VAGUE SPACE

2010-11 TV Season in Review Nominees

For this version of the annual Vague Space TV season review, I've decided to change the format a bit and make it similar to an Emmys or awards nominations process, with my panel of judges (the voices in my head) announcing the nominations first and the winners in a second post.  Mostly, this is so that I can get two columns out of this one bit.  But also because I found it really difficult to figure out which shows to include and which not to, particularly since many of my favorite programs appeared on the air last summer (True Blood, Weeds, Entourage) and haven't since.  I can't even remember what happened on True Blood (something about werewolves?) so it's really tough to rank it among all the shows in my annual list, particularly against shows with new episodes airing right now.  It's easier to just say True Blood is among the top 5 best dramas of the year and move on.  Of course, this opened up another can of worms, particularly how to categorize the Showtime shows that will dominate these year-end awards -- Nurse Jackie and United States of Tara and Shameless, for instance.  All are certainly more drama than comedy, but all are funny at times, and I know that Edie Falco won the Emmy for comedy actress last year so the Emmys consider it a comedy even if her character really doesn't do a whole lot that's remotely funny.  But as a default, I'm calling half-hour shows comedies and hour-longs drama and moving on.  It's not like anyone is still reading this introduction at this point anyway.  Without further ado, click through for the nominations for the 2010-11 TV Season in Review.

2009-10 TV Season in Review

I have to say that despite my lack of time this year to watch a whole lot of television -- or perhaps because I didn't have time to waste it on guilty pleasures that have populated my lists in years past (The Real World/ Road Rules Challenges, The Hills), this has been one of my favorite television seasons in recent memory.  I'm pleased with every single one of the shows in my top 10 and would recommend them to anyone, even as the season winds up in the coming weeks.  I had a hard time even keeping my list to a recommended 10 as there were a couple shows that had solid seasons (The Office, The Big Bang Theory, South Park, 30 Rock) that didn't quite make the list.  In fact, I also excluded HBO's The Pacific, a great 10-part miniseries on World War II, mostly because I've only made it through 3 or 4 episodes so far, but also because I didn't want to bump any of the following shows from the list.  The top 10 has comedies, dramas, reality shows, and several shows that seem an oddly wonderful combination of the three.  There are network shows, cable shows, and pay cable shows.  But mostly, it was just a great season for television.  Maybe it's good that I couldn't watch more of it.

Mac and Dennis Break Up

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia continued its roll of absolutely hilarious episodes this week after a slight misstep in last week's episode.  This show, which had taken a creative dive in season 3 and part of season 4, is back in full comedy force in its fifth season, and if you're not watching it, either you're missing the funniest thing on television right now, or you actually have some self respect.  Me?  I'm loving every episode.  This week featured a breakup of the Mac and Dennis "team" when Dee points out that they spend every waking moment together, which is a bit unhealthy for two guys in their thirties.  Mac doesn't really see what the problem is, but when Dennis spends an hour away from him picking out a movie to watch and then doesn't come back with Predator, as pre-agreed upon, a fight ensues and Mac leaves, breaking up the team.  Mac heads to Charlie's, where he's disgusted by Frank's way of cutting his toenails (with a steak knife), while Dennis goes to Dee's, who doesn't want to watch the movie with him, since her cat got stuck in the wall.

Dennis: She’s in a little bit of a mood because a cat got stuck in the wall.
Charlie: Cat in the wall, eh? Ok, now you’re talking my language. I know this game. Alright catch me up to speed here, what do we got?
Dee: Well, come on, you’re putting Cheeto fingers all over the wall.
Charlie: Alright, let’s focus Dee, what’s the point of entry here?
Dee: That’s the thing Charlie, I’ve been looking all around this goddamn place, I can’t find one.
Charlie: Alright, I’ve seen this before, you know what happened? I bet it flattened itself out, went right through a seam in your wall.
Dee: I don’t think there’s anything in the laws of nature that would support that.
Charlie: Cats do not abide by the laws of nature alright, you don’t know shit about cats!!

The Nightman Cometh

I went to a Halloween party this weekend dressed as Nightman, which was basically me in a black shirt and pants with some eye makeup... you know a normal day out.  Aaron dressed as the Troll, while Chris, in an inspired, if very brief appearance, dressed as the Dayman, full codpiece and all.  Chris only lasted about five minutes in the costume, experiencing too much pain in the groinal area to continue.  But anyone looking for a last-minute Halloween costume idea, believe me, we were the talk of the party, if only because everyone who never saw "The Nightman Cometh" episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (one of their best episodes ever) had no idea what we were supposed to be.   What I didn't realize is that the crew of the show took the "play" that they performed on a national tour this summer, performing the absolutely brilliant songs from the episode live in front of confused and delirious audiences.  You really have to regularly watch the show, which has been absolutely on top of its game this season -- some of its best episodes ever, and that's saying a lot -- to understand the warped humor and wonder of a character who creates a play largely about a boy getting raped, in order to woo a girl who can't stand him and hasn't for years.  Any show that ends with Danny DeVito, dressed as a Troll, saying "I think the rape scene went really well" is just warped enough to be a classic.  Of course, any song that includes the lines: "You're a master of karate, and friendship, for everyone!" is just destined to be a hit. 

