Dean's Fall Cable + Streaming TV Preview

Welcome back to another series of Fall TV thoughts--now in its fourteenth year.

It feels like things are off to a very, very late start this year . . . and that feeling is almost certainly 100 % correct. But--well--I can't do anything about that because all of the Time Turners were destroyed in the Department of Mysteries back in 1996.

So, we just have to move on the best we can. And the best way to begin to stop the grieving process is to rely on my friend and reliable guest blogger Dean. He has put in the work and has kindly provided me with the start of this season's Fall TV Previews, focusing on Cable and Steaming shows. Please ignore the fact that almost all of this has already begun and the word Preview is being used as a sort of brand convention rather than as an actual descriptor of timeliness. --David

There’s a lot of TV so here’s the deal.

I’m not listing most of the streaming shows because there are a billion of them and streaming shows are ultimately pretty disposable because everyone watches them at a different pace and it’s impossible to talk about them with other people.

I also won’t mention late night shows because, my God people, how many of these shows can you people watch? *Stares seriously at camera* Trump is bad. *Everyone cheers*

Also . . . reality shows won’t be listed here, as they are not my particular cup of tea. Finally, most of these have already started airing so this is too late to be useful to you. Sorry. [Don't worry Dean, I've already apologized for you.--DTM]

Venture Brothers Adult Swim (Currently Airing) As we all remember, last season on the Venture Brothers…uh…Brock Sampson…uh does something. OK--wait . . . the Monarch and Doctor…Girlfriend? No, wait, Mrs. Doctor Girlfriend? Mrs. Doctor Wife? Crap! I have no idea what happened. It was so long ago. This show is never on, but now it’s back! One of the characters is named Dean which is great!

Better Call Saul AMC (Currently Airing) When Jimmy finally goes full Saul it will break my heart. If you liked Breaking Bad you have no excuse not to watch this. If you didn’t like Breaking Bad because of the violence, this show is much less violent so you have no excuse! Plus this show is better than Breaking Bad either way. [I love this show and one of the main reasons why is because it is universally praised and it CONSISTENTLY features almost fifteen minutes of silence per episode. The script writing for this show must be a fucking BREEZE.--DTM]

Wrecked TBS (Currently Airing) The first season of this “Lost but a comedy series” was really good and I think you’ll like it. This is the best TBS comedy since My Boys. (That may not be true, I just wanted to plug My Boys and demand more work for Jordana Spiro.) [Please also try to find room in your heart--and space on your DVR--for the other TBS show "Search Party." Season 2 of SP was good, I promise!--DTM]

Ballers HBO (Currently Airing) Do you wish Entourage was still on but starred the Rock? Well, I have some good news for you!

Insecure HBO (Currently Airing) Everyone says this show is great but I have to take their word for it as I did not have HBO when the previous seasons of this show aired.

Crime + Punishment Netflix (Available for Streaming) I love this novel--so why not watch this?
. . . *actually checks listing*
OK, so this is, in fact, an award-winning documentary about corrupt and racist NYPD cops--not the seminal novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky? Please, Netflix, greenlight a Dostoyevsky series! You’re throwing money away not airing the Brothers Karamazov. It could be the next Downton Abbey!

Ozark Netflix (Available for Streaming) Jordana Spiro is in this and no one told me. I hate my friends.

Jack Ryan Amazon (Available for Streaming) Fact: John Krasinski is the best actor to have ever played the role of Jack Ryan.

Mayans M.C. FX (Currently Airing) I would like Kurt Sutter-helmed shows more if there was someone around to tell him no. An hour of Kurt Sutter per week is fine. Two hours of Kurt Sutter per week is too much. Unsurprisingly, Sutter's wife shows up in the first episode. (Katey Sagal is great so this is not a complaint.)

The Purge USA (Currently Airing) If I could do crime one night a year it would definitely not be murder. I felt bad about ripping tags off of mattresses for like a year, so no murder for me. I would probably just jaywalk a lot.

Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia FXX (Currently Airing) Despite Glenn Howerton’s commitments on AP Bio he has made time to join the gang as they drag every person they encounter down to their level.

Iron Fist Netflix (Available for Streaming) You can’t make me watch this. [Don't worry. I'll keep you well informed . . . as soon as I get around to finishing it.--DTM]

FLCL Alternative Adult Swim (Currently Airing) The horn is a metaphor for obviousness.

The Deuce HBO (Currently Airing) If you watch this and you have children, just be warned that they will come down at the worst possible moment and you will pause the TV at the worst possible second.

Kidding Showtime (Currently Airing) Jim Carrey should work on his painting because I have no use for him as an actor. [Look, I'm not here to try and convince you the Jim Carrey is Olivier or Brando. But Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Truman Show are really good movies. Maybe that is despite Jim Carrey. But I don't think people would have paid attention to them otherwise. And the world is better with these entertainments in it. Is the world better for having Kidding in it also? Still too early to say, but I am watching. My only direct criticism so far is the overreliance on sexuality in a few spots. But that is, I suppose, the price of doing business on premium cable.--DTM]

Shameless Showtime (Currently Airing) How is this show still going on? This is the Simpsons of prestige cable dramedies.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse FX (Currently Airing) Ryan Murphy takes on Marvel’s greatest villain. [That's an AHS I would consider watching. Otherwise, nope.--DTM]

Snatch Crackle (Currently Airing) Did you know there was a TV version of Guy Ritchie’s film Snatch? I did not. I also don’t know what Crackle is so good luck finding the 2nd season of this show.

American Vandal Netflix (Available for Streaming) If you liked Serial, you’ll love this spoof of Serial that is somehow also an incisive look at the ethics of these kinds of podcasts. [I am VERY excited to begin watching AV s2 very soon!--DTM]

BoJack Horseman Netflix (Available for Streaming) I do not like this show but am also happy that Will Arnett finally has a successful leading role.

Norm Macdonald Has a Show Netflix (Available for Streaming) Norm Macdonald hosts a talk show where he doesn’t talk about current events. To demonstrate why he wouldn’t talk about current events, he immediately offended everyone with his #MeToo comments and then his apology made things worse. There is no doubt that he did it on purpose. [I have never had any time for Macdonald's style of humor or his point of view. And I don't even know the particulars of this latest SNAFU.--DTM]

The Good Cop Netflix (Available for Streaming) I’m only mentioning this show because my SEO advisor says a mention of Josh Groban will get at least one more click than otherwise would have been the case. Tony Danza is there too.

Maniac Netflix (Available for Streaming) Cary Fukunaga is a fantastic director and Emma Stone is a fantastic actress so this should be good! (Jonah Hill is also there.) [This is one of the reasons why I haven't finished Luke Cage, Iron Fist, or started American Vandal. So far I have enjoyed the first two episodes. But someone remind me who Fukunaga is. Is he the guy that is going to be directing the next series of Bond movies? He's NOT the same guy who directs Atlanta, right? Why am I getting this mixed up.--DTM]

Mr. Inbetween FX (September 25th) I know nothing about this show but I watch pretty much anything on FX so I’ll be watching this. This sounds like a cry for help, and to be honest, it probably is.

