There are some things I need to layout about my television series top 10 (and more) of 2011. First and foremost, there was only so much television I could watch. As much as I would have liked to watch TV anytime I pleased, I didn’t have that luxury. So, time and life stopped me from watching everything I wanted. I did watch quite a bit this year though. Additionally, I feel fairly confident that I am in tune with what critics and audiences alike are watching these days and what is considered to be quality television. For instance if I had Showtime, I’m pretty sure that “Homeland” would be on my top 10 list. As for the list itself, I think of it as a combination of best (objective) and favorite (subjective). It’s not a perfect way of comprising a list, but it’s what I feel is most appropriate. Lastly, if there is a television series on this list that you are not caught up on I suggest skipping or treading lightly over the bit on that particular show because it may contain spoilers or hints. If I was faced with that situation, I would gloss over those sections (but that’s just me). Anyway, I think 2011 was a good year for television in general and I hope you enjoy the list. Thanks!

R.I.P.:

• “Rescue Me” (FX) – It was time to go (a few seasons too late).

• “The Chicago Code” (FOX) – Decent. Finished strong.

• “Lights Out” (FX) – Steadily solid, but the highs were not all that high.

• “How to Make it in America” (HBO) – Was almost on the outside of this list, but had a stronger second season. Soon enough I will forget all the characters’ names (again).

Dishonorable Mention:

• “The Killing” (AMC) – While the “The Killing” started out strong enough through the first quarter of its season it became formulaic and mundane as the season wore on. By the time the season finale aired, all I really wanted was the season’s mystery solved. Instead, the season finale kept the mystery more than alive. A show that began with some promise became annoying and felt more like homework than entertainment. Who killed Rosie Larsen? At this point, who cares?

• “Entourage” (HBO) – For a long time “Entourage” was what it was. A show that from the start could have been more, but chose to keep the bar low in terms of both story and characters. It was convenient and easy to watch. Two seasons ago was one of the series strongest and had conflict for a change. The eighth and final season reverted back to so much of what I disliked about the show. Vince gets out of drug rehab and doesn’t show an ill effect. A man commits suicide with Vince and Turtle on the other side of the wall and they’re laughing about Vince rigging a drug test later the same day. Vince and the gang are as “douchey” as they come, there’s no way around it. You would think anything that happened in these guys’ lives would have consequences. Instead it was business as usual. To top it all off, “Entourage” ended with the lamest series finale I have ever watched as it turned three of its female characters into cartoons.

Honorable Mention:

• “Bob’s Burgers” (FOX) – A very pleasant surprise. I haven’t watched any of FOX’s animated fare consistently for some time, but “Bob’s Burgers” delivered each episode. Watching Bob try to get by with his eternally struggling business and obnoxious family is priceless. Still trying to figure out exactly what the deal is with Tina.

• “South Park” (Comedy Central) – “South Park,” for me, is hit or miss. When it hits, it provides the most laughs on television. This season featured some of the most memorable episodes of television for the year including HUMANCENTiPAD, City Sushi, and Broadway Bro Down. The true highlight though was the poignant You’re Getting Old. 2011 was a strong year for “South Park.”

• “New Girl” (FOX) – The stories are rather ordinary, but the show never fails to make me laugh hard a few times every episode (which is saying something). The cast has good chemistry. I get the sense that Zooey Deschanel’s schtick is polarizing, but I’m more indifferent than anything else.

THE TOP TEN OF 2011:

10. “Parenthood” (NBC) – With a cast as large as this it’s hard to give each character his/her due as some characters on “Parenthood” are given sizable arcs then seemingly disappear for several episodes. It’s the nature of the situation, but does affect the overall quality of the show. There are certain characters I would like to see more of but are relegated to the sidelines a little too often. And sure, there are those times when an acoustic guitar is accompanied by a male singer softly humming a song where I look around the room in embarrassment to make sure no one else is watching with me. Anyway, things typically work out for the Braverman family, but the paths characters take to get there are effectively done a decent amount of the time. “Parenthood” has likable characters that viewers can identify with. Its positive tone and overall entertaining nature assist it as well. In a time when network dramas are often centered on the characters’ occupation and formulaic storytelling, “Parenthood” continued to balance its large cast adequately while proving to be a network drama with stories and characters more complex than the norm.

• “The Episode”: Do Not Sleep with Your Autistic Nephew’s Therapist
• MVP: Monica Potter (Kristina Braverman) – Sam Jaeger (Joel) would have a strong case if more of the focus was on him and he had more screen time. Peter Krause (Adam) also in the running.