If you couldn't find something to watch on TV in 2014, then you really just weren't trying hard enough. This easily the deepest year in television programming in my memory, and this list could have easily been a top 50. With new entries from the likes of Amazon, Netflix and Comedy Central, 2014 was not only the deepest year of programming, but perhaps the most diverse as well. Without further ado...
15. The Affair (Showtime)
Showtime's drama about 2 married people having an affair with each other during one summer is so much more than that. By using a Rashoman style of story telling, we get to see just how funny and fragile a thing the human memory is. Be it outfits, order of events, oer even whole conversations, its quite amazing how two people can experience the same events but remember aspects about them completely differently. Complete with an absolutely fantastic cast led by Dominic West and Ruth Wilson, The Affair is a captivating and often fully engrossing experience.
14. Hannibal (NBC)
The fact that Hannibal is a thing that will now be occurring for 3 seasons on a broadcast network really astonishes me. It is so violent and at times so disturbing that i think it would be a hard sell on HBO or Showtime, let alone NBC. But whatever grace of god has given us Hannibal, hopefully it doesn't go away anytime soon. Hannibal is the most beautiful looking show on TV. It may sound morbid to say that about a show where violent murders and cannibalism happen on the regular, but the cinematography of this show is a cut above any other show. The storytelling was spot on in season 2, whether dealing with Will Graham in jail, or dealing with the titular doctors murderous tendencies.
13. Louie (FX)
Louis CK took a year off from making episodes in 2013, partly to avoid getting burned out and apparently partly to reinvent himself. Louie was never a traditional sitcom, opting to forgo continuity to build episodes and vignettes as mini-movies. Such episodes were still present in season 4 ( So Did The Fat Lady and Back/Model are 2 very good episodes) but they were the exception. Louie gave us a 6 part story of romancing a foreigner, a 3 part story of his relationship with Pamela and a 90 minute episode that CK was barely in. A lot of it worked really well, and while I may not have enjoyed this season as much as the first 3, I will always appreciate a show taking risks, and I will always appreciate having Louie on the air.
12. Broad City (Comedy Central)
If it feels like the 2 actresses at the center of Broad City have the chemistry of people who have worked together forever, it's because they really have. Co-creators Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson had two years to let their street smart, quirky comedic timing and chemistry grow. Whats so refreshing about Broad City is that it doesn't try to be something bigger than what it is, 2 slacker friends living their lives and owning everything they do. The fact that it makes you crack up every 2 minutes only helps you realize that you are watching what could become the female comedic voices of our future.
11. Brooklyn 99 (FOX)
In it's 2nd half of season one and the 1st half of season 2, Brooklyn 99 was able to grab the throne of the most purely funny show on network TV. It's no surprise that a show coming from Parks and Recreation veteran Mike Schur was really able to find itself after a rocky start with a very solid cast. Andre Braugher should be nominated for every supporting actor award that exists for his deadpan portrayal of Captain Holt. All the supporting players are fantastic. The show also gets major props for finally finding a successful way to utilize the always hilarious Joe Lo Truglio. Even Andy Samberg, who might have been the weakest part of the show when it first began, has turned into a very solid lead. With Parks and Recreation signing off this year, here's hoping that B99 has a nice lengthy run in its place.
10. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
I covered this show extensively a few weeks ago HERE
9. Sons Of Anarchy (FX)
This was the most fluid show in my rankings. At one point I had it at number 7. At another point in the season I had it at 15. I ultimately settled it here at number 9 because of a surprisingly subtle (for Kurt Sutter standards) and weirdly beautiful finale. The Final Ride, as the last season of Sons of Anarchy was called, had its bumps but in the end I didn't care. I loved every bloated episode for one reason or another. Sure, many characters were passed redemption, including Jax who was always the audiences entry point into this world, but that was kind of the point. Jax was beyond redemption so instead of even trying to redeem himself, why not go out in a blaze, and at the same time, try to help everyone else we've grown to love along the way. Bonus points for one of the most touching scenes of love declaration between Tig and his transgendered girlfriend.
8. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Parks and Recreation has been so good for so long, that I think its at a point where many people take it for granted, myself included. This is the lowest that Parks and Rec has even been on my year end list, but it by no means had a bad season. Things were put into motion for the upcoming final season, but the penultimate season provided a lot of closure as well. The episodes leading up to the departure of Rashida Jones and Rob Lowe, as long as the episodes immediately after, were truly fantastic displays of mixing comedy with heart and emotion. As Parks is apt to do, it absolutely nailed the finale, one that involved a time jump rarely seen on network sitcoms. This group of government employees have become a family to everyone that has watched them over the years, and this last season is going to be one hell of an emotional roller coaster.