South Park Comedy Central (September 26th) Someday someone is going to dig up a past episode of South Park to try and kill Matt and Trey’s career--James Gunn style. And I’m 50/50 on whether that will end up working.

God Friended Me CBS (September 30th) I’m crowding in on David’s turf just to say this is the worst named show since Selfie. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this show will not be as good as Selfie was. [Hold on . . . first, now you're just forcing me to have to evaluate this likely terrible show when I write my own post. Damnit. And secondly . . . was Selfie the show with my beloved Karen Gillan? Because if not, I have no memory of Selfie at all.--DTM] 

Doctor Who BBC America (October 6th) The doctor is . . . a woman!? Really looking forward to all the articles highlighting the same three outraged tweets from accounts with 50 total followers. Never gets old.

Daredevil Netflix (October 19th) Everyone’s favorite visually-impaired superhero is back soothing his Catholic guilt by getting beaten to a pulp before overcoming the odds to save Hells Kitchen yet again. [Well, when you describe it like that . . . --DTM]

DuckTales Disney Channel (October 20th) Woo ooh! [Tried it last year. Pass.--DTM]

The Guest Room TBS (October 23rd) This charming show introduced me to honeyhoney and I really enjoy them. Listen to honeyhoney because they’re great.

Deutschland 86 Sundance TV (October 25th) Deutschland 83 was about a reluctant East German spy struggling to fulfill his duties while slowly embracing life in the West. I assume Deutschland 86 is about that but set 3 years later! (Deutschland 83 was excellent and now that The Americans is over you know you need a good spy show.) [I've not seen Deutschland of any year. But I would recommend Starz Counterpart as a good spy show witha fun sci-fi twist. True . . . I've still not finished watching season one on my DVR. But I KNOW that the J.K. Simmons-led drama is definitely my tempo.--DTM]

House of Cards Netflix (November 2nd) Kevin Spacey is dead now and Princess Buttercup is here to do whatever it is that happens on this show that people in Washington love because they think it flatters them somehow.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Netflix (November 16th) The Cohen Brothers are making a Netflix show and I couldn’t be happier. Everything they touch is great except for The Ladykillers and Burn After Reading. Those were not good.

Watership Down Netflix (December 25th) Really excited for this show to traumatize a whole new generation of children with fields of blood. [Nothing says Happy Christmas like a bloody, enraged General Woundwort! I'm totally ready for this show! --DTM]

Dean's Top Ten TV of 2017

David asked me to do my top ten list of the year and then rudely posted his before I could make fun of it. Unfortunately, I either like or haven’t seen most of the shows he selected except Search Party (which I hated so much) and he edited his list to include Legion so I can’t even make fun of him for that. 

Have worse taste in television David! I have a reputation to uphold and I can’t afford to be polite. 

You are still doing your list backward though. The best show is supposed to be saved for last! Can’t give away the game right from the start! Make them work for it!

SHOWS THAT MAY HAVE MADE THE TOP TEN BUT I RUDELY HAVEN’T SEEN:

American Gods, Alias Grace, Young Pope, Twin Peaks, Godless. I’m sure these shows are great. I just didn’t get to them.

SHOWS THAT JUST MISSED THE CUT:

One Mississippi, Sneaky Pete, Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep, Samurai Jack, Rick and Morty, Stranger Things, Fargo, American Vandal. These shows were also good and I recommend all of them without reservation.

THE LIST:

10. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency:

At the last second, I pulled American Vandal from the 10 spot and swapped in Dirk Gently. This Dirk Gently is nothing like the Douglas Adams Dirk, and while I confess that that annoys me, it’s still a fun, charming show that has Elijah Wood in it so I like it.

9. The Christ Gethard Show:

One episode had Chris Gethard intentionally abandon the show right before it started and his guests had to host instead. It’s a great show for weirdos, burnouts, and losers and I feel right at home watching it.

8. Nathan For You:

The episode where Nathan hires an escort and then gradually falls in love with her was one of the more emotional subplots on television this year. Just great television. This show could be exploitative of the people he finds, but I think he works hard to make sure he is always the butt of the joke.

7. Baskets:

Louie Anderson continues to steal this show as Mrs. Baskets and I continue to love Martha without any reservations.

6. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

I completely understand why basically no one watches the last 4 shows I listed but it is criminal that so few people watch this show. 1. Musical TV shows are the best and musical episodes of regular TV shows are the best (See e.g. Buffy). 2. This particular show is smartly written and incredibly funny. 3. Josh Groban was in the best song this year and you love Josh Groban right? Anyway, watch this show.

5. The Good Place

So look, I could take shows 2, 3, 4, and 5 and rearrange them in any way and still be satisfied. These are all interchangeable levels of good. The Good Place never fails to make me laugh and Ted Danson is perfect. Also, I learned that the set of The Good Place was also used for Genovia in the Princess Diaries 2 so it has that going for it.

4. Better Call Saul

I do not want Jimmy to be Saul Goodman and it keeps getting closer and closer. Jimmy is great. More Jimmy, please!

3. Review

The final destruction of Forrest was just as humiliating and sad and funny as we all knew it would be. Poor, poor deluded Forrest.

2. Legion

This show! Wow! Everyone did stellar work, but Jemaine was my favorite. Thanks, Jemaine!

Now look, see, the suspense has been built. What could be better than Legion? What show haven’t I listed yet? It could be anything! It could be something obscure like some of my other picks or maybe it’s a big gaudy number everyone likes!  

1. GLOW

This show gets all the little things right: 80s cocaine robots, neon lights, catchy theme song. It just nails it. Also, as someone who just got into professional wrestling, it cuts to the heart about what is enjoyable about it while also presenting some pretty fair critiques about the roles people are asked to portray.

Now go yell at me about my rankings on Twitter. I need to fight about something. 

Fall TV Preview 2017: Dean's Opinions on Cable & Streaming

Welcome one, welcome all to the 2017 edition of my Fall Cable TV Preview that David is kind enough to let me write up every year. If you’re looking for Broadcast TV you will find none of that here. This is only cable and streaming. If I miss a show you’re looking forward to I’m not sorry. There’s a lot of TV out there.
To make the preview more helpful I’ve added how much I’m looking forward to each show. I think it’ll really help you decide!
[I have to question your ratings system, Dean. It only helped me marginally, and I am almost a big a Peak TVer as you are.]

