MATEO'S TOP 10 TV PICKS OF 2012

BY MATEO MORENO

1) HAPPY ENDINGS (ABC) – Much credit is given to the comedic heights of several half hour comedies on television now, and perhaps a bit too much credit given to others (Girls, I’m looking at you) but there is one that is criminally overlooked from week to week, and Happy Endings is that show.  Comprised of and the most fast paced group on TV since Arrested Development, Happy Endings is the answer to anyone who loves their shows strange, crackling with pop culture references and actual smart humor.  Damon Waynes Jr may have missed the boat on keeping his New Girl gig (he was written off the show after Happy Endings received a second season renewal) but he would have been sorely missed here.  His character Brad may be the most ridiculous character that you still believe every moment of.  Playing his wife Jane, Eliza Coupe is rolling hilarious and as her dim witted sister Alex, Eliza Cuthbert has finally found her comedic calling.  Lest we not forget the “amah-zingness” of Casey Wilson’s Penny, Adam Pally’s Max, and the overall weirdness of Zachary Knighton’s Pete, this is truly the show you SHOULD BE WATCHING.  So please start, or this amazing group will end up fading into the section of your Netflix cue called “Why didn’t I watch it then?”

2) FRINGE (FOX) – For five years now, Fringe have battled not only with monsters of the week, parallel universes, and bald men with very little cause of laughter but also with low ratings and terrible times slots.  Now the beloved series is ending (on its own terms) with a season long story arc first peeked at last year.  The jump into a future where the Observers have taken over the world and turned it into a nightmare of dystopia was a risky one, but it’s paying off with solid storyline and powerful new characters (Georgina Haig, you are VERY much missed.  Creepy main Observer December?  I love to hate you) and great performances, as usual with our main cast.  John Noble displays a beautiful struggle between the kooky, crazy Walter we know best, and the cruel, bottom line one that he can’t forget.  Joshua Jackson’s Peter has gone through a tragic and beautiful moment in the darkness of Observer-ness, and Anna Torv’s Olivia is stoic and at times barely holding it together due to all of the family bonds breaking around her.  Added by warm supporting work by Jasika Nicole, Fringe is going out on its own unique, strange, and gripping terms.  If only every long running series were so lucky.

3) MAD MEN (AMC) – A strong year at Sterling Cooper for sure, Matthew Werner’s classic tale of ad men in the 1960’s brought new life in his already fantastic creation with a little shot of shot of “Zou-Bisou-Bisou.”  Jessica Paré did the impossible; turned a “WTF” season ending moment (Don marries his secretary.  Um…?) and has crafted Megan into a wonderfully layered, funny, and smart opposition to Jon Hamm’s never satisfied Don Draper (also again turning in beautiful work).  Plus with Lane’s (Jared Harris) heartbreaking season, Peggy (Elizabeth Moss) moving into her own, and Christina Hendricks again proving that she can bring more emotion into a scene with just one slight turn of her head.  Bonus points for the amazing LSD trip of John Slattery and Werner has again proved why he’s the master of slow burning story telling.

4) MODERN FAMILY (ABC) – Not much more can be said of this mammoth comedy hit that hasn’t already been said (or been proved by its tremendous awards at every single turn) but what can be said is that it doesn’t seem to be losing any of its power or originality.  The Dumphy clan, Cam & Mitch, and Gloria and Jay continue to slay with every single episode and consistently makes you pick a new favorite character from episode to episode.  The entire adult crew are standouts still; Ty Burrel and Julie Bowen’s relationship is so sweet and real, and though Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet may at times be larger than life, they always find the truth in the moment, bringing the heart into the scene.  What isn’t said enough is how brilliant the kids are in this packed house of comedy.  Ariel Winter’s Alex is bordering on a young Lucille Ball, only getting better and better as the series goes on.  Rico Rodriguez’s Manny is hilariously too big for his britches, and Nolan Gould’s Luke is simply the weirdest kid you just can’t help but love.  Also, who didn’t melt into a puddle when Sarah Hyland’s Hayley read (and loved) Phil’s book of “Phil-osphy” so she would have good advice in college?  Yes, the adults are great, but come Emmy time, let’s stop forgetting about these four gems as well.

5) NEW GIRL (FOX) – What started as “adorkable” has morphed into a truly wonderful ensemble comedy following a group of roommates with may have absolutely no boundaries but also would do literally anything for each other.  Schmidt (Max Greenfield) has emerged at the MVP, and deservingly so, but the entire cast deserves props for the energy and warmth found here.  Nick’s (Jake Johnson) overbearing of everything (and hilarious side notes like his not published book “Z is for Zombies”).  Cee-Cee’s (Hannah Simone) desire to move on but inability to put Schmidt anywhere but her heart.  Jess’s (Zoey Deschanel) awkward romantic trials.  Winston’s (Lamorne Morris) classic bean in his ear episode.  Schmitt’s book of Suits.  The list goes on and on.  Creating a show around a star (in this case, Deschanel) is typical for networks nowadays, but for allowing the show to breath and stretch into its own strange, fascinating rhythm is a true testament to its success.  New Girl, don’t “white fang” us, we don’t want to go anywhere.

