With 2011 coming to a close, it has become common practice at The Rebellion to reflect on the past year in the world of entertainment. In celebration of the impending new year, I was assigned the tiresome task of determining the best television shows of 2011. This list proves the evident trend that premium channels such as Showtime and HBO are beginning to dominate the television airwaves, as only two programs in my top ten stem from network television. Of course watching every great television show (including Mad Men, The Walking Dead, Community) of the year was outside the realm of possibility, but the following list consists of nine undoubtedly worthy programs, and one that I just couldn’t bring myself to exclude.
1. Dexter– Michael C. Hall returns for season 6 of Showtime’s smash hit in his career’s defining role as Dexter Morgan: a Miami Metro Homicide blood spatter analyst by day, and a vengeful serial killer by night. Throughout viewers’ relationships with Dexter, this oddly lovable protagonist has put his faith into nothing except science and “Harry’s Code”: the set of rules developed by Dexter’s loving father to keep his dark secret from the rest of the world. Dexter’s sixth season somewhat strays from the blueprint seen seasons past, with Dexter delving into his own personal issues regarding faith and religion. In turn, the villainous serial killer filling this season’s role as antagonist, Travis Marshall (Colin Hanks), is a devout Christian who believes his murderous activities will trigger the end of the world. Essentially, season six of Dexter sets up a heavyweight bout between science and religion, with each ideology being represented respectively by Dexter and Travis.
2. Entourage- Reaching the culmination of eight illustrious seasons, HBO’s Entourage, the rags-to-riches story of Queens-born actor Vincent Chase and his gang of lifelong friends, returned to prime form in 2011. What made Entourage’s popularity so immense was its ability to allow viewers to “live the dream”, through the eyes of characters who are equally awestruck at times. Behind the exemplary quartet of Adrien Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, and Jerry Ferrara, Entourage established itself as a television powerhouse over the past seven years and has left a gaping void in the DVR’s of millions of viewers since its farewell episode on September 11, 2011.
3. Homeland- Set in the post-death of Bin Laden United States, Homeland, which revolves primarily around the interactions between the CIA and Islamic terrorist organizations, is Showtime’s latest masterpiece. Claire Danes shines in the role of Carrie Mathison, the show’s protagonist and the driving force behind its undeniable suspense. Combining plot twists aplenty with a realistic, up-to-date feel, Homeland has gained a large following in its debut season, only further bolstering Showtime’s impressive television resume.
4. Modern Family- The brain child of Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan is in currently in the midst of its third season of brilliance on ABC. The only major network television show to crack my list, Modern Family brings viewers on a side-splitting journey through the trials and tribulations of “one big (straight, gay, multicultural, traditional) happy family.” This underestimated ensemble, including the likes of Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell, has transformed Levitan and Lloyd’s script into one of the most popular network television shows on air.
5. Boardwalk Empire- If an HBO television show is premiering an $18 million dollar pilot episode directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese and co-written by Terence Winter of The Sopranos, one would be remiss not to give it a chance. Behind this sentiment, HBO debuted Boardwalk Empire, the story of gangster Nucky Thompson’s reign of corruption over Atlanta City during the prohibition era. Played brilliantly by Steve Buscemi, Nucky interacts with the likes of other famous gangsters including a young Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Behind the trio of Winters, Buscemi, and Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire is a perfect storm of sorts in the organized crime genre; the results are evident.
6. Friday Night Lights– Joining Entourage as one of the best television series to air its finale episode in 2011 was Friday Night Lights. The television adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s classic novel reached its bittersweet culmination in July, ending its widely-celebrated five year run. As I delved deeply into in my initial review of the series finale, this show has been a staple of my life for the past five years. Sure, like every series, it had its ups and downs, but when FNL was at its peak, there was no better entertainment on the air. My advice to those who missed this incredible series, buy the DVD’s.
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm– Yet another HBO series to find its way onto my list, Curb Your Enthusiasm entered its eighth season in 2011. One of the most creative shows on television, Curb takes a fictionalized look into the life of Larry David: the ill-mannered, highly misinterpreted creator of Seinfeld. Also the creator of Curb, David showcases his multifaceted arsenal of talents by playing himself as the main character. Sure, he plays himself, but the energy David brings to the screen is incomparable, making Curb a can’t miss for comedy fans.
8. The Killing- Separating itself from other crime dramas, The Killing focuses solely on one crime. AMC’s 2011 breakout series centers around the murder investigation of a Seattle teenager and due to riveting suspense, had all viewers asking the same question: Who killed Rosie Larson? Many hoped for this question to be definitively answered during The Killing’s first season, but the prolonging of this mystery will enable a second season. For the sake of AMC, one must hope that season two of its innovative murder mystery will match the caliber of its inaugural season.
9. Shameless- The Americanized version of a British sensation, Showtimes’s “Shameless” met rave reviews in 2011. Led by brilliant performances from William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum, “Shameless” delves into the world of real blue collar America. In a way, the glorification of this impoverished lifestyle proves that even the most seemingly dysfunctional families have an undeniable sense of familial funtionality.
10. Workaholics- Alright, I know what you’re probably thinking. Workaholics? One of the best shows of 2011? To be honest, I really don’t care. Now in its second season, Comedy Central’s Workaholics has established itself as a legitimately hilarious series. “Clever” is not a strong enough word to describe the comedic plot of this sophomore series. Perhaps we could try “perceptive” or “sagacious.” Regardless of its unjust reputation as an immature gross-out comedy, Workaholics has officially arrived as one of the brightest comedies on air.
