Um, hello.  Like we were going to miss out on an opportunity to do some end of the year reflecting, PLUS this week I read one of the greatest quotes of the year (and just in the nick of time) courtesy of @DSylvan–”Opinions really are like assholes–both are all over the internet.”  Hee!  You know we’re the biggest assholes of all.

But anyway.  No top ten lists from us.  It’s all arbitrary and no one can watch enough TV to make a truly thorough list, so we’re just going to do what we do best, and bullshit, but this time with categories!  Nicole and I will be offering up our opinions on our totally made up categories, throwing in the occasional commentary on each other’s answers, and demanding to know what you think in the comments.  It’s gonna be long, strong, and down to get the friction on, SOOOOO …

Oh, wait.  Also, we have agreed to have very loose definitions of the term “year”.  And several other things.

Now.  Let’s ride, motherfuckers.

Best Show of the Year.

(SB) No fucking around like the goddamn Oscars, let’s get to the point so we can just enjoy the fun rest, much like The Violent Femmes playing Blister in the Sun first at a concert.  For me, the best show of the year isn’t the same as my favorite show (Supernatural), which may seem kind of weird.  And I share Nicole’s anxiety, but I am determined to pick just one, so I have settled on Community.  Artistically, I feel like they took the most chances and did a lot of really crazy stuff without losing the overall tone and consistency of the show.  It’s funny, quirky, and experimental, and that’s saying a lot for a half hour network sitcom.  I read a quote that Dan Harmon (the showrunner) retweeted, and it was to the effect that Modern Family is like The Beatles and Community is like The Rolling Stones.  Totally.  And I’ve always been a Stones girl. 

(Nicole) I get total anxiety picking one thing to call “best”, so I’m just giving you a quick list: Friday Night Lights, Terriers, Parks & Recreation, Party Down and Community.  Making me pick one would be like making me pick a favorite child, if I had and liked children.  But I love tv, so this is actually harder.

(SB) God, you are so much funnier than me.

Worst Show of the Year Ever.

(SB) This category is a total formality.  You all know as well as I do that it’s Life Unexpected.  With it’s self-righteous, sanctimonious bullshit, screechy bitches, ridiculous storylines, and actors that pissed us off with plummeting standards of how to earn a paycheck, this show blows.  And the worst part is that it actually had a promising premise and decent pilot, which makes the whole thing SO much worse.  I was a little surprised by the half-hearted Save LUX Twitter campaign, but there is also a website called Rate My Poo, which just goes to show, there will always be corners of the internet obsessed with mildly interested in shit.

(Nicole) Totally in agreement with SB.  And really, after we’ve spewed venom at the show all season, did you expect anything else?  The show had so much promise and went totally off the rails in season 2.  The two female leads were two of the most unlikeable women on television and not even in a fun, “Nancy Botwin on Weeds” way; more like a “I want to stab you in the face to shut you the fuck up” way.

Best Comeback.

(SB) Guys, I’ve gotta give it to The Office.  Formerly my favorite show, it took a serious dip following S2, and sure, there were some highlights along the way, but this season has been consistently hilarious and fun to watch, and the Christmas episode was my favorite of all the comedies, including a claymation Community.  I know it’s Michael’s last year, and I wish it was The Office’s as well, although I doubt that’ll be the case, but it would be really nice for the show to go out on such a high note.

I do have some other honorable mentions here–30 Rock has been much funnier, How I Met Your Mother really recovered nicely from an absolutely shiteous season last year, and Supernatural had a really hard row to hoe coming back from the apocalypse, but they’ve done an admirable job that gets better with every passing Castiel scene.  And Chuck really picked back up too–the Frost storyline, combined with the Morgan and Casey bromance, has given that show a much needed kick in the ass.

(Nicole) Wow, SB and I are in agreement again!  I totally pick The Office too.   I was one of the show’s biggest fans right from the pilot.  I loved the actors, the writing, and initially started following tv blogs because of it.  Then…it started to slip a bit, and then came the announcement that Steve Carrell would be leaving and I started to wish that they’d just cancel the whole shebang.  Then lo and behold, I find myself laughing this season like I did back in seasons 2 and 3.  I’m still worried about season 8, maybe even more because Mindy Kaling is also leaving and Kaling’s writing is some of the best around, but for now, I’m choosing to look forward with optimism.