SUNDAYS

The Deuce HBO (Premieres September 10^th) I presume this is Rob Schneider’s new show following up on his smash hit Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. Should be pretty funny!
*Actually does 5 seconds of google research*
OK I have been informed that this is a David Simon show so it’s really quite unlikely that this is funny and is probably really dark. David Simon is always worth watching so even if you don’t really like James Franco (he plays a twin so there will be a lot of him) you should still check it out. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: The Wire Season 3
[I likely wont' watch it and then later regret it. Somehow, I've entirely missed the Simonverse.]

Fear the Walking Dead AMC (Returns September 10^th): Pros: It has Kim Dickens who I love forever and always. Cons: I’m told it’s not really very good and I don’t care about zombies. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Gotham Season 2
[Boy . . . you are REALLY looking forward to this!]

Top of the Lake: China Girl Sundance (Returns September 10^th) Do you like Elizabeth Moss? Perhaps you like her so much you search out everything she does? That is a very reasonable opinion to have and I have good news! She is in this show and is very good in it! She solves crimes and it is devastating! Gwendoline Christie is in this season as well, so now you truly have no reason not to watch it. It also has Nicole Kidman and Holly Hunter in it, so it’s just gilding the lily now. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Mad Men Season 7B
[The name of the show is annoying. Don't CSI everything Sundance Channel.]

Vice Principals HBO (Returns September 17^th) I like Walton Goggins and hate Danny McBride and so far my hate for Danny McBride has kept me from this show. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Eastbound and Down
[I tried watching a few episodes of this. But I think watching the commercials for it provides all the humor I need from this show. It feels like the sort of thing I could burn through on HBO GO anytime I felt like it. Definitely NOT appointment viewing.]

Star Trek: Discovery CBS All Access (Premieres September 24^th) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. 10 people are going to sign up for this Web site. It is going to fail so badly. I’m sorry that CBS only understands old people Star Trek fans and is going to bungle your beloved franchise so badly. The good news is you should be used to it by now (Scott Bakula was the best captain.) 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Star Trek: Nemesis
[I have no criticism of this review on any level, from the sentiment to the rating. Oh . . . wait . . . your opinion of Scott Bakula is bullshit. Other than that, you are 100% correct. And I now qualify as "old person Star Trek fan!"]

Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO (Returns October 1^st) Some people like Larry David. I am not one of those people. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Seinfeld, any season

The Walking Dead AMC (Returns October 22^nd) I presume you are watching this and therefore know more about it than I do. Make up your own mind, I can’t do everything for you. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Gotham Season 3
[Turning away from all things TWD has made my life better. Maybe not by much. But definitely better.]

SMILF Showtime (Premieres November 5^th) This is truly the Cougar Town of titles and I’m not going to bother looking up what it’s about. I’m definitely going to judge this book only on its title and not watch it. (This is an easy call since I don’t have Showtime.) 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Real Housewives of Atlanta

Search Party TBS (Returns November 19^th) I did not like this show but David did. Ask him about it. I don’t even know why you’re asking me about this. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Love Season 1
[Search Party was fun. My Georgia roots demand that I find something to watch on TBS. Why not this?]

MONDAYS

The Opposition with Jordan Klemmer Comedy Central (Premieres September 25^th) Jon Stewart was wrong that Crossfire was hurting America. The rise of The Daily Show and the smug style in American late-night comedies are actually the things hurting America. Anyway, this is yet another The Daily Show clone by a The Daily Show alum. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Full Frontal w/Samantha Bee
[Based on your rating, I assume you are also one of those dudes who hates all-female Ghostbusters? Don't be threatened Dean! (I know you don't really feel this way.) And I agree that there is too much of these shows. Just give Chris Hardwick a whole hour-and-a-half for a mega-sized @Midnight block from 11:30 to 1 am.]

TUESDAYS

American Horror Story: Cult FX (Returns September 5^th) I don’t like horror or Ryan Murphy but if you do here is this show that was designed just for you.

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: American Horror Story: Hotel

The Mindy Project Hulu (Returns September 12^th) The finale season of this show that I used to really like but stopped watching when it moved to Hulu because Hulu is an unusable nightmare of a Web site. I’m not paying for a subscription service with commercials, Hulu! Amazon doesn’t have commercials *and* it gives me free shipping. At least try! 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: The Mindy Project Season 5

The Last O.G. Series Premiere TBS (Premieres October 22^nd) All I know about this show  is that it was created by Jordan Peele and stars Tracy Morgan. I don’t need to know anything else. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Get Out
[Have you watched Get Our or are you surreptitiously racially profiling your rating here? Either way, I interpret this as you are in support of this show.]

Marvel’s Runaways Hulu (Premieres November 21^st) If we’re making Brian K. Vaughan comics into TV Shows I’d rather have Y: The Last Man than The Runaways and Hulu remains a garbage dump of a streaming site. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Iron Fist
[Oh. My. God. Brutal rating by Dean.]

WEDNESDAYS

You’re The Worst FXX (Returns September 6^th) Despite what David would have you believe--I am not the worst. Jimmy is the worst. Also this show is good and you should watch it.

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Baskets Season 2

[I would have given this a rating of LOST Season 2. That means I am looking forward to this!]

South Park Comedy Central (Returns September 13^th) This show has been on for 21 seasons. Giving details about this show is about as helpful as describing The Simpsons. You’ll either watch it or you won’t and I can’t sway your decision, I’m sure. I am pretty happy they’re not doing any Trump stuff though. Trump is un-parody-able. It’s never funny or clever and people should just accept that. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: The Simpsons Season 7

Broad City Comedy Central (Returns September 13^th) I don’t know what to say about this show. I like it? I liked it a little less last year than the year before? Both those things are true. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Kroll Show Season 2

Mr. Robot USA (Returns October 11^th) David, were you as exhausted by Season 2 as I was? I still have not decided if I will check out season 3. (Who are we kidding, the only show I’ve ever successfully quit is Gotham.) 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Sleepy Hollow Season 3
[I definitely was exhausted by last season. Style an inscrutability overwhelmed clear storytelling. But I am willing to continue.]

Stan Against Evil IFC (Returns November 1^st) John C. McGinley fights demons from Hell. Your reaction to that log line tells you if you should watch it or not. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Scrubs Season 6

THURSDAYS

Better Things FX (Returns September 14^th) Pamela Adlon always freaks me out a little bit because Bobby Hill should not be a middle-aged mom. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Louie Season 2
[Please clarify your rating here. Is this Louie Season 2 BEFORE the season began or AFTER? That makes a lot of difference.]

She’s Gotta Have It Netflix (Premieres November 23^rd) I’ve never seen the original Spike Lee film, but here it is in TV form now--for some reason. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Do the Right Thing

FRIDAYS

One Mississippi Amazon (Returns September 8^th) John Rothman’s portrayal of Bill on this show was the best thing I saw last year (rivaled only by Louis Anderson as Mama Baskets on Baskets). Tig Notaro has created an incredible world that is funny and heartbreaking and I really cannot wait to dive back in. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Red Oaks Season 1

Bojack Horseman Netflix (Returns September 8^th) It’s everyone’s favorite cartoon about existential despair! 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: F is For Family Season 2

Transparent Amazon (Returns September 22^nd) I found every person in this show deeply unlikable so I’m not watching it, but I know some people really like it so here’s when it comes back.

