And, finally, my list of top ten shows I watched this past year, starting with the first five (listed alphabetically).
Aliens in America; CW. It’s a crime this show didn’t attract more viewers. An overly worried mom wants her unpopular son, Justin, to have a handsome and popular best friend, so she signs up her family to host an exchange student. Unfortunately for her plan, the exchange student is from Pakistan (he’s mistaken for a terrorist a lot and dresses differently than most of the rest of the world). But what started out as disappointment ends up being a learning experience for everyone. And while Justin didn’t get more popular, he did have a few adventures he wouldn’t have had, and Rajah helped him out of.
The humor was edgy at times (like when bullies accused Justin of being gay because he wasn’t attracted to his hot sister), but the crux of the show was heart. Rajah became a member of the family, and had to experience the good and the bad of it.
How I Met Your Mother; CBS. Repeats as my favorite network comedy (only [adult swim’s] Frisky Dingo comes close) for the second straight year. This season just got better. First we saw Ted & Robin deal with their breakup as well as their attempts to move on. We saw Marshall and Lily deal with the problems at their dream place. Barney took Ted on a whirlwind spree of serial dating/getting laid and then hooked up with Robin himself. Ted fell in love with a new woman; one who just might be the titular mother.
I don’t know why this show isn’t more popular. The cast is great, the writing is amazing. It has a progression to the storylines like the best episodes of Friends had, and it could add to the classic television lexicon much the same way that Seinfeld did. Each episode stands on its own, yet each episode also carries the thrust of the series a step further. And, waiting in the wings, is the mother we are supposed to meet by the conclusion of the series. I just love that this show has a map of where it’s been and where it’s going. Part of the fun is when someone refers back to an episode months or years in the past, and you say to yourself “I remember that”. And there’s the occasional referral to something that will happen in the future that makes you say, “Oh yeah, ‘Old Ted’ said that was going to happen."
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. Bring Seinfeld into basic cable and make it a one-camera show, and you’re just hitting the tip of the iceberg of this show. These five characters are about as self-involved as you can get, and will stab anyone in the back to get what they want. But as repulsive as they are as people, they sure can make me laugh. It helps that they always get what’s coming to them by the end of the episode.
The New Adventures of Old Christine; CBS. I was a bit surprised to see this one make the cut, but I had to remind myself what I told a friend of mine during this latest season—this show makes me laugh harder than most any I can remember. I mean, really laugh out loud laughs, not the chuckles most other great comedies get out of me. The show has really grown the past few years, and this season was very tight. The focus is now-- finally-- solely on Christine, and they’re not trying to force New Christine, the ex, or the son into every episode. It has strengthened the entire show by making the supporting characters actually support Old Christine instead of being a focus themselves. And they’ve gotten funnier as a result.
The biggest credit needs to be put on Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who I’ll go on a limb and say is the funniest female in a comedy. I know Tina Fey is the “hot” one to praise, but Louis-Dreyfus has more range right now (yes, much of that is how the character is written, but she can take even the most humiliating of situations, and make them funnier than many others could).
Phineas and Ferb; Disney. Every once in a while, a show “made for kids” just blows me away. This one is definitely made for kids, but there is a maturity and sophistication to it that an adult like me can love. The premise is very simple: two boys decide not to sit around during summer vacation, so they make these gigantic plans every single day in order to live life to the fullest. Disregard the fact that they must be super-geniuses—and super-rich—to even accomplish these ideas; just bask in the idea that every single day should be one of adventure and learning.
The zealousness of the main characters and funny “throw away” lines by everyone make this an infectious show, but take one step back and see how each episode is constructed, and the show becomes that much more fun and sophisticated. I’ll say 90% of each episode contains the following: Phineas and Ferb come up with an idea. Their sister Candace finds out about it, and tells their mom. Mom doesn’t believe her. Phineas asks, “Where’s Perry?” Their pet Perry the Platypus sneaks off to get his orders from Major Monogram. Monogram tells Perry what Dr. Doofenshmirtz has planned, and sends Perry to stop him. P&F continue to work on the day’s project, and someone they have to get materials from asks, “Aren’t you a little young to be doing [whatever they’re doing]?”, and Phineas responds with, “Yes. Yes I am.” Isabella, the cute neighbor girl with a crush on Phineas arrives and asks, “Whatcha dooooin’?” and Phineas answers, and oftentimes drags her into the plan. Candice gets a step closer to “busting” them but mom still doesn’t believe her. Perry breaks into Doofenshmitrtz’s lair and Dr. D. captures him. Dr. D. does something stupid, and Perry escapes, and turns the tables on Dr. D. Dr. D.’s plans fall apart just as Phineas and Ferb finish their adventure for the day, which is just when Candice convinces her mom to see what the boys are doing. And somehow, Perry and Dr. Doofenshmirtz destroy whatever the boys had created just seconds before their mom shows up.
And every episode also contains at least one short, original song in the spirit of the episode.
And what’s even more amazing—every episode feels different. It follows a formula, but it’s always presented in a different way.
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