DA- Before we can close up 2012 and start judging the entertainment of 2013 we need to look back on what was so great about 2012. Below is what I believe to be the twelve best shows of 2012. (Possible spoilers below).
12. Veep
Based upon the 2005 BBC series, The Thick of It, comedy up-and-comer Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a
vice-president that may even be cooler and funnier than Joe Biden. With
episodes like “Frozen Yoghurt” where a terrible but hilarious stomach flu gets
the best of her, it is clear why she won this year’s Emmy. While Louis-Dreyfus
is the comedy anchor of the show, her coworkers including Tony Hale and Timothy
Simons make one great political comedy team.
11. How I Met Your Mother
After a little bit of lull in the story of how Ted met his
wife, HIMYM is back on track with a hopefully clear end date. With another
mother flash-forward sighting in the season’s opener “Farhampton” to the latest
episode of “The Final Page” where Barney proposes to Robin, the show can still
juggle comedy as well induce chills. While recently it was renewed for one more
final season, let’s hope we meet the mother at the end of this season and we
actually get to see Ted date (and probably break-up, date, break-up, and
finally date again) with the future Mrs. Ted Mosby before he marries and the
story ends.
10. Dexter
Anything was going to be a step up from the last two seasons
but Dexter came back with actual consequences for Dexter and his six seasons of
murders. With acting nobody saw coming from Jennifer Carpenter back in season
one to a much more interesting villain in Isaak Sirko than Colin Hanks’ Travis
Marshall could ever be, I thought this show was completely back on track. While
it derailed before the season was out with “Helter Skelter” and Sirko’s death,
there was a point that I thought we got the old Dexter back. Hopefully these
glimpses back to the past (as we saw in the finale) will continue and this show
ends on a higher note like its’ previous seasons.
9. The Walking Dead
For this one we have to include the second half of season
two and the first half of season three (which both aired 2012). After an
extremely slow first half of season two that even the walkers could out run,
Rick shoots zombie Sophia and the series began to pick up again. After the
shocking deaths of Shane and Lori and then an intense battle to take over the
prison, things are looking up for the AMC juggernaut. Plus with a great villain
in the Governor played by David Morrissey this is one series I don’t want to
see die.
8. Parks and Recreation
Going into this season I was worried to see how they would
work Leslie’s new government job and her boyfriend working in Washington D.C.
but the writers know how to “treat” their audience with some swag. While not as
strong as season three this consistently funny show has given us a hilarious
debate episode written and directed by Amy Poehler, a great guest arc with Paul
Rudd, and a sweet proposal between Ben and Leslie. With 30 Rock, The Office,
and (probably) Community ending, at least NBC will have one show that will keep
us tuned in and laughing to the peacock network. Plus they scored Vice
President Biden in a guest spot…winning!
7. New Girl
After a rough first half of season one that focused too much
on quirky and “adorkable” Jess, the writers turned to see the great ensemble of
characters that live with her. Between Nick, Winston, and of course Schmidt the
show has learned the strengths of every actor and plays to each one of them
every week. Whether it is a crazy game like True American or guest spots from
people like Olivia Munn, Parker Posey, Josh Gad, Rob Riggle, Jamie Lee Curtis,
and Rob Reiner, I can’t wait to see what adventure the roommates get into next
and how Nick will turn lemonade into lemons, which he has been doing since
1981.
6. Mad Men
Even though Mad Men lost what would have been their fifth Emmy in a row, this
season did not dip in quality. With strong performances from the whole cast
including Jared Harris as Lane and Christina Hendricks as Joan it is shocking
Mad Men did not receive even more Emmy love, which it still very much deserves.
Don’t believe me? Go back and watch “Far Away Places” or “The Other Woman”
which was not only my favorite of the season but also perhaps my favorite of
the series. Ever.
5. Louie
Oh Louie! I love how I can go into this show every week and
never know what I am about to see. Every episode is Louis C.K. experimenting
with what a television series is and should be. With a strangely hilarious Late
Show arc that saw David Lynch, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld enter the world
of Louie at the end of this third season, it is going to be extra hard to wait
until 2014 to see what Louis tinkers with next.
4. Community
While only airing twelve episodes in 2012 this abused
sitcom’s third season which is on and off of NBC’s schedule could only be
described as Community at its’ finest. Between a perfect Law & Order
parody, a Ken Burns documentary about a pillow and blanket fight, an even
better clip show episode, and a video game episode that starred Gus Fring, it
is hard to choose a favorite from the bunch. Not to mention there was a season
finale that could have worked as a perfect series finale as well. However
instead of going crazy and weird like many season two episodes, season three
found the perfect blend of being bizarre and yet maintain believable
relationships between the characters (even if Chevy Chase thinks we do not want any of this).
3. Girls
Lena Dunham as Hannah as said she think she may be the voice
of her generation. Or at least a voice, of a generation. However despite all
this uncertainty, Lena Dunham as Lena is definitely the new voice of television
we all needed. As creator, director, writer, producer, and star of this hit HBO
show, Dunham as not created Sex in the City 2.0 but instead a completely
original and funny show that just happens to star four young women trying to
figure out life in New York City.
2. Breaking Bad
No, Vince Gilligan you got me! Even after only airing eight
episodes this year these eight episodes are television at it’s finest. While I
was worried how it could top the explosive season four, Gilligan has set up for
a final eight episodes that really will show the (much deserved) downfall for
Walter White. While it was a slow build to Hank’s realization, there was still
a lot of action packed in between. Whether it is convincing Jesse that it was
Gus who poisoned Brock, robbing a train with new guy Todd, or using the power
of magnets, it will be interesting to see what’s next for Walter in this last
“batch” of episodes.
1. Homeland
While I have already blogged about my future concerns about
the show, this season I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. In the first
four episodes alone it was as though we were speeding down the highway to
“Everybody Talks” and not looking what was in the way. With performances that
will sure get more Emmy love from Damian Lewis and of course of Claire Danes,
it is going to be just as interesting to see where season three will go especially
with the possible absence from Lewis. But again it would not be Homeland if we
were not let to sit and wonder what is going to happen next (as long as we know
Saul and his beard are not going anywhere).
What shows are in your top 12 of 2012? Leave your list below in the comments or tweet them to me @eastwoodmcfly.
