Must See TV: Emmy's 2015

Year three of my own Emmy awards and boy is television changing. The pace at which TV has shifted to a stream and binge activity is a bit intimidating to me. Sure, there have been a number of trends and changes in film, during my 23 years on the earth, but the recent changes in the television world are absolutely crazy. Nevertheless, the content continues to flow at a faster pace.

Does anybody else remember the days when you only watched two or three shows and life was just as fun?... Yeah, me neither! Instead, 2015's Top Ten list only includes only about half of the shows that I watched from start to finish, this year--not to mention the time-fillers, like HGTV, re-runs, and all things ESPN.

Just so you know, the shows and seasons that qualify for this year's list aired between June 2014 and May 2015, much like the actual Emmy's.

If you want to compare and read the descriptions, check out my lists from 2013 and 2014.

Here are my Top Ten shows from last year:

1 - Orange is the New Black (Season 1 - Netflix)
2 - True Detective (Season 1 - HBO)
3 - The Big Bang Theory (Season 7 - CBS)
4 - The Tonight show Starring Jimmy Fallon (Season 1 - NBC)
5 - The Newsroom (Season 2 - HBO)
6 - American Horror Story: Coven (Season 3 - FX)
7 - The Writer's Room (Season 2 - Sundance)
8 - The Americans (Season 2 - FX)
9 - The Colbert Report (Season 10 - Comedy Central)
10 - MasterChef Junior (Season 1 - FOX)

A few notes, as your compare this year's list to last's:

- I have yet to watch season 3 of The Americans, but the reviews have been quite favorable.

- The Writer's Room appears to have been cancelled or perpetually postponed, as I have heard nothing about it (which is quite a shame).

- True Detective did not air from June 2014 to May 2015 and does not qualify for this year's list.

So, now, check out my favorites from the 2014-2015 television season...

10. The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon

(Season 2 - NBC)

 

While some of the new car smell has worn off of Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show tenure, he still has so much going for him, and, as long as he keeps it up, I'll keep watching. I truly believe that no one has more fun at their job than Jimmy Fallon, and that fun-loving air permeates through the television every night. Kudos to Jimmy Fallon for being so likable.

9. The Celebrity Apprentice

(Season 14 - NBC)

 

Unfortunately, Donald Trump has decided that his ego is more valuable than my television entertainment, but, regardless, for 14 seasons, he and Mark Burnett kept me plenty entertained. There is very little space in my diet for reality shows, but The Apprentice has always been great, in my opinion, regardless of how C-list the celebrities may be.

8. American Horror Story: Freak Show

(Season 4 - FX)

 

Another season of AHS, another shift DOWN my Top Ten list... Most critics have been harsh on this season of AHS, and I can understand why. The story was all over the place, with very little purpose or emotion. But, nevertheless, there were a few great performances from Kathy Bates, Finn Wittrock, and Angela Bassett. Hopefully, AHS can turn things around, this season, with Hotel, but I am not sure that Gaga is going to be the savior.

7. The Newsroom

(Season 3 - HBO)

 

Most of my readers know of my love for Aaron Sorkin and, out of that love, stems my love for The Newsroom. While most critics never cared for the show, I have loved it from the first episode, and, if there had been a fourth, fifth, or sixth season, I would have loved it just the same. If Sorkin writes it, I'm intrigued. It really is that simple. The first three of the final six episodes were so good, and my hopes were quite high that Sorkin actually cared enough to write a great ending. But, everything quickly went to crap. Fortunately, it was still The Newsroom, and I still liked it.

6. The Colbert Report

(Season 11 - Comedy Central)

 

Thankfully, the Colbert drought is over, as Stephen's tenure on The Late Show has finally begun, but there is no doubt that the Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report will forever be missed. The final season offered a number of great moments, with Colbert just being Colbert, and that is exactly what we, the fans, wanted. Kudos to everyone who was ever involved with The Colbert Report!

5. How to Get Away with Murder

(Season 1 - ABC)

 

For the record, I never thought I would ever enjoy a Shonda Rhimes show, but How to Get Away with Murder really impressed me in its first season. Sure, the show is overdramatized and a bit slow, but there are a number of twists and turns. And, there are not nearly as many overly-emotional moments as with Grey's Anatomy (thank God!!!). Kudos to ABC and Shondaland for impressing me, this year!

4. Bloodline

(Season 1 - Netflix)

 

While there were a few shows that I enjoyed better than Bloodline, this year, there are none that I miss as much as Bloodline. I truly fell in love with the crazy Rayburn family and loved the drama that kept you on the edge of your seat, even with the outcome being declared in the premiere. That move alone was genius and quite engaging. I'm not sure that season 2 can really keep up, but, either way, I cannot wait!

3. The Big Bang Theory

(Season 8 - CBS)

 

For the second straight year, The Big Bang Theory lands at number 3 on my top ten list, which is quite an impressive feat for a show in its 8th season, in my opinion. I know that many folks are no longer as fond of the show, but the past two seasons of the Big Bang have seen great improvements over seasons 5 and 6, where the women took a lot away from the show. The continuing evolution of Sheldon Cooper, along with a truly emotional send off for Ms. Wolowitz sold me on season 8 of this classic show. Hopefully, everything will continue to trend up, during season 9.

2. Orange is the New Black

(Season 2 - Netflix)

 

Orange is the New Black took Netflix and all of television by storm, during the summer of 2013, and, thankfully, the show just kept on chugging in season 2. There are a number of television shows that are great, from a critical standpoint, but Orange is the New Black draws you in and provides you with all you need to connect emotionally to its flawed characters. While it didn't quite make number 1, this year, there is no doubt that Orange is the New Black continues to impress.

1. The Last Man on Earth

(Season 1 - FOX)

 

Networks have such a hard time producing appropriate content that keeps the interest of today's TV audience. But, this season, FOX was able to absolutely blow me away with the unique addition of The Last Man on Earth, a hilarious new show from Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street, The LEGO Movie). It is my guess that many of you have not seen The Last Man on Earth, but you should work hard to correct this issue. If you're looking for something original and hilarious, go check it out! The last true comedy that I fell in love with was New Girl, which also airs on FOX, but it has been a whole 4 years since that show premiered. And, of course, New Girl has struggled greatly in recent seasons. While there have been new comedies that I like (Silicon Valley, Girls, Trophy Wife, etc.), none have been THIS great. I can't wait for season 2. I don't even care that New Girl got bumped to mid-season! Go watch this show, people!


Well, there you have it, folks! Be sure to tune in to the Emmy's on Sunday night and see who the lucky winners are, this year.

Also, go watch each and every show that I've just listed. You won't be disappointed!

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!

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...