Tube Notes with Ryan Benharris

What shows will the Golden Globes be buzzin’ about…and should you bother to watch them?

The Golden Globe Awards returns to CBS tonight for the second year after a hiatus where its former arbiter The Hollywood Foriegn Press completely fell apart. Last year’s ceremony was more reserved and much more aware of the inclusion deficiencies in years past. This year won’t be any different.

Nikki Glaser is set to host after a massively successful year. She came away the darling and winner of Netflix’s (tremendous) Roast of Tom Brady and has essentially been the mouthpiece for all of stand-up comedy in 2024.

An important thing to note about the Golden Globe Awards….well two important things, really. First is that it tends to take its film nominations way more seriously than it takes the ones it hands out for TV. Because of that it (and secondly) it tends to get pretty weird with who comes away with the TV awards at the end of the night.

No example is more clear of that this year than the bizarre nomination for Squid game in the Best Television Series – Drama category. Squid Game wasn’t available to viewers for more than a month after the nominations were announced and Netflix’s review embargoo lasted until the day it was released (December 26th). So that seemed to be completely out of the blue. Unsurprisingly the reviews were pretty-mid and now they just look stupid.

Below is my scorecard for tonight’s show. Feel free to share, comment and play along.

Look for me to live-tweet the event on X (From the One Happy Island of Aruba no less)

Best Television Series – Drama

Nominees

• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• Mr. And Mrs. Smith (Amazon)
• Shogun (FX)
• Slow Horses (Apple)
• Squid Game (Netflix)
• The Day of the Jackal (Peacock)

What Will Win

Shogun (FX)

What Should Win

Shogun (FX)

What Could Win (But Probably Shouldn’t)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• The Bear (Hulu)
• Hacks (HBO)
• Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• The Gentlemen (Netflix)

What Will Win

The Gentleman (Netflix)

What Should Win

Hacks (HBO)

What Could Win (But Probably Shouldn’t)

Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees

• Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
• Disclaimer (Apple)
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story (Netflix)
• Ripley (Netflix)
• The Penguin (HBO)
• True Detective: Night Country (HBO)

What Will Win

Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

What Should Win

The Penguin (HBO)

What Could Win (…and probably won’t and shouldn’t)

Disclaimer (Apple)

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Nominees

• Anna Sawai (Shogun)
• Emma D’Arcy (House of the Dragon)
• Kathy Bates (Matlock)
• Kiera Knightley (Black Doves)
• Kerri Russel (The Diplomat)
• Mya Erskine (Mr. And Mrs. Smith)

Who Will Win

Anna Sawai (Shogun)

Who Should win

Anna Sawai (Shogun)

Who Could Win (But probably shouldn’t)

Kathy Bates (Matlock)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama

Nominees

• Billy Bob Thornton (Landman)
• Donald Glover (Mr. And Mrs. Smith)
• Eddie Redmayne (The Day of the Jackal)
• Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
• Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun)
• Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent)

Who Will Win

Eddie Redmayne (The Day of the Jackal)

Who Should Win

Hiroyuki Sanada (Shogun)

Who Could Win (But Probably Shouldn’t)

The entire field other than Sanada

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees

• Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
• Jean Smart (Hacks)
• Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along)
• Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
• Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
• Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building)

Who Will Win

Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along)

Who Should Win

Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)

Who Could Win (AND Probably SHOULD)

Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building) or Jean Smart (Hacks)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy

Nominees

• Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)
• Jason Segel (Shrinking)
• Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)
• Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
• Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building)
• Ted Dawson (A Man on the Inside)

Who Will Win

Ted Dawson (A Man on the Inside)

Who Should Win

Jason Segel (Shrinking)

Who Could Win (But Probably Shouldn’t)

Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This) or Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees

• Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer)
• Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
• Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)
• Kate Winslet (The Regime)
• Naomi Watts (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans)
• Sofia Vergara (Griselda)

Who Will win

Jodie Foster (True Detective: Night Country)

Who Should Win

Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)

Who Could Win (But Probably Shouldn’t)

Kate Blanchett (Disclaimer)

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television

Nominees

• Andrew Scott (Ripley)
• Colin Farrell (The Penguin)
• Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
• Ewan McGregor (A Gentleman in Moscow)
• Kevin Kline (Disclaimer)
• Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer)

Who Will Win

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer)

Who Should Win

Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer)

