2009 was a weird year for television. While the dramas turned the volume up on the gravitas (I’m looking at you Breaking Bad and Mad Men), the comedies seemingly brought less and less of the funny (here’s hoping for next year The Office). Fox’s American Idol, once again, dominated the ratings chart (go Kris!) but reality television, as a whole, seemed to be wavering (although Survivor was back at the top of their game). We had another year where television movies and miniseries appeared to be nowhere (but let’s give one last shout out to Grey Gardens and the performances of those ladies). And to be honest, the most satisfying moment of 2009 probably came from the Academy Awards telecast (Sue me. I loved the acting presentations). Nevertheless, the year was filled with some delightful surprises (Modern Family! Glee!) and some things we didn’t even realize we wanted (The Seinfeld reunion! Julianna Margulies’ comeback!). Here now is a look at what one person considers the best television programs, as well as the best episodes that aired in 2009. –Big Ted
1. Mad Men
This is so not a lazy repeat vote here. Every year we are left wondering if Matthew Weiner and his writers will be able to step it up and (so far) every year, they leave us in disbelief. Not only was every other episode golden, the development of the characters is truly a joy to watch. Watching Betty Draper grow into a woman of her own means has been quite a thrill, while at the same time seeing the leaps and bounds January Jones has made to make it all seem so effortless should finally be rewarded. In addition, it is hard to argue that Jon Hamm has made this season undeniably his best season thus far. Where he went with his character of Don Draper is something that was not only satisfying for the loyal viewer, but also for the rest of the characters. Just watch the proud faces when Don delivers the news in the final episode of the season. All this and we finally got the Kennedy episode we have all been anticipating for the past three years.
2. Breaking Bad
There is a quiet simplicity to AMC’s other scripted drama. While Mad Men is more epic and cinematic in scope, Breaking Bad aims to please television viewers with what could have been a more formulaic show. Not only is the writing rich and layered (especially all those hints they gave us to the season two finale in every episode) but the performances from these actors is just tremendous. Emmy winner Bryan Cranston is hitting a creative peak that we only saw a sliver on his previous show, Malcolm in the Middle. Aaron Paul is also giving a career-best performance, and, as much as I hate to beat a dead horse, the episode “Peakaboo” is the prime example of that (and that he lost the Emmy with that still stings). What other series would have a drug-addled twentysomething show compassion for the life of a young toddler? The show has guts and is always willing to challenge viewers.
3. Modern Family
Why the face? ABC has found a quality comedy that would have been a worthy addition on any network. First let’s get the family straight. Jay (Ed O’Neill) has recently married Gloria (Sofía Vergara) and is the stepfather of her son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). From his previous marriage, Jay has a daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen) and a son, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Claire and her husband Phil (Ty Burrell) have three kids, Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould). Finally, Mitchell and his partner Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) just recently adopted Lily from Vietnam. Got that? What makes the show so great is not only the stellar writing from television veterans Steve Levitan (Just Shoot Me) and Christopher Lloyd (Frasier) but also the truly gifted ensemble. It’s so difficult to pick one person as the MVP of the bunch. In one episode it could be Vergara and Bowen, but in the next it’s Stonestreet and Burrell. They work so well together and what’s so amazing is that they can do it without their normal scene partners (think of the hilarity of Gloria having a girl talk with Alex or Claire and Manny bonding). Sure every episode ends with a nice little sentimental moment, but isn’t there always one when you’re with your family?
4. Big Love
Big Love was probably the most heartbreaking series this year. Let’s review what happened this year. Bill (Bill Paxton) marries a fourth wife, Ana (Branka Katic) who divorces him when she gets tired of being subordinate in the relationship. Kathy (Mirelles Enos) agrees to become Joey’s (Shawn Doyle) second wife, but is killed by Roman (Harry Dean Stanton) in a car collision. When Roman is acquitted at his trial, Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) pushes her father down a flight of stairs. She doesn’t kill him, but Roman is ultimately killed by Joey seeking revenge for Kathy’s death. To top it all off, Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) gets pregnant and suffers a miscarriage, while her mother Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) gets excommunicated from the Mormon Church. These people are more miserable than the cast of a Mike Leigh film. But what continues to be the lynchpin in the series is the hope that the characters have for a better future. Whether it is Bill’s casino business venture or Nicki saving her daughter from being married off at a young age, at the end of the day, Big Love is about redemption and how one (big) family struggles to find it.