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Dexter Season 5

Fuller House Netflix (Returns September 22^nd) RIP Alan Thicke. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper

Tin Star Amazon (Premieres September 29^th) Tim Roth was also in Twin Peaks so he is very busy this year. Good for Tim Roth! I really liked Legend of 1900. That was a good Tim Roth film. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: The Bridge, Season 1
[I would not say that his work on Twin Peaks: The Return constitutes busy. He was on screen for a total of ten minutes. Now, for all I know, Lynch made him stay in an apartment for three months so he could call him on set for any random reason at any moment. But I don't think that put lots of burdens on his schedule?]

Mindhunter Netflix (Premiers October 13^th) Everyone loves serial killers and this show will have lots of them. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Hannibal, Season 1

Stranger Things Netflix (Returns October 27^th) Everyone’s favorite kids go back to the Upside Down in this, the only horror show I will watch. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Shaun of the Dead

Alias Grace Netflix (Premieres November 3^rd) Netflix cashes in on the Handmaid’s craze with a Margaret Atwood show of their own. I’m going to go out on a limb and say we won’t have people dressing up in Irish maid outfits to protest Congress. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Peaky Blinders

SATURDAYS

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency BBC America (Returns October 14^th) As those who listened to my stunningdefense of Elijah Wood on The Sleeper Hit podcast (I’m sure this is all of you. I am very good and funny and have a great voice so you should listen to me.) know I like this show quite a bit. This show’s version of Dirk Gently is not how I would have done it, but Elijah Wood nicely grounds the weirdness and you should watch it. Look, it’s the only show that I have listed for Saturday so it’s not even competing with anything. 

How Much Dean is looking forward to it: Wilfred, Season 2

[I enjoyed this show as well--and even your podcast--but it got a bit confusing at times. I am interested in what comes next, however.]

And . . . that’s it. 
Every show on cable that might be good except the SyFy shows because I have no idea which SyFy shows are good or bad.

Dean's Best Shows of 2016

Welcome to Dean’s Best TV of 2016 Spectacular. Here are I will tell you the best 10 shows of the year. This list is definitive and all other lists are false. I’m sure David will insert editorial comments but I must assure you not to pay attention to them because this is the only information you need.

Honorable Mentions: Every year I cheat and list more than 10 shows because I watch too much TV and I want to call out the very good shows that did not quite make the cut. This year’s honorees are: Galavant, Pitch, Mozart in the Jungle, Orange is the New Black, Venture Brothers, Silicon Valley, and The Chris Gethard Show (There is an episode where the audience just tries to guess what is in a dumpster. It was amazing.) Congratulations shows, you made a list!

[Re. this list . . . I am trying to record Pitch and will see if I like it at some later point. Galavant is a stupid premise and you have made a bad recommendation.--David]

10. The Good Place
Who wouldn’t want to live in a heaven run by Ted Danson? Also I’m clearly destined for the Good Place as a faithful Brown’s fan. I should also note for the record that Fake Eleanor is clearly the better Eleanor.

9. You, Me and the Apocalypse

I’m going to be completely honest. The only reason this show is ranked so high is because its intro is so good. Every time I heard Johnny Nash start singing “I can see clearly now the rain has gone” I got excited to watch this show. I wish other people had been as excited as me as no one watched it and now this show is gone forever. 

[Not true that no one watched it. I watched it all summer. And then promptly and completely forgot about it and looking back I'm not so sad about that. I think that I was driven to watch because I had just finished binging Parks and Recreation and I was sad and missing Ron and Tammy.--David]

8. Gravity Falls

This is a show for kids but also a show for people who are amateur cryptographers. Here is a page from the wiki for this show for children:
I solved zero of these cryptograms. This show only lasted two seasons and although it makes me sad (because it was good!), I’m also happy about the current trend of shows going out when the creators want it to rather than dragging them out until they’re no longer profitable to make and I’m actively hate-watching something that used to fill me with joy (looking at you Sleepy Hollow).

[Gravity Falls was good. I enjoyed it. But Season 1 was so much better. But the same could have been said for Sleepy Hollow as well, I guess.--David]

7. iZombie

This show is written by Rob Thomas (no . . . NOT that one) and in the last episodes Rob Thomas (yes that one) was eaten by zombies and then the zombies sang "Unwell" because they took on his personality. This is comedy gold. Gold! 

Anyway, if you only watch one zombie-themed show this year make it iZombie because The Walking Dead is bad. You can also watch Ash vs. the Evil Dead if you have Starz. I do not have Starz.

[I also like iZombie--as I've said in this space before. But I admit that I surf my phone while it is on as much as I am actively engaged in the experience of watching the show. I also strongly agree with your opinion that The Walking Dead is bad. My theory? It started getting bad when Rick's group left Georgia. And the it got really bad when the creators and writers screwed over the viewing audience by violating whatever "rules" they had in place by idiotically NOT killing a major character when it was the only reasonable outcome.--David]

6. Baskets

Louie Anderson plays Zach Galifinakuses’s (I was going to look up the spelling but no. This is fine. I am a professional.) mom and he plays it perfectly straight. Louie Anderson should be typecast from this point forward as a mom. Look at this photo of him. I have met this mom before.

5. Better Call Saul

Does Jimmy have to become Saul Goodman? Really? Couldn’t this be an alternate timeline where everything works out for good old Jimmy? No? That is a shame. Oh I guess also watch this show or whatever. It’s really good. Also Jimmy’s brother is the worst.

[Why did I leave this show off of my list completely? Bad job by me.--David]

4. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Look, I like musicals. My favorite episodes of TV are musical episodes. If you don’t like people singing their feelings you are a) possibly a robot and b) reading the wrong end of the year list. This is a good show and it will win a bunch of awards so I don’t need to defend myself to you people.

[You SHOULD have to defend yourself. That is why I give you a platform on my highly valuable blogging platform. And while we got like CE-G, you like it more strenuously than I and I must call you out on that. Poor ranking choice.--David]

3. Rectify

I’m not really sure how to convince people to watch this show because every description ends up being “Well, there’s not really a lot of plot, it’s more about tone and sense of place” and man, does that sound boring. But it’s not! It is perfect. It is the perfect show which is why it is the third best show of the year.

[Your tonal description of this show you won't ever quit matches some of the weaker episodes of Westworld. Maybe it's the cowboy hats?--David]

2. The Americans

I don’t know many shows that could kill a beloved character off and come out stronger for it, but The Americans did it. RIP Nina Sergeevna Krilova. You will be missed.

