Toronto – Here are some tv shows I enjoyed in 2009, whether or not the show is from 2009 is irrelevant.
Peep Show
Easily one of my favorite shows of all time. Peep show is about two characters named Mark and Jez, who despite being completely different, are both equally dysfunctional in life and in love. The uniqueness of the show comes from it is show from each characters point of views and the narrative is from each characters inner dialogue. I watched the entire series this year and I have re watched many episodes and also introduced a handful of friends to this show. The humor is pretty low brow but it’s always funny and you will laugh out loud at least once an episode.
True Blood
There’s so many shows about vampires, but this one is probably the only good one. I think I like this show so much because me and my coworkers spend so much time mocking bill’s “soookie soookie” call. Season 2 wasn’t as good as season one, mainly because all the characters are idiots. The jury’s out on season 3.
Party Down
One of the more underrated shows of the year, this one and out series from Rob Thomas (creator of Veronica Mars) is about a group of wannabe Hollywood types working as caterers. The dialogue is witty and razor sharp and because it is a Rob Thomas vehicle, there is a bevvy of guest appearances from past alumuni’s. The show starts off a little slow, but once you get to know the characters, then the humor slowly builds up.
Another brit com, this one is about four 17 or 18 year olds going through the awkward phases of growing up. My friend Derek says this show reminds him of the cult classic Freak and Geeks. Some of the characters are a bit cliche (theres a neurotic one, a dumb one, a talkative one, etc) but they portray all the internal conflicts of being young and clueless to the tee. The thing I love about britcoms is that they usually pull no punches and the Inbetweeners is another classic example. There is swearing, very crude comments and even jokes about the handicap, making this show quite authentic in this portrayal of youth. The show also has great music.
Battlestar Galactica
Who doesn’t watch this show. Alternating between amazing and absurd, the last season sees all kinds of crazy stuff happen, betrayals, murders, redemptions, romance..all leading to one spectacular battle and semi fitting conclusion. This show had an amazing four year run of combining great human drama and science fiction. The acting was top notch and even if there were a few episodes where you weren’t sure why they had the episode, the overall quality of this series is unquestioned. It also spawned a whole generation who now say the word ‘frack’.
Gossip Girl
Everyone is allowed to have a guilty pleasure when it comes to TV, Gossip Girls is mine, only I feel no guilt about it. The show about really rich uptown New Yorkers is everything you want a good drama to be – there’s plenty of backstabbings, schemings, nasty one liners and clothes showing off Blake Lively’s cleavage. What’s even more entertaining is reading the comments left by viewers after each episode on the NYMag‘s website. This show also has great music, a trademark of Josh Schwartz I think.
There you go, some of my tv choices for the year. In hindsight, I think I watch too much tv.
Honorable mentions: Lost, 24 (if only to mock it), the IT Crowd, Entourage (a show I have no idea as to why I watch it), Flight of the Concords (I felt like it wasn’t as strong as the first season) and How I Met Your Mother
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