Top 10 Shows of 2017

To kiss off 2017, here were the top ten shows I enjoyed the most. I thought this year was a slight comedown in terms of quality, at least compared to recent years, but that's because some of my favorite shows produced some "down" seasons. Still, this is what came out on top:

1. THE VIETNAM WAR

A grueling, engrossing 18-hour experience that documents the war, the times, the fighters on both sides, the government, the citizens, everything you'd ever need to know about this defining era in American history. Like the best documentaries, what it masterfully provides is context for what happened then so you can read into what's still happening now. A can't miss.

2. CASUAL SEASON 3

I'm one of about three people who actually watches this show, which is too bad, because many are really missing out. Sadly, that's why the fourth season will be its last, but Hulu's family dramedy is really something special and will be missed. This last season was its best yet, as the cast keeps on shining and the show continues the reveal the depths of the sibling relationship at its center by exploring Alex and Valerie's past. Funny, real, filled with pathos and heart, but not sentimentality. I love it.

3. FARGO SEASON 3

Amazingly, Noah Hawley wrote another quality season of Fargo without repeating himself. This one gave us another female cop heroine (Carrie Coon), a dual performance by Ewan MacGregor and a deliciously repulsive villain in David Thewlis. It packed a particularly powerful punch in a finale that took aim at the heart of 2017, asking us about who "wins" versus who deserves to, or whether anything truly matters at all.

4. AMERICAN HORROR STORY: CULT

Yup. I never watched any other season of this show, but this one gave me the murderous catharsis that I was looking for this year. Evan Peters kills it as an insane alt-right cult leader (and impersonates several famous ones in history) while Sarah Paulsen gives us the vengeance we deserve. If only.

5. THE CROWN SEASON 2

A glorious second season is in lockstep with the quality of the first, enhancing our intimate knowledge of the royal family as the 1960's roll onward. With deepening looks at Philip and Margaret's shenanigans, it's Claire Foy who stays majestic as the stoic Elizabeth, doing more with subtle looks and unemotional rigidness than most actors can do when given tantrums and hysterics to work with. It's going to be hard to get used to a new Queen when the show recasts for its third season.

6. BROADCHURCH SEASON 3

I loved this show's first season and hated the second one, so it was SO nice to see it reclaim its former glory with a story centered on a serial rapist terrorizing the town, with Hardy and Miller on the case. A much better note for the show to go out on. 

7. FEUD SEASON 1

For Old Hollywood junkies like me, this was like candy. Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon relish playing Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, respectively, but Joan's story gets the most poignancy in the end, as the show manages to garner some sympathy for her tragic life. Filled with trivia and great performances from Stanley Tucci and Alfred Molina, its commentary on the lasting effects of how women are treated in Hollywood resonates even more as we go through what's happening today.

8. CATASTROPHE SEASON 3

A darker, more serious tone for this show is still entertaining and packs a punch, especially since death and alcoholism are some of the themes Sharon and Rob have to deal with, now that they have two little kids and financial problems. It's still hilariously funny of course.

9. LEGION SEASON 1

Probably the most innovative new show of the year, also from Noah Hawley, and unlike any other superhero show on TV, even though it's dealing with a character who's technically part of the X-Men. It's almost pointless to explain it- you just have to be willing to submit to all eight episodes and experience it yourself. Headtrip doesn't begin to describe this.

10. GLOW SEASON 1

A lovely surprise this summer, as this delightful ensemble looks at the origins of women's wrestling on TV in the 1980's. Funny, fresh and smartly cast, especially leads Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin as frenemies Ruth and Debbie, while Marc Maron brings exactly the right amount of crabby cynicism to the proceedings. Kinda reminds of a series version of A League of Their Own.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Big Little Lies, Stranger Things 2, Orphan Black S5, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt S3, Underground S2, Planet Earth II

'Underground' Season 2 Starts March 8th

One of the best new shows of last year was WGN's Underground, which returns for its second season in just a couple of weeks. This year they cast Aisha Hinds to star as Harriet Tubman and I cannot wait. Looks amazing.