Who Might Win

Colin Farrell (the Penguin)

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

Nominees

• Allison Janney (The Diplomat)Dat
• Dakota Fanning (Ripley)
• Hannah’s Einbinder (Hacks)
• Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer)
• Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country)
• Liza Colon-Zayas (The Bear)

Who Will Win

Liza Colon-Zayas (The Bear)

Who Should Win

Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer)

Who Could Win (and ABSOLUTELY SHOULD)

Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country) – Editor’s Note: What an absolutely stupid category. Gunning, Fanning and Reis should be in different categories than Colon-Zayas and Einbinder (who should be in separate categories themselves) and they should all somehow be able to win a comparable award. This is a stacked category filled with capable nominees. The fact that it snubbed no less than three female actors from Shrinking and three from Shogun is equally baffling. This is the perfect example of why they need to either expand the supporting actor categories or eliminate them all together. This isn’t the right way to do this.

Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television

Nominees

• Diego Luna (La Maquina)
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
• Harrison Ford (Shrinking)
• Jack Lowden (Slow Horses)
• Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
• Tadanobu Asano (Shogun)

Who Will Win

Harrison Ford (Shrinking)

Who Should Win

Harrison Ford (Shrinking)

Who Could Win (And I’d be fine with, I guess)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)

Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television

Nominees

• Adam Sandler: Love You (Netflix)
• Ali Wong: Single Lady (Netflix)
• Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was… (Netflix)
• Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die (HBO)
• Army Youssef: More Feelings (HBO)
• Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking (HBO)

Who Will Win

Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die (Netflix)

Who Should Win

Adam Sandler: Love You (Netflix)

1. The Penguin (HBO)

When HBO ambitiously took on a effort to create a (non-Joker) Batman villain origin story that was gritty, real, and compelling it took a massive swing for the fences and crushed the ball so far over the fence that no one may ever find it.

Showrunner Lauren LeFranc (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) developed a world that was part Sopranos-style crime lord, part comic book pomp-and-circumstance and all character driven spectacle.

Flawless performances from lead Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti with equally flawless supporting performances from Deirdre O’Connell and Rhenzy Feliz were the foundation for the series that will ultimately be the gold standard of TV comic book adaptations in the 21st century.

2. Hacks (HBO/MAX)

The Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy winning third season of HBO/MAX’s spectacular buddy comedy about buddies who hate each other was perfect from start to finish.

Rebounding extensively from a marginal second season the series returned with stellar performances from its two leads and its supporting cast; especially co-showrunner Paul W. Downs. Hacks is rapidly becoming one of HBOs best comedy series of all-time.

3. Shogun (FX)

From its intricate cinematography to its meticulously crafted battle scenes to the lavish costumes to even the lure if its magical opening sequence, getting completely engulfed in the epic magnitude of FX’s retelling of of James Clavell’s novel about the feudal power struggles in 17th century Japan felt like pure magic.

The series depicts the sharp contrast between classes, genders, races and religion was rewarded with the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2024. Shogun’s large scale rise to the top shelf of television will likely keep it there for a decade and may be the heir to the Game of Thrones so many other shows have tried to be.

4. English Teacher (FX)

FX’s high school sitcom written by, directed by, and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez explores modern day struggles of young teachers within the confines of high school walls.

English Teacher is less about the insanity inside the classroom and more about the insanity the world forces on the faculty, administration and students of the school.

The cast is phenomenal. Jordan-Alvarez himself is a bona fide superstar and flourishes in the lead. Stephanie Koenig and Sean Patton head up a supporting cast that brings fresh faces and intense laughs to a sitcom genre as old as TV itself.

English Teacher isn’t only binge-worthy, it’s one of the few series of 2024 that’s easy to watch over and over and over again.

5. We Are Lady Parts (Peacock)

We Are Lady Parts, the British sitcom about an all-female and Muslim punk band returned to Peacock for a second season in 2024. The series truly works at making a punk rock statement in an uptight world.

Improving on an already fantastic first season, the second season shifted more toward a statement about gender and religious obstacles in the music industry.

A must watch for music lovers, the series also boasts an impeccable original soundtrack as strong as the plot.

6. Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Shrinking seemed to have the perfect genetic makeup to return with a sophomore slump. Quite to the contrary its second season managed to maneuver through its own limited world to create truly moving moments with brand new characters without needing to really stretch to find content.