I too will take a moment to pat Supernatural on the back for an excellent comeback from what was supposed to be the show’s final bow.  This season could have felt superfluous, but instead it’s awesome.  You’ve got to love any show where the angels watch porn, am I right?  I bet Della Reese never did that.

(SB) Roma Downey, on the other hand …

Most Disappointing Return.

(SB) Let’s all give it up (or not) for Glee.  I thoroughly enjoyed this show last year, even if it was always sort of brainless–it was still entertaining.  This season really went off the rails, with Rachel crossing the line from irritating to unbearable, Mr. Shue creeping everyone the fuck out, and most importantly, every last fucking thing being an After School Special about Kurt.  While it does still have its moments, particularly where Brittany is concerned, and it does still have my boyfriend Puck’s hotness on display, it’s mostly gone to places that make me cringe, and NOT in the fun way.

(Nicole)  Same. Glee has taken a massive dip in quality this year; really, since midway through season one.  Creepy Shue, awful Rachel, the fact that Mercedes and Lauren only seems to get lines about tater tots and Cadbury Creme Eggs … all of these things add up to disappointment.  It’s still appointment television for me, but that’s totally owing to goodwill left over from early season 1.  If things don’t improve by the end of this season, I might be out for good.

Biggest WTF Moment of the Year.

(SB) No brainer for me–Russell Edgington ripping the spine out of the anchorman on True Blood.  I was STUNNED, horrified, and delighted at the absolute INSANITY of it all.  Nothing else even came close to the shock factor.

However, the other side of WTF is, of course, WTF, and the biggest of those moments totally has to be Mr. Shue giving Coach Beast her first kiss.  I can barely type that sentence without puking, so we shall speak no further of it.

(Nicole) Complete agreement about Russell Edgington’s batshit tirade on True Blood.  In a season of WAY too many unnecessary additions to the cast, Russell was both necessary and delightful.  I’m so glad he’ll be back next season.

I also have a Will/Bieste related Glee moment, but rather than the (terrible, terrible) kiss, I’m going with Will telling Bieste about the kids using her as a boner-killer five minutes after he told them all to keep their mouths shut.  WTF, Will???  (Incidentally, WTF, Will??? would be the perfect title for season 2 of Glee if they gave seasons titles.)

(SB) If I ever need to kill my boner, I’m going to think of this season of Glee.

Best Show That Lingered On the DVR.

(SB) It wasn’t that I didn’t want to watch it and it certainly wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it, but the show for me that piled up on the DVR was Parenthood.  It’s good, it’s funny, it’s touching … when I finally sat down to watch it, I enjoyed it.  For some reason, it was just That Show for me.

(Nicole) Bones, Castle & Fringe.  I watched these shows weekly last season, and this year I’ve just found it hard to get around to them.  I guess my schedule has become fuller and these are the shows that are falling by the wayside.  I’m only a few episodes behind on Bones, but I haven’t watched any of the other two this year.  On the bright side, I’ve got something to watch this summer besides True Blood.

TV Boyfriend/Girlcrush of the Year.

(SB) This is a total clean sweep for Vampire Diaries.  OBVIOUSLY my girlcrush is Caroline (Candice Accola) who, just when it seemed impossible, got more awesome and badass.  And did I almost pick Matt for TV Boyfriend?  Well … I thought about it, but no, it really wasn’t even close.  Damon (Ian Somerhalder) is my TV Boyfriend 4-Eva (bonus points if you get the reference).  Starting with his hot, hot, HOT kiss with Elena/Katherine at the end of last season, right up to his “cute pj’s” confession of love to her this season, he is annihilating my heart.  In the good way.