'Stranger Things' and 'Orange is the New Black' Take Top SAG TV Prizes

On the TV side of things, there were some repeat winners (William H. Macy, OiTNB) and great speeches from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Harbour, and new winners in John Lithgow and Claire Foy from The Crown. The speeches from the TV actors were no less fiery and defiant than the ones on the movie side, which I have to say, makes these shows a LOT more entertaining. I hope it keeps up.

• COMEDY ENSEMBLE: Orange is the New Black
• COMEDY ACTOR: William H. Macy, Shameless
• COMEDY ACTRESS: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• DRAMA ENSEMBLE: Stranger Things
• DRAMA ACTOR: John Lithgow, The Crown
• DRAMA ACTRESS: Claire Foy, The Crown
• ACTOR IN A TV MOVIE/MINISERIES: Bryan Cranston, All the Way
• ACTRESS IN A TV MOVIE/MINISERIES: Sarah Paulson, The People vs. OJ Simpson

Here's the awesome speech from David Harbour after winning with the Stranger Things cast (and the bizarre, evolving facial expressions from Winona Ryder next to him, which made for a thousand gifs):

Mary Tyler Moore 1936-2017

It's hard to overstate what Mary Tyler Moore meant to television. One of the biggest icons in the history of the medium, and especially for women on TV, she became famous after being cast as Laura Petrie, the wife of Rob Petrie on Carl Reiner's legendary 1960's sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66). She and Van Dyke were the epitome of the happy married couple on a show that was groundbreaking in the Kennedy era, and she won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy, but after that, she formed a production company with her husband Grant Tinker, and went on to star in The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-77). As Mary Richards, successful single working woman, she changed the face of how women could be seen not just on television, but culturally as well.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was emblematic of a changing society in the 1970's, but amazingly, it still holds up today, mostly because it was so damn funny. One of the great ensemble casts of all time that saw nearly every single actor win at least one Emmy during its run, it led to many spinoffs, including Rhoda, Phyllis, and Lou Grant. MTM Productions was responsible for not only the spinoffs, but also such television staples as The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, Remington Steele and Newhart. The impact of the show (for which Moore won three Emmys as Lead Actress) would leave Moore forever seen as that character, but she went on to act in films, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for 1980's Ordinary People, a role that turned her cheery, sunny image on its head as a cold, distant mother. She was also an activist for various causes, including animals rights and juvenile diabetes, which she was diagnosed with in her early 30's. She won the SAG lifetime achievement award in 2011 and died yesterday from cardiopulmonary arrest due to pneumonia. Her legacy lives on, as one of the most influential comediennes in television history, up there with Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

The Dick Van Dyke Show was often times a flat out musical comedy, and the chemistry between Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke is what made Rob and Laura such an appealing couple:

Since they have the whole thing on youtube, I'm just posting the full episode of the classic MTM from Season 6- "Chuckles Bites the Dust":

'The Crown,' 'Atlanta' Win Top TV Honors at the Golden Globes, Jimmy Fallon Bombs as Host

I actually did better on my predictions this year than last, going 8 for 11 in the TV categories. I should have trusted my instincts on The Night Manager a little more, which the Globes loved so much they gave it all three acting wins, despite feeling obligated to go for OJ in Best Limited Series. But the new prevailed overall with the rest. I should mention here how host Jimmy Fallon fared on the actual ceremonial duties, and that was pretty pitifully. He tried to go slightly edgier (for him) in the opening monologue with some Trump jokes, but coming from the guy who helped normalize the racist, sexually assaulting monster on national television, it's a little too late for that shit, buddy. I will not forget or forgive. Aside from that he bombed most of his bits and then all but completely disappeared in the second half, so even though the ratings were higher this year, who knows if he'll be back to host these again. Good riddance. The funniest bit of the night came from Kristen Wiig and Steve Carell presenting Animated Feature with ironically tragic recollections of their first time seeing animated movies as kids. Get them to host next time.