Massive leaps forward from supporting cast members Lukita Maxwell, Luke Tennie, Ted McGinley, Christa Miller, and Michael Urie complemented an already tremendous season one cast that included Jason Siegel and Harrison Ford…and now in Season 2, Jessica Williams might have turned in one of the best performances in all of 2024 television.

Instead of sophomore slumping Shrinking clearly proved that it can be one of the most rewarding series on television worthy of multiple seasons.

7. Interview With The Vampire (AMC)

The second season of AMC’s Interview With the Vampire is one of those situations where every critic on the planet is gushing over its perfection while its already tiny audience dwindles by the episode.

In a perfect world so many more people would be watching this series. It’s difficult to watch, but it’s rewarding at the same time.

Incredible performances by stars Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid highlight showrunner Rolin Jones’ masterful work in bringing Anne Rice’s vision to life in a manner that valiantly represents her novel.

If it’s one of those series that you’ve been telling yourself you’re going to get to eventually, you really should be doing it now because you’re really missing out.

8. Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

Disguised as a series about one man’s disastrous experience with a random stalker it’s actually an incredibly deep commentary on the complexity of grief and the internal struggle of repression, guilt and trauma.

Stunning performances from the two lead actors with a stellar cast made Baby Reindeer an absolutely fascinating exploration of the human psyche. It was the follow-up series to Clerkenwell Films’ tremendous “The End of the Fucking World,” which I loved in 2020.

9. The Bear (Hulu)

The disjointed feeling of The Bear’s third season didn’t bother me as much as it seemed to bother a lot of viewers who adored its first two go-arounds. The Bear lives and breathes in chaotic disaster and it forces the viewer to live there too. Unfortunately a lot of viewers are admitting that the heat has become too much and seem all to ready to get out of the kitchen.

The ten short episodes of Season three felt like the first half of a two part story that were filmed back to back (because it is). The reality is that nearly every series that’s taken that approach has backloaded the second half with much more gratification than the front half which tends to serve as a set up to something a lot bigger.

The tenth episode had an opportunity to deliver big and it mostly swung and missed. Regardless of that, for me, The Bear has earned my right to expect that it will pull itself out of a slump and cohesively put itself back together.

The pieces are all there to do it and I have little doubt it will pull it off. I liked the third season a lot. Some people actively hated it (which is weird to me). There’s just way too much going on with it to love for me to understand how so many people could be so turned of by it.

10. Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (Investigation Discovery)

Every so often a series comes out of nowhere that I can’t stop thinking about for months after I’ve watched it. This was that series for me in 2024.

Investigation Discovery’s Quiet on Set delivered on its promise to bring disruption to the hush-hush world of child entertainment while even more powerfully questioning the viewer’s culpability in allowing it to promulgate.

The series is about awareness as much as it is about advocating for change. It’s about shaming the bad guys and spotlighting the brave ones. Personally being in the target age bracket for the golden age of Nickelodeon and Disney kids cable programming, it brutally shines a light on the world that appeared so charming when I was a kid. A horrifically brilliant and moving short documentary series that definitely understood its assignment.

11. Fallout (Amazon Prime)

Amazon’s tremendous adaptation of one of the most successful video game franchises in history created a brilliant world that proved to be expansive and captivating.

With a plot that moves along at rapid pace Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell are as on top of their game as they have ever been. Between this and The Last of Us, it’s pretty obvious that video game adaptations, when done right, can be some of the most compelling stories ripe for television.

12. Bad Monkey (Apple TV+)

Show-runner Bill Lawrence was on an absolute heater this year. Releasing Bad Monkey and Shrinking back-to-back without even one week of delay in between is pretty difficult to top.

I’ve always been a crazy sucker for Vince Vaughn’s dry sense of humor. When he’s on there’s little else that makes me laugh as hard. If that’s your bag, this thing will be an absolute delight for you. He’s a treasure.

The series, adapted from Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same title, Bad Monkey tells the story of a Florida Keys police detective who’s been relegated to working as a restaurant inspector as he follows clues to solve a murder on his own. It’s one of the most fun binges of the year with tremendous performances by Rob Delaney and Meredith Hagner who lean all the way in to the bizarre element of “Florida-Man” wackiness.