(Nicole) Okay, I’m clearly a bit of a tv slut and could not limit my choices to one each.  So, here are the boys, in order from most jailbait to most appropriate:

1. Steven R. McQueen – (Jeremy, TVD) Always cute, but suddenly hot enough that I’m not always looking at Damon anymore.  2. Jim Parrack – (Hoyt Fortenberry, True Blood)  I love how much he loves Jessica; so much that he’s willing to finally stand up to his bitch of a mama for her.  Sigh.  3. Ian Somerhalder - (Damon, TVD)  Because obviously.  Is there anyone more charismatic on television right now?   4. Adam Scott – (Ben Wyatt, Parks & Rec, Henry Pollard, Party Down) The only thing that consoled me about losing Party Down was that he would be joining one of my other favorite comedies.

As for girls, I picked two (and kind of bummed I left out Caroline, because I agree that she’s awesome):

Sofia Vergara – (Gloria, Modern Family) She has amazing comedic timing and she’s freaking gorgeous.  Even I can’t help staring at her breasts. Lizzy Caplan – (Casey Klein, Party Down) I totally girlcrush her; she’s consistently funny and picks great projects to work on.  Plus, I mean…Mean Girls, yo.

Best Newbie.

(SB) I’ve gotta give this one to Linda Hamilton on Chuck.  She was technically a guest star, but she had an arc, and we’ve already established that the rules here are totally loose.  That show needed a shot in the arm, and Frost was it.  Chuck looking for and finding his mom, her interactions with Ellie, the constant question on whether she was good or bad … it all added up to some of the old Chuck magic, which I had missed.

Honorable mention to Coach Beast on Glee.  Yeah, there’s been a lot of creeptastic shit surrounding her, but I blame the writers.  As an actress, she’s been as sympathetic and relatable on that show as anyone, and she makes me take a break from snark and occasionally feel real emotions, which … makes me uncomfortable, and yet I sort of like it.

Also honorable mention to Alcide on True Blood.  As an avid reader of the admittedly shitty books, I wasn’t sure they’d be able to find someone who would fulfill the hotness quotient of the character in my brain, but they did, so props on the casting of the sexy hairy man.

(Nicole)  I’m going to go with Scott Porter & Alan Cumming on The Good Wife.  And this is a last-minute thing, because I just watched the entire run of the show to date in the last two weeks.  It was one of those shows that I kept hearing great things about and finally gave it a chance, and it’s really pretty fantastic.  Scott Porter’s character was added this season and he’s about as far from Jason Street as one could get.  Cumming (teehee) was added late in the first season (technically 2010) and he’s playing a character like nothing I’ve seen him play before.  Great additions to an already great cast and show.

Honorable mention for me goes to Darren Criss on Glee.  In a season of disappointment, he’s been a serious highlight, and I think I’ve listened to his version of ”Teenage Dream” about 50 times in the last month, compared to zero times for Katy Perry’s version.

Worst Newbie.

(SB) Easy.  Rose (and her terrible fake British accent) on Vampire Diaries.  And you know, on a lesser show where everything isn’t always so fantastically perfect, it might not have been as noticeable.  But for the entire (and as of now ongoing) duration of her stay on the show, I’ve been wondering just what the hell it is she’s doing there and why I’m seeing so much of her and so little of Matt.  But mostly, I just am not real sure why they cast her, as she is, at least so far, pretty much just dead weight.

(Nicole) I’ve got to go with the 10,000 assholes they added to the True Blood cast this year.  Panthers and fairies and wolves, oh my!  Look; I know that these characters are all in the books.  But couldn’t we have rolled them out more slowly or something?  There was way too much Cooter and the Gang and Hotshot methheads for my liking this season.  The main characters had to split their screen time even more, and we as an audience had to endure Sookie’s Naked Fairie Wonderland way more than I would have liked.  I’d be perfectly happy if they got rid of the peripheral creatures, focused on the vamps, and brought back the Fellowship of the Sun – now THOSE were some great newbies in season 2.  Exception to my bitching:  Russell and Talbot (in both vamp and goo form), of course, and Jesus.  Because he’s damn cute with Lafayette.

Worst Cancellation.