7. Transparent (Amazon)
Finally a solid depiction of a Jewish family! Sure MOST Jewish families are not dealing with a father figure who is transgendered, but above all else, Transparent is about family and the influences parents have on their children's behavior. The series is superbly acted and marks a big step forward for Amazon in the scripted programming department. Often times this show could be laugh out loud funny, only to be completely heartbreaking just minutes later. Melora Hardin is fantastic and almost unrecognizable as Tammy. The show also managed to do something in it's flashback episode that few shows do successfully, and that's cast young actors for flashbacks that can actually act and bring a whole new layer to the story. Bravo, Amazon, I can't wait to see what else you have for us.
6. You're The Worst (FXX)
Its Harry Met Sally for the millennial generation! While that may not be entirely true, You're The Worst came out with guns blazing and turned into a hilarious show that really had much more heart than it had any right to. There is no stereotypical romantic tension to have to bear through here. The leads have one of the most graphic sex scenes on non premium cable within the first 5 minutes of the show. After that, we just get the funny story of how two non-perfect people can have a non-perfect relationship, which for them, IS perfect. Desmin Borges almost steals the show as a PTSD stricken war vet who goes through a ring of emotions throughout the season. This show came out of nowhere and quickly turned into a comedic powerhouse, hopefully a sign of more things to come from the comedic offshoot of FX.
5. Silicon Valley (HBO)
The man behind Office Space gives you.... Office Space in the tech world. Beyond that, Silicon Valley is also the best cast TV comedy of 2014. The ensemble of nerds and tech geniuses is a powerhouse, punctuated by perhaps the best supporting comedic performance of the year by Christopher Evan Welch (who sadly passed away as the shows season was coming to an end). Part satire about the douchiness of the tech industry and part scary truth about the douchiness of the tech industry, Silicon Valley is smart and sophomoric at the same time. Kudos for to the writing staff for including a 10 minute dick joke that actually makes you laugh for the entire 10 minutes.
4. Mad Men (AMC)
If Mad Men were given the chance to air its final season in its entirity, I am farily certain it would have been number one this list. AMC, surely realizing their lack of quality upcoming programming, decided to split the final 14 episodes into two 7 episode mini seasons. While something more action or intensity based like Breaking Bad may be able to pull that off, Mad Men is all about story telling and the slow burn, which makes seven episodes more difficult. Alas, Matt Weiner and company were still able to pull off a handful of good episodes, with the last 2 before the hiatus being 2 of the series all time best . We saw Peggy come full circle in her journey to become the female Don Draper, giving her own version of "the carousel". We saw Don basically hit rock bottom, rally back professionally, only to once again suffer a setback in his personal life. We saw the return of kick ass Roger Sterling. And yes, we saw the last of Bertram Cooper, who upon leaving the show and this world reminded us that indeed, the best things in life are free.
3. Orange Is The New Black (Netflix)
The Netflix prison dramedy came back for season two with much more anticipation than people had for season 1. The thought of season 2 being a letdown was a very real possibility given the praise heaped on the show after season 1. With that in mind, its quite amazing that season 2 not only matched season 1 in terms of quality, it surpassed it. The show uses all parts of its ensemble so freaking well. The writers took Morello, nothing more than a funny accent in season 1, and used her to give us one the most heartbreaking stories told anywhere this year. And who would have thought the biggest moment of the season, would go to Miss Rosa, who was barely an afterthought going into this season. The show was forced to scale back on Piper stories, and the show and the character were better for it. Honestly, any person in this cast is deserving of awards recognition, but it is such a joy to see Uzo Aduba getting all sorts of recognition for her often funny, often tear inspiring performance as Crazy Eyes.
2. Review (Comedy Central)
Comedy Central's wildly successful year is topped off by a show that sat on their shelves for almost 2 years because they didn't see the appeal in it. Andy Daly has been "that guy" in so many things throughout the years, but i knew him best from various podcast appearances. I knew the man was wildly funny, but i was not prepared for the crazy experiment that was Review. Daly plays Forrest MacNeil, a TV host who reviews life experiences such as being a racist and having a best friend. Its the characters dedication to the TV show that really brings the comedy to a new level. The show takes such dark turns that you would never think could work in a comedy, but they are so wildly uncomfortable and hilarious that you just can't turn away. I cant really say more without ruining many of the jokes. Comedy Central's Review: 5 stars.
1. Fargo (FX)
I still to this day say that the idea of a Fargo TV show on paper was a horrible idea. The Cohen brothers might have the most distinctive voice in Hollywood and to put perhaps their best story in the hands of someone else, had disaster written all over it. Noah Hawley (along with approval from the Cohen's) proved me so wrong. Fargo was compelling, thrilling, smart, funny, you name it. Every performance in this beautiful show was top notch, from veterans like Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thorton, to an absolutely perfect new comer like Allison Tolman. The story that Fargo told was gripping for every step along the way, and Hawley was able to capture enough of the Cohen's voice, while at the same time adding his own flavor to the story. This show would have been fine as a one and done mini series, but Fargo will return for a season 2, telling a different story than the one we saw in season one. The only thing MORE difficult than turning Fargo into a great TV show, is doing a second season that could possibly live up to the first. I for one, am wildly excited to see Noah Hawley answer the challenge of topping what was the best TV show of 2014