• Best Comedy Series: Atlanta
• Best Actress in a Comedy: Tracee Ellis-Ross, Black-ish
• Best Actor in a Comedy: Donald Glover, Atlanta
• Best Drama Series: The Crown
• Best Actor in a Drama: Billy Bob Thornton, Goliath
• Best Actress in a Drama: Claire Foy, The Crown
• Best Limited Series/TV Movie: The People vs. OJ Simpson
• Best Actor in a Limited Series/TV Movie: Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
• Best Actress in a Limited Series/TV Movie: Sarah Paulson, The People vs. OJ Simpson
• Best Supporting Actor: Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
• Best Supporting Actress: Olivia Colman, The Night Manager

Traces Ellis-Ross's beautiful acceptance speech about inclusion:

Golden Globes TV Predictions

On the TV side of things, the HFPA pretty much just goes for what they like, which is usually the new, shiny nominee with the most recent buzz. In most categories anyway. Let's have at, shall we?

BEST DRAMA SERIES

• The Crown
• Game of Thrones
• Stranger Things
• This is Us
• Westworld

This may be trickier than it looks to predict, because we've got four hot new shows here. Hmm. So which one does the HFPA love the most? I'm thinking The Crown. Prestige period drama about the royal family? Yeah, that's Globe catnip if ever there was any.

Winner: The Crown

Alt: This is Us

Dark Horse: Westworld

BEST COMEDY/MUSICAL SERIES

• Atlanta
• Black-ish
• Mozart in the Jungle
• Transparent
• Veep

They really love this Mozart in the Jungle show, but do they go for it yet again? Seems like too much for them. But what wins instead? To be honest, none of these other shows feel like their type. Is it Veep, after five seasons? New kid on the block, Atlanta? I'm stumped on this one.

Winner: Atlanta

Alt: Mozart in the Jungle

Dark Horse: Veep

BEST DRAMA ACTOR

• Rami Malek, Mr. Robot
• Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
• Matthew Rhys, The Americans
• Liev Schreiber, Ray Donovan
• BIll Bob Thornton, Goliath

I thought for sure Rami Malek would win this last year and he didn't, so maybe they catch up with him this time, after his Emmy win. Otherwise, I think Matthew Rhys may have a shot. None of these actors' shows got nominated in drama series, so it's kind of a free for all.

Winner: Rami Malek

Alt: Matthew Rhys

BEST DRAMA ACTRESS

• Caitriona Balfe, Outlander
• Claire Foy, The Crown
• Keri Russell, The Americans
• Winona Ryder, Stranger Things
• Evan Rachel Wood, Westworld

I think Foy should take this one, as the young Queen Elizabeth. The HFPA almost always chooses a first time nominee from a hot new show here, but Winona Ryder is tempting, as a veteran star in a comeback role.

Winner: Claire Foy

Alt: Winona Ryder

Dark Horse: Caitriona Balfe

BEST ACTOR COMEDY/MUSICAL

• Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
• Gael Garcia Bernal, Mozart in the Jungle
• Donald Glover, Atlanta
• Nick Nolte, Graves
• Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

I'm saying Donald Glover for this, following the hot newcomer trend. 

Winner: Donald Glover

Alt: Gael Garcia Bernal

BEST ACTRESS COMEDY/MUSICAL

• Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
• Sarah Jessica Parker, Divorce
• Issa Rae, Insecure
• Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
• Tracee Ellis-Ross, Black-ish

Yikes. With two previous first time winners here, I'm not sure if they'll repeat or go for someone new. They've never gone for Julia Louis-Dreyfus, despite her epic awards run for Veep- could the Globe finally be hers? Or maybe Tracee Ellis-Ross is the new winner? I could honestly see any one of either Bloom, Louis-Dreyfus, Rodriguez or Ellis-Ross winning.

Winner: Tracee Ellis-Ross

Alt: Rachel Bloom

Dark Horse: Julia Louis-Dreyfus

BEST LIMITED SERIES

• American Crime
• The Dresser
• The Night Manager
• The Night Of
• The People vs. OJ Simpson

I'm guessing People v. OJ, although to be honest, I'm not sure if the HFPA's tastes align with that show. If not for all the hype, I'd be tempted to go with something like The Night Manager. But it was a little too much of a cultural, zeitgeisty thing to be ignored by them.

Winner: The People vs. OJ Simpson

Alt: The Night Manager

BEST ACTOR- LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

• Riz Ahmed, The Night Of
• Bryan Cranston, All the Way
• Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager
• John Turturro, The Night Of
• Courtney B. Vance, The People vs. OJ Simpson

I should maybe go for OJ in all these categories, same as the Emmys did. But I'm less certain about it, knowing this voting group. I'm saying Tom Hiddleston.