(SB) Y’all, Party Down getting canceled broke my heart.  I watched it faithfully every Friday night on Netflix, which I thought was totally awesome, and was pissed at Starz for taking it off.  Every episode was amazing, and I shipped Henry and Casey in a way that I didn’t know I was still capable of.  What a drag.

(Nicole) Terriers.  I wasn’t shocked, but I was bitterly disappointed.  Considering only 500,000 people watched every week, and about 5 MILLION watch Jersey Shore (I’m looking at you SB!) it was inevitable, but still terrible.  I think Strunkette was the only other OCTVer watching so we’re probably alone in our disappointment, but all of you who catch it on DVD someday (and you should) will chide yourself for not tuning in when you had the chance (could I BE more condescending??).

Party Down.  This was my other bitter disappointment this year.  What a great goddamn show, and dare I say, a better use of Jane Lynch than Glee?  I love Sue, but Ed O’Neil was kind of right:  she (the character) can be pretty one-note.  Constance on the other hand…well, get her stoned in a bathroom with Adam Scott and Ed Begley Jr. and you’ve got magic, my friends.

Best TV on DVD.

(SB) Well, as anyone who follows me on Twitter knows, I am in a current Netflix-induced Buffy haze.  I’ve never seen it before, largely because I knew it would take over my life and become an obsession, and I was right, but I had no idea how hard and fast I would fall.  Based on just the absolute love and devotion I feel toward Buffy right now, it wins.  However, I’ve been slowly (VERY slowly) working my way through Supernatural on DVD as well and I’ve gotta say, it’s a close second.  It watches very well on DVD–the continuity is clearer, the direction is easier to feel out, and the rhythm feels more natural.  I actually think that it may be better to watch consecutively on DVD than as it airs, but of course I am way too in love with it to NOT watch it live.

Also.  If you haven’t seen Eastbound and Down … wow.  So worth it.

(Nicole) Six Feet Under – Yes, I know this wrapped up a few years ago, but it was my summer obsession so it counts, and it was super-enjoyable.  The entire cast was fabulous and as a bonus, it really kind of demystified the practical side of death for me.  I laughed way more than I thought I would, and cried a lot too.  A really beautiful show with possibly the best series finale ever.

Community.  I chose this show not only because it’s damn good and any comedy fan should own it, but because it epitomizes what I believe should be the standard treatment of tv on dvd.  The volume of the extra features is insane, with commentary from cast and crew on every episode, four lengthy blooper reels, interviews, deleted scenes, etc.  It’s ”Freaks and Geeks” level quality, guys, and it should be the gold standard for all shows going forward.  Seriously, is there anything more annoying than shelling out for a show only to find a handful of deleted scenes and nothing else?

Best Commercial.

(SB) Barbasol.  I kind of can’t believe that this commercial was produced in modern times, and Billy and I finally settled on the conclusion that some ironic hipster advertising company pitched this to be funny and Barbasol accidentally loved it and went for it.  There’s really nothing else that can be said about it, so here’s the link, and I bet you a zillion hypothetical dollars that the song will be stuck in your head for MONTHS.

(Nicole) – Tajazzle Infomercial.  It’s been all over the interweb lately, but dammit, I love a good awful infomercial for a shitty product.  Part one is linked for your viewing pleasure below, and if you’d like to distract yourself from the nausea, the gang at Miami New Times has created a hilarious drinking game to go along with it.

Tajazzle Part 1

Best of SNL.

(Nicole) Bill Hader.  He is the star MVP of the show this year, between Stefon, the Vogelchecks (I will never tire of watching him make out with dudes), Julian Assange, and the million other impressions he kills at.  Is there anything better than Hader’s Stefon cracking Seth Meyers up on Weekend Update?  Nope.

(SB) It’s now my turn to ditto Nicole.  I LIVE for Stefon on Weekend Update, and he’s my big winner.  However, I’m also glad there’s been more Andy Samberg and better digital shorts this year, and I continue to love “What’s Up With That?”  And of course, best new cast member, hands fucking DOWN, is Jay Pharaoh.  Now listen.  He is not getting NEARLY the recognition he deserves for his absolutely astounding impressions (possibly because watching SNL falls firmly in the category of Stuff White People Like), but OMG.  He seriously blows my fucking mind.  Denzel, Kanye, Jay-Z?  Perfection.

