Favorite Shows of the 2011-12 Season

While I consider myself a mildly intelligent, literate human being with much to offer the world with opinions, hopes and dreams, etc., etc. -  but damn I loves me some television. I honestly don't understand how you can't. There's nothing quite like coming home from a long day of work and catching an episode of Jeopardy! or...coming home from an even longer day of work to crawl in to bed with some Netflix. This past year has given us some truly truly excellent television - both well-established dramas and comedies and new, vibrant shows. Here are some of my favorites (and, yeah there's a lot of them. Deal):


Sherlock

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Oh god damn. This has pretty much everything I can possibly demand from anything: British men, excellent acting, a dude named Benedict Cumberbatch, a delightfully evil villain, and...British men. Given to us by the gods of BBC, Sherlock saw its second season this past year and left me NEEDING, physically needing, the third season. Now. Now please.


Best Friends Forever (RIP(?!))

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I can't even with this. If you haven't seen BFF, (which, I'm guessing you haven't seeing as how NBC cancelled it (yet renewed Whitney. There is no god.)) get thee to a computer. Created by, written by and starring Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair, this comedy is both genius and an accurate portrayal of female friendship. Think Bridesmaids but y'know, on the tv. And without Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph & co. I'm actually still in mourning of its short life so it's hard to really talk about, but hope springs eternal.

Louie

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If you're not watching this show, well, I just don't know if we can be friends. I don't think I'm being dramatic when I say that years and years from now humanity will look back be all "Louie is a national treasure" and then Nic Cage will show up and be like "That's high praise." Louie is equal parts laugh-til-you're-in-actual-physical-pain funny and incredibly poignant and heartbreaking and smart.


Scandal

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I promise you this show is not about a woman in ill-fitting pants (seriously, Kerry. They're called "tailors"). This new Shonda Rhimes-helmed political drama had me hooked by the first episode. It's a scosh melodramatic, but it's lots of fun to watch pretty people maneuver the shark-infested waters of D.C. political intrigue.

Community

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RIP, Starburns. Community is an interesting show. It started out as something almost entirely different (though equally hilarious) than what it is now to become the meta-est of meta shows - self-aware without being pander-y (in fact, part of why it might be having trouble finding a strong foothold with its network is probably Harmon & Co.'s unwillingness to pander. There's no Big Romance a la The Office's Jim & Pam, the plotlines are disjointed and weird) but my god how is it possible that one show can have so many laughs? This season saw the genius that was the Ken Burns-esque docu-episode, "Pillows and Blankets" and the Law and Order-Themed "Basic Lupine Urology".

Parks & Recreation

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The funniest comedy with the biggest heart, this year Parks & Rec saw one of its (in my opinion) greatest seasons as Leslie made her run for City Counsel. I can't imagine one person alive who wouldn't vote Knope 2012.

Mad Men

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Gah! So much has happened this season I can barely contain myself. While discussing it with a coworker who admitted that this is the first season she's watched in real time (as opposed to Netflix-ing), and how she's been so wildly impressed with the pace. It's true that it seems more has happened in Season 5 of Mad Men, while the past few seasons have been incredibly taut, well-acted and directed, intense observances as opposed to actions. I'm on pins and needles for the finale.

Breaking Bad

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Four words: "I am the danger."

Game of Thrones

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Mmmm Robb Stark. Can't. Keep. Typing. His eyes. Too. Distracting. The King in the North!

New Girl

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I'll admit - I was wary of New Girl when it first started out. I had always liked Zooey Deschanel, but as soon as I heard the word "adorkable" I wanted to tap out. Thankfully, though, the show really came in to its own when the focus shifted a bit off of Jess and out towards her lovably ridiculous roommates. Any show that is home to Jake Johnson is a show I can really get behind. And Drunk Nick Miller might, honestly be one of my favorite things ever in the world.


Happy Endings

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When Happy Endings first came on the air, there were lots of murmurs that it was trying to be another Friends, that it was relying on that well-farmed formula of six twenty-somethings in the city trying to have it all, etc. etc.And while it shares the same framework, Friends it is not. While I will always always love me some Monica & Chandler goodness, they can't hold a candle to Brad and Jane's epic weird yet perfect marriage. And all of Joey's dumb-guy antics pale in comparison to the commitment-phobe, epic slacker that is Max. Well done, David Caspe. Well done.



Runners Up:
Luther
Girls
Downton Abbey
American Horror Story