[First, HOW DARE YOU try to turn Nina into Barb? And also, you are not going to sit there and type at me that Nina is more of a loss than the dearly exiled Martha!??! What will be next? Trying to convince me that the brutal dissection of Mail Robot was less shocking than the fenestration of Agent Gaad?

The Americans is the show that is going to tear us apart.--David]

1. One Mississippi

Every episode of this show made it extremely dusty in my house and it is also very funny and not in the independent comedy way where you sort of smile at a wry “joke”, but actually laugh out loud funny. I also need to note that John Rothman put on my favorite performance of the year (narrowly edging out Louie Anderson). Please watch it so I can talk to someone about it? Please? I’ll even come to your house to watch it with you. You should have Amazon Prime anyway now that Amazon runs the planet.

[Are you making up television? Is this a sickness of Peak TV? Does this show even exist? What a sad way to end your Best of . . . list. But its okay viewers. Move your eyes up a bit and reread that previous parenthetical I wrote about The Americans.. That was really funny and well crafted. Go read that again and we can all pretend that Dean's list ended with The Americans. Which would have been a fine choice.--David]

***

If you liked this, go check out MY version of this year's best TV shows. Maybe Dean will have some biting comments to say about my opinions and rankings.

Dean's Fall Cable-ish TV Preview

Here is my annual--and much awaited--Fall Cable Preview. I don’t have premium channels so if you want to know about the hot new HBO, Showtime, or Cinemax shows you are SOL. Also I don’t have Hulu so I can’t/won’t tell you about those shows. I also don’t know what Freeform is and I refuse to acknowledge it.

[Hold up, Dean . . . I'VE got premium channels. Maybe I should be the one talking about these sort of shows. but that runs counter to what we've been doing the past several years. And I don't watch NEARLY as much esoteric stuff as you do.--David]

Tuesday, Aug. 23

"Halt and Catch Fire," (9 p.m., AMC returning)
Have you finished season two yet David? Because SEASON THREE HAS ALREADY STARTED! I will not be watching this because I don’t need to see Lee Pace mope around whining about how no one likes him because he’s a psycho.

[I have a tortured relationship with this series. I tried and gave up on season 1. Then critics told me season 2 was MUCH BETTER. So, I dutifully recorded every episode. And then I could only make it through two of them. I'm good at Halting, but nothing is Catching Fire.]

"Better Late Than Never," (10 p.m., NBC new!)
This show has everything you could want in a show: Terry Bradshaw! The Fonz! William Shatner! George Foreman! Jeff Dye! I’ll be honest, I don’t know who Jeff Dye is. What is he doing in this group of names. This show will probably be bad because it’s an NBC comedy and NBC has forgotten how to make comedies. Also this isn’t cable but David has shown no inclination to start his Fall broadcast guide so I’ll step on his turf all I want (I’ll leave the returning shows to him though…mostly).

[You are brazenly stepping all over my TV previewing corner! A corner that I have staked out for more than a decade. How dare you . . . think that even if I HAD started my previews I'd waste any typing time at all discussing such a terrible idea for a show.]

Wednesday, Aug. 24

"Gomorrah," (10 p.m., Sundance new to us! Reruns if you’re Italian)
I watch all the subtitled shows I can because I’m a pretentious jerk. This is about the Italian mob and is based on that book everyone liked, so it’s probably good.

[I'm out on most subtitles not featuring Klingon.]

Wednesday, Aug. 31

"You're the Worst," (10 p.m., FX returning)
You say you’re looking for a comedy that takes depression seriously while still being hilarious? That is an awfully specific request but here it is, the show for you!

[A returning show I'm genuinely excited for.]

Tuesday, Sept. 6

"Atlanta," (10 p.m., FX new series)
Here are some things I know about this show: It stars Donald Glover. FX has a very strong record of greenlighting TV shows. It’s about rap in Atlanta. You should watch it because Donald Glover is good.

[A new show I'm genuinely excited for. (Is it possible that Donald Glover might be bitten by a radioactive spider in this show? Pleeease?)]

Thursday, Sept. 8

"Better Things," (10 p.m., FX new!)
If this is the female "Louie" that it appears to be, I will like this for two seasons until I tire of its increasingly serious attitude and then bail when I realize I’m no longer enjoying it anymore.

Friday, Sept. 9

“One Mississippi,” (Amazon Prime new!)
This stars Tig Notaro and Casey Wilson and the trailer gives off a real "Baskets" vibe. This is a good thing. "Baskets" is great--which you would know if you people ever listened to me.

[I make it a practice to NOT listen to you for about two full seasons, then secretly start watching the show you previously recommended--and then blame you for NOT telling me to watch it sooner. It worked really well with "Silicon Valley", and I look forward to it working well for "Baskets" in 2018.]

Wednesday, Sept. 14

"American Horror Story," (10 p.m., FX returning)
This still exists. I am still not watching it.

Friday, Sept. 16

“Fleabag,” (Amazon Prime new!)
This show is a comedy, and it has Olivia Colman in it in some capacity. I neglected to learn more about this show because Olivia Colman should be enough for anyone.

[First problem: I don't have Amazon Prime. Second Problem, I don't know who Olivia Colman is--which could easily be solved . . . but Third Problem, you have made no compellng argument to make he search out more information.]

Monday, Sept. 19

"Gotham," 8 p.m., (FOX returning)
Hahahaha, no.

[You say no, but I still--begrudgingly say . . . I guess so?]

"Kevin Can Wait," (8:30 p.m. CBS new!)
This is David’s turf again but I will watch an episode of this just to tell everyone how (presumably) bad it is. The sacrifices I make for you people.

[Unless a Mall Cop is involved, then I'll definitely steer clear. Oh . . . wait, I don't care about Mall Cops either. Please feel free to keep wasting your precious preview real estate on new shows that are absolute duds. That frees me up to write compelling prose about something else.]

"The Good Place," (10 p.m., NBC new!)
I like Kristen Bell and Ted Danson and Mike Schur. I will watch this. I will continue intruding on David’s turf because there really aren’t that many cable shows in the Fall. It’s kind of a wasteland, but the broadcast networks are really killing it you guys.

[Based on some of the other examples you've provided so far in the broadcast network arena, I think you're definition of "killing it" is different from mine. I DO like Kristen Bell, though]

Thursday, Sept. 22

"Pitch," 9 p.m., FOX new series)
The previews for this were well done and it’s by Dan Fogelman--who has already created two great TV shows ("Galavant" and "The Neighbors"), my son’s favorite film (Cars) and my daughter’s favorite film (Tangled). I am predisposed to like this show.

[I am DEFINITELY more on board with your children's taste in recommendations that that dreck you typed up there. "Galavant?" "The Neighbors?" Wow.]