Worst of SNL.

(SB) Well, there’s been a lot wrong with SNL, as there has been every year since the get go, I’m sure, but my biggest “Oh my god, is this really happening?” moment was Katy Perry’s god-awful, tone deaf singing.  I mean, true, I hate her, but trust me when I say, that had nothing to do with it.  She sounded so horrible that I almost (ALMOST) felt sorry for her.  If only she didn’t think she was so much fucking cuter than she is.  As for worst cast member, my feelings on Kristin Wiig are well-documented and consistent, but I’ve gotta say, I think Keenan’s time is about up.  He’s not funny anymore, if he ever was, and I think we all know that SNL only ever makes room for one black guy.  I didn’t think they should’ve kept Keenan over Finesse, but if they keep him over Jay Pharoah, I will lose my fucking SHIT.

(Nicole) Overuse of Kristen Wiig.  Now, this is not a complaint about Wiig herself – I know a lot of people hate her now, maybe even some of you.  (SB) MEEEEE!  (Nicole) I don’t personally hold my feelings against her; I think the show has used her as a crutch to the point of over-saturation.  She is great in movies I’ve seen her in, but SNL keeps making her play similar characters over and over and it’s annoying as fuck.  But there is a special place in hell for Gilly.  I fucking HATE Gilly.

Runner up: The vast majority of the political cold opens.  Can we all agree that they are almost never funny anymore?  And I am a total Fred Armisen apologist – I think his Obama is perfectly fine.  But the sketches?  Not so much.  Unless you’ve got something genuinely funny guys, you don’t HAVE to stick to politics here.

(SB) I will say, I did like the Christmas wishes political sketch, but this just makes me realize that the best part of any political sketch is always Rahm Emanuel.  I’m going to need him to be elected mayor of Chicago so we can keep this up.  But in general, yes.  When did the political opener become a rule?

Most Quotable Moment.

(Nicole)  I’m totally invoking our leniency on “this year” to use a Party Down quote from season 1, in memory of the late, great show:

“That’s a leg?”  “Made footless! From pot.”  It still makes me laugh.  And if pot actually caused loss of limbs, I’d be a head on stump by now.

(SB)  There are a lot of quotable moments and people out there, notably Luke on Modern Family and pretty much any line of Parks & Recreation, but for me, I’m going to go with an instant classic from 30 Rock–”Lemon, Lesbian Frankenstein wants her shoes back.”  Honorable mention to the simple, weird, and oh-so-fitting, “Hey!  Ass-Butt!” from Supernatural.  Dean really sort of taught Castiel some stuff.

Best Guest Star.

(Nicole)  There have been many great ones this year, but I’ve got to say Steve Guttenberg (yes, you read that right) on Party Down.  It was one of the most hilarious episodes of the show ever, and The Gutte was a huge reason why.

Runner up:  I’m going to go with the ostrich who played Dee briefly in an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia this season.  OH MY GOD, how funny was that?? 

(SB) Mine also is from Party Down, with Jimmi Simpson as Jackal Onassis.  You may be wondering who the fuck Jimmi Simpson is (not to mention why he spells his name like that), but maybe it’ll ring a bell if I tell you he’s a McPoyle from Always Sunny.  His totally emo, Marilyn Manson-esque character slayed me, and his utter joy at being fired by Henry was priceless.  (Nicole) Yes.  Anytime a McPoyle appears, a porn-watching angel gets its wings.

Also, I know it’s not a guest star, technically, but I was in love with Joss Whedon’s directing on Glee, as well as Neil Patrick Harris’s guest spot on the same episode (this was a season one episode, so all previous bitching stands).  It was creative, stylish, and things actually made a goddamn bit of sense for once.  This man can do no wrong.