5. Chuck
Season one was a lot of fun, but season two of Chuck took it to another level. Not only did it explore more of the mythology that was established in the first season. Creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak give generous opportunities for the actors to grow in their roles. Of course Zachary Levi has shown he’s fully capable of leading the series, but the entire cast is clearly at the top of their game as well. Adam Baldwin and Yvonne Strahovski have shown a softer side of their typical harder edged character, while Sarah Lancaster and Ryan McPartlin continue to be the heart of the show. Plus, for all the grief we usually give other series and networks for the lack of creativity in incorporating guest actors, it was very hard to argue with the crop assembled here. From Scott Bakula to Chevy Chase, from John Larroquette to…Nicole Ritchie (!), the guest actors on the show manage to work nicely without being a huge distraction. Throw in Tony Hale as the Buy More’s new bumbling associate and Jordana Brewster as Chuck’s old flame and you have the makings of a wonderful comedy/spy thriller.
6. 30 Rock
Okay, the show might have taken a slight dip in the quality between the third and fourth season, but we still have some gems here. Liz (Tina Fey)’s failed attempt at dating something within “the bubble” and then lame attempt at becoming a talk show host. Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) seeing the world as Muppets, Jenna (Jane Krakowski) Oscar-baiting as Janis Joplin/Jackie Jormp-Jormp, Jack (Alec Baldwin) finds his father and a former classmate, all the while, Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) is showing off the funcooker. And in the tradition of their hilarious one-liners, we got more this year, including, “Drama is like gay-man Gatorade. It replenishes their electrolytes.” The television landscape would be quite boring without them all, even if they need to cool it on the guest stars (and when you do sign some awesome ones, don’t waste them, like you did with Betty White).
7. Lost
Top 10 reasons why Lost was awesome this year.
10. The flash-forwards. Just when you thought the show was running out of steam with their high-minded concepts, they found a way to satisfy fans and bring in new viewers.
9. Charlotte (Rebecca Mader) dies. Not only did this catch us off guard, it also rattled Jeremy Davies’ Faraday…. and eventually led to his own death.
8. Sun and Frank Lapidus find the picture of the Dharma Initiative and see the other survivors.
7. “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham.” Terry O’Quinn is a rock star.
6. Fionnula Flanagan. Putting her creepiness to good use here (like she once did in 2001’s The Others), Flanagan was a wonderful addition as Faraday’s mother who wants to set everything straight before it’s too late.
5. The return to the Island. Jack, Kate, Sun, Hurley and Sayid all take Flight 316 yet again, this time with Ben in tow. The brief moments when they are not completely sure that this was a great idea reminds us that, yet again, this group continues to put their faith in Jack…no matter what.
4. Locke vs Jacob. How long have we been waiting for this? Mark Pellegrino was downright scary as Jacob and then Locke became even crazier than ever.
3. Sayid shoots (young) Ben. Because at this point, I know I was yelling at the television screen.
2. Juliet’s sacrifice. Pass the Kleenex.
1. The fact that the final season is breathing down our necks and we’re all still as excited for it now as we were six years ago.
8. Glee
This show should not be on this list. It has yet to find the right balance between the hilarious campy nature of the show and the dramatic moments created by its characters. In addition, some of the acting is a little too over-the-top and some of the singing is well, not good. That said the sheer audacity and joy combined makes the show unique. What makes the show so enjoyable is the underdog status of the glee club. We’re rooting for the kids to succeed and win sectionals. Plus, the show is making Jane Lynch a household name and what’s not to like about that? Likewise and not to sound too much like a criticism usually left for American Idol, song choice is key. From all the kids harmonizing “Don’t Stop Believin’” to guest star Kristin Chenoweth belting out “Maybe This Time,” the show’s bread and butter has consistently been the music. Whether it’s the mash-ups that the kids create (loved “It’s My Life/Confessions Part II”) or the adults getting into the fun (who knew Jayma Mays could sing “I Could Have Danced All Night”) if it wasn’t for the music, this show would just be another clunker from Ryan Murphy. Instead, we are all filled with, wait for it, glee.
9. Friday Night Lights
For some reason, being on DirecTV has been so good for Friday Night Lights. After a bit of a weak second season, the series bounced back in its third season (which aired in 2009 on NBC) and has continued to pull on our heartstrings with an even better fourth season. It was truly sad to see Jason Street (Scott Porter) and Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles) depart the show in the third season, but it has been devastating to say goodbye to Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford). This is the character that the audience has been rooting for since season one and after the one-two punch of “The Son” and “Stay” Gilford leaves the show with two remarkable performances that will surely be difficult to forget.
10. Parks and Recreation and True Blood
No sophomore slump here. In fact, after a rather sluggish season one, both NBC’s sitcom and HBO’s vampire drama rose to the occasion. With the former, you had the same trajectory as that of The Office. Just like that Greg Daniels led show, a very shaky first season, but an out-of-nowhere stellar second season that is held together by a likable lead and a hilarious ensemble cast. With the latter, it seemed as if this was going to be another of Alan Ball’s ridiculous claptraps…but with blood. Instead, the show fully embraced the camp nature of its concept. While the show’s main romance still leaves much to be desired, the addition of Michelle Forbes’ Maryann brought us a very real (and crazy) villain who fucked over the entire town (figuratively and literally).
–Big Ted