#10

Helix (Syfy)

I really enjoyed this creepy new series from Syfy. The claustrophobic setting, the disjointed music selection, and day-per-episode time scale helped provide a really unique atmosphere and viewing experience for this contagion thriller. With lots of shocking twists and turns, and some really tense moments, it provided an entertaining thrill-ride of a season. I also really appreciated that the first season tells a somewhat complete story, and that each season will explore a new outbreak in a new setting.

The Mindy Project (FOX)

I have been in love with this comedy from the start and I continue to enjoy it week after week. It’s true that a lot of us were hesitant what would become of the comedy after Mindy and Danny became a couple but the writers didn’t disappoint. The new situations that arise with this office of doctors week after week are more than amusing, they’re hilarious.

#9

You’re the Worst (FX)

This show that started off with one of the worst pilots, but almost immediately afterwards grew to be one of my favorite new comedies. The toxic relationship between Jimmy and Gretchen was something I hadn’t really seen before in a television romantic comedy. I loved that while these two characters were hilariously horrible to others (and sometimes to one another), there was always something there that made them so perfect for one another.

The Strain (FX)

I enjoyed the novel trilogy of the same name, so when I found out that the series was created by the writers Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan I was on board. The series didn’t let me down with constant twists and an incredible creep factor which kept us all holding our breath for the next scary moment. This is not a show to watch when you’re home alone or in the dark if you’re as jumpy as I am because it is very successful at fulfilling it’s genre of vampire horror. I can’t wait for the next season to premiere.

#8

Silicon Valley (HBO)

I really enjoyed this highly-entertaining, heightened look at the world of tech start-ups from creator Mike Judge. I could really relate to a lot of the subject matter and found myself thoroughly enjoying this series. The “Optimal Tip-to-Tip Efficiency” theory/proof in the season finale is easily one of the funniest, most amazing things I watched all year! The ensemble cast is hilarious and work great together—and any show that could actually make me enjoy watching “Gabe” from The Office definitely deserves praise (huzzah to Playing House for this as well).

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)

If you know anything about me, you know that I love crime dramas and that this one is at the top of my list. I’ve been accused of being a creature of habit and that’s okay with me in this department, because this show continues to deliver great story lines, as well as fabulous character growth. The winter finale finally had Kensi and Deeks admit their feelings for each other and kissing—which for some isn’t a big deal but to me, it is. I’m interested to see where this season goes now and what consequences the team faces because of everyone’s personal lives.

#7

Selfie (ABC)

This modern version of My Fair Lady was canceled way too early. I have continued to watch each new episode as is has become available online/On Demand, and the series just gets funnier each week. Karen Gillan is hilarious as the self-obsessed Eliza Dooley, and her chemistry with co-star John Cho is amazing. Last year I couldn’t stand Rebel Wilson’s American accent on Super Fun Night, but Karen’s is quite charming. I love the fun relationship between Eliza and Henry, and I will really miss this show once it’s gone.

Game of Thrones (HBO)

I was late to the party for this show because I chalked it up to be another HBO series full of gratuitous sex and violence—which in all fairness it meets those standards. What I didn’t expect was the intricate story lines and the interesting characters that kept me coming back for more. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it has become mine. I love Tyrion and not just because he is one of the more layered characters, but also because Peter Dinklage is pure genius.

#6

Episodes (Showtime)

I love everything about this show—it is a hilarious and sarcastic look behind the scenes at how TV shows get made, and all of the Hollywood double-speak and double-dealings. The cast is amazing—it’s great to see Matt LeBlanc poke fun at himself, and Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig are always a joy to watch. Their on-screen chemistry is excellent, and it’s fun seeing them as outsiders begrudgingly trying to both navigate and escape the craziness of Hollywood—they give the viewer a window into this strange environment.