OH!  And let us not forget Taylor Kinney.  He was phenomenal on TVD and I am so on board for whatever he does next.

Show You Know You Should Be Watching (But Aren’t).

(SB)  Everything about Mad Men seems like something I’d like–I love Jon Hamm, I like character dramas, I think shows set in the 60′s are fun, and I am pretty much 100% positive from catching bits and pieces of it that I’d pretty much have a constant photography (or cinematography, as it were) boner.  I just got to it late and have never managed to catch up, and it’s one of those things I don’t want to jump into.  If Buffy is any indication, I’ll get to it in like … fourteen years.  Le sigh.

(Nicole) I agree with everything SB said about Mad Men, and I’ll also add Breaking Bad and Dexter.  I love cable shows (sex, violence and swearing – what’s not to like?), but for some reason I’ve managed miss all of these.  I do have the first seasons of Mad Men and Dexter on DVD, so it’s just a matter of time.

Best Musical Moment.

(SB)  Can I just say … I DIED, and I mean like, maybe clinically for a second, when they played Amen Omen on Vampire Diaries.  I was in LOVE.  That was definitely my favorite.  A close second, though, was when Tariq (from The Roots) was singing Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  You guys, they really are the best band in late night, very versatile and very funny, but it’s easy to forget how crazy talented they are.  Tariq, man–he can SING.  His voice was beautiful and it was the best version of that song I’ve ever heard.  It put me in the Christmas spirit immediately, and I will be bummed if The Roots don’t put out a Christmas album for me next year.

(Nicole) I’ve got three completely different submissions.  First, “Teenage Dream” by Darren Criss on Glee.  I’m really not always down with the song choices on the show, and since I don’t listen to a ton of pop music, I don’t know half of them (like, WHO is Bruno Mars?  I seriously have no idea), but this performance was fantastic.  I listen to it and sing along in my car all the time (sorry, Toronto-area commuters!).

Second, the song “O Death” that Supernatural used in its promos for the premiere and finale.  Super creepy, and so right for the show.

Lastly, “Gunfight Epiphany”, the theme song for Terriers (do you hate me yet?  Yes, I loved this show).  It’s so fun, so perfect for the tone of the show, and makes a great download – you can get the full-length version on iTunes and it’s worth all 99 cents.

(SB) O Death is such a great pick that I wish I could go back and retroactively make it my winner.  And guess what–I CAN!  It really was excellent, and I don’t know if I’ve seen a better promo for a show, ever.  When Death showed up again this year, I heard that song in my head again.  Nicole is right–it was haunting, creepy, and perfectly fit the show.  Someone really nailed it with that one.

Best (Current) TV Actor In a Movie Role.

(SB) Okay, I really thought long and hard about this, and don’t hate, but I totally enjoyed Steven R. McQueen of TVD fame in Pirhana 3D this summer.  I had no idea he was the main dude, but man.  It was a really fun  movie and nice to see him in a different setting.  And, for that matter, I really liked Adam Scott in it, too.

(Nicole) I had a hard time with this one, strangely, but seeing SB’s submission, I’m just going to say “YES”.  You now know my secret McQueen love, so of course I loved watching him on the big screen in a leading role.  For that matter, I LOVED Pirhana 3D; hilarious and tons of gore.  Plus, Adam Scott in the best last shot of a movie in a long time.  I died laughing for about an hour afterward.

Best 2011 Prospect.

(SB) There are a couple of shows I’m semi-excited for in 2011; for example (and yes, I DID just use a semi-colon), I hope Perfect Couples gets better, and I sort of want to watch The Cape, which I didn’t really expect.  But mostly, it’s a hands-down, no-contest, absolute runaway for Being Human on SyFy.  The production value looks decidedly British (read: shitty), but I don’t even care because hello, Supernatural writers running the show, and I love the premise.  I haven’t seen the UK version, so I carry no baggage there, and I am just all around super excited.