13. Mr. And Mrs. Smith (Amazon Prime)

Adapted from the 1990’s film of the same title, Donald Glover’s brilliant mind combined with Maya Erskine’s wit and charm, Mr. And Mrs. Smith was showered in praise and award nominations.

Each episode navigated through insane action-packed subplots with incredible guest appearances from A-list actors. Staying true to its source material, the film heavily focuses on the relationship between its leads as they struggle with their assigned tasks at hand.

14. Slow Horses (Apple TV+)

Apple’s top-notch spy series didn’t miss a beat into its fourth season after a third season that was so good it essentially touched the sun. With a premier episode that might have been its best overall, the series moved out of London and into France for some beautifully filmed scenes.

With its never ending twists and turns, and Gary Oldman’s delightfully gross iconic performance, it’s clearly got the staying power to be one of the great espionage shows of our generation.

15. The Vince Staples Show (Netflix)

Rapper / Actor Vince Staples’ sketch comedy series on Netflix was a very short, weird, and sometimes dark perspective on his rise to stardom. Pulling from elements of his music career and his family, Staples creates a unique comedy series that has a lot to say about his own bizarre view of the world.

16. Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Highlighted by a superb lead cast of A-lister film royalty Kristen Bell and Adam Brody and a supporting cast of television royalty Justine Lupe and Timothy Simons, creator Erin Foster’s semi-autobiographical tale of an agnostic human studies podcaster who falls in love with a Jewish Rabbi found a massive audience on Netflix.

A quick and easy binge is more than enough to tip your hat at the fun, feel good, quirkiness of a well written comedy that hits all the right accords.

17. Ripley (Netflix)

Adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s classic “Ripley” series of books about Tom Ripley, Andrew Scott stars in the title role may have been born to play. Terrifyingly convincing as the sociopathic conman, Scott steals essentially every single scene he’s in.

More in depth than the Talented Mr. Ripley film of 1999, “Ripley” uses the other books to go deeper into the series and much deeper into the character.

Shot almost entirely in Italy in and black and white the series lends a breathtaking view of one of the most beautiful places in the world as Scott turns in one of the best performances of the year.

18. True Detective: Night Country (HBO)

The fourth season of creator Nic Pizzolatto’s anthology series was the first since Season 1 to feel like it was trying to actually exist with purpose rather than pandering to the audience of its first season. Ironically it did it entirely without Pizzolatto’s involvement.

Jodie Foster is one of the greatest living actors in the world. For her entire career she’s been incredibly selective in her roles, and she obviously took this one because it would be impossible for her not to excel in it. Spoiler: She does.

“Night Country” showrunner Issa Lopez paints a bleak and miserable picture of a dark and secluded town in Alaska reeling from an unsolved murder mystery.

Foster and co-star Kali Reis provide unfettered chemistry as they work diligently to put the pieces of the crime together.

A satisfying conclusion gave the series the nice neat bow it needed to separate itself from the past two versions of True Detective that seemed to have gone awry.

It worked exceptionally well on its own and appropriately well as a nod to the magic of the first season that the series seems to be desperately trying to recreate time after time, and may never escape the comparison purgatory it’s created for itself.

19. 3 Body Problem (Netflix)

Netflix’s adaptation of the Chinese novel series Remembrance of Earth’s Past combined classic elements of old-school science fiction with modern day technology.

What sometimes felt a little like Stranger Things for ubersmart people, 3 Body Problem does an excellent job keeping the subject matter complicated without making the viewer feel stupid….which helps when you’re a stupid guy like me trying to understand complicated subject matter.

In a first season that feels a lot like a set up to a much bigger and more expansive universe, 3 Body Problem benefited from a top-notch performances and pacing just fast enough that told its story out without making you feel like you were wandering through complexity.

20. Ted (Peacock)

So…yeah…Ted was good. That was a weird thing I was telling people at the beginning of the year. I mean, look; if your standards with something are lower than the bottom of the barrel going in, the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised is always going to rear its head.

Adapted from Seth MacFarlane’s two idiotic teddy bear / stoner dude buddy comedies in the early 2000’s, Ted acts a prequel to the films. A lot of times it feels like it exists only as a landing spot for throw-away Family Guy jokes punched up with some f-bombs, but it honestly does a lot more right than it does wrong.

The series has a genuine nostalgic feeling of 90’s sitcoms as that’s where it sets itself. It’s mostly as funny as it is stupid.