Blue Bloods (CBS)

Yes, it’s true—another crime drama. This one has earned my respect not only because the cast is on point week after week, but because the writers aren’t afraid to tackle difficult issues. This season so far we’ve seen them tackle: racial profiling, colleges sweeping rape under the carpet, the dangers of social media, and so much more. I also really enjoy the way the balance the cases with the family side of things, and I never tire of the Sunday Regan family dinner scenes. This show might not be everyone’s favorites but it will continue to be mine as long as it continues to deliver the way it has been.

#5

Review (Comedy Central)

Andrew Daly was hilarious as news reporter Forrest MacNeil, who each week took on the task of reviewing bizarre life experiences suggested by his viewers. What was great about the series was how it didn’t reset the clock each week—the consequences of the previous episode’s tasks were felt in the next as MacNeil’s personal life went further and further down the toilet. The writers did an excellent job of giving a season-wide arc while also perfectly tying-in the week’s reviews with what was happening in Forrest’s life. I have no idea what they will do for season 2, but I can’t wait to find out!

black-ish (ABC)

For the second year in a row a freshman comedy has made it into my top ten and it’s no surprise because this show is comedy gold. I’ll admit to being hesitant to like it at first because of all the people calling it out for being racist (people need to chill), but I couldn’t help it. First, it’s anything but racist because it makes fun of everyone equally. Secondly, the cast is perfection, which shouldn’t really be a surprise seeing as it’s headed by Anthony Anderson. He is one of the best comedians on TV today and I am so glad he has finally found the perfect role to show off his talent in.

#4

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

John Oliver has found a highly entertaining and fun way to present interesting and thought-provoking news stories, many of which you never even heard about from the other mainstream media sources. The writing was sharp and witty, but also well-researched and presented in an fun, easy to understand way—I always looked forward to capping off my Sunday night TV viewing with this 30-minute news program. I have been really missing the show during its hiatus, and I can’t wait for it to return for its second season!

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)

Last year this hilarious comedy broke into my top ten with a bang, and this year it’s back with a vengeance. If you haven’t been watching it, you are missing out on some excellent giggles. Jake and the gang are always finding new ways of getting through the day at the police station and usually it ends up in a funny disaster. The captain continues to be my favorite character and I’m pleased that they’ve given him a little more room to grow this season, instead of just being the humorless boss. I enjoy seeing his battles with the upper brass because it shows us a more human side of him. Regardless of what crime they have week to week, I’m always intrigued and can’t wait for more.

#3

The Strain (FX)

I really enjoyed this over-the-top crazy new twist on the vampire/contagion tale. As the season progressed things got creepier and creepier and always had me on the edge of my seat. There were some shocking twists, including the loss of some characters I expected to be around for a lot longer! I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story continues. I have been tempted to read the books, but I don’t want to spoil the surprises and fun of the series!

Jane the Virgin (The CW)

This is yet another show that I was surprised by because at first the premise appeared to be too outlandish for me to even consider—then I tuned in and was hooked. Admittedly there are some insane circumstances that the characters find themselves in week after week, but somehow it all works. The narration is amusing and reminiscent of shows like Ally McBeal, which works well for the shows movement. The lead is strong and endearing which helps sell the overall implausible idea of the show. You need to give this a chance if you haven’t already.

#2

Fargo (FX)

I wasn’t a die-hard fan of the Fargo film, so I was a bit skeptical when this series was announced. However, the creators did an excellent job of maintaining the spirit and atmosphere of the film while providing a new story with a new set of quirky characters. I wish more shows would do this type of complete story in a season type of show—you don’t have to worry about loose ends if a show does not end up coming back. Billy Bob Thornton was amazing as villain Lorne Malvo, and it was also great to see Martin Freeman in a weekly TV role. The penultimate episode of the first season was easily one of the best, most tense hours of television I saw all year.

