Must See TV: Emmy's 2016

Very few things have been able to pull me from my blog hibernation, over the past year, but the Emmy's can make me do anything. So, here I am, prepared to share with you my TV best-list from the 2015-2016 television season. For the record, only seasons of shows that aired between June 2015 and May 2016 are being considered for the list. Anything that has aired since May will be included in next year's list (I'm talking to you, Stranger Things).

Also, know that there are a number of great shows that I really love that didn't quite make the cut, this year. Fortunately, there is always hope for next year!

In case you are interested in comparing, here is last year's Top 10:

1. The Last Man on Earth (Season 1 - FOX)
2. Orange is the New Black (Season 2 - Netflix)
3. The Big Bang Theory (Season 8 - CBS)
4. Bloodline (Season 1 - Netflix)
5. How to Get Away with Murder (Season 1 - ABC
6. The Colbert Report (Season 11 - Comedy Central)
7. The Newsroom (Season 3 - HBO)
8. American Horror Story: Freak Show (Season 4 - FX)
9. The Celebrity Apprentice (Season 14 - NBC)
10. The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon (Season 2 - NBC)

Now, on to the good stuff...

10. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

(Season 2 - HBO)

In a world with no Colbert Report and no Jon Stewart, John Oliver has happily filled a void that, in the midst of an insane election year, absolutely must be filled. While I do love British humor, Oliver has done a great job of Americanizing his humor for many years, and, for some reason, his passion for his stories truly feels stronger and much more serious than than the stories of Colbert and Stewart. Kudos to Oliver for finding his niche and giving America something to laugh at!

9. The Last Man on Earth

(Season 2 - FOX)

Last year, The Last Man on Earth topped my tv best-list and truly blew me away with its unique form of humor. Unfortunately, season 2 felt a bit drawn out and lacking in creativity (likely because of the greatness of season 1). However, the show was still fantastic and remains, in my opinion, the most creative show on any of the big four networks.

8. Mr. Robot

(Season 1 - USA)

I was extremely late to join the Mr. Robot bandwagon, but there is no doubt that USA has a gem on their hands. Not only is the story intriguing, but the show is so visually impressive that I would often get lost in a scene because of the impressive direction and camerawork. The hacker jargon goes way over my head, but the characters are so well-written that everything makes sense anyway. Mr. Robot is definitely worth the hype!

7. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

(Season 1 - FX)

O.J. Simpson has taken the world by storm, once again, and, while it might eventually get old, I'm kind of digging it! As a big fan of Ryan Murphy and his FX ventures, I was an easy target for American Crime Story, and, while this season was cinematically wonderful, I cannot wait to see what Murphy and crew have in store for next year's Katrina-based storyline. Hold on to your seats, folks! We've only just begun!

6. Life in Pieces

(Season 1 - CBS)

As the lone new network show that I enjoyed, in 2016, Life in Pieces provided viewers a new, fun family that everyone could love and laugh at. The show may not be breaking any giant molds, but the cast is so great that they really don't need anything else. Anyone else looking forward to Life in Pieces season 2?

5. New Girl

(Season 5 - FOX)

New Girl had totally lost its way in seasons 3 and 4, but, for the few that were able to hang in there through the disaster, season 5 brought a breath of fresh air. We can only hope that the show continues to get back on track with season 6, and, also, we can hope that FOX won't blow through all 20-ish episodes in three weeks, as they did in 2016. 

4. The Man in the High Castle

(Season 1 - Amazon)

The lack of Emmy recognition (or even snub-recognition) for The Man in the High Castle is absolutely baffling to me. Unfortunately, there probably weren't enough viewers to initiate a Mr. Robot-esque takeover of awards season, but the show is truly a masterpiece that keeps you guessing, throughout. There are so many television shows to choose from, right now, but very few of them leave you wanting for answers in the way that The Man in the High Castle does. Go check it out!

3. Master of None

(Season 1 - Netflix)

Master of None's success at stacking up Emmy nominations was a surprise to many, but I'm not sure why everyone was so shocked. This show is genius! While there were a couple of episodes that didn't quite work, the bulk of season 1 was near perfection, and that's coming from someone who isn't really a huge Aziz Ansari fan. Master of None has a little something for everyone, and I can almost guarantee that you will find at least two or three episodes that blow you away.