Winner: Tom Hiddleston

Alt: Courtney B. Vance

BEST ACTRESS- LIMITED SERIES/TV MOVIE

• Felicity Huffman, American Crime
• Riley Keough, The Girlfriend Experience
• Sarah Paulson, The People vs. OJ Simpson
• Charlotte Rampling, London Spy
• Kerry Washington, Confirmation

Paulson it is, with less competition here, seeing as how these other shows don't have as much Globes attention.

Winner: Sarah Paulson

Alt: Kerry Washington

Dark Horse: Riley Keough (don't ask me why- I just have a feeling the HFPA knows this is Elvis Presley's granddaughter)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Sterling K. Brown, The People vs. OJ Simpson
• Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager
• John Lithgow, The Crown
• Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
• John Travolta, The People vs. OJ Simpson

Okay, I'm deviating from OJ here. I'm gonna go with John Lithgow, who was extremely good and a total scene-stealer as Winston Churchill. Again, it feel like Globes catnip.

Winner: John Lithgow

Alt: John Travolta (they would like this performance)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Olivia Colman, The Night Manager
• Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
• Chrissy Metz, This is Us
• Mandy Moore, This is Us
• Thandie Newyon, Westworld

I'm at a disadvantage here, having not seen any of This is Us or Westworld. I don't even know if those shows are up Golden Globe alley or not. It'd be nice to see Lena Headey win something for Game of Thrones someday, but the Globes do like the new. I'm thinking Thandie Newton. On the other hand, there is precedent for the Globes using this category to catch up with someone who's overdue, and Headey would be the most obvious beneficiary of that. Hmm.

Winner: Lena Headey

Alt: Thandie Newton

Dark Horse: Mandy Moore

PGA Nominations for Television Honor 'Black Mirror,' 'Westworld,' 'Stranger Things'

The producers guild nominations for TV picked some cool, new stuff and of course some of the same old, same old (when are these guys finally going to let go of House of Cards? It's over, man). On another note, I wonder if Stranger Things can actually win any of these many awards it's being nominated for by the industry.

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television:
· Black Mirror (Season 3- above)
· The Night Manager (Season 1)
· The Night Of
· The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (Season 1)
· Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
· Better Call Saul (Season 2)
· Game of Thrones (Season 6)
· House of Cards (Season 4)
· Stranger Things (Season 1)
· Westworld (Season 1)

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy:
· Atlanta (Season 1)
· black-ish (Season 2)
· Modern Family (Season 7)
· Silicon Valley (Season 3)
· Veep (Season 5)

The CW Reinvents the Archie Characters with New 'Riverdale' Show

I've been in need of a trashy new teen drama for while now, ever since Gossip Girl ended. I've always gotta have a good guilty pleasure. Before that it was The O.C., before that the classics of the WB like Dawson's Creek and Felicity (Buffy doesn't count as a guilty pleasure, that was high art which I will defend as such until the end). So I've been waiting for one for some time- could this finally be it? Produced by the superhero maestro Greg Berlanti (although he was formerly the creator of Everwood), this reinvention of the classic Archies comics is supposedly Gossip Girl meets Twin Peaks, but early word from TV critics is that the first four episodes are deliciously addictive. I'm in. But how funny is it to see the original 90210's Luke Perry as the dad in a teen soap?? Riverdale starts January 26th.

Sherlock's Secret Comes Out in New Promo for Season 4

They've been teasing the end of Sherlock for a while now, so I think we should all prepare ourselves for this to be the last season. The first of the final three episodes will air on New Year's Day everyone, so mark your calendars! 

Quinn Returns in New Trailer for 'Homeland' Season 6

It's ridiculous for Quinn to still be alive frankly, but I'm with Homeland til the bitter end at this point. Even if they did jump the gun with their optimism in predicting a female president (and this is not an optimistic show, which makes it even more bittersweet). But really, Quinn can't possibly be mobile this season. And his entire role on the show was as the action hero Jack Bauer type, so what are they going to do with him? I know they didn't want to get rid of Rupert Friend, but I can't imagine the use of a debilitated Quinn, can you?