(Bonus) 21. Dan Soder: On the Road (YouTube)

Being a massive fan of the genre I always make sure to include a stand-up comedy special on my list every single year.

Veteran Dan Soder’s YouTube special was easily my favorite standup show of 2024. Soder’s stories about living in New York in an apartment with his fiancé are brutally honest and wickedly hilarious. If you’re unfamiliar with Soder, be sure to check it out. He’s a delight.

I offer you, my friends, an appetizer to my reveal of my list of the best TV Series of 2024 (coming this Thursday). Here are some of my favorite episodes of television this year

Note that these are in no way a ranked list of what I thought were the best episodes of TV. Just the ones I enjoyed for one reason or another

I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday.

The Curse – “Green Queen” (S1, E10, Airdate: 1/14/24)

I’ve spent the entirety of 2024 wanting to write about the Nathan Fielder, Emma Stone series that quite honestly became one of my favorite miniseries of all time. I ranked it somewhere in the middle of my list of 2023 because I hadn’t seen it all, and combined with a friend who yearly gives me shit about doing exactly that, and the fact that this series was clearly screaming out to not be judged on its first half, I found myself at the end of it feeling guilty that I hadn’t given it its proper accolade when I wrote it off. I honestly may have seriously considered it the best show of 2024.

It’s been nearly twelve months since the finale of The Curse and I honestly haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Smothered in critical acclaim for its absolute insanity it buys real estate in your head that it’s never giving back.

The curse is an absolute textbook example in avant-garde filmmaking. The series lived for 9 hours in frustratingly slow burn that not only dared the viewer to punch out…but sort of encouraged it. It then culminated in theatrics of special effects and illusions that were out of this world.

Bluey – “The Sign” (S3, E49, Airdate: 4/14/24)

The first ever full-length episode of the massively acclaimed children’s series that has grown a cult following of epic proportions was a giant flex on its ability to captivate children and cripple the hearts of adults with the ease of Rusty’s Cricket swing. Jam-packed with and an ending that would bring even the most rock-hearted cold soul to weeping shambles, Bluey’s “The Sign” wasn’t just the strongest children’s programming episode of television of the year. It was easily one of strongest twenty-eight minutes on TV all year.

My family has watched it a hundred times since it’s airing and it never disappoints. 

30 for 30 – “I’m Just Here for the Riot” (E149, Airdate: 6/4/24)

One thing you often don’t see on this site is a reflection of how big a fan I am of ESPN’s long running. 30 for 30 series.

I’m Just Here for the Riot is co-directors Kathleen Jayme and Asia Youngman’s documentary on the riot that followed the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver after the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in a heartbreaking Game 7.

The film acts as an inside look at the consequences for young adults prosecuted for their part in a riot after social media essentially upends their entire lives. It’s a stinging commentary on the long lasting effects of social media stupidity and how what was identified as the first riot in the social media world hauntingly predicted what was to come for decades following it. 

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV – “The Darkest Secret” (S1, E3, Airdate: 3/18/24)

Mild spoiler alert if you haven’t watched Investigation Discovery’s docuseries about the toxic world of 90’s/2000s Nickelodeon children’s programming ahead…

Following multiple episodes tip-toeing around a mysterious victim in the center of sexual assault allegations within the confines of Nickelodeon productions, Drake Bell comes forward and tells his harrowing experience with Brian Peck, a producer on The Amanda Show who stalked, groomed and ultimately preyed upon him for an extended period of time. Drake discussed the aftermath of Peck’s subsequent arrest, trial and conviction and how Hollywood stars came to the defense of Peck; leaving Drake traumatized and in shambles for much of his life. The episode is brutally honest, and Drake’s incredible heroics is unforgettable. 

The Bear – “Napkins” (S3, E6, Airdate: 6/26/24)

Directed by the incomparable Ayo Edebiri, Napkins was a one-off episode detailing the backstory of Liza Colon-Zayas’ character, Tina. Easily the strongest episode in a marginally weaker third season, “Napkins” came away a fan favorite and a highlight of the entire series. Brilliant performances by both Colon-Zayas and Jon Bernthal (in a return to a guest role that won him an Emmy last year, and will likely win him another one this year) showcase the true underrated talent from the extraordinary cast. 