2. Orange is the New Black

(Season 3 - Netflix)

As is the case with every year, Orange is the New Black lags a season behind the awards show, because of its release date. And, while I really want to use this time to talk about how amazing season 4 is, let's focus on season 3, which really helped the show transition from Piper-world to prison-world. Kudos to Jenji Kohan for allowing the show to continually evolve into what is has become, rather than sticking us with hours of Piper, just to weed through to the good parts. If you gave up on Orange is the New Black because of Piper Chapman, please return. She's still here, but not NEARLY as much!

1. How to Get Away with Murder

(Season 2 - ABC)

I watch a number of new television shows, each and every year, and, while I do enjoy a number of them, the long term outlook for these shows isn't always as pleasant as the present. Upon the completion of How to Get Away with Murder season 1, I was 90% sure that this show would be a one year fling that completely loses its way in season 2. Fortunately, in my decision to question Shondaland's brilliance, I was completely and totally wrong. Not only was season 2 of Murder better than season 1, but it was my favorite show of the 2015-16 television season--by far! Nothing else comes anywhere close! And, unlike the ending to season 1, the ending to season 2 absolutely blew me away and established a murderous formula that I believe has a good chance of living on for a number of years to come. 

Another great TV year, in the books! Take a look at this list, and you'll know who I will be cheering on, during tonight's Emmy's ceremony. 

Isn't TV just the bomb?!?

Must See TV: Emmy's 2014

With the Emmy's on the horizon, I've decided to talk about TV for a minute!

For the second straight year, I'll be giving you my list of best TV shows and a snippet telling you why I love each show. If you want, you can check out my list from last year here.

This year, my list has been expanded to a "top ten" list, while last year's list featured only my top five shows. With the quality of today's television series, I figured you would be interested in seeing what all I tuned in to, rather than just seeing five shows. The TV season runs from June to May, which means that this year's list includes TV shows released between June 2013 and May 2014... just so you know!

Here is my top five list from 2013:

1 - New Girl (Season 2 - FOX)
2 - The Newsroom (Season 1 - HBO)
3 - American Horror Story: Asylum (Season 2 - FX)
4 - The Celebrity Apprentice (Season 13 - NBC)
5 - The Office (Season 9 - NBC)

While reading this year's list, keep in mind that I am not listing these shows from a critical perspective, like I do in my movie best-list. Instead, this list simply consists of the shows that I enjoyed watching the most, over the past year. On the same note, there is no way that I could possibly watch every TV show that is made, meaning that this list is far from exhaustive. It's more of just an opportunity for you guys to see what I watch when I'm not at the theater.

Final note: I've put every TV show (of any kind) on the same playing field, which is much more fair than the current division of categories at the Emmy's, in case you wanted to know my opinion.

10. MasterChef Junior

(Season 1 - FOX)

Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of reality TV, which you should be able to infer from the lack of any other reality show in my top 10. However, when reality TV is done right, it can be spectacular. Last year, The Celebrity Apprentice landed at the #4 spot on my list, and, had it aired this season, it might have found itself in the top 10, yet again. Thankfully, the super-fun show that was MasterChef Junior was there to pick up the slack. If you enjoy cooking shows (I LOVE them) and children (some of them are alright), you will have a blast with this show, which I believe only aired about 10 episodes. Upon completion, MasterChef Junior certainly left me wanting more, and I can't wait for season 2, this fall!

9. The Colbert Report

(Season 10 - Comedy Central)

I have long been a fan of Stephen Colbert and his crazy antics, and, as a moderate, I just love watching him and his writing staff brilliantly pick apart the flaws of both the left and right. Unfortunately, The Colbert Report will soon come to a close, but I am so pumped for Stephen and his crew to have the opportunity to move on up to CBS. There is no doubt that the last few months of The Colbert Report will be an absolute blast.

8. The Americans

(Season 2 - FX)

Season 1 of The Americans was a bit slow and repetitious, and, without the brilliant acting, who knows if I would have taken the time to watch season 2. But, boy, am I glad that I did! Not only did the show start the season with its most exciting episode ever, but the storyline continued to unfold into an awesome season of drama and suspense that I think almost anyone would enjoy. Although it's a hard time to cheer on the Russians, The Americans easily convinces me to do so.

