TOP 10: My Favorite TV Show of 2016

Another year is coming to an end and there has been a lot of great television produced. Too much for any one person to consume and still have a life beyond the small screen. My top 10 favorite shows of this year are what I could consume and loved, and before you complain about the absence of some shows, I do not subscribe to Hulu, HBO, Showtime or Starz. Of course, only WESTWORLD interests me from any of those networks.

There is a lot that did not make this list because of time or I have not yet discovered. An FX study revels that there were 455 scripted original TV series in 2016. That does not include shows like THE VOICE, LOVE & HIP HOP or TOP CHEF. These are dramas and sitcoms from the broadcast, cable and streaming networks.

So, with that stated, lets get to the list.

10) MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE (Amazon):
This is a great concept for a period drama. The allies lost WW II and America is divided up between Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire, with a "Neutral Zone" in between, along the Rocky Mountains. If you can make it through the first four episodes of season one, it becomes a very good drama series. Season two is now available on Amazon and i can't wait to start binging on those episodes.

9) VIKINGS (History):
Season four has been expanded to 20 episodes, split between early spring and early winter, 2016. The first half of the season was a bit of a disappointment as a lot of TV time covered a lot of nothing happening, especially in England and Paris. But this second half of the season has brought back what is great about the series and gives us more Vikings and less Wester Europeans. The second season is now running on History.

8) BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (FOX):
it is not rocket science, its just good fun. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE has a great ensemble cast, lead by Andre Braugher and Andy Samberg. Just sit back, relax and have some laughs.

7) THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS):
It has been for a while, and still is, the funniest comedy on TV. This season has been especially good with some environmental changes for some of the characters on the show. BIG BANG is becoming one of the all-time great sitcoms, ranking up there with SEINFELD, CHEERS, THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, I LOVE LUCY and THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

6) MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL (MLB/ ESPN/FOX):
In 2015 I dove back into baseball, after a 15-20 year hiatus, while my kids were growing up and being very active. I may have watched more MLB baseball this year than just about everything else combined. With the At Bat App, you can watch almost any/every game played. This year's post season was one of the all-time greats, caped off with the first World Series win by the Chicago Cubs in 108 years. If you are a baseball fan, or want to be one again, subscribing to the full season package is a must.

5) STRANGER THINGS (Netflix):
What a great little series this became. Great story, great characters and a know how of how to present the 1980's nostalgia correctly and in context. I don't want to give too much away about the series, but you must check this series out. Season one is streaming on Netflix and expect season two to hit summer 2017.

4) THE AMERICANS (FX):
Another great series that knows how to properly present the early 1980's. this is one of the smartest, intense dramas I watch and is has NEVER disappointed in delivering high drama in a Cold War era. 2017 will be the fifth and final season for the series, so start binging now and get ready for an awesome final season this spring.

3) THE WALKING DEAD/TALKING DEAD (AMC):
Negan is just what THE WALKING DEAD needed to keep the story line at a high level. When ever this character is on screen, you have no idea what he may or will do to the others around him. A kill can happen at anytime, giving the viewers an intense viewing experience, though each episode. After each episode is one of the best talk shows on TV, TALKING DEAD. This companion series gives the fans more information, insight and fandom, beyond the series. The current season returns in February, on AMC.

2) DAREDEVIL:
This is a series I didn't watch initially, but in 2016, I watched the first season of DAREDEVIL. This is the best superhero production on TV, and perhaps on the silver screen. The high production value comes across in each episode. Each character has been cast perfectly. And, the series has a degree of being grounded in realism, asm much as you can for a superhero franchise. I hear season two is even better and season three is in the works. Plus, there is still JESSICA JONES and LUKE CAGE series that are within this universe and THE DEFENDERS miniseries coming soon.

1) TURN:
I love this show. The third season, released this past spring, was one of the most satisfying and entertaining season I have gotten out of a drama series in quite a while. Even though it is a fictional story, it stays relatively true to the real events it depicts. The cast is superb and the story has been great. The final 10 episode, for season four, will air on AMC in mid-2017.


My honorable mentions include LONGMIRE, THE MIDDLE, FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, THE X-FILES, TINY HOUSE NATION (and all the other Tiny House shows)