critics’ picks – top tv of 2015

americans

So there are more of these lists than one person could list, and there are a couple of great lists existing including HitFix critics’ tv poll and Metacritic’s Top Ten List. But for the sake of keeping on top of what’s the top here’s the list, maybe you’re missing a show or two worth considering. And of course stay tuned for my top ten list.

  • The 100 (CW) – MR
  • The Affair (Show) – BL
  • The Americans (Fx) – EN, JD, TV, AFI, TG, MZS, WP, AS, JP, MH, MR, TVL, JJ
  • Better Call Saul (AMC) – JD, AFI, BL, MM
  • Black-ish (ABC) – DF, AFI, CC, MZS, JP, MR, TVL
  • Bojack Horseman (Net) – EN, TV, DF, AH, MZS, MR, MM
  • Broad City (Com) – EN, MH
  • Catastrophe (Am) – EN, AH, CC, WP, MR, TVL, MM
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW) – EN, AH, BL, TVL, JJ
  • Documentary Now (IFC) – JJ
  • Empire (Fox) – AFI, CC, WP, TVL, MM
  • Fargo (Fx) – EN, JD, TV, DF, AFI, TG, BL, MZS, AS, MH, MR, TVL, JJ, MM
  • The Flash (CW) – BL
  • Fresh Off the Boat (ABC) – MR
  • Game of Thrones (HBO) – AFI
  • Getting On (HBO) – EN, TVL
  • Halt and Catch Fire (AMC) – TV, WP, JP
  • Hannibal (NBC) – EN, AH, MZS, MR, JJ
  • Homeland (Show) – AFI
  • How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) – TVL
  • Inside Amy Schumer (Com) – EN, MR
  • Jane the Virgin (CW) – EN, BL, CC, WP, MR
  • Jessica Jones (Net) – MZS, MR, TVL
  • The Jinx (HBO) – DF, BL, WP, JP, MH, MM
  • Justified (Fx) – DF, AS, MH
  • Key & Peele (Com) – EN
  • The Knick (Cin) – CC, MH
  • The Last Kingdom (BBCA) – BL
  • The Last Man on Earth (Fox) – CC, TVL
  • Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) – DF
  • The Leftovers (HBO) – EN, TV, DF, TG, AH, CC, MZS, AS, JP, MR, TVL, MM
  • Louie (Fx) – EN, TG, MH
  • Mad Men (AMC) – EN, JD, TV, DF, TG, AH, MZS, AS, MR, JJ
  • Making a Murder (Net) – BL
  • The Man in the High Castle (Am) – TVL
  • Manhattan (WGN) – TV
  • Master of None (Net) – EN, JD, AFI, CC, AS, JP, MR, TVL, JJ, MM
  • Masters of Sex (Show) – BL
  • Moone Boy (Hulu) – MH
  • Mr. Robot (USA) – EN, AFI, TG, BL, CC, WP, MR, TVL, JJ, MM
  • Narcos (Net) – JD, BL
  • Nathan for You (Com) – WP
  • Orange is the New Black (Net) – EN
  • Parks and Recreation (NBC) – AS
  • Penny Dreadful (Show) – CC, MH, TVL
  • Playing House (USA) – TVL
  • Rectify (Sund) – DF, TG, BL, CC, MZS, AS, JP, MR, JJ
  • Review (Com) – EN, DF, AS, JP
  • Rick & Morty (AdSw) – EN, AH
  • River (Net) – JD
  • Scandal (ABC) – EN
  • Show Me a Hero (HBO) – JD, TV, BL, MZS, MM
  • Silicon Valley (HBO) – MM
  • Supergirl (CBS) – BL
  • Transparent (Am) – EN, TG, AH, BL, CC, WP, AS, JP, MH, MR, TVL
  • Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Net) – EN, AH, JP, TVL, JJ
  • UnReal (Am) – EN, TV, AFI, TG, AH, BL, CC, WP, MR, TVL
  • Veep (HBO) – TG, TVL
  • Vikings (Hist) – BL
  • Wolf Hall (PBS) – MR
  • You’re the Worst (Fxx) – EN, TV, CC, MR

List of critics, note I took some liberties with a couple peeps who went crazy beyond ten:

AFI – American Film Istitute, CC – Critic’s Choice, JD – John Doyle for The Globe, DF – Daniel Fienberg for Hollywood Reporter, NG – Neil Genslinger for NYT, TG – Tim Goodman for Hollywood Reporter, AH – Alison Herman for Flavorwire, MH – Mike Hale for NYT, BL – Brian Lowry for Variety, EN – Emily Nussbaum for The New Yorker, JJ – Jeff Jensen for EW, MM -Melissa MAerz for EW, JP – James Poniewozik for NYT, TVL – TVLine’s Best Comedy and Dramas, WP – Willa Paskin for Slate, MR – Maureen Ryan for Variety, AS – Alan Sepinwall for Hitfix, MZS – Matt Zoller Seitz for Vulture, TV – Todd VanDerWerff for Vox

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/28-1/3

sherlock

Always looking forward to a new Sherlock and though I’ll catch new comedies Cooper and the animated Bordertown I don’t have a lot of hope.