7. The Writer's Room

(Season 2 - Sundance)

As someone who is continuously keeping up with both the television and film industries, I often find myself reading about TV shows and movies that I have never even seen. In the long run, I may be wasting my time, but, to be honest, I don't care, because I just love being in the know! For those of you who don't know, The Writer's Room, hosted by the hilarious Jim Rash, takes television writers and actors and allows them to talk a little about the process of creating the stories and characters that are found in our tube. If you've never had the chance to watch the show, I would greatly encourage you to do so, even if you only check out episodes that feature your favorite show. Of all the shows on this list, I don't know that there is another that left me wanting more quite like The Writer's Room, and that's saying something!

6. American Horror Story: Coven

(Season 3 - FX)

If I had made this list two years ago, American Horror Story (Murder House) would have likely found itself at the top of my list. Last year, Asylum moved AHS down to #3, and, this year, Coven brings AHS down to #6. However, the quality of American Horror Story has not gone down hill, AT ALL. I absolutely love the show! Every single episode! Instead, the shows slipping down the list can be attributed to both the newfound numbness to the insanity of AHS and the success of new TV shows, which you will certainly find as you move down this list. Don't worry... I will be tuning in for Freak Show, come October, and you should, too!

5. The Newsroom

(Season 2 - HBO)

Aaron Sorkin is a genius among geniuses, and, regardless of what many critics may say, The Newsroom is amazing. Unfortunately, season 2 wasn't quite as good as season 1, but I was absolutely hooked, regardless. Particularly, kudos are deserved by Sorkin, Jeff Daniels, and Sam Waterston (who was robbed of an Emmy nom, although no one is talking about it). All hail Aaron Sorkin!!!

4. The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon

(Season 1 - NBC)

Ever since I became hooked on Jimmy Fallon's Late Night, I was hoping that the day would come where the most likable man in late night television would be on before I went to sleep. However, I never expected that day to come this quickly. The build up to the launch of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon was executed brilliantly by NBC, and, thus far, the first year of Jimmy's reign has been spot on. I can't wait to tell my children of the day I went to New York to see him on Late Night. Oh, the memories...

3. The Big Bang Theory

(Season 7 - CBS)

After a season 6 that I thought was the worst of the series, The Big Bang Theory rebounded brilliantly in 2013-2014 and is actually the only true comedy to make this list. With the return of Bob Newhart and a finale that brought out emotions that I have never felt for these particular characters, season 7 was absolutely perfect! As someone who started watching Big Bang before it was cool, I really love the fact that this genius show has become TV's number one comedy. But, nothing excites me more than seeing a great comedy be a great comedy, regardless of how many people are watching. Kudos to the Big Bang crew for sticking to what got them to their current level of success!

2. True Detective

(Season 1 - HBO)

As someone who doesn't care much for detective dramas, I was hesitant to check out True Detective, but thank God I did! Not only is True Detective the most brilliant cop show ever brought to TV, but it also caught me a bit off guard. While I did enjoy the first couple of episodes, I never anticipated to become as engulfed in the series as I was by the end of it all. With season 2 on the horizon, I can't wait to see what's in store for the new cast.

1. Orange is the New Black

(Season 1 - Netflix)

Where to start?!? Orange is the New Black had me hooked in the first 10 minutes or so, and I remained hooked for the entire 1st season. Not only does OITNB feature the best cast on television, but it is also one of the most uniquely dramatic and hilarious shows ever created. This show was created to destroy Emmy award categories, and I would not be surprised if we see a few big changes after this year's awards are handed out, considering how hard it is define current television in specific categories. Regardless, Orange is the New Black absolutely rocked my television world, this year. If you've yet to watch the show, go now! I'm sure that you will love it, even if you don't think that it's the best television show of the 2013-14 season!


As you might have noticed, only two of last year's Top 5 made it onto this year's list. However, The Office went off air and The Apprentice did not air this season. That only leaves New Girl, which topped last year's list. While it pains me to leave one of my favorite shows off of my list, season 3 of New Girl just didn't work, at all. Anyway... I'm hopeful that we will see New Girl return with great success this fall! Also, I just finished watching the first season of Silicon Valley, which was absolutely hilarious! I did not include it on my list, because I haven't really had time to digest it, but I could see it landing somewhere in the 6-10 range. Go check it out and see what you think!

Chime in with your comments, below, including suggestions for shows that I should check out (NOT The Walking Dead and NOT Game of Thrones). Also, as the new shows start up this fall, tell me what you'll be watching. I would love to know!

