Favorite TV Shows of 2011

As the year closes, and television season finales winding down it's time to rate my favorite series of 2011.  Since I am going to attempt to give up the stuff, I might as well attempt to use all those wasted hours to get something out of it.  Please comment and if there was anything I missed, let me know!

11.   America's Next Top Model

Generally this show is at the top of my yearly list, I end up rooting for a certain girl, get really attached, be all team Anne, or Brittany, or Kayla.  This year that didn't happen, at all.  I found the girls dull, and no one ever really stood out.  That's why we see America's Next Top Model in such a low place, but still my faggotry betrays me and ANTM will always be a favorite.

10. Dexter
Dexter has almost become a chore for me the last few seasons,  While I appreciate what happens, I'm just not investing into it like I have in the past.  It's still really good to watch, but I feel obligated to because I've liked it for so long and now I'm just not loving it anymore.

The season was decent.  Dexter struggles with the big things God, the bible, salvation and evil end of times bs.  I just don't let my self fall in love with this plot.  It seems almost too contrived.

9. Walking Dead

I just don't even feel like putting up a clip or a picture.  The first season had such amazing promise. Then came the second season which we are in the middle of, and it has been a little boring to watch. the drama and character building was getting out of hand.

8.  Law and Order: SVU

I mourn the loss of Christopher Melony.  I mean, he was just brilliant, and sexy. (I'll admit it. I think he's hot)  The whole set up of this show is so formulaic it's comforting.  It's one of the shows that I let myself give into and feel it out and get sucked in emotionally because I can trust it.  The characters are great, and the writing is lovingly predictable.


7 American Dad
This is one of my favorite moments in the recent run of the show.

I laugh through an entire episode.  It is usually a show that turn my day right around 180 degrees.  It's sad that I have decided to rank it so low.  But I cannot think I could watch another family guy episode without groaning, American Dad came along.  It's great writing and the dynamic character of Roger gives the creators a lot of opportunity for hilarities.  If it wasn't for the emotional impact of other shows, this would definitely be number 1.

6 True Blood

Who can't love a pornographic fantasy soap opera? I sure can't.  It's dirty, trashy, and delightful.  I know I'm going to be taken for a ride of ridiculousness and I think it's awesome. 


5 United States of Tara

I am so sad to see this show be canceled.  I was getting really attached to the family and the characters. Tara, a mother who has dissociative identity disorder tries to keep the lid on things, and raise two very well-adjusted children.  I loved the family in this, nothing rocked them, they took everything that happened and got through it together.  The gay son is openly accepted and shows what kind of opportunity for normalcy when a family is as supportive as this.  United States of Tara was a fantastic study on how intense mental illness affects families, and how it can be so meaningless when family is the number one priority.


4 Nurse Jackie

Forgive the trailer for season one, it showed Mo-MO the gay nurse friend Jackie had before they wrote him out.  I love this show because it's about being a good person, family, and all the real not so good stuff in between (totally wrote that before I saw the trailer. I can't believe they stole my line!) It's just great, and the only medical show DH will watch (he's very particular, having been a nurse for 9 years now)

3American Horror Story

This is the only show that completely took me by surprise.  I mean, I heard a few things, but I got absorbed in to the story.  I couldn't get enough of it.  The house itself is a great story, the lives of those living in the house, the lives of the dead and their histories coming together for an interesting story in this dama/horror show FX style.  I never would have thought that I would come to love a show like this, but it happened, and after this week's season finale I can say this was one of the best shows on in 2011


2 Homeland

I wasn't expecting Homeland to be so well done, definitely didn't expect it to over take Dexter as such an excellent Showtime series. We follow an unstable CIA agent, Claire Danes, and she attempts to connect the dots to uncover the next big terrorist strike against the United States.  Danes' character is unbelievable.  Damian Lewis, a POW in the Iraq war is discovered by US troops and returns as a hero and new poster boy for the war on terror.  The intricacies of a spy thriller combined with amazing personal dramas make this a must watch, and I eagerly anticipate the return of the second season which could take us anywhere.

And finally my favorite series of 2011......

Big Love

Big Love will always be one of my favorite shows ever created.  I felt normal when I watched it, that my Mormon upbringing was being validated by millions of viewers.  I obviously didn't grow up fundamentalist, but the basic tenants were still there.  The last season was heavy, it dealt with Barb, the first wife wanting to hold the priesthood.  The youngest who was always so confident finally unravels and begins to find herself. The second wife grows and becomes a real human, trying to heal from the scars of being raised on the compound.  Bill's church (never really cared for his character) grows and in the end, even gets a nod of approval in a spiritual revelation from Emma Smith.   His is a church that values women as true equals, honors the teachings of Joseph smith and has the true power of God.  I will say that that Big Love has been truly respectful of the church.  It could have taken a very anti-Mormon stance, but chose to be very careful about walking the line of identifying it as a cult and too much promotion.  It did very well in showing actual beliefs, and the church being a manipulating power house--which it is.  I will never forget how beautiful, peaceful and sacred when they showed part of the temple endowment with Barb in season four.

The series finale of this show in March brought me to tears. It helped heal me in a way.  Big Love, by far, made the biggest, most personal impact on me, and that's why it deserves my number 1 spot.