  • Monday – Happy New Year, Charlie Brown, Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (ABC, 8/8:30pm)
  • Tuesday – Hollywood Game Night, Season Premiere (NBC, 8pm), Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9pm)
  • Wednesday – Mozart in the Jungle (Am, 3am)
  • Thursday – Dick Clark’s New Year’s (NBC, 8/10/11:30pm), Pitbull’s New Year’s (Fox, 8/11pm), A Toast to 2015/New Year’s Eve Game Night/Carson Daly (NBC, 8/10/11:30pm)
  • Friday – Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock (PBS, 9pm), American Restoration/The Smartest Guys in the Room, Season/Series Premieres (Hist, 9/10pm), Bring It!/The Rap Game, Season/Series Premieres (Life, 9/10pm), Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta, Season Premieres (TLC, 9pm), Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, Season Premiere (Food, 10pm)
  • Saturday – Sex Sent Me to the ER, Season Premiere (TLC, 10pm)
  • Sunday – Galavant, Season Premiere (ABC, 8pm), Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge, Season Premiere (CMT, 8pm), Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life/Bordertown, Series Premieres (Fox, 8:30/9:30pm), Downton Abbey, Season Premiere (PBS, 9pm), Finding Bigfoot, Season Premiere (AnPl, 9pm), Hoarders, Season Premiere (A&E, 9pm), Long Island Medium, Season Premiere (TLC, 9pm), Newlyweds/Watch What Happens: Live, Season Premieres (Brav, 9/10:30pm), Guy’s Grocery Games/Worst Cooks in America, Season Premiere (Food, 8/9pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/21-12/27

charlie-brown

‘Tis the season for repeats and holiday specials.

  • Tuesday – Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Fox, 8:30pm), The Year: 2015 (ABC, 9pm)
  • Wednesday – Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas/How Murray Saved Christmas/Adele Live/Michael Buble’s Christmas (NBC, 8/8:30/9/10pm), I Love Lucy Christmas Special (CBS, 8pm)
  • Thursday – TV’s Funniest Animated Stars (Fox, 8pm), A Charlie Brown Christmas/It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC, 7/8pm), Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (CW, 8pm)
  • Friday – The Andy Griffith Show Christmas Special (CBS, 8pm), CMA Country Christmas (ABC, 8pm), iHeartRadio Jingle Ball (CW, 8pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/14-12/20

luthorOther than a lot of holiday riff raff, won’t miss out on the ‘special’ singular 2+ hr ep of Luther. And some additional new Netflix with animated Family  and docu Murder, and a little more Syfy which I’m never sure is worth a watch but there is an occasional fun gem.

  • Monday – Childhood’s End/The Expanse, Mini/Series Premiere (Syfy, 8/10pm), Love & Hip Hop, Season Premiere (VH1, 8pm), Adele Live in NYC (NBC, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Toy Story that Time Forgot/Shrek the Halls/I Want a Dog for Christmas (ABC, 8/8:30/9pm)
  • Wednesday – Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (NBC, 8pm)
  • Thursday – American Country Countdown (Fox, 8pm), How Murray Saved Christmas/Kelly Clarkson’s Cautionary Music Tale (NBC, 8/9pm), Disney Prep & Landing/Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice (ABC, 8/8:30pm), iHeartRadio Jingle Ball (CW, 8pm), Luther, Season Premiere (BBCA, 9pm), Beat Bobby Flay, Season Premiere (Food, 10pm)
  • Friday – F is for Family, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Making a Murderer, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/A Home for the Holidays (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm), Yes, Virginia (ABC, 8:30pm), Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8pm), The Soup, Series Finale (E!, 10pm)
  • Saturday – Democrats Debate (ABC, 5pm)
  • Sunday – Miss Universe (Fox, 7pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 12/7-12/13

Transparent

Holiday season is keeping new shows light. I haven’t heard much good about the campy looking Telenovela and though all I hear are great things about Transparent I’m too cheap to dive in with Amazon Prime. Good thing I have a deep backlog.

  • Monday – TV’s Funniest Animated Stars (Fox, 8pm), The Great Christmas Light Fight, Season Premiere (ABC, 8pm), Telenovela, Series Premiere (NBC, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Kate Plus 8, Season Premiere (TLC, 9pm), Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (CBS, 10pm), Born This Way, Series Premiere (A&E, 10pm)
  • Wednesday – Taraji and Terrence’s White Hot Holidays (Fox, 9pm), Mat Franco’s Got Magic/The Illusionists (NBC, 8/10pm), The League, Series Finale (Fxx, 10pm)
  • Thursday – Michael Buble’s Christmas in Hollywood/Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (NBC, 8/9pm), Toy Story at 20/Toy Story (ABC, 8/9pm), Tamar & Vince, Season Premiere (WE, 9pm)
  • Friday – Transparent, Season Premiere (Am, 3am), Hollywood Christmas Parade (CW, 8pm)
  • Saturday – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer/The Flight Before Christmas (CBS, 8/9pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/30-12/6

Technical hiatus has an abbreviated posting this week. Some additional reality abounds but here are some highlights:

  • Monday – The Great Holiday Baking Show, Series Premiere (ABC, 10pm), Superstore, Series Premiere (NBC, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Real Rob, Series Premiere (Net, 3am)
  • Wednesday – Top Chef, Season Premiere (Brav, 10pm)
  • Friday – A Very Murray Christmas (Net, 3am)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/23-11/29

dogshowThe season to give thanks to the classics, and catch up on Netflix.

