My Favorite Things of 2010

I've read around a thousand lists of "Best movies of the year," "Worst movies of the year," "Biggest breakout stars of the year," etc. I didn't want to do a cliche one like that, so instead I'll do a super creative list of things that made me happy this year. Enjoy, and feel free to yell at me for anything I missed. It's been a long year, after all, and I know I didn't remember everything.

"Inception" gives us a 2 for 1 gift
I thought I'd put the obvious one up front. We got a thrilling, summer popcorn movie combined with a thoughtful, mind-bending film rolled into one amazing time at the movies (or three, depending on how many times you saw it. I couldn't get enough!) "Inception" is one of my new favorite movies of all time. No other director can make blockbuster movies that are incredibly popular, incredibly smart, and incredibly original like Christopher Nolan.

The continual rise of AMC
I'm slowly falling in love with this channel. From top-notch original programming like "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" to quality movies that aren't just whatever they could get the rights to and throw on the air, they live up to their slogan of "story matters here." I don't think "The Walking Dead" lived up to its fantastic premise, but AMC deserves all due credit for making an effort to have all-around quality programming.

BBC's "Sherlock"
From "Doctor Who" writer Steven Moffat, "Sherlock" had a lot of the charm and energy of Moffat's "Doctor Who" contributions. A modern updating of the Sherlock Holmes stories could have easily been a disgrace to Sherlock's history, but it turned out to be an extremely entertaining and smartly produced TV series. It's easily one of the best things I've watched this year and I can't wait for more episodes.

"Southland" lives
NBC couldn't hold on to it, but TNT knew better and kept this great cop drama on the air, even renewing it for another season to air soon. I don't like procedurals, but I do love lawyer and cop dramas when they're more sophisticated and realistic than the hundreds of "CSI"s and "Law & Order"s out there.

"Cougar Town" keeps getting better and better
I'm really hoping I won't be saying this still next year as it pains me to admit, but "Modern Family" seems to have peaked in its first year. But "Cougar Town" worked out its kinks, ditched the off-putting premise, and became a terrific sitcom that has the same silly yet smart comedy that show creator Bill Lawrence put in "Scrubs."

"Fringe" crosses over to the Other Side
I've raved about this show all over my blog, so I won't bother to reiterate my praise, even if it does completely deserve it. After all the highly advertised 'next big things' in SciFi that sputtered and died, it's nice to have one show around that nails the big narrative scope and intimate character development that all those other ones promised but couldn't deliver on.

Andrew Garfield
I had no idea whatsoever who this guy was when they announced him as the lead actor in the "Spiderman" reboot. I wasn't excited already because I thought the first two movies were very good. But after seeing him in "The Social Network," I couldn't wait to see more of him. Jesse Eisenberg plays it cold and distanced, but Andrew Garfield brings the emotional weight of the film. It excited me to uncover another tidbit of why I thought he looked so darn familiar. He had a lead role in the two-part "Doctor Who" episode "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks." He definitely has my attention now!

"Toy Story 3"
So many people of my generation were terrified that our childhood memories of the first two movies would be retroactively tarnished by an awful addition to the franchise years later. Imagine our relief when the third movie was every bit as wonderful as the first two. Who knew three animated kid's movies could be so emotionally affecting and enjoyable by young and old equally. More than a success due to nostalgia alone, this third film earned all the praise it got.

"24" ends
I loved this show for a long time but the last few seasons went really downhill and it broke my heart. The character assassination of Tony Almeida was bad enough, but Katee Sackhoff's Dana Walsh storyline put the final nail in the coffin and it became crystal clear - "24"'s time had come and gone and it was time to go.

"Ugly Betty" ends on a high note
No one really noticed when "Ugly Betty" recovered from its creative slump and got back to its first season goodness. By then, the show was canceled and was wrapping things up. But unlike other shows that march slowly toward their death with dwindling writing quality, "Ugly Betty" avoided that bitter end and proved that it deserves a fond place in our memories.