(Nicole) I’m also looking forward to Being Human, and I have seen the BBC version.  It’s going to be strange seeing new people in those roles (especially no Russell Tovey!), but I’m willing to give it a chance.  Speaking of BBC remakes, I’m also excited for the American version of Skins, but worried they’ll clean it up too much for my taste.  But to cheat a little and look at returning shows, I’m going with Parks & Recreation (January 20th!) and Justified.  P & R got the shaft from NBC this season and I can’t wait till it’s back on the air.  Ron Fucking Swanson, you guys.  Justified is just a great show, and I can’t wait for the return of Raylan Givens to my tv.

Best TV-related Twitter Account.

(SB) Have you guys seen @Matt_Donovan1?  I don’t know who’s behind it, but if you love TVD, it’s a must.  I have a ton of TV bloggers that I follow, so if you need any of those, just … consult my Twitter feed.

(Nicole) I love the feeds of the gang from Community.  Lots of behind the scenes pics and videos.  @MrDonaldGlover, @alisonbrie, @JoelMcHale, @GillianJacobs, @DanHarmon, @yvettenbrown and @dannypudi

Most Rewatchable DVR Moment.

(SB) Um, I have two.  And again, it’s a Vampire Diaries clean sweep.  Last year’s season finale with Damon kissing Elena-but-really-Katherine?  WHOA.  Amazing.  And secondly, Damon confessing his love to Elena before compelling her.  As you can probably guess, Elena is pretty extraneous for me in these scenes, but it’s okay.  Bonus pick?  Castiel watching porn.  Oh my GOD.

And, yeah, okay, there’s more–any time Adam Braverman dances on Parenthood.  GOLD.

(Nicole)  I re-watched the “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” duet with Blaine and Kurt on Glee a few times.  Same with Russell’s trip to crazytown on True Blood.  And anytime that Luke does anything on Modern Family (“I couldn’t find any straws, so you’ll have to drink it like cats”).  That kid is GENIUS.  Oh, and the Sam/Bill scene from the premiere of True Blood.  I just loved how porn-tastic the lines were (“I hear the water in Arkansas is…very hard”); the whole thing was equal parts funny and hot.

Talk shows.

(SB)  Yeah, you’ll notice I didn’t preface this with a “best” or a “worst”.  I just wanted to talk about them.  Jon Stewart is, of course, a perennial badass, but he’s not what I wanted to discuss.  I want to talk about Conan and Jimmy.  Obviously, Jimmy took Conan’s time slot, and Conan got to go back to being Conan on TBS.  I was really excited for Conan to come back, but it’s weird because … I think that in his absence, I started liking Jimmy’s show more.  Don’t get me wrong–I think Conan is the more genuinely funny person, and the more and more he embraces his weirdness, the more I love his show.  But Jimmy’s is just so lively, and it feels so generational, like … MY generation.  He always seems like he’s having a great time, and I love that he gets the guests up and moving around.  It’s become a really fun show to watch.

(Nicole)  I don’t watch many talk shows regularly, but for late night, as much as I’m pro-Coco, I have to say Fallon and Ferguson are my two favorites.  Fallon is just hilarious, and they have great musical moments.  Ferguson is a class act all the way.  And funny as hell.  Oh, and if it counts, The Daily Show.  Love me some Jon Stewart (although they could lose Olivia Munn and I wouldn’t complain).

Best New Shows.

(SB) I totally loved The Walking Dead this year and my only complaint about it was that it was only six episodes.  Thankfully, it’ll be back for more, and I’ve gotta say, it met and exceeded all my expectations.  In a year of relatively few good new shows (especially relative to the last few years), that was a great thing. Also … I know no one really watched it, and it took several episodes to get there, but I did end up enjoying Running Wilde.  Unfortunately, any show that Will Arnett and Mitch Horowitz do together from now until eternity is doomed to just be Not Arrested Development.

(Nicole) Well, surprise, surprise. Terriers, obviously.  I was in love from the pilot and it kept getting better from there.  Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James were the best duo in a long time, and the show never failed to take the unexpected route.  Brilliant writing, tons of humor, just amazing.  Runners up: The Walking Dead, Raising Hope and Louie.

