Bob’s Burgers - Fox The perfect balance of weird and wholesome, I love the Belchers.
The Comeback - HBO This show was far ahead of its time when it’s first season aired in 2005, and I was thrilled when the network announced its return for 2014. Season Two continues to mix in the meta, as Valerie accomplishes a legitimate comeback in her career after being cast in a HBO drama. Her return to acting is just as cringe-worthy and ultimately more costly than it was it season one, but the show ends up being as heartwarming as it is outrageously funny.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - HBO I’ve tuned out of The Daily Show years ago, so I didn’t have particularly high expectations for Oliver’s transition to HBO. But from the very first episode, Oliver quickly separated himself from Stewart and Co. by breathing fresh air into long-form political satire. Oliver is also sillier and less snarky than Stewart, and as a Brit he offers a bit of an outsider’s view on US politics. Both of these traits allow for him to better appeal to both sides of the political aisle, and has contributed to the unprecedented popularity of the show.
The Leftovers - HBO I never watched Lost, the show most will cite while describing their respective love/hate for The Leftovers. So without carrying over any of the baggage from the mega-hit, I became completely enthralled with The Leftover’s post-rapture world in a way that I may have been unable to if I had already viewed LIndelof’s preceding series. From what I know of Lost, I understand that the two shows have much in common. Both are equal parts, fantasy, sci-fi, drama, and mystery. This season of The Leftovers used all of the material from Tom Perotta’s novel of the same name; I hope that the series can maintain its excellence in season two, without the benefit of such precise source material.
Nathan For You - Comedy Central Like The Comeback, this part scripted, part reality show illustrates how people’s tolerance for absurdity succombs to the authority of a film crew. Also like The Comeback, this show is filled with cringe-worthy fun.
Orange Is The New Black - Netflix Despite casting Jason Biggs in a typically insufferable Jason Biggesque role, OITNB was my favorite show last year. This season was just as good, with the series introducing its most dangerous villain to date, while continuing to beautifully develop its characters.
Silicon Valley - HBO More like Office Space than any of Mike Judge’s previous work in television, Silicon Valley featured outstanding performances from TJ Miller, Thomas Middleditch, and Kumail Nanjani, as well as what may be the smartest dick joke ever told.
The Simpsons - Fox, FX, FXX While I personally still enjoy the new episodes the Simpsons put to air, I would hardly argue that they should currently be considered among TV’s best. Instead, I’ve included the show on this list because Matt Groening and company finally joined the rest of 21st century and made the series available for online streaming. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the series; and I would be interested to know what went down behind the scenes leading up to FX’s 750 million-dollar deal for rights to the series. But for now, I’m just happy that I no longer have resort to watching the 1.4x sped up versions of classic episodes on YouTube.
True Detective - HBO I don’t need to write anything here, because you already watched this right? Best show of the year.
Veep - HBO Presidential politics can be hilarious when you are able to acknowledge how outrageously stupid the whole system is. Remember this absurdity when you’re voting for Bush or Clinton in 2016.
Near Misses:
South Park, Inside Amy Schumer, Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories, Real Time with Bill Maher, Portlandia, Parks and Recreation.
Shows I want to watch soon:
Gotham, Brooklyn 99, Transparent, the Roosevelts, Fargo, Key and Peele (new season,) the Americans
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