Today, instead of dealing with just the new shows, the Top 5 list is Best Television Shows of 2011. Just like yesterday, this list consists of only the shows I was able to watch, so nothing from HBO or Showtime or Starz was considered. And once again, if anyone wants to get me screeners for the premium cable shows I would gladly incorporate them into my lists. But until then here is the Top 5 non-premium cable Television Shows of 2011...
5) New Girl
I talked about this one yesterday in my Top 5 New Show of 2011 list. I started watching this show because of Zooey Deschanel, but have continued to watch because of the great ensemble cast. After a brief creative lull this show has proved to be a consistently hilarious show with a full cast of actors with solid comedic chops and wonderful writers.
4) Louie
This show has only gotten stronger in it's second season. At times it was more dramatic then it was funny, but what really stands out is the high creative quality of each episode. Louis C.K. is an extremely talented man and this show is proof of that, as he has complete creative control from writing to casting to filming to directing to editing. The humor is certainly off beat and raw and the drama is sometimes uncomfortable, but all that is a staple to C.K.'s style. If you aren't watching this show, it's certainly worth giving a shot.
3) The Walking Dead
I know this show takes a lot of hits from critics. People complain that it's too slow or too over the top or poorly acted, but I just don't share those views. I think it's wonderfully paced, the mix between zombie attacks and personal drama is spot on. The show is trying to break from the typical zombie fare by focusing on the human struggles of how to continue society and that requires things to slow down at times. The writers have found a good balance of keeping the horror and zombie threats high while still giving the characters time to deal with personal issues and dilemmas. It's far from a perfect show and it's had a few missteps but I can't help but think of it as appointment TV and one of the best programs of 2011.
2) Community
Just as I put a cancelled show on my best new show list, here is a show in danger of not making it to 2012 on my best show list. In spite of being put on an undetermined hiatus and having pretty horrible ratings, Community is by far the best comedy on TV right now. The risks the writers make to break sitcom convention and satire pop culture seem to always pay off with huge laughs. The show feels both smart and funny and the cast is by far the greatest ensemble on TV. My fingers are crossed that it's given another chance and that people start tuning in because I haven't gotten my fill of this one yet.
1) Friday Night Lights
I have been in love with this show for years and this, it's final season, was probably it's best. Great writing and great acting made this show one of the best dramas ever on broadcast television. The fact the writers were able to write off all the characters we loved the first few seasons and then get us to fall in love with a whole new team is a great accomplishment in itself. Coach Taylor and his wife were easily the best marriage ever depicted, even if their daughter was a spoiled brat. Even though my eyes weren't quite clear those last few episodes (it was a little dusty in my room), my heart was certainly left full and we all know that means this show couldn't lose.
Honorable Mentions : Breaking Bad, Subergatory, How The States Got Their Shapes, Beavis and Butthead
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