2012 From My Living Room

I don't really watch enough movies or listen to enough new music to do a best-of list in those categories, but I watch a lot of TV.  Here's what I loved in 2012:

1.  Mad Men

It seems like every season Mad Men is more self-assured than the last. Matthew Weiner and company know that subtlety is their greatest weapon and they wield it with aplomb. 

2.  Breaking Bad

This show could really be 1(b). Vince Gilligan and his writing staff continually paint Walter & Jesse into ever-tighter corners only to deftly maneuver them out in breath-taking fashion. All without straining credulity. Flawless.

3.  Louie

One of the most unique half-hours on television, Louie isn't so much a sitcom as a series of short films. Absurdist humor and somber meditations on life have rarely been melded so seamlessly.

4.  Boardwalk Empire

It seems that viewers expected perfection right out of the gate due to Boardwalk Empire's sterling pedigree. What they found was a show that has plenty of panache and a beautiful veneer, but also comes with its share of heavy-handed moments. Those that bailed on the show early missed the development of some fantastic characters in addition the kind of well-crafted action and drama that makes premium cable worth the price of admission.

5.  Game of Thrones

Hardcore fantasy geeks and novice nerds alike have found lots to love in HBO's superb adaptation of George RR. Martin's best-selling novels. The most downloaded show of 2012 is also one of the best.

6.  Community

There's a reason why this show has one of most passionate fanbases on the internet. Enjoy it before it's gone. #SixSeasonsAndAMovie

7.  Justified

Justified is a modern-day Western set in Kentucky coal country—a place that's colorfully and stylishly rendered and home to some of the best villains on TV.

8.  Homeland

While many viewers took issue with the believability of Homeland's second season, it provided plenty of unexpected twists, a few sublimely rendered scenes, and more outstanding acting from Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin.

9. Treme

Three seasons in and Treme continues to be criminally under-appreciated. Viewers looking for The Wire 2.0 were quickly turned off by its slow-burn narrative and rambling pace. Those that stuck around, however, have found that there's no better place to kick back, enjoy some jazz, catch up with some old friends, and learn about one of America's most fascinating cities.

10. Girls

When you get past all the hype and the hate, you'll find that Girls is a daring, stylish show that brings the love/hateable characters of mumblecore to the small screen. Nepotized or not, Lena Dunham's got skills.

11. Happy Endings

Some shows are here because they're meticulously crafted. Some shows tug at the heartstrings. Some shows just make me laugh really hard.

12. Fringe

After an overly gooey season four finale that was designed to serve as a series finale if necessary, Fringe returned with a darker, more streamlined season five that may cement it as one of the all-time great Science Fiction shows.

13. Parks & Recreation

Leslie Knope and company continue to find new ways to entertain, while building the kind of close-knit office family that Michael Scott can only dream of.

14. Bob's Burgers

The show that broke the McFarlane curse is the best part of Sunday night. (Sorry, Football.)

15. Archer

I've got two words for you: Burt. Reynolds.

17. Suburgatory

Suburgatory is another show that skillfully integrates wacky humor and heartfelt character moments without the awkward transition music.

18. Sherlock

Anyone who says that the English are stuffy and dry hasn't seen their television. Sherlock is just plain fun.

19. Parenthood

Against all odds, Parenthood continues to tackle ripped-from-The-View family issues and heart-breaking personal tragedies without ever crossing the line into melodrama.

20. South Park

The rumors of South Park's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Like all long-running shows, it has its hits and misses, but its hits still pack a wallop.

Honorable Mentions: Rev., The Daily Show, Falling Skies, The Hour, New Girl, The Walking Dead, How I Met Your Mother, Awake