Last week we broke down the five best movies of the year, so to round out our top 10, here are five shows that shined through your LCD flat-screen. TV has become the breeding ground for fresh content and long form entertainment you can’t get from a two-hour movie, and shows continue to prove their chops. A mix of old and new, these series show that this is an incredible time for the medium.
1. “Community”
In spite of the popular status “Modern Family” gets, they don’t deserve all the credit. It is time to recognize the other comedy classic on the air, NBC’s underrated “Community.” The first season improved as the cast and writing gelled into rapid-fire fun. The writers finally accepted that the show’s strengths lay in its self-aware and spoof-prone moments. From a paintball war on campus, to an Apollo 13 riff that takes place in a parking lot simulator, “Community” injects a dose of creativity into the basic schoolyard setting. Characters that could have easily been one-note — Joel McHale’s smarmy protagonist, Donald Glover’s jockey Troy and Chevy Chase’s cranky Pierce, have had a surprising amount of depth and chemistry. The time slot underdogs “Community” should have a place on your class schedule.
2. “Fringe”
Now that “Lost” is gone, myth addicts and sci-fi fans have to get their fix somewhere else. They could do a lot worse than the weird science in Fox’s drama. After a rough start to season two, the show has stuck with the parallel universe theme, tying it into the struggle of one man’s personal tragedy. During the third season currently on the air, the show has introduced alternate versions of its characters and put the actor’s skills to the test. Combining freaky cases of the week with brilliant character moments and some top-notch acting by John Noble and Anna Torv, “Fringe” is the show for anyone who is looking for the new “Lost.” A recent scheduling bump to Friday nights puts the series in jeopardy so fans, take note.
3. “Parks and Recreation”
“Parks and Recreation” has blossomed into what creator Greg Daniel’s other sitcom (a little show called “The Office”) should be — or once was. A workplace mockumentary, set in the bureaucratic offices of the Indiana Parks Department, the show debuted in 2009 with a bit of a thud. But in the show’s second season, the cast found its voice, turned stereotypes into funny types and caused me to blaze through season two on Netflix in under a week. Simultaneously wacky and subtle in its satire, the show is full of hilarious, full-featured characters that keep up with (or outshine) series star Amy Poehler. Proving government can get something right, “Parks and Rec” deserves your attention when the third season debuts this month.
4. “The Walking Dead”
The only new fall show worth talking about, AMC’s zombie survival drama based on a popular graphic novel continues the channel’s winning streak. Though bleak and gory, “The Walking Dead” snares you into the fates of a ragtag bunch of characters. The first season was a paltry six episodes, but still caused millions of non-zombie fans to tune into a show where some creature gets blown to bits. The secret lies somewhere between the show’s cinematic look, the fleshed out characters (except for that one racist guy, but we’ll forget he ever happened) and the crazy, so-not-for-kids action sequences. Bonus feature: the series both takes place in and is shot in Atlanta, so you can play the location scenery game even if you’re not into decapitating the undead.
5. “Lost”
No list of 2010 television would be complete without featuring the final season of “Lost.” While suffering some serious plot holes, pacing issues and poor character writing, the epic island drama capped its six-year run with a cherry on top. The endlessly controversial series finale was some of the most emotional, exciting TV moments this spring. While it didn’t touch previous seasons in overall quality, the ride was still enjoyable, focusing on the remaining characters’ survival and a twisty alternate universe storyline. Whatever your position on the season or the series as a whole, the enigma that captivated millions deserves a proper send-off.
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