If you don't watch the show, tune in Thursdays at 10 pm on FX.  Really,  seriously, it's the absolute funniest thing on television right now.  Last week, the Green Man (another brilliant Charlie Kelly character) fought the Phillie Phanatic as the gang tried to attend Game 5 of last year's World Series.  In previous weeks, Charlie admitted to a date that he's a "full-on rapist" (he meant to say philanthropist), they attempted a road trip and never made it out of Philly, and of course, they ruined the Waitress's life, again.  And they show repeats at 10:30, so if you happen to see "The Nightman Cometh" coming up, make sure you set your DVR.  It really doesn't get any better than this.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I've only written about this show once before, and it seems like no one I know has an interest in it, but this season's been absolutely hilarious (after a weak Season 3 followed a spectacularly funny Season 2) and there's still at least a couple weeks left with new episode, Thursdays at 10 pm on FX.  If you are into crude, degrading, politically incorrect and ultimately funny humor, take my advice and check out an episode or three.  It's like South Park with human actors and everyone has the same anti-social personality as Cartman.  Or it's like The Office if everyone had the whip-smart sarcastic humor as Jim but also were incredibly selfish and hated the world.  Or it's like Seinfeld in the final years, after the "no hugs, no growth" mantra was taken to incredibly self-involved extremes, but if it were still actually funny.  Just take this scene in a recent episode, in which Charlie (who has the IQ of Sarah Palin) and Dennis (who is more self-absorbed than Elmer Straw) discuss potential plans for the evening after Charlie comes to Dennis's apartment to see his roommate Mac and is not that interested in Dennis's plans.

Dennis:   Let's do something else.  Hey, a board game, man.  I got Chinese checkers.
Charlie:   (looking down) Well, that's kind of foreign.
Dennis:   (stares, dumbfounded)  I got Clue, we could solve a mystery together...
Charlie:   That's kind of complicated stuff there.
Dennis:   What about Connect Four?  Connect Four's a fun game.
Charlie:   That's a lot of counting.
Dennis:   (confused)  It's not that much counting.  It's just 1, 2, 3 and then 4 you win.
Charlie:   But a lot of times you gotta count that much.
Dennis:   Not that many times, if you count to four, you've won the game.

2007-08 Season in Review

An abbreviated disaster of a television season is receiving an abbreviated disaster of a blog post from me, due mostly to the fact that there was basically one good prime time show on television and a bunch of massive disappointments.  The writer's strike was obviously a factor and most of the returning shows -- really, all except one -- did not return to anything close to their previous heights.  The Office was probably the biggest disappointment for me.  After shooting from nowhere to my #1 favorite series in last year's season review, the show seemed to be decidedly less funny, with decidedly less memorable lines than last year.  It was still my #2 favorite show of the year, which kind of gives you an idea of how disappointing the season was overall.  But I guess it is what it is.  Read on to see the full list.  And believe me, a top 10 was a difficult number to reach.  Even with a 50" plasma screen television.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I was going to go into my annual Fall TV Preview in this space, but then I saw the list of recommended new network shows in the USA Today and realized there isn't a single one I'll probably watch.  I mean sure, I might sample one or two, TiVo a bunch of episodes that I won't actually watch for those that are critically acclaimed (Friday Night Lights) or build a huge immediate buzz (Heroes).  Heck, I might even find a show or two that I actually like, but it'll just get unceremoniously cancelled (Kidnapped) and I'll spend another year shedding shows that I no longer have the time or energy to get into.  And who needs to waste time previewing that?  Besides, with Lost and The Amazing Race on hiatus until January, the only returning network show that I actually plan on watching this fall is The Office.  So I can pretty much just do a preview of that in this space, or move on to a show that's starting this Thursday on FX that, along with The Office and the currently running pay cable favorites Weeds and Curb Your Enthusiasm, are the only programs I'm actually even remotely excited about watching for the next four months.  Which is kind of good because with school starting again and football starting and fall softball starting and my attempts to get published starting in earnest and this blog and everything else, I can't imagine having any time for television.  But there's always time for Sunny.  Click forward for the best comedy on television that you are not watching.