Real talk: we bitch about shows like "Two and a Half Men" and present-day "The Office" here on Warming Glow all the time, but really, we couldn't be happier with the state of TV these days. Stop and think about the mass quantity of great series that will air by year's end, if they haven't already: "Breaking Bad," "Game of Thrones," "Archer," "Mad Men," "Community," "Parks and Rec," "Happy Endings," "Justified," "Louie," "Boardwalk Empire," "Homeland," "The Colbert Report," "It's Always Sunny"...the list goes on and on. It's an amazing time for the small screen, and with Independence Day right around the corner, I put together a list of 20 reasons why I'm proud to be an American TV fan. We love you, "Sherlock," but you'll get yours on...Guy Fawkes Day, I guess?
Because "Happy Endings" is a better "Friends" than "Friends."
Because "Archer" exists.
Because Stefon more than makes up for Seth Meyer's self-satisfied smugness on "SNL."
Because although "Community" has gotten sh*t ratings for three seasons now, it still will have aired 84 episodes by the end of its fourth and not necessarily final season.
Because FX gave Louis C.K. a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, one that no other network would even think about, and "Louie" has since become quite possibly the funniest show on TV, if not the most soul-crushingly honest.
Because Danny Devito, who doesn't have to be working right now, is willing to make himself look like an insane, perverted, drunk, stoned monster on a weekly basis.
Because of Boyd Crowder's hair and dance moves.
Because characters who deserve to get slapped and/or punched get slapped and/or punched.
Because even if "The Simpsons" is a shell of its former self, it's refreshing that the greatest show in TV history can still occasionally come up with a great episode, like last season's "The Book Job."
Because of that moment when a show goes from good to HOLY SH*T, like "Boardwalk Empire" did midway through its second season.
Because there are still Nickelodeon shows out there that don't treat kids like idiots.
Because Hipster Erin.
Because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a goddamn national treasure and doing the best work of her career on "Veep."
Because of "Parks and Recreation"'s universe-expanding recurring characters, including Jean-Ralphio.
Because suggestive "30 Rock" jokes routinely slip past the censors.
Because it's fun watching an old episode of "South Park," and then watching a newer one to see how far Trey and Matt have developed Randy Marsh as a character.
Because Showtime finally has a show worthy of its "HBO competitor" status.
Because of Roger's outfits on "American Dad!"
Because the best drama in TV history, "Breaking Bad," returns in less than two weeks.
Because Alison Brie. (More here)
And Kristen Bell.
And Alexandra Breckenridge.
And Sofía Vergara.
And Hannah Simone.
And Timothy Olyphant.
And the 69th sexiest woman in America, Stephen Colbert.
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No The League?
Ok…
Seriously though. Good list.
I’m pleased with this list because of the lack of The League and Workaholics.
But everything needs more Game of Thrones. Even Game of Thrones does. Kind of an inception thing. Midgets within Midgets. Like a russian nesting doll.
I need to go make a Tyrion Lanister nesting doll now, so that the internete will worship me.
Say what you will about Sherlock, if CSI Grissom was two Lady Heathers, the furries, the dwarves, and maybe Kate Walsh as post-op tranny… it would own.
The sheer volume delivered by American TV is to be admired even if we take it for granted.
A huge thumbs up to everything except Hipster Erin. Good list.
“Because Danny Devito, who doesn’t have to be working right now, is willing to make himself look like an insane, perverted, drunk, stoned monster on a weekly basis.”
…I really get the feeling that he’s not so much acting as “showing up on set and being himself on camera” sometimes. And for that, I love him.
“the best drama in TV history”
Did The Wire stop existing?
The final one should be: “Because of David Simon” and then of Omar’s “All in the Game.” Breaking bad is great, really really really fucking great and more addicting than the blue meth…but I don’t think any show can touch The Wire.
Another reason why I like American TV: Even shows like Psych, Burn Notice, and Longmire may be some what procedural and formulamatic but they’re still entertaining shows that are worth watching
I love Psych.
It’s such an underrated show.
he meant Friday Night Lights
CityTV: one huge reason to be proud of Canadian TV, because Canadians, for some reason, are quicker at getting torrents up than Americans.
Because even our most intense, darkest dramas don’t seem to be focused on giving their audiences depression. Looking at you, BBC.
Seth Meyers is a smug little bastard, isn’t he?
slide 20 you misspelled Friday Night Lights
I was glad to American Dad get some love. People to often just think of it as a Family Guy clone, but it’s actually a very funny (and often very good) show.
American Dad is Seth MacFarlane’s Futurama.
That’s a compliment, by the way.
I know his schtick has run thin over the years, but still, God Bless The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Skewering Fox News a hundred times a year doesn’t seem nearly enough.
Couldn’t include Gillian Jacobs on the sexy ladies list? Alison Brie may be the internet’s favorite, but Britta is pretty damn awesome.
Otherwise, I
…enjoyed the list. Good work. Stupid touchpad.
Especially Goth Britta.
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“Louie” is a good show, but I wish people would quit calling it funny. It’s sporadically funny, but it’s really not a laugh a minute show (nor does it really intend to be). It’s more amusing/surreal/fascinating with occasional comedy than it is a straight up comedy.
Which is part of what makes it so interesting. You never really now what it’s going to do from week to week…whether it will be a comedy, a more serious dramedy, or just a strange bit of continuity free off the wall surrealism.
The Legend of Korra is the kind of show that reminds me what how great cartoons can be.
Also props to Nickelodeon for showing a murder/suicide on Saturday morning.
Horse decapitation > Hipster Erin. Just sayin’.
I like this article though and agree wholeheartedly with its sentiment.
Only missing one…DEXTER
So this slideshow is tagged “Stephen Colbert”, and shows up on other websites with his promo photo, but he doesn’t even get his own slide?
whoa, whoa, whoa, you lost me on the first picture happy endings is good but it isn’t better than friends at being friends, friends is the better show
A lot of great points, but almost a 1/5th of the list are remakes of foreign shows. Murica