TV’s Top Ten of 2009
1. Outstanding Moment of Live Television
Rick Santelli’s shout heard ‘round the world (CNBC)
Santelli’s rant against mortgage subsidies and for a “tea party” revolt triggered a movement. CNBC regulars Larry Kudlow and Charlie Gasparino also provided insightful analysis and support for free markets in a year when American capitalism was under siege.
2. Best Series Finale
Monk series finale (USA Network)
Not only did the obsessive-compulsive detective finally track down his wife’s killer, he also found her daughter so he could live happily ever after. Monk’s series finale generously rewarded its audience with happily-ever-after endings for all the series regulars.
In a decade rife with graphic violence, tabloid scandal, young lust, and dark pessimism, shows like Monk and CBS’ #1 hit NCIS won audiences with a traditional tone and worthy themes.
3. Outstanding New Comedy Series
Modern Family (ABC) updated the domestic comedy and restored not only the genre itself, but also the fundamental decency needed in a family show.
Writer-creators Chris Lloyd (Frasier) and Steve Levitan (Just Shoot Me) have given us a series with heart, but not schmaltz. A deft mockumentary format keeps it fast-paced but not manic, and the stories are character-driven and without predictable contrivances.
This modern family of eleven adds up 5+3+3. Julie Bowen and Ty Burrell head a funny family of five at the center. Bowen’s character, Claire Dunphy, has a gay brother and a re-married father, who add two trios in the extended family orbit.
Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett) are a very human pair of adoptive parents who both happen to be men. Stonestreet is hilarious, an Oliver Hardy to Ferguson’s Stan Laurel, and his future will be golden with awards for his work in this show. If you must, find a political subtext to this duo. I’ll just enjoy the laughs.
Got some kind of problem with gay couples? Your unease is also represented fairly by the family patriarch played by Ed O’Neill. Discomfort like this is new for a network family comedy, and Modern Family plays it well in both directions, with both laughs and feeling.
The rivalry between Claire and her gorgeous stepmother Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) is another comedic lode which the show will mine for a long time. Gloria’s son Manny has a unique comedic persona as well, seeing himself as a romantic lead and action hero despite his diminutive stature.
Modern Family airs Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on ABC. Episodes I most strongly recommend include “The Pilot,“”Coal Digger,” and “Fizbo.”
4. Outstanding New Dramatic Series
The #1 Ladies Detective Agency (HBO)
For several years HBO has struggled to recapture the magic of its original programming of a decade ago. In 2009 the network revisited innovation by setting aside its hip, edgy mentality for The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, based on Alexander McCall Smith’s popular mystery novels.
Never before has HBO done an episodic hour with such traditional values, including respectful language, a gentle sense of everyday justice, deference to the small business work ethic, and a refreshing absence of irony. Turns out you don’t need sex or vulgarity to create exotic, one-of-a-kind television.
The series is the first ever shot in Botswana, and it’s a lyrical, visually ambitious, and captivating yarn with an immensely likable lead character played by Jill Scott. While not exactly a globalized Murder, She Wrote, the series is a sharp turn away from the cynical, elitist posture we’ve come to expect recently from HBO.
Extraordinary visuals depict a culture where an auto mechanic is still the respected local techie, and wild animals haven’t conceded the landscape to wireless networks. An energizing African score intones the series with bounce and optimism. Unfortunately, two key partners behind the scenes have passed away, making continued production difficult. The DVD set of its remarkable first season is all that we have, for now.
5. Outstanding Long Form Original
Into the Storm (HBO)
Previously reviewed here on PJM, Into the Storm (about Winston Churchill) is a work of drama and history deserving of close study by our statesmen, their spouses, and anyone with questions about the stakes and requirements of warfare. Brendan Gleeson won an Emmy for his portrayal of Churchill. The film is a great choice on Netflix if you’re not an HBO subscriber.
So why would one watch broadcast TV?
Great list, especially the Monk and Julie Bowen.
Monk had, in my opinion, the best finale I’ve ever watched. As mentioned, all the main characters got a nice ending. It helped that many of their endings were developed throughout the season, so nothing semed forced. It was also nice to see Monk heal and achieve some happiness.
I’ve been a fan of Julie Bowen since the criminally underappreciated Ed, where she was the female lead. She was always radiant and had to be dramatic and comedic in the series. Hopefully it will be released on DVD someday.
I did not realize that she was in Modern Family. I’ll have to start watching now.
