TOP 10: TV Favorites of 2013

As we close out another year, I thought a top 10 list of my favorite shows from the past year would be fun. because I cut the cord this year, it allowed me to actually discover new cable series. Using Netflix and Amazon prime Video, it allowed me to sample shows I may noir have otherwise.

It was a tough deception to just limit the list to just 10 shows. I am a big fan of the new series THE BLACKLIST, but it didn't make it. Neither did HOUSE OF CARD, which is a great political thriller. Nope. Here are 10, and just 10, of my favorite shows of 2013.

10) ALPHAS (Amazon):
I just started watching this in the middle of December and I really like it. The characters are perfectly cast and the writing is great. It is a comedy that doesn't set you up for a punchline, but is more about the humor of the situation, with those characters. Amazon has the first three episodes available for anyone to watch. Additional episodes require an Amazon Prime membership. Click here for a free 30 day trial.

9) JUSTIFIED (FX):
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning. Timothy Olyphant is great in this role, but I have yet to see a role ha is not good in. This past season's bad guy was terrifically played my comedian Mike O'Malley. He can play a heavy, with just the right blend of sarcasm. Season four was just released on DVD and season five will premiere just after the new year.

8) HELL ON WHEELS (AMC):
HELL ON WHEELS is the red-headed stepchild of AMC. It is under appreciated and very underrated. This season is really good, and I have only seen the first half of the season. I will be watching the remaining episode, via Amazon Prime, during the holiday break between Christmas and New Years. Season three was pushed off to Saturday nights and it still drew good ratings. Better than most seasons from BREAKING BAD and MAD MEN. But, AMC is aware of what it has, now. Season four will be expanded to 13 episodes. Hopefully we will see a better time slot.

7) LONGMIRE (A&E):
This is one of the new series I discovered after I dropped cable. Amazon Prime had season one free for members, while season two was airing on A&E. We did not waste time to watch those first 10 episodes of the first season. Robert Taylor is perfect as the seasoned sheriff  of a small town in Montana. The series is based on the mystery novels of Walt Longmire, by Craig Johnson. The first two seasons are available on Amazon Prime and season three is due to premiere in 2014.

6) THE BIBLE (History):
This was the TV event of the 2012-13 TV season. Airing in March, 2013, History's THE BIBLE was the only scripted program able to keep up, and beat, THE WALKING DEAD. Ten hours was not enough to tell the stories of the old testament and the story of Jesus. Thankfully, NBC is green lighting the sequel, which should air sometime in 2015.

5) PERSON OF INTEREST (CBS):
POI has been a sleeper hit since it premiere in the fall of 2011. Now, on a new night, the action got more interesting and tense. Without giving spoilers, the last few episodes have been the best of the series. I can't wait to see what is next for the series, in 2014.

4) CONTINUUM (SYFY):
Another found treasure via Amazon prime. Like LONGMIRE, we discovered the first season of CONTINUUM, while season two was airing on SyFy. If you are a fan of Science Fiction, this is a great series to watch. It does a nice job of meshing a procedural with a over arcing syfy plot. The Season two finale throws all that out and leaves us hanging on what will the do now. Not just in the story, but in the type of show it is/was. Season three is now filming with a premiere in 2014.

3) THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS):
Not only is THE BIG BANG THEORY the best comes on TV right now, it may be the best comedy this century. BIG BANG is on track to become one of the all time great sitcoms, joining the likes of SEINFELD, CHEERS, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, DICK VAN DYKE and I LOVE LUCY. It's ratings are amazing, in first run, cable and syndication.

2) THE WALKING DEAD (AMC):
So far season four has been great. the arc they have taken was intense and entertaining. The midseason finale was awesome, yet gut wrenching, at the end. Even without cable, I caught every episode with in a few days of it's original airing. It's amazing ratings are very well earned and deserved.

1) FALLING SKIES (TNT):
I think this may be the best science fiction series on TV since STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION and THE X-FILES. We were two seasons behind when we discovered this gem from TNT. It feels very realistic and how people would act and proceed after an alien innovation. The angle of militias fighting the enemy was genuius. It is real people fighting for their freedom.

After watching the first two seasons free on Amazon Prime, we gladly paid $1.99 per episode for Season three, which aired this past summer. Season four production is underway and an expanded 12 episodes will air in 2014.