The Penguin – “A Great or Little Thing” (S1, E8, Airdate: 11/10/24)

In the season (possibly series) finale of HBO’s brilliant rendition of the origin of Gotham’s most ruthless devil, everyone settles for their own place in hell while the series’ plot is wrapped up and the character gets his boarding pass into the next chapter of Matt Reeves’ Batman trilogy.

Flawless performances from Colin Farrell, Cristin Millioti, Rhezney Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell and Ryder Allen escalate to the show to an ultimate boiling point that sends the viewer into the shock and horror of what the show was always supposed to be.

It was hard to pick one episode of this series that I thought was its best, but ultimately with a finale that delivered so solidly it’s equally as hard to shy away from it. 

The Simpsons – “Bart’s Birthday” (S36, E1, Airdate: 9/29/24)

The 36th season of the longest running show in the history of the world was a “what could be” of a series finale. For a show that is on veritably nobody’s radar, it was an introspective masterpiece and by far the best thing the series has done in about two decades.

Hacks – “Par for the Course” (S3, E6, Airdate: 5/16/24)

In what is sure to become one of the most iconic episodes of the series, Hacks hit the epitome of its stride leaning on its two brilliant stars and incredible supporting cast.

Hannah Einbinder was particularly at her absolute best with an iconic cameo performance by Christina Hendricks.

Fallout – “The Beggining” (S1, E8 Airdate: 4/10/24)

 In a season finale that essentially flipped the entire series on its head while tying literally every loose knot of its rookie season together, Fallout saved its strongest and most ambitious episode for its last. Heroes become villains. Villains become heroes and albeit a bit predictable, antiheroes rule the day and steal your heart. Most of all it, it bets on itself that it’s got the staying power to become one of the more expansive universes on television.

Shrinking – “In a Lonely Place” (S2, E6, Airdate: 11/13/24)

Shrinking hits the most tragic part of its existence head on with its most innocent victim in a way that stayed true to the series’ “kindness over chaos” mantra.

In an absolutely beautiful scene where young star Lukita Maxwell sat down with the drunk driver who killed her mother (played by gift-from-the-gods Brett Goldstein of Ted Lasso fame who also wrote the episode and acts as executive producer / creator of the series) to talk out the horrific realities of sudden loss.

As a kid who lost his mom at an early age I’m often very cynical of how fictional media portrays that exact scenario. This was an absolute masterclass in how to do it.

1. The Last of Us (HBO)

I remember being fascinated in 2019 when HBO’s Chernobyl climbed to the top of IMDB’s all-time series list and remained at number one (ahead of perennial leaders Band of Brothers, Planet Earth, and Breaking Bad) for several months. For obvious reasons, Chernobyl deserved the accolades it got and when creator Craig Mazin turned to his next project it seemed almost impossible that he could match the reception.

Impossibility wasn’t actuality when he released The Last of Us in January of 2023

Based on an incredibly successful video game of the same name The Last of Us follows two unlikely partners in a cross country mission to potentially end a destructive illness decades after a horrific outbreak leaving the world in dystopia.

There’s “zombies,” sure. There’s a horror element to The Last of Us, sure. But the show isn’t about those things…at all. It’s about the value of human connection and what the world is and what the world isn’t.

Fans of the game would say, “It has one of the greatest stories of all time,” and I would think to myself (not being a gamer at all), “How the hell does a video game have a compelling story? Let alone a great one?” They couldn’t have been more dead-on.

I honestly think that knowing nothing of the source material was beneficial to me as getting to experience The Last of Us for the first time on screen was a true gift. There was no doubt that fans of the game were left satisfied by the adaptation beyond their wildest dreams.

The ending of the first season of The Last of Us exactly matched the game (so I’m told). It’s the best ending to a series’ first season I’ve ever seen in my life. Much like the greatest series ending of all-time, The Sopranos, you will never stop thinking about it and internally debating it in your head. It’s about as perfect a first season as you could possibly conjure, and it was my favorite thing on television in 2023.

2. The Bear (Hulu)

The second season of The Bear took more risks than its stellar first season. It expanded on its deeply enriched characters behind immaculate acting. Leads Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri give sophomore season performances for the ages. The series has quickly become one of the most watched on television for obvious reasons. It’s going to maintain its place on the top shelf of the golden age of television for as long as it runs.