Chicago P.D. (NBC)

This actually came as a huge surprise for me because I wasn’t a huge fan of Chicago Fire, so a spin-off didn’t originally appeal to me. I tuned in because of my loyalty to Sophia Bush since her days on One Tree Hill, I stayed because of the whole cast and the writing. Every week the case is hard hitting and pushes the boundaries of police rules, with Voight leading the pushing. I’m not sure exactly where all our characters are headed this season but I really hope that Burgess survives the horrible shooting incident that we left off with in the winter finale.

#1

Jane the Virgin (The CW)

This series was a wonderful surprise for me this year. While the premise seemed ludicrous and absurd, it totally works, and the result is a charming and delightful show. Each episode combines the fun fantasy and narration of early Bryan Fuller shows (like Pushing Daisies and Wonderfalls) with the soap opera/telenovela style of show like Ugly Betty. The narration is a lot of fun, and the characters are fully-developed and feel real even though the situations they find themselves in are a bit outrageous. The show always keeps you guessing as things are constantly changing at a rapid pace.

Sleepy Hollow (FOX)

Last year’s pick stands for me because I cannot get enough of this scary, twisted, apocalyptic supernatural fairytale. It may seem like I over labeled it, but that’s because it honestly doesn’t have just one genre or description that fits. Week after week, we are pulled into another disturbing step of the journey that Ichabod and Abby are on—which despite them being the heroes of the show, doesn’t always end well for them. I admire a show that is willing to let the bad guy win a few rounds once in a while, but in the end have the good guys on top. I’m interested to see what happens when we get new episodes because when we left off Henry had shockingly taken his parent’s side and killed Moloch. That is an odd change of character for him seeing as he’s one of the four horsemen but these writers can definitely make it work just like they have everything else.

The Chair (Starz) – I had forgotten how much I had missed Project Greenlight until I watched this interesting behind-the-scenes look at two directors making drastically different films from the same source material.

Z Nation (Syfy) – This series proved that there is room for two Zombie shows on TV. It takes a more comedic approach than The Walking Dead, but by mid-season had really turned into a throughly interesting series, despite the campiness. I also enjoyed how no character was truly safe, no matter how recognizable the actor playing the role—this gave the series some true stakes.

Ascension (Syfy) – Another great Syfy series that kept you thinking. The surprise twist at the end of part one really took me for a loop, and by the end of part three, there was another big twist that has me hoping we will get more of this series in the future!

The Good Wife (CBS) – I’m still in awe that they were able to pull off the shocking and surprising death of a major character!

ABC Wednesday Comedies (ABC)- I always look forward to this solid 2-hour comedy block. The Middle and Modern Family still provide a lot of family fun after so many years, The Goldbergs always provides a hilarious dose of 80s nostalgia, and black-ish is one of the best new comedies of the Fall.

Other solid shows this past year, many of which made my top 10 last year, were The Americans (FX), Orange is the New Black (Netflix), Hollywood Game Night (NBC), Playing House (USA) and Benched (USA).

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)- This continues to be a favorite of mine, and not just because I adore Alex O’Loughlin, but because of the great writing and the rest of the cast as well. I was happy that they finally killed Wo Fat because that story line was getting old and now we can focus on new avenues for Steve.

Food Network Competition Shows– I’m grouping these together because they take up too much space individually but I love them all. Chopped, The Next Iron Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, Cutthroat Kitchen, Kitchen Inferno and Food Truck Face-Off are all shows that I can’t get enough of. I enjoy the creativity of the chefs when they’re under pressure, as well as the humor a lot of these hosts bring to the table. Truth be told I would love to be on Chopped some day because my mind is full of ideas from all these episodes.

Masterchef, Masterchef Junior and Masterchef Canada (FOX and CTV) – Again I love cooking competitions, but I love the drama that these two shows have. I really enjoyed seeing a Canadian version this season, but my heart still lies with the original and Gordon Ramsay.

Also worth mentioning are Bones (FOX), The Walking Dead (AMC), Criminal Minds (CBS), True Blood (HBO), True Detective (HBO), and The Voice (NBC).