Finally... For entertaining bantering on Emmy night, be sure to follow me on Twitter @TheTan_Man. I promise to entertain!

Let's Be Cops

Expectations:
New Girl is one of the funniest shows on television. In fact, the second season of the Zooey Deschanel comedy topped my list of the best television from the 2012-2013 season (here is that list). Unfortunately, so many potential male viewers are turned off by the poorly constructed title of the show, because it has the world "girl" in it. Fortunately, the show features four hilarious male characters that are guaranteed to make you laugh, regardless of your gender! Two of those characters (Nick and Coach) are played by the stars of Let's Be Cops, Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. Now, I'd like to be able to say that the trailer for Let's Be Cops was hilarious and engaging, but, to be honest, the only reason I went to watch this film was to see Nick and Coach in movie form. So, needless to say, my expectations were quite low...

Plot:
With comedies of the caliber of Let's Be Cops, you don't expect much from a plot-perspective! As expected, Let's Be Cops was quite shallow and lifeless, with pretty much nothing to accent its jokes. Thankfully, the jokes weren't all that bad. In fact, I laughed at the stupid humor, throughout, but I will say that many of those laughs were brought on by my familiarity with the actors. I think most of you would agree that, if you like a comedic actor or actress, you are likely to enjoy the majority of their work, regardless of its depth or success. That said, Let's Be Cops had very little to offer anyone who doesn't enjoy the humor of Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr.

Characters:
However one-dimensional lead characters Ryan and Justin turned out to be, I still liked them. If only the filmmakers hadn't added the emotional, best-friend moments to this goofy, stupid film, it would have been alright. Why do comedic filmmakers feel the need to add dull emotion to films that are engulfed in fart and sex jokes?!? It's so dang frustrating!

Negatives:
It was quite evident that this film was intended to be THE film that turned Nina Dobrev into an ADULT movie star (like grown-up... not pornography), and she totally bombed. Sure, the character (Josie) was absolutely horrible, but the only part of Nina that did any actual acting in this film were her legs. Additionally, Natasha Leggero's Annie was an awkward addition to Let's Be Cops, with her crack-head mentality. Ryan's attraction to her was quite unreal, leaving me baffled.

Positives:
As I've already said, the humor of Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. just connects with me, particularly that of Johnson. As for Wayans, I actually enjoyed his Let's Be Cops character more than his character on New Girl. Johnson played his typical couch-potato, but Wayans played the nerd, contrasting his character on New Girl, who is an actual "Coach." However, the best performance of the entire film was given by Keegan-Michael Key, who played some sort of Hispanic(?) drug-mover named Pupa. The character was entirely over-the-top, but I laughed in spite of those issues.

Conclusion:
Let's Be Cops was about as bad as expected, but it could have been much worse! Hopefully, for the sake of Johnson and Wayans' careers, the film will be a monetary success, but I'm not counting on that, either. Unless you watch New Girl, like me, I would suggest steering clear of Let's Be Cops. Instead, take those couple of hours to watch a few episodes of New Girl. You will love it! Even if you are a dude! Also, check out Jake Johnson in the Aubrey Plaza-led Safety Not Guaranteed. It was definitely one of my favorite films from 2012, and I think you will enjoy it as well! I give Let's Be Cops 1.55 out of 5 stars.

Must See TV: Emmy's 2013

Now, I'm no TV critic, but it is safe to say that I watch more television than the average individual, so I consider myself a reputable source. Unfortunately, I don't get to watch as many shows as I would like to. In fact, there are more that I want to watch than I actually have time to watch, but that is not your problem! I say all of that to discredit the list that I am about to show you as a complete analysis of all TV shows. This list is my own list of "Must See TV." These are the shows that I required myself to watch as soon as I could, over the past TV season, because I love them so very much. However, my love is personal, and I do not expect anybody to love the exact same shows as me. I'm not even going to claim that these are the best shows on television... Let them Emmy's do that. These are just the few shows that I was the most engulfed in throughout the year, and I want to share this with you, as I truly love my TV shows. Sure, there are movies that can capture your heart and memories, but nothing can connect you to characters like great television. So, here are the five shows that I loved the most, over the course of the 2012-2013 TV season:


5. The Office

The Office is undoubtedly one of my favorite comedies of all time, and I actually started watching the show before it was popular and continued to watch the show after it had lost its popularity. If you didn't get a chance, you can read My Farewell to The Office, and maybe you will fully understand my love for this amazing show. There is no doubt that the final season was better than the previous, which probably wouldn't have landed anywhere near this list, but I still hate to have to put this great show at number five. I must be accurate, though!


