A Pretty Good Year in Television

I cannot say I like year-end lists, yet I would like to highlight a few shows that demonstrated to me at least that television is alive and well.  Here are some of the new shows of 2010 that I believe are worthy of mention (and watching) in no particular order: 

-- Caprica - This Syfy series sets up the framework for the fine series Battlestar Galactic.  It has been a terrific series of story lines with fine acting from stars such as Eric Stoltz, Paula Malcomson, Esai Morales, and others.  It is worth watching just to see the virtual world created by the young people in the Caprican society, a very real and scary portrayal of how this such a technology may be used in the future by our own young people.  The final episodes of season one will be shown next year starting on January 4.  Sadly, the show is not expected to see a second season.  You can follow the future of the show at The Caprica Times.

--  Justified - Visit my past comments on this FX show.  Season two starts February 9.

-- How to Make it in America - Visit my past comments on this HBO program.  Season two is scheduled to start sometime next summer.

-- Louie C.K. - Visit my past comments here and here on this FX show.  It has been renewed for a second season to be shown sometime next summer.

-- Terriers - Visit my past comments here and here on this FX show.  Unfortunately, FX decided to kill the show, so one season is all we get.  The network executive who canceled the show had this to say: "I don't know if subtlety is something the American public is buying in droves." He added, "When I look at 'Jersey Shore' and the Kardashians and 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'Walking Dead'... I wouldn't say that subtlety and nuance describes the most successful kind of pop content in America today."

-- Rubicon - View my past comments on this AMC show.  The network has officially announced that a second season will not be produced.

-- Raising Hope - View my past comments on this Fox show.  This is the only major network program I included in my list.  It has already been renewed for a second season and new episodes will be broadcast in February.

-- Southland - View my past comments on this TNT show. Season three begins on January 4.

That's it.  Nine new shows in 2010, though three are already dead after their first season, while a lousy show such as The Bachelor is in its fifteenth season.  I would like to say it is the networks that are dumb here, but I am starting to think it is primarily the audience. Nonetheless, I will continue to highlight good TV here.

The New Alf?

Remember the TV show Alf?  Running from 1983 to 1990, the network put out more than 100 of these alien life form (ALF) episodes about a visitor from the planet Melmac who decides to stick around in the Tanner family's living room.

I never believed that prime time could support a puppet show, but I was proved wrong.  In fact, prime time also works for cartoons (e.g., The Simpsons, American Dad,  The Family Guy, etc.).  So I guess anything is possible.

And it appears that Elijah Wood will test that theory.  His new FX series, called Wilfred, will premiere soon.  It is basically an Australian transplant about a man who sees his dog as a man in a dog suit while the rest of the world simply sees a dog.  Elijah has been striking out as a leading man in a number of films, such as Oxford Murders, so he is hoping TV will offer him a new venue.  I cannot say the plot sounds all that intriguing.

Australia just finished viewing season two of their version, so some people seem to like it.  I just read a review of about the Australian version and already know the U.S. may not be ready.  It is defined as "a comedy series about a bong-smoking dog that has sex with a cat and a teddy bear." It is also "peppered with profanity, full-frontal nudity and jokes about rape."  Maybe FX can get away with this.  Stay tuned.   

Update:  The show premieres on June 23, 2011.