(SB) NICOLE!  We have almost committed an end of the year TV blog review SIN by forgetting the cheesy, melodramatic, over-the-top, but all in an awesome way Pretty Little Liars.  This show was so crazy and looked from the get go like something we’d love to hate but rapidly became something we love to love.  This near-miss is a prime example of why long hiatuses are bad, mmmkay, but don’t worry–my happy ass will be glued to the couch for it and I will be humming the theme song for the rest of the season my natural life.  (Nicole)  And it’s back on Monday!!

Worst New Shows.

(Nicole) Outsourced.  No, I have not seen even one episode.  I got more than I needed just from the constant ads that NBC forced down our throats.  But really, it took the place of my beloved Parks & Rec, and so on principle alone, it is dead to me.  I was also pretty disappointed in Running Wilde.  I was a huge Arrested Development fan, and I love Keri Russell, but the one eposide I watched was just really unfunny.  Clearly, SB disagrees, so maybe I should have stuck it out.

(SB) I didn’t even bother with Outsourced, but the one that bummed me out was Hellcats.  The first episode was so bad I never went back for more.  Again, a fun premise, but just … awful.  The angry bike riding was the ultimate nail in the coffin.

(Nicole) Well, now see, I watch Hellcats every week.  Perhaps it should be classified as a “secret shame” show?  Anyhow, yes, the pilot totally sucked, but I kept watching anyway.  And you know what?  I like it!  It’s not going to win any Emmy’s, that’s for damn sure.  But it’s fun, and Matt Barr is adorable, plus Gale Harold is currently guest starring.  I’m kind of embarrassed for him, but also just excited to see him on tv again.

Giving up the ghost

(SB)  I finally gave up on Castle.  I love Nathan Fillion and I’m happy that he’s finally on something that isn’t canceled, but I just wish it was something AWESOME.  I mean, Castle is okay, but really it’s only okay because of Nathan Fillion.  True, all the time I spent watching it was worth it just to see Malcolm Reynolds pop out from behind a door, and I did love the Alyssa Milano episode … well, and I do like the idea of Nathan Fillion calling Stana Katic a cunt, but what it boils down to is that I am just not that into procedurals of any kind.  Well, I do like CSI: Miami reruns on occasion for the David Caruso factor, but over time, I just get bored.  So we finally erased the Castles off the DVR and removed the series recording, and you know?  I don’t miss it.

(Nicole) Gossip Girl.  I officially broke up with the show this season.  I couldn’t take any more Upper East Side mumbling (Chuck, Serena) and scheming (EVERYONE), and teenagers in college living like middle aged socialites (again, EVERYONE).  Oh, and Little J.  Who knew that little Cindy Lou Who from the terrible Grinch remake would turn out to be such a disgusting whore?

Inanimate Object of the Year.

(SB)  Well, we have to end on a fun one and I always love this category when TelevisionWithout Pity holds their annual Tubey Awards, and as Billy says, “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.”  For me, this was a no contest win for DJ Roomba, which is one of the most hilarious props I’ve ever seen.  In fact, it was SO good that it’s almost unfair to give it the win, but sometimes that’s life.  Still, in the interest of sharing the love, other contenders for me were TVD’s blood bag juice boxes and the field of snowmen in the Christmas episode of The Office.

(Nicole) Well, DJ Roomba is the perfect choice.  But just to be different, I’m going to pick Troy and Abed’s Blanket Fort City on Community.  Does that count as an object?  I loved that it had cultural neighborhoods and a hookah room where Britta was getting her freak on. 

(SB/Nicole) Late addtion!  Jenna’s jaws cane from Pretty Little Liars.  Has a cane ever been put to such perfect cheesy use?  The tap, tap, tap whenever Jenna approached was just the touch needed to take the show totally over the top (in a good way).  All Jenna needs now is a removable spoon/cocaine storage a la Sarah Michelle Gellar’s necklace in Cruel Intentions and it will be perfect.  

Alright.  That was serious.  But this was really fun for us, and hopefully for you guys too, and we want to hear your thoughts and picks in the comments–hit it!