It’s the time of year when everyone is putting together their “Best of” lists for 2011…so why should I be any different?! Here are my (spoiler free) top 10 TV shows from the past 12 months:
1. Breaking Bad – The Best Show of All Time Not Called The Wire – you have to catch up on this before the last 16 episodes start next year.
2. The Daily Show – continues to be the go-to place to get news…and it’s on Comedy Central. Highlight of the year – Jon Stewart showing Donald Trump how to eat a pizza.
3. Sons of Anarchy – Hamlet on Motorcycles, the boys of SAMCRO returned for a fourth season with a return to form after a dip last year.
4. Louie – part time comedy, part time drama – full time genius. As writer, actor, editor and director, Louis C.K makes this show so cheaply, hopefully it will be around for a while.
5. Boardwalk Empire – the second season of this Atlantic City mob show focused on the struggle between Jimmy Darmody and Nucky Thompson for control of the bootlegging business in Jersey. The incredible finale puts it just ahead of Homeland in this list
6. Homeland – The show about a US Marine returning from captivity started out focusing on whether or not he had been turned by terrorists, but the characters and narrative developed way beyond that simple premise.
7. Justified – Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) spent the year taking on the Bennett family led by their powerful matriarch, Mags (Margo Martindale) – the show really took the leap to be “must-see” TV after last year’s promising debut.
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm – Larry ends up having to go to New York this season – and with it comes petty battles with Ricky Gervais and Michael J. Fox. The episode “The Palestinian Chicken” early in the season is among the best the show has ever done.
9. Up All Night – Completely personal choice – the year my wife and I became new parents, NBC airs a new sitcom about a couple going through the exact same thing. I admit to being biased – but it is my list…!
10. The Hour – Set around a news program at the time of the Suez Crisis, with McNulty from The Wire in one of the main roles, this was always going to make my DVR queue, but the performances of the other two leads, Ben Winshaw and Anna Chancellor, were superb and the story and character development through the six episode season made me excited for more next year.
Political Footballs 
Great list! Good shows, from what I have seen at least.