Rank: 20
Genre: Horror/Fantasy Drama
Cast: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Alexander Skarsgard,
Deborah Ann Woll,
and Joe
Mangeaniello
Channel: HBO
Current Season: Sixth
Season Premiere Date: June
16, 2013
Plot Summary: Sookie Sackhouse, a telepathic
waitress in a small backwater Louisiana town, finds her life in constant peril
when she starts a relationship with a vampire Bill Compton.
Why It’s Worth Watching: True Blood is a highly
entertaining series to watch (with its often insane storylines). Creator Alan
Ball’s writing is very interesting as he makes comparisons to the issues of our
times using vampires, werewolves, witches, and all other manner of supernatural
creature. However, season six will be the first without Ball in charge, as he has
left to run his new series Banshee.
Brian Buckner
has taken over as the series showrunner. He has been a writer on the series
since season one (working before on Friends and Spin City). Can the show
continue to be as crazy, fun, and engaging without Ball?
Rank: 19
Genre: Action Comedy
Channel: FX
Current Season: Fifth
Season Premiere Date:
January 2014
Plot Summary: Archer is an international spy working
for ISIS who often gets himself into trouble thanks to his extreme ego and
pettiness.
Why It’s Worth Watching: Archer is hilariously
genius. The cast of crazy characters all trying to undermine each other,
bickering like spoiled siblings, is wonderfully brought to life by phenomenally
funny voice-actors (especially H. Jon Benjamin as Archer). The shenanigans and
inside jokes that build with each season are what make this comedy such a
pleasure. While often over-the-top and ridiculous in its comedic endeavors, its
characters are still rich enough for the series to also engage from a narrative
standpoint. There is no finer animated series on television right now.
Rank: 18
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Platt, Jim O’Heir, Retta, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe
Channel: NBC
Current Season: Sixth
Season Premiere Date: Fall
2013
Plot Summary: Leslie Knope is an ambitious public
official in Pawnee, a small Indiana town. This is a documentary-style show
about her life and political career.
Why It’s Worth Watching: Parks and Recreation, like Community, has again
overcome low ratings (despite critical acclaim and adoring fans) to again be
renewed. It is one of the funniest sitcoms on TV, with a fantastic comedic
cast. The characters are also well developed – the viewers care just as much
about the characters as the jokes (probably more). With The Office coming to
an end (and really not being nearly as good since Michael Scott left), Parks
and Recreation has taken over as NBC’s best comedy (that is not as weird as
Community), and is a must-see for fans of The Office that have not yet
discovered it.
Rank: 17
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Cast: Louis C.K.
Channel: FX
Current Season: Fourth
Season Premiere Date:
Summer 2014
Plot Summary: The everyday life of Louis C.K. – a
standup comedian living in New York City.
Why It’s Worth Watching: Louie has been off the air
since 2012, and Louis C.K. took a hiatus to pursue other creative projects.
However, it is finally set to return in 2014 (I assume in June). While Louie is
very funny (especially his standup routines) with wonderful awkward humor and
situations, it works wonderfully as a character drama as well. Louis C.K.
struggles with relationships and taking care of his two young daughters,
presenting his daily grind in a very relatable way. It is one of the best-written
shows on television.
Rank: 16
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Channel: HBO
Current Season: Third
Season Premiere Date:
January 2014
Plot Summary: Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shoshanna
are four girls in their early twenties who live in New York City – Sex and the City, but
set in Brooklyn and for a different generation.
Why It’s Worth Watching: Lena Dunham has such a
fresh and unique voice. She is fearless in her writing. All of which seems to
make Girls a very polarizing series. Some hate it, while other (myself
included) think it is brilliant. The show also has a fantastic rawness to it –
a vitality that makes it so compelling. For some it may just be a guilty
pleasure, but for me it is a wonderfully written look into the pains of growing
up and finding your place in the world.
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