Wouldn’t mind if O’Rielly retired and handed the reins to Monica Crowley. I doubt if I would turn the program off, which I do early and often with the all about Bill show.
Rick Santelli for something. His choice.
What about Daniel Hannan’s dressing down of British Prime Minister Brown at the European Parliament in 3 and a half minutes?
Or is this only an Americans only recognition slate?
Since I don’t have cable or satellite, I have to make do with the networks. They at least offered one new gem this season: ABC’s “Castle”. Just the right combination of the offbeat and the dramatic. Just when you think the “case” has been solved, they throw in a twist. The lady detective, however annoyed by the writer she’s forced to work with, nonetheless comes to respect him.
And I love the family dynamic of the lead (played by Nathan Fillion formerly of “Firefly”), his teenage daughter and his live-in mother. If Modern Family’s Bowen is providing this decade’s mother figure, we could do worse than the father figure Castle provides.
I agree #3. Monica Crowley is tops! Time for Chief Fox Bloviator O`Reilly to go. He`s getting more and more difficult to watch.
David W. Lincoln:
Yes, this list covers U.S. airdates only, although some of the programs were international productions. Hannan’s speech did get some circulation here, especially on the internet.
Another noteworthy achievement which aired here in 2009 was the conclusion of Foyle’s War. I do wish more U.S. dramas had the maturity and respect for the audience seen in that program.
Patricia Heaton is just as good in “The Middle” as is Ms. Bowen in Modern family IMHO.
I want to second Robert Denis’s point about Patricia Heaton in “The Middle.” I’ve only seen “Modern Family” a few times, and think it’s o.k., but after these comments, I might want to pay closer attention next time. However, I’ve enjoyed every episode of the “The Middle” I have caught so far.
Add me as big fan of Patricia Heaton’s role in “The Middle”. I’ve watched both shows, and “Modern Family” is totally hilarious. However, Heaton is brilliant in “The Middle” and practically carries the show. “Modern Family” is more of an ensemble effort.
As for dramas, I’ll take “Lost”. It’s groundbreaking, intellegent, complex, and most of all, engaging. I can’t wait for it’s final season to start in February.
Modern Family? I admit I have not seen it but saw previews. Two men with a daughter? How about two men with a boy?
What exactly are you saying about this show? It’s not on my watch list.
The Mentalist is very good, with nicely drawn characters. I especially like how they are treating the romance between Rigsby and Van Pelt (played by very attractive Amanda Righetti).
I also like Sons of Anarchy on FX. Sure it’s Hamlet on Harleys by way of the Sopranos, but Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman are great and I really like Dayton Callie’s Sherrif Unser – he was terrific in Deadwood (but then everybody in Deadwood was terrific).
My favorite program on tv now is Curb Your Enthusiasm. David always manages to come up with clever “plots” which theme the season and end beautifully. He has a cast that is perfection and the construction of each episode is likewise perfect. David is an equal opportunity offender, the antithesis of the politically correct and as offensive as he is, he is examining moral dilemmas while he is shocking or entertaining us.
Excellent call on Krauthammer. A stunning, hyper-intelligent person, yet very acessible. FOX at it’s best.
Ms. Crowley, I’m not so sure. She seems caught between “trying too hard” / “too pleased with herself.” The result is an annoying on-air persona. Her interaction with bro-in-law Alan Colmes is corny, FOX at it’s worst.
On Fox News Sunday today, over a Mad Men montage, Brit Hume opined that television drama today is far ahead of film. Nina Easton followed up by singling out Mad Men for praise. For once we have a program which appeals to educated viewers regardless of political orientation.
Too often in the past Hollywood has showered Emmy awards and nominations on programs with lopsided ideological agendas: West Wing, Boston Legal, The Practice, etc. Now, with wide recognition of Mad Men as television’s outstanding drama, broad artistic achievement has triumphed over narrow polemical argument.
Jim,
I think you are off by a year on number 8. It actually aired in 2008 on BBC before it aired in the U.S. last year on PBS.
And in number 7, the one woman actually carrying a show happens to be on CBS in “The Big Bang Theory.” Its numbers are truly impressive and it’s in no small part thanks to the casting of Kaley Cuoco in the role of Penny. Other actresses could have been cast in Bowen’s role on “Modern Family” and the show wouldn’t have lost much, if anything. I personally watch it because of Al Bundy (Ed O’Neill) and fast forward through most of the rest of the cast that I find more annoying than amusing.
By the way, how are you liking the reincarnation of Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) on “Justified?”