Tuesday, Sept. 27

"Drunk History," (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central returning)
Can’t wait to tell my buddies back at the office about the Hamilton episode told by Lin Manuel-Miranda.

[I imagine that, if "Drunk History" is still on the air thirty years from now, there will be an episode detailing the phenomenon of Miranda's Hamilton play, as performed by Luis Guzman.]

Friday, Sept. 30

"Luke Cage," (Netflix new series)
I hope I don’t have to hear about his dead wife every 30 seconds. Ugh she’s dead we get it. Get over it.

[Jessica Jones > Daredevil, season 1 > Luke Cage (hopefully?) > Daredevil, season 2]

“Crisis in Six Scenes,” (Amazon Prime new series)
This show is by Woody Allen so I have already lost interest. Maybe at this point you are protesting that Woody Allen is great, but now I must point out that this show also stars Miley Cyrus so don’t you feel silly for defending it? Woody Allen is bad.

Monday, Oct. 3

"Timeless," (10 p.m., NBC new series)
It’s a new Shawn Ryan show so I’m going to spend most of it wishing it was "Terriers." Can we bring back "Terriers"? I’m sure this will be fine. I’ll never truly love network dramas because there are too many episodes to do a coherent story arc. 12 episodes is the perfect amount of time to tell a three act story on TV. Asking writers to do more than that is too much to ask.

Friday, Oct. 14

"Haters Back Off," (Netflix new!)
*Googles this show. Immediately closes tab*

[Is now afraid to look.]

Friday, Oct 21

“Black Mirror,” (Netflix returning)
This is a modern day "Twilight Zone." Your reaction to that sentence tells you everything you need to know about whether you want to watch it or not.

Saturday, Oct. 22

"Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency," (8 p.m., BBC America new!)
It’s a show based on Douglas Adams’ lesser known and loved series of books. I am in favor of more Douglas Adams in my life. The show is run by Max Landis, whom people seem to hate but I have no experience with. Therefore, I have no opinion on him.

[Dean, how can I take your review seriously, when you didn't even know until TODAY that our "Wilfred" fave Elijah Wood is PROMINENTLY a part of this show?]

Wednesday, Oct 26

“Rectify,” (10 p.m. Sundance  returning)
None of you will watch this--even though I’ve said ad nauseam that it is one of the best shows on televison You don’t deserve to have good TV. Enjoy your Kevin James, America!

[Hey Dean, remember what I said up there about "Baskets"? Well, this is the exception that proves that rule. I'll NEVER watch "Rectify". You can count on that.]

Thursday, Oct. 27

"The Great Indoors," (8:30 p.m., CBS new!)
I am watching this because whiny millennial TV critics were whining about being portrayed as whiny, and I find that hilarious. (Note: Depending on how you count, I am a millennial.)

Friday, Nov. 5

"The Crown," (Netflix new!)
Queen Elizabeth, as with all monarchs, should either abdicate or be hanged. I am not interested in her life or this show.

Monday, Nov. 21

"Search Party," (11 p.m., TBS new!)
This is partly created by Michael Showalter and stars Alia Shawkat so that’s all you need to know--which is good because that is all I know about it.

[It is enough to get me intrigued.]

Friday, Nov. 25

"Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life," (Netflix returning)
I’ll have to find somewhere to lay low when this comes out. Is there a support group for husbands of "Gilmore Girls" fans, so we can meet up while this gets repeatedly streamed in our homes?  Oh no! November 25th is Thanksgiving weekend isn’t it? I’ll be surrounded by people who love "Gilmore Girls." Someone send help.

[I recommend you eat and much turkey as possible, drink as much wine as you can, and fall unconscious for as long as you can get away with.]

And once these air, we get Spring TV which should be really good.

Dean & David's 2015 Top 10 (Dean's version)

[DAVID: Last night I published my Top 10 Television shows of 2015. And so today, I am letting Dean spend more time telling me where I went wrong and why I'm missing most of #PeakTV. (But don't worry. I won't let his opinions go completely unchallenged.]

As always I will lead off this top ten list by naming a bunch of shows that I can’t justify to myself putting in my actual top ten, but want to note anyways. I had to leave off a LOT OF SHOWS. I wrote down 38 shows that could conceivably had made my top 10. This makes me unhappy. If I left off a show you love just assume it narrowly missed the cut and is one of my other 28.

The Grinder showed me how much I missed having Fred Savage on my TV screen and it is a pleasure to have him back each week.

The Chris Gethard Show helped me cope with depression and anxiety when it was pretty bad earlier this year by letting me hang out with a bunch of weirdos each week.

Nathan For You is doing something so deeply strange and unsettling every week that it’s a shame to leave it off.

Gravity Falls: This show is breaking my heart by ending after only two seasons. There’s something to be said for going out on top, but JUST LIMP ALONG UNTIL I NO LONGER REMEMBER WHY I LOVED YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE! IT’S FINE! EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT! I mean, Linda Cardellini and Jason Ritter have got to eat after all. (So does Kristen Schall, but she’s everywhere right now. She’ll be fine.)

And finally, if I could find a way to justify it, Going Deep with David Rees would be my number one show based on how much joy he brings me week to week. I reference one of the things he shows you how to do at least twice a week! But *sigh* this is a serious list for serious people. I cannot be so frivolous as to put Mr. Rees’s show at number one.
[DAVID: Was that a shot at my placing Limitless at Number 2? That was a shot, wasn't it? Well . . . I regret nothing.]

10. Man Seeking Woman: Surprisingly, this crowds out Broad City for the title of 10th favorite show. I hated the first episode so much I wanted to quit, but Rachael convinced me to watch the second episode, and it was so delightfully weird that it won me over. If you like Jay Baruchel this could be the show for you.
[DAVID: How could it be any good if I also disliked it and then abandoned it as well? We were both on the same page here, Dean? Why did you value your wife's opinion over mine?]

9. Deutschland 83: Deutschland 83 is Germany’s answer to the Americans. Instead of Soviet spies in America it’s about an East German spy in West Germany. Also it’s entirely in German! Is it actually better than the Americans? Probably not, but the tensions between East and West Germany were less familiar to me than what happened with American and the Soviet Union (Did you know Carlos the Jackal was likely an East German agent? I didn’t!) Also I find foreign language shows force me to pay attention instead of zoning out on my phone, so it gets extra credit for that as well.
[DAVID: Oh, man. WHAT?! If I wanted lots and lots of German, I'd go back to grad school. No . .  wait, that's a terrible idea. And these Germans probably didn't even have PacMan in 1983, so what was the point of even living. More Paige, less grim Communism!]

8. Silicon Valley: Kumail Nanjiani makes me laugh in everything. Andy Daly makes me laugh in everything. Martin Starr makes me laugh in everything. Zach Woods makes me eternally uncomfortable. This show is great and better than Veep. There. I said it and I don’t regret it. (Veep is also good and made my top 38.  I know.  Top 38 Lists aren’t a thing.)
[DAVID: If you're going to watch a show about computers, why not make it the new and improved second season of Halt and Catch Fire? I've finally started watching some of the episodes on my DVR and I'm liking it much more than my aborted attempt at season 1. And I KNOW you can't say no to Lee Pace, Dean.]

