhaps the largest
complement I can give to The Daily Show is that whenever I see a big news story
break I always want to hear Jon Stewart and crew’s two cents on it more than
any other source.
4. Parks and Recreation (2009-Present)
Parks and Rec has been consistently the funniest show on
television for the last several years. While it got off to a bit of a miserable
start by the time it was in its second season it took off and became the very
finest network comedy on television. The ensemble is fantastic, the jokes always
laugh out loud funny and the plot works nearly 100% of the time. It’s truly a
fantastic comedy in every way.
3. Louie (2010-Present)
The true best comedy on television though has to be Louie.
The show is so fantastically personal and so dramatically different week to
week as it sketches the emotions and feelings of a middle age comedian in New
York. From week to week the show continuously shines showing the life and times
of Louis CK in weird wacky and always real and heartfelt ways. Louie is truly
spectacular and will be missed during this year’s hiatus.
2. Mad Men (2007-Present)
The number two and number one shows on this list are
basically interchangeable. But as for now here is the way I ranked them.
Sitting at number two is Mathew Weiner’s fantastic interpretation of the
sixties add scene with Mad Men. Mad Men brought one of the most fantastic casts
in the business, perhaps the sharpest writing and characters that are irresistible
in every way. The show has been continuously near perfect for seven years
running now and how many shows can say that? Very few that’s for sure.
1. Breaking Bad (2008-Present)
Ultimately the most fantastic show of the last many years
has to be Breaking Bad. No other show manages characters, twisty plot, and suspense
quite like Breaking Bad. The cast is the best in the business at the moment,
the show continues to build its suspense to a conclusion that is only months
away. The show is fantastic in every way and the best on television.
No comments:
Post a Comment