4. The Celebrity Apprentice

Aside from my parents, I highly doubt that any of my readers actually watch The Apprentice, which is a darn shame! I know that many people hate Donald Trump, but I love him and the entire concept that surrounds the show. Unfortunately, the future of The Apprentice is not so clear, so let's pray that we get another season. Regardless, I love this show, and Trump is my bro... And I rhymed...

 

3. American Horror Story: Asylum

Had I made a list like this last year, there is no doubt that American Horror Story would have topped the list. There is no other show on television that has the ability to shock me, each and every week, quite like AHS. However, I didn't enjoy season 2 quite as much as season 1, probably because I knew that I was going to be shocked (if that's even possible). Regardless, it was still fantastic, and I cannot wait for season 3!


2. The Newsroom

I know that a lot of critics out there really, really hate The Newsroom, but I cannot figure out WHY?!? This new show, from the genius mind of Aaron Sorkin, was able to bring the news industry to its knees in each and every episode, which could be the reason we never hear any good NEWS about the show. The Newsroom's presence on this list is a result of its first season, which is the season that qualifies for the Emmy's next week. However, the season 2 finale is on tonight! So, go turn on HBO... right now!



1. New Girl

For me, the 2012-2013 television season will forever be remembered as the year that New Girl reigned supreme! There is no doubt that I enjoyed the creation of "Jess and Nick" and the hilarity that ensued, but there was never a dull moment throughout the entire season. No show has made me laugh this much in a single season since the third season of The Office, which is probably my favorite season of any comedy ever. So, kudos to New Girl! They may not have a chance to win next week, but they certainly take home all the imaginative awards that I give out as The Average Critic.



As an avid movie viewer, it is understood that I love watching The Oscars each and every year. In fact, I love pretty much any awards show. I even watched the VMAs this year (good grief, Miley!). However, there is absolutely no awards show that I love more than The Primetime Emmy's, and you can take that to the bank!

Here's the deal:
Even though I usually enjoy two or three of the best picture nominees at The Oscars, rarely am I truly in love with the film on a super-personal level. And, if the awards aren't personal, I could care less who wins. Sure, I may be pulling for a movie in a category or two, but, for the most part, I just want there to be some sort of huge upset... which rarely happens at The Oscars! When it comes to TV, though, if my show that I LOVE is nominated for an award, I'm going to cheer them on until their award is given out, and I will be holding out hope for every show, until the final award is passed out. Unlike The Oscars, The Emmy's are unpredictable, so make sure you watch next week!

Here are some folks, in various categories, that I will be cheering on, next Sunday:

 

Vera Farmiga (Bates Motel), Lead Actress in a Drama

Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom), Lead Actor in a Drama

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Supporting Actress in a Drama

Mandy Patinkin (Homeland), Supporting Actor in a Drama

Jane Fonda (The Newsroom), Guest Actress in a Drama

Margo Martindale (The Americans), Guest Actress in a Drama

Henry Bromell (Homeland), Writing for a Drama

 

Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Lead Actress in a Comedy

Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Lead Actor in a Comedy

Mayim Bialik (The Big Bang Theory), Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live), Supporting Actor in a Comedy

Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live), Guest Actress in a Comedy

Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory), Guest Actor in a Comedy

Greg Daniels (The Office), Writing for a Comedy

 

Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Asylum), Lead Actress in a Mini Series or Movie

Sarah Paulson (American Horror Story: Asylum), Supporting Actress in a Mini Series or Movie

Zachary Quinto (American Horror Story: Asylum), Supporting Actor in a Mini Series or Movie

 

American Horror Story: Asylum, Miniseries or Movie

The Voice, Reality-Competition

Saturday Night Live, Variety Series

The Colbert Report, Variety Series

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Variety Series

Anybody but John Stewart, Variety Series

The Big Bang Theory, Comedy Series

To my movie lovers,
Don't worry... I'm not turning this into a TV blog! There just isn't much going on, movie-wise, in September, and I needed something to write about. Hang in there! There are many more reviews to come...