7. Rick and Morty: Hey, this show got real dark. Also I guarantee David will say this show is fake and doesn’t exist, but it does and it’s great.
[DAVID: Hey, I've heard you and Casey talk about this enough at lunch that I have come to trust Casey's views and can't call the show fake. Frankly, I'm surprised that I am recognizing almost all of these shows on your list so far. I thought all that time you spend watching stuff on Amazon Prime would make everything here incomprehensible.]

6. South Park: As the Simpsons slowly circles the drain into being completely unwatchable, the only show even remotely close to matching its longevity somehow put in one of its best seasons in a long
time. Also I finally got to see the Book of Mormon and it was great.

5. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: I’m a sucker for musical episodes of TV. The only Buffy episode I’ve seen is the musical episode. I love the glorious mess that is Galavant! Somehow Crazy-Ex Girlfriend manages to put out three perfect songs on a weekly basis. Please watch it because its ratings are not great (even for The CW) and I don’t want it to be canceled ever. Just go watch the “Sexy Getting Ready Song” and if that doesn’t hook you we can’t be friends.
[DAVID: I also enjoy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! (Just not as much as Limitless.) Unfortunately, your opinions are now rendered irrelevant, Dean, because you positively mentioned Galavant. You can leave your guest blogger credentials on my desk. 
Also, I thought about linking to a video of the "Sexy Getting Ready Song"--because it is great and I wanted to help the readers out. BUT, I chose NOT to do so. Now go set your DVRs to record new and rerun episodes. Go! Do it now. We'll wait.]

4. Better Call Saul: I love watching Bob Odenkirk. How can the guy from Mr. Show be this good of a dramatic actor? Vince Gilligan is my favorite showrunner.

3. Review: Every episode I think that Forrest MacNeil couldn’t have things get any worse and every
week I am proven wrong. And now he and Grant are dead and that…that will be hard to top.
[JON SNOW: Been there; done that; you know nothing.]

2. Justified: It managed to bounce back from what ailed it last season and ended strong. I thought that I would be devastated that it’s no longer on the air, but between the fact that there were 38 shows I realistically could have had in my top ten and the fact that I liked one show even better than Justified this year I think I’ll be OK.

1. Fargo: The reason I loved Justified so much was its blend of humor and drama that I haven’t found in most other shows. While Fargo’s first season did this a little, the tonal shifts didn’t always work that well. Somehow this season made it work perfectly and I am happy to have this show be my replacement for Raylan Givens and company. Especially now that Timothy Oliphant has is new gig as The Grinder: New Orleans.
[DAVID: Unsurprising agreement on number one. A great choice.]

Because David did it I also present shows I dropped this year:

Gotham: Ugh.
[DAVID: My Stockholm Syndrome prevents me from trying to explain . . .]

Heroes Reborn: I should have known better.
[DAVID: Fifteen minutes and I was out.]

Bastard Executioner: I dropped Sons of Anarchy and I dropped this too. So did everyone else though, it’s dead now. Just like every other character in a Kurt Sutter show.

Mad Men: I dropped this three episodes before the end and then saw the finale. I regret nothing.

Daredevil: So gritty and grim. Exactly what I don’t want in a show any more.

Girls: I’m pretty over Lena Dunham’s whole shtick. We have better female showrunners and actresses now so I don’t need to put up with Tom Brokaw’s daughter’s wooden acting (I still love Zosia Mamet though).
[DAVID: I wanted to get into this show, but lack of continuous HBO has made it hard. And you're probably right about all that you said. Except for the Brokaw bit. That was supposed to be a joke, right?]

Halt and Catch Fire: These people are miserable and need to get over themselves. Watching people be miserable isn’t entertaining any more. It’s been done too much and isn’t fun.
[DAVID: Nooooo!]

Probably a zillion other shows that I only watched one episode of because there are so many shows
on TV now. Shows like Manhattan which I liked but I only have so much time.

David & Dean's 2015 Top 10 (David's version)

Okay. Here is the methodology that I used this year. (As opposed to last year when I used no methodology at all and simply threw some words up on the screen. But don't worry, this year's plan is not much more complicated.)

First, Dean reminded me/asked me if I wanted to put together another end-of-year Top Ten list. And I immediately said yes. So, I turned to my computer and switched over to Blogger and dug out the old logo I used last year. Luckily, I had the foresight NOT to brand it with a year, so it's all ready for reuse.

Then I put the numbers 1-10 on the screen and started listing the titles of my favorite shows for this ending year. And I stopped at ten and wondered . . . what did I forget? So, I typed "Top Ten TV shows 2015" into Google and saw the list of professional critics stories that have already been writtten. But I didn't read them because I wanted my list to be pure and only from me. But luckily, Google's search screen also have a graphic showing new shows broadcast in 2015. So, I double checked that list to see if I had missed a few things and forgotten others. And the answer was yes.

So, I modified my list and let things at the bottom get bumped. I am going to recategorize a few of those at the end of the post. So, more to come on that later.

And then I quit when I got the ten I liked the most and in the ranking that I thought best. Here it is:


1. FARGO!!! The second season of this FX show was TREMENDOUS! So much better than season 1, which was good in its own right. But the acting by Kristen Dunst, Jeffrey Donovan, Bokeem Woodbine, and Jesse Plemons has been so excellent. The tension of each episode leading up the the Sioux Falls Massacre and the confusingly recurring UFO story thread and the creative split screen visualizations combines to make a well-written and well-crafted show into something really special.
[DEAN: Come on man, we’ve talked about this. Top 10 lists go from 10 to 1. This is like reading the last page of a murder mystery right out of the gate. People are in it for the suspense and you’ve killed it. Also I’m a little put off I can’t criticize this ranking because it is definitely correct in most every way.]

2. Limitless This probably surprises you. It's a procedural/crime-of-the-week show on Tuesday night CBS. But, really--this show is clever and well acted and well written and has a very strong visual style and a really committed sense of humor. It has the thankless task of spinning itself off of a forgotten Bradley Cooper movie (of the same name). But it takes the idea of a brain-boosting pill being used by the FBI to solve crimes and has so much more fun with it than it should. (Heck, there was an entire episode riff on Ferris Bueller's Day Off that was some sort of secret gitt people watching the show.) If you realize that the production company is K/O Paper Products, found by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (who stretch backwards from Fringe to LOST, then you may not be surprised that I like the style of this show. Please give it a try in 2016.
[DEAN: And you had to spoil things by making your number two show a CBS procedural. What’s next on the list: The Big Bang Theory?]