3. Succession (HBO)

After its first season I wrote that Succession will become HBO’s most popular series once Game of Thrones bows out. Not only did that happen, but it clearly leap-frogged Game of Thrones in the pantheon of great TV as fans frantically tried to rank it amongst the greatest series of all-time. The final season of Succession did all the things it was supposed to and it did them right. It tied up loose ends with nearly all of its main characters while desperately trying to cling to the bare bones of a plot without getting stuck in its own way. Succession will forever be remembered for its exceptional performances and its unique, twisted characters. Most importantly, its final season stuck the landing with a satisfying ending that stayed true to its chaotic nature.

4. Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

When Reservation Dogs ripped off the band-aid to formally announce that its third (and arguably best) season would be its last there was a collective gasp amongst its amassed crowd of loyal fans. One of the most inspirational and moving series in recent history ended the way all shows should…on top and leaving viewers clambering for more.

5. How To with John Wilson (HBO)

John Wilson’s bizarre voyeuristic documentary about humanity in New York City came to the end of its three season run this year. It’s the most in-your-face commentary on the weirdness of behavior patterns of people you will ever find. It’s also tremendously sweet, endearing and arguably the funniest thing on television.

6. Poker Face (Peacock)

Peacock’s anthology series starring Natasha Lyonne as an amateur sleuth on the run who always seems to find her way into a murder she had nothing to do with takes a few episodes to truly set its pace. Once you’re deeply into it there’s really nothing like it on TV. Reminiscent of old school mysteries of the week, each episode creates a personality and charm of its own.

7. Beef (Netflix)

Netflix’s miniseries Beef received countless accolades for its tremendous performances and its unique story. A plot that develops meticulously over its short episodes finds heroes worth rooting for and the most genuinely awful villain imaginable.

8. A Murder at the End of the World (Hulu)

Hulu’s murder mystery about a hacker stranded in the cold mountains of Iceland is a combination of new age thriller with old school David Fincher mindbend. Another series with incredible performances and a new twist on an age old genre. Its commentary on climate change, gender stereotypes, drug abuse love and loss heavily resonates behind its solid whodunnit plot. It hasn’t finished its season yet, so I’m eager to see if it’ll stick the landing. However, five episodes in, it’s easily as good anything else I’ve seen all year.

9. Shrinking (Apple)

As Bill Lawrence was bidding farewell to Ted Lasso this year he brought Shrinking to Apple TV with a whole new slew of likable flawed characters lost and searching for purpose. Highlighted by top notch supporting performances from Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams and newcomer Lukita Maxwell, Shrinking was the brain child of not just Lawrence, but his Lasso Cohort, Brett “Roy Fucking Kent” Goldstein who acts as an executive producer and writer.

10. Dave (FX)

No series bounced back from a terrible sophomore slump harder than Lil’ Dicky’s tremendous third season of FX’s Dave. Going back to the style that made the first season so good, Dave leaned heavily on its core stars to try to adapt to a celebrity world they probably don’t belong in. An amazing crop of guest stars including Rachel McAdams and Brad Pitt brought some legitimacy to the quality of the series. If you punched out after a lousy season two, do yourself a favor and punch back in.

11. Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee)

I will bring my hot take that this entire thing (including the lead) was fake with me to my grave…that being said, it’s impossible to deny how fun, sweet and endearing this series was. Flaws aside, with a premise that could truly be appreciated by anyone and an ending that paid dividends by the millions, it was impossible not to fall in love with Jury Duty.

12. Barry (HBO)

Despite feeling like a bit of a rushed sprint to the finish, HBO’s Barry stayed true to its form in its final season raising the level of anti-hero to new heights. Brilliant performances by its lead, Bill Hader as well as Sarah Goldberg, Henry Winkler and a host of others made for fitting finale to one of the best series of the last ten years.

13. Telemarketers (HBO)

MAX’s documentary mini series about a pair of unlikely former telemarketers looking to bring down the scam industry from the inside was an eye-opening (albeit not very surprising) delight. In particular it reminds you about how out of touch (and out of reach) politicians can be and then spins that on its head. The weird familiarity with its subject matter makes the viewer feel like they’re in on the job, and it exposes the grossness of an industry everyone already knew was completely disgusting.