  • Tuesday – A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC, 8pm), Greatest Holiday Commercials Countdown (CW, 8pm)
  • Wednesday – The Making of the Wiz Live! (NBC, 8pm), Property Brothers at Home, Season Premiere (HGTV, 9pm), Christmas Through the Decades, Series Premiere (Hist, 10pm)
  • Thursday – Thanksgiving Parade/The National Dog Show (NBC, 9/12pm), The All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration (Fox, 8pm)
  • Friday – South of Hell, Series Premiere (WE, 6pm), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (ABC, 8pm), Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (CW, 8pm), Unforgettable, Season Premiere (A&E, 8pm), American Diner Revival, Season Premiere (Food, 9pm), American Restoration/Smartest Guy in the Room, Season/Series Premieres (Hist, 9/10pm)
  • Saturday – Frosty the Snowman/Frosty Returns/The Story of Santa Claus (CBS, 8/8:30/9pm), Master P’s Family Empire/Dr Feelgood, Series Premieres (Reelz, 8/10pm)
  • Sunday – Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Fox, 8pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/16-11/22

jessica-jonesIn the spirit of other Chicago series, expect a cross over, but otherwise it’s a week for alt television distribution with all worth checking Castle, Jessica, and More.

  • Tuesday – Chicago Med, Series Premiere (NBC, 9pm), Moonshiners, Season Premiere (Disc, 9pm)
  • Wednesday – Undeniable with Joe Buck, Series Premiere (Dir, 8pm)
  • Thursday – The Art of More, Series Premiere (Crackle, 3am)
  • Friday – The Man in the High Castle, Series Premiere (Am, 12am), Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Series Premiere (Net, 3am)
  • Saturday – Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s/Raising Whitley, Season Premieres (OWN, 9/10pm)
  • Sunday – American Music Awards (ABC, 8pm), Ax Men, Season Premiere (Hist, 9pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/9-11/15

royalsSurprisingly delightful campy show is back for another season, and I might check out Runway Juniors but kids may not be the missing ingredient.

  • Monday – Cake Wars, Season Premiere (Food, 9pm), Independent Lens, Season Premiere (PBS, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – The Curse of Oak Island/Hunting Hitler, Season Premiere (Hist, 9/10pm), Knife Fight/Uncorked, Season Premiere (Esq, 9/10pm), Secret Space Escapes, Series Premiere (Sci, 10pm), Donny!, Series Premiere (USA, 10:30pm)
  • Wednesday – Alaskan Bush People/Men Women Wild, Season/Series Premieres (Disc, 9/10pm)
  • Thursday – Project Runway Junior, Series Premiere (Life, 9pm), 2 Broke Girls, Season Premiere (CBS, 9:30pm)
  • Friday – John Mulaney/ w/Bob & David, Series Premiere (Net, 3am)
  • Sunday – Oprah’s Master Class, Season Premiere (OWN, 8pm), Keeping Up with the Kardashians/The Royals, Season Premiere (E!, 9/10pm), Into the Badlands, Series Premiere (AMC, 10pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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new and noteworthy tv: 11/2-11/8

masterofnoneReady to embrace another season of both Mom and Elementary and a new Netflix Aziz option, plus can’t resist a glance at the ridiculous looking spy show Agent X. And for those who get it Flesh and Bone should be worth a look.

  • Monday – Vanderpump Rules/Apres Ski, Season/Series Premieres (Brav, 9/10pm), Legends, Season Premiere (TNT, 10pm)
  • Tuesday – Christina Milian Turned Up, Season Premiere (E!, 10pm)
  • Wednesday – CMA Awards (ABC, 8pm), Coach Charming/Late Night Joy, Series Premieres (TLC, 10/11pm)
  • Thursday – The First 48/Nightwatch, Season Premiere (A&E, 9/10pm), Mom/Elementary, Season Premieres (CBS, 9/10pm), Selling It: In the ATL, Series Premiere (WE, 10pm)
  • Friday – Master of None, Series Premiere (Net, 3am), Masterchef: Junior, Season Premiere (Fox, 8pm)
  • Saturday – Survivorman, Season Premiere (Sci, 10pm)
  • Sunday – Behind the Story, Season Premiere (Sund, 10am), Flesh and Bone, Series Premiere (Starz, 8pm), Oprah’s Master Class, Season Premiere (OWN, 8pm), The Real Housewives of Atlanta/Untying the Knot, Season Premiere, Season Premieres (Brav, 8/10pm), Agent X, Series Premiere (TNT, 9pm), Getting On, Season Premiere (HBO, 10pm)

The procrastinator lists items that may not be on your regular season pass, though notation does not imply recommendation other than those underlined. Times noted are typically PST.

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