Chris' Top 5 TV Shows of 2010

 

I am pleased that the quality of American television—the production, the budget, the writing, the innovation—is ever rising. 2010 has had an array of quality shows. Here are my five favorites of the year.

5. No Reservations

To be the guy on the Travel Channel known for not pulling punches, tellin' it like it is, and being less like a tourist and more like a traveler, isn't saying much. Competing mostly with other rich white people on a network dedicated to showing you what to do with a lot of money (with occasional overplayed second-rate shows) means all you have to do is swear on camera and your the badass.

But Anthony Bourdain is truly necessary for his network. He grounds it all by himself. He does unabashedly what other travel shows avoid, knowingly or unknowingly. Culture and people are the foremost important elements of No Reservations. I am consistently impressed with Bourdain's choice of locations to visit, people to talk to, topics to discuss, and food to analyze. It is the peerless travel show, to me.

This year, I especially loved the 100^th episode special, a return to Paris, the location of the show's pilot. Bourdain's narration is usually concise and substantial, and only sometimes self-indulgent. If you can't go somewhere yourself, watch him visit instead. (Most of the series is available streaming on Netflix.)

4. Parks & Recreation

NBC's show-that-should-be-on-now-but-inexplicably-is-not, Parks & Rec had a fantastic second season in early 2010. The plot leading up to the finale actually justifies the long hiatus (while NBC makes room for Outsourced), which I like. The effort put into the writing reminds me of early- to mid-The Office quality. That is not to say these shows feature the same characters, but rather the exploration of each character is only beginning, and the hilarity never stops.

Amy Poehler does an amazing job as Leslie Knope. Chris Pratt and Nick Offerman are exceptional, as well. (The entire series [so far] is available streaming on Netflix.)

3. Saturday Night Live

Seasons 35 and 36 aired this year, and, though it is no surprise to me, the writing is consistent, unexpected, and very funny. When Tina Fey left SNL years ago, it seemed like a lot of loyal viewers left too. But the new image of SNL—the digital shorts, the What's Up With That?s, the Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animalses—is exceptional and always fresh. I think I enjoy the show so much in part because I'm in the 18-24-year-old male key demographic of most comedy shows. At any rate, from traditional political skits to the absurdity of southerners fighting over potato chips, there is a spectrum of comedy explored on each episode, and success is had a majority of the time.

(Season 35 and most of what is aired this season are available streaming on Netflix. SNL is also on Hulu.)

2. 30 Rock

Of all the scripted television I have ever seen, I might recommend 30 Rock first. Seasons 4 and 5, which aired in part this year, are as funny, enlightening, clever, and unique as ever. That the caliber of Tina Fey's comedy has remained so high over five seasons is almost mysterious; but the jokes remain similar in heart, yet always unexpected and fresh. Though 30 Rock is a critical darling, I'm not sure it has as many fans as, say, The Office. If you, like me, watched an episode of 30 Rock, didn't get it, and wrote it off, give it another chance, and start from the beginning.

And still, in 2010, 30 Rock was so close to being my favorite show of the year. (Seasons 1-4 are available on Netflix. The current season is available on Hulu.)

1. Lost

The reason I would recommend 30 Rock over my number one favorite show of 2010, Lost, is probably as obvious to fans as it is to haters. The deliberately finite sci-fi fantasy drama ended its run with its sixth season this Spring. (I've already addressed some of my impressions on Cerebral Pop.) The final season was a...what means “roller coaster” besides “roller coaster”?...it was one the most exciting, suspenseful, elating, and sad times I've had watching television. The culmination of over a hundred hours of story over a number of years built up at too brisk a pace, but the writing—I know crazy shit happened all the time, I know this—was always exciting and mostly satisfying.

The show is concise enough that I can recommend you start with Season 1, Episode 1, and watch all of it. Damon Lindelof, Carlton Cuse, Brian K. Vaughn, J.J. Abrams, and many others took many risks with the direction of Lost, considering it aired on ABC prime time, but were successful. I am happy to have enjoyed the series. (The entire series is available on Netflix.)