#7. The Goldbergs (ABC)
I’ll be the first to admit I rarely get to see this show live, but it’s PERFECT for those “wanting to be in a good mood while eating dinner” moments. Wendi McClendon-Covey is long overdue for an Emmy as “smother” Beverly Goldberg, and this year’s new ongoing storylines like Erica’s thing for the now-unavailable Geoff Schwartz and Adam’s rivalry with the “other” Adam Goldberg are just hilarious. (Do note the “other” Rob Thomas guested on iZombie without drama.) Still, if there’s any broadcast half-hour that I love the most, The Goldbergs would be it, and the nostalgia buttons that are often pushed by the 80’s references make the show even better.
#6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Probably the only show on my list that would get on the snobby high-brow “Best Of” lists that you’ll see a lot of this week, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story was such brilliant television that is made even more incredible by the notion that it’s based on a real story. It was the last day of my junior year of high school when the O.J. Simpson car chase happened, and I remember being glued to the TV, and this series explored aspects of the trial that I had no idea about. The People v. O.J. had some performances that really stood out, especially Sarah Paulson (as Marcia Clark) and Sterling K. Brown (as Christopher Darden) who awoke the “Clarden” shippers in all of us. Big credit also goes to others including Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, and David Schwimmer who turned in impressive performances. I wasn’t too big on Cuba Gooding Jr.’s O.J., maybe from the lack of resemblance, and I could have done without the Kardashian cutaways that stopped being funny rather quickly, but, damn, this was fantastic TV. It deserved all of the awards.
(I should also note that the other American Crime show, ABC’s series, was fantastic, but I was only able to see two episodes, which is why it’s not on this list. Doesn’t mean that it wasn’t excellent!)
#5. Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life (Netflix)
“Mom.” “Yeah?” “We’re back.”
Rory Gilmore may have become a massive mess-up in the years that passed since The WB/CW’s original Gilmore Girls, but I loved how easily that world could be revisited. Kelly Bishop’s Emily Gilmore, of course, stole all of the scenes, and I wish there was a show in some universe that could team her up with Arrested Development’s Lucille Bluth. There were parts of A Year In The Life that went on for too long, but the way I see it, we got a season’s worth of episodes in one four-movie package, and I’m highly grateful for that.
(I would have been more grateful if we had actual opening titles like the old series.)
Hopefully the spoiler police will forgive that I comment on the series’ ending. I have read the pros and cons of it all, but you know what? As much as I loved revisiting Stars Hollow, I don’t want to see any more, as I’m not sure that’s what the show’s creators intended. We’ll see what happens next, though.
1 Comment
Cannot disagree with your top 3. Legends should be in the top 10 though as well. Supergirl as #1 is tops and Tyler Hoechlin is a so much better Superman/Clark Kent than that effeminate Christopher Reeve and second rate doppleganger Brandon Routh (although I totally enjoy him as Ray Palmer/the Atom!).