3. Jessica Jones I just finished up watching this first season on Netflix, and  really, really enjoyed it. It is grim, gritty, and psychologically disturbing. If I wasn't worried about being attacked by #GamerGaters, I'd say this show comes with a definite trigger warning. The best actor in this cast is definitely David Tennant, who plays the villain Killgrave. And yes, this is yet another superhero drama and yes, it does live in the same Hells Kitchen as Netflix's Daredevil. But the story is good. The drama is very good and the acting is good as well.
[DEAN: Hey another show I quite liked! I was a little disappointed by the direction they took Killgrave. By the end he was more pathetic than the super scary villain at the start, but I was still overall satisfied.]

4. The Americans This show has always been quality and well done throughout all phases. But the past season was my favorite one yet. The drama of telling daughter Paige the truth about what Elizabeth and Philip do for a living really amped up the emotions to a new level. And mix into that Philip's season-long effort to win over the daughter of a highly-connected government official? It was a slow burn of a plot line with enough ick factor to make me (and Philip) squeamish. Really well done.
[DEAN: More Paige please.]

5. Better Call Saul While BCS is not as much a meticulous puzzle piece as Breaking Bad was . . . this spinoff takes advantage of Bob Odenkirk's many years of comedy to have fun with Saul Goodman before he became (in)famous and met Walter White. At first, I was watching the show because I missed our nefarious friends in Albuquerque. But now I just enjoy Jimmy (the prenatal Saul) and his friends.
[DEAN: I am irritated that you keep picking good shows. Remember Limitless at number 2? Those were good times.]

6. Daredevil And I flip back over to Netflix for another superhero drama. This show, starring Charlie Cox as the blind lawyer/hero Matt Murdoch was Marvel's first move into the streaming world and it was a strong success. Even if every episode wasn't great (according to some . . . but not necessarily according to me), it was sufficiently different from the ever-expanding MCU to justify the streaming/binge commitment. I guess the biggest example of how much I liked it (and Jessica Jones, mentioned above) is that I am motivated to read some of the more famous storylines of the Daredevil/Alias comic books to learn more about the source history of these season 1 shows.
[DEAN: The pilot for this show was so visually dark that I gave up on it. Just because the protagonist is blind, doesn’t mean that I am. Give me some color and light and I’ll come back.]

7. You're the Worst (True story--I forgot to include one of this year's best shows until Monday night. I wrote the draft of this post over the weekend. Not until I was driving home from work, listening to The Watch podcast, did I realize my error.)

And a good thing too, that I corrected my error because this season of You're the Worst was challengingly good--not because it was as funny as season 1 but because it stretched itself to tell the story of Gretchen's depression. It widened the range of Gretchen and Jimmy--making them less than caricatures of awful people.
(I will admit though, that since the end of the initial season, when the show began committing itself toward the relationship of Gretchen and Jimmy, I worried that the show would deviate too far from the original idea that these people are just awful jerks. And so far, I think that fear is justified. BUT . . . the other side characters are plenty awful enough to deliver that tone which was so strong in season 1,)
[DEAN: Paul is making a huge mistake but hopefully that means more Paul next year. This is also a good show.]

8. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Yes, here is another show on Netflix . . . but it is a far cry from the story and tone of Jessica Jones or Daredevil. Much as I wanted to watch Better Call Saul because I missed Breaking Bad, I started watching Kimmy Schmidt because I missed 30 Rock. This show, a comedy about a young woman who was kidnapped and kept underground for over a decade by a religious cultist won me over quick. It has the same quick-fire joke count as 30 Rock. And Kimmy's me-against-the-world optimism reminded me of Liz Lemon's never-say-die attitude.
[DEAN: John Hamm was the third worst part of this show. Kimmy’s dad was the 2^nd worst. Tina Fey and her co-lawyer were the worst. If Tina Fey is the worst part of something it’s probably pretty good.]

9. black-ish I really look forward to this show each week because it is almost guaranteed to make me laugh and tries (at least a tiny bit) to teach me something too. But really, it is definitely interested in making me laugh. I am worried though . . . that the last episode's plot of saying goodbye to Dre's coworker Charlie might signal something. Because I really liked Charlie. Don't be gone long, please!
[DEAN: My DVR died so I don’t know what this means. But Charlie is great so I too hope he is not gone.]

10. Master of None Speaking of laughter and trying to teach lessons . . . Aziz Ansari's newest creative output was another Netflix standout in the last few months. Ansari's Dev character is an Indian actor who hangs out with his friends, enjoys life in New York, and occasionally confronts racial assumptions. It's a sort of 21st century Seinfeld with more of a conscience.
[DEAN: Argh, I liked this show too! Stop having discerning taste so I can make fun of you. This show was great and this list was good. Nice work.]

Bumped Out of the List:
a. Game of Thrones It was on the list but it kept getting shoved down by other items. It is always a fun show to watch. And I wanted to not ignore it altogether because the series really reinventing itself at the most dreadful point in the book saga plot. The showrunners and writers sidestepped most of the bad plotting, invented new things and new paths to keep things moving and make it interesting.
[DEAN: They sidestepped bad plotting and added more of their own bad plotting. Still a visually arresting show that I like watching.]

b. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend It was also on the initial list, but became a casualty of higher-quality shows. On the face of it, the hook of the show sounds bad--and doomed to be ridiculous. But (for some reason), it works just well enough to be enjoyable.

c. Supergirl Just when you thought I couldn't bring in another superhero show . . . This CBS effort stars Melissa Benoist as our Gal from Krypton. And the show is developed by the same creative team that oversees Arrow and The Flash on The CW (which I also enjoy). I secretly hope they will all team up at some point to battle some spinoff villain that survives the aftermath of the Batman vs. Superman movie. But that would probably get way too bloated and weird. My quibbles with Supergirl are: 1. they refuse to mention Superman by name, but they can't stop talking about him anyway and 2. the first five to six episodes were much too focused on the fact that Kara was female and that was the reason that she screwed up time and again.
[DEAN: I hate Kara and hope her Aunt wins. She was right about Krypton and Kara is wrong about everything and I kind of hate her. Martian Manhunter is cool though.]

Will Watch Someday: The Leftovers, Mr. Robot
[DEAN: I would rather try to read Infinite Jest again than every try to watch The Leftovers. I am sad I watched Humans instead of Mr. Robot. Well I’m sad I watched the first episode of Humans instead of any of Mr. Robot.]
[DAVID: Hey, you stop that. Mr. Robot sounded good and I'm sorry I missed it too. BUT . . . Humans was pretty good as well. Just not top 10 good I guess.]

Dead to Me:
The Walking Dead The creative team insulted the viewers in the way they treated Glen's disappearance and reappearance. I'm officially out on this show.
[DEAN: Now how will I be able to be part of the cultural zeitgeist? I rely on you David. I rely on you.]