6) VEEP (HBO) – Political comedies on TV are a bit rare these days, especially ones this funny.  And to think there was ever a fear of the “Seinfeld” curse" for her?  Julia Louis-Dreyfus leads the great ensemble cast of Veep, created by Armando Iannucci (In the Loop).  Dreyfus plays Selina Meyer, a very inept but well-meaning Vice President who can’t even get the President on the phone.  Her staff includes a great ensemble of deadpan comedic timing; Anna Chlumsky (In the Loop, My Girl), Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Reid Scott (The Big C), and Matt Walsh ("Upright Citizens Bridage").  The writing is sharp and funny and the pacing is fast.  It’s both similar to shows and original at the same time.  Tune in if only to see plot points like Selina trying to visit a Yogurt stand while deathly sick and then scrambling to find a bathroom or her barely concealed “excitement” when the President has a heart attack.

7) BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO) It was a strong year for the HBO mob-centric show.  At least as strong, possibly a slight edge, to the first season.  The pacing was tense, the added characters were fascinating, and Bobby Cannavale’s Gyp Rosetti proved to be an intense nemesis for Nucky Thompson this year (Steve Buscemi).  Cannavale was the villain you loved to hate, and his hot headed temper boiled to the brim throughout this tense season.  Busemi also shined, especially in his failing relationship with his wife Margaret (an equally strong Kelly Macdonald) and his doomed mistress Billie Kent (a wonderful and scene stealing Meg Steedle).  Speaking of stealing scenes, Jack Huston continued to prove what a great character Richard Harrow is, and what a great actor can do with that character.  His love story was heartbreaking, and the love that he held for the Darmody boy was moving.  I’m not sure what the writers are doing with Michael Shannon’s Agent Nelson Van Alden, and I’m not sure they do either.  Hopefully his often backburner storyline will pan out.  Until then, we have a great supporting cast to fill each episode with sparks (Gretchen Mol, Michael Stuhlbarg, Vincent Piazza, & Michael Kenneth Williams I’m looking at you).  I’m also anxious for next year to see Stephen Graham’s Al Capone come “of age.”

8) PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC) It’s quite amazing to see how steller of a show Parks and Rec has become and hard to remember the days it was looked on as an Office clone but has now turned into a sharp local government ensemble comedy.  Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), now in the big league politics, and her brand of misfits at the Parks and Recs department in Pawnee are so good that you can’t ever pick out one favorite.  Sure, you think Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) will always rise to the top, and often he does (Offerman is a genius at deadpan strangeness).  But then there’s Aziz Ansari’s hilarious and slow to grow up Tom Haverford, Aubrey Plaza’s trouble causing April, her dumb as bricks husband FBI agent Bart Macklin…I mean Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt), Rob Lowe’s intense boss Chris, or the power couple of Lesie and Ben (Poehler and Adam Scott)?  It’s as if you fall into a weird rabbit hole of politics and idiots every Thursday, and that’s the best feeling in the world.

9) THE WALKING DEAD (AMC) Lots of deaths, lots of new cast members, and lots of Zombie kills.  Yep, I'm talking about The Walking Dead, AMC’s biggest hit to date.  Andrew Lincoln brought great layers to the ever darkening Rick Grimes, and new cast members Danai Gurira (Michonne) and David Morrissey (The Governor) breathed exciting new life into an already strong show.  Bonus MVP points for the consitantly wonderful Norman Reedus a Daryl (a character that didn’t exist in the comic series which the show is based on) and the return of his missing since the beginning of season one brother Merle, played with appropriate intensity and hate by Michael Rooker.  Gone are the multi episodes taking place in a pretty boring farm and arriving is the ever complicated prison and Governor’s town.  And the season’s only half done.  Bring it.

10) LAST RESORT/COPPER (ABC/BBC AMERICA) Tyeing for spot 10 is the superb (alas now cancelled) ABC submarine drama, and the original cop show (yes, I said it) now airing on BBC America.  Last Resort stars Andre Braugher and Scott Speedman as a Submarine crew who are given orders to fire a nuke.  When the Captain (Braugher) asks questions regarding it, they are instead attacked and the government tries to take them down.  So they take cover on a small island nearby and become an enemy of a very corrupt US government.  Copper brings a new spin to the cop drama and stars Tom Weston-Jones as a detective working in NYC in the 1860’s.  He’s one of the lone honest men around the city who tries to uncover and solve crimes while dealing with immigrant neighborhoods, African American neighborhoods, and the rich upper circle of Manhattan who seem to hold more secrets than truths.  Both shows show originality to a classic drama set up and are attempting to try something new.  Unfortunately, ABC has given the pink slip to Last Resort, which will be docking for good early this year (producers had enough time though to craft a “series finale”).  BBC America marks its first foray into original scripted programming with Copper and so far they’re sticking with it.  Both shows are filled with great acting and strong performances, plus intriguing mysteries.  Catch up on Last Resort online and watch the rest of its first (and only) season, and then go pick up Copper season one on DVD/Blu-Ray.  I think you’ll be pleased with both choices.