14. Perry Mason (HBO)

Unfortunately the tremendous second season of HBO’s Perry Mason origin story just wasn’t compelling enough to find an audience to keep it on television. Despite that it came back stronger and more confident than its excellent first season. With outstanding performances from lead Matthew Rhys, and an under appreciated remarkable supporting case in Chris Chalk and Juliet Rylance, it’s truly a shame that it won’t be back for a third round of legal drama…but if you back-burnered it hoping to get to it at some point, you absolutely shouldn’t forget about it.

15. Swarm (Amazon)

Amazon’s based-on-a-true-story (kinda) telling about a young woman obsessed with a Beyoncé-like mega star who spans time and space doubling as a serial killer gets a majority of its inspiration from the mind of Donald Glover. An incredible performance from lead Dominique Fishback was tough to top by anyone in 2023…and her character’s transition from the first to the last episode is truly remarkable. The final episode is something that sticks with you for a long time and will definitely leave you with a sleepless night.

16. A Small Light (NatGeo)

NatGeo (I actually watched it on Disney +) had one of the most talked about original series in 2023 with A Small light…the story of Miep Gies who helped hide the Frank family during the Holocaust. An obviously difficult series to watch at times, the series was a celebration of heroism in a time when the costs were unthinkably high.

17. I’m a Virgo (Amazon)

One of the weirdest shows on TV in 2023 was Amazon’s series about a 13 foot tall man hidden by his parents from the rest of the world and what happens when he takes it upon himself to break out. The world Boots Riley creates is equally a weird as it is compelling.

18. Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark (HBO)

Marc Maron’s post-pandemic HBO special was the most personally revealing stand-up comedy show in a very long time. His stories of personal grief, loss and self-reflection made for one of the more moving performances of the year. I actually saw this performance live about a year before it aired on television and it definitely was better the second time around.

19. The Curse (Showtime)

Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie created what was one of the buzziest series of the year with The Curse. The show follows Emma Stone and Fielder as a married couple with seemingly good intentions to stimulate a downtrodden part of a small New Mexico town with their access to money and a HGTV-like television series. I haven’t had the opportunity to watch the entire series, so I’m not entirely sure what The Curse even is…but it’s as compelling as it can be, no less. Fielder slowly, but surely, has become one of the most beloved content creators for millennials and gen-xers because of his originality and commitment to thinking and being outside of the box. Safdie, coming off the polarizing Uncut Gems, transitions from writer/director to creator/star in a role that, for me, is the most intriguing part of the entire series. The jury is out for me as far as how good The Curse is or will be…but I guess that’s a discussion for 2024.

20. Party Down (STARZ)

Party Down got the reboot treatment fans of the series have been clambering about for more than a decade, and it is easily in the conversation as the best reboot for any series to date. The series matched its original humor. It naturally eases into the inevitable life progression of its characters without having to make it silly or ridiculous. It never tries to follow the cookie-cutter reboot or sequel formula of rehashing old material simply for nostalgia.

21. Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

The final season of Netflix’s most underrated series went out the same way it came in…funny, deeply emotional, and eager to satisfy its most loyal fans. One last time I’ll lobby for the award show circuit recognition of its lead actor, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan who should, without a doubt, be one of the biggest starts on the planet. As I bawled my eyes out at the final scene I realized how much I’m truly going miss one of the better “sitcoms” of the 21st century.

22. Single Drunk Female (Freeform)

Freeform’s excellent comedy about a recovering alcoholic navigating family, love, and loss was cancelled after its terrific second season. It’s a series I hope receives some sort of a redemption somewhere (I’m looking at you, Netflix), and absolutely worth you seeking out to find. Sofia Black-D’Elia’s lead performance is Emmy-worthy, and if this is truly the end of the exceptional series, I have no doubt she’ll go on to do something else equally as good.

23. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (Netflix)

Tim Robinson’s insane world of sketch comedy returned for its third round of absurd nonsense…complete with random screaming, masked pigs and “shirt brothers.” Fans of the series noted a bit of a downtick, but it still remains the best sketch comedy on TV.

24. Cunk on Earth (Netflix)

Diane Morgan’s portrayal of Philomena Cunk, a dim-witted well-intentioned investigative journalist setting out to to tell the story of the invention of the world is one of the funnier diamonds in the rough of Netflix’s sea of content. Morgan’s cynical sarcasm is the backbone of the show’s undeniable charm.