"Avatar" gets shut out at the Oscars
As the Oscar season roles around again, people are disputing the validity of nominations for ten films or for blockbuster films. But if "Avatar" can be a frontrunner, then so can "Inception" and other great movies that also happened to be wildly popular. As much as I think blockbuster movies deserve recognition when they're good, movies should win Academy Awards for having the whole package. Brilliant visuals should win technical awards. Brilliant visuals plus superb writing and acting should win Best Picture.

"Breaking Bad" winning big at the Emmys
Speaking of the whole package, "Breaking Bad" definitely has it. As much as I've wanted "Dexter" to get some love for a while and as exquisite as "Mad Men" is, "Breaking Bad" is shockingly terrific. Shockingly in that it has shocking moments, not that I expected it to be bad. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul absolutely earned those Emmy awards. Their performances are fearlessly genius and unparalleled in the television world.

"Billionaire" by Travie McCoy & Bruno Mars
I'll admit, I'm not an avid listener of Top 40 like I used to be, finding most of it to be overly autotuned and unoriginal. I don't like the state of pop music right now, I think American Idol alums only add to the generic singles, and rap/hip-hop has never been my favorite genre. (I don't say this to be an old timer at heart or a smug, arrogant hipster, I just like to be honest). But I really loved this song. So much of hip-hop that turns me off has to do with the Kanye West-type arrogance in the music. Social commentary and innovation, yes please. Giant egos going on and on about how awesomely badass and rich they are, no thank you. "Billionaire" came at a good time, when the economy was in a bad place and everyone could relate to this earnest song about the natural desire to have the freedom and joy that money can bring.

"Night Work" by the Scissor Sisters
Not nearly as popular in their native US as they should be, the Scissor Sisters released another album this year. The delightful new addition brought us more quality pop, heavily influenced by the best of disco and dance music. They also released the ridiculously upbeat song "Isn't It Strange," which got a place in the new "Shrek" movie. Still filthy, still gorgeous, I hope the Scissor Sisters keep putting out great music like they have this year.

"Kick-Ass" says 'yes' to violence and swearing
Is it base of me to say that I enjoyed the hell out of this movie? Is it immature of me to admit that I loved all the graphic violence? I don't care what anyone says, I had a great time watching this one and wish it had done better so we would get a sequel. It also got Mika to release another single specifically for this movie, so all things considered, this movie made me very happy this year.

Ben Affleck keeps directing
It looks like "Gone Baby Gone" was just the beginning. I don't care if Affleck ever acts again, but I can't wait to see what he does next behind the camera.

Mark Pellegrino scores some high-profile roles
Alright, Lucifer on "Supernatural" is definitely not a high-profile role. He was probably recognized mostly for his work as the abusive Paul Bennett on "Dexter." But he also got the role as the mysterious Jacob on "Lost." I may not have liked the direction "Lost" took towards the end, but Pellegrino was game to fill in the convoluted blanks in the story.

The pervasive use of "Sunshine (Adagio in D Minor)"
And I thought I'd put the bizarrely specific one last. I love this simple yet moving piece of music by composer John Murphy. It's showing up all over the place now, from episodes of "V" and "The Walking Dead" to the climax of "Kick-Ass" (which also used Murphy's "In the House, in a Heartbeat" from "28 Days Later.") I even heard it in a trailer for some Javier Bardem movie. It's quickly becoming the new go-to piece of music, much like the oft-used "Lux Aerterna" from "Requiem for a Dream."

"Dexter" season check-up

One of the best parts of my Thanksgiving break was having access to a television with Showtime and the beauty of Showtime on Demand. In the past two days, I caught up on the entire current season of "Dexter." Unfortunately, I won't be able to watch tonight's episode, but now I'll know what I'm missing because this season has been fantastic. It's a wonder that five seasons in, a show can be so well written and acted and just as witty and thrilling as its first season.
Things started off slow, with the aftermath of Rita's murder and the wrap-up to the Trinity storyline. I was a little worried at first because not much was happening. Dexter was dealing with his grief, the police department was a little suspicious, and Quinn was basically being set up as Doakes 2.0. Luckily, since then, we've gotten the Santa Muerte case with the Fuentes brothers as well as the nefarious friends of the late Boyd Fowler. Our season-long guest is Julia Stiles as Lumen Ann Pierce, one of Boyd's soon-to-be victims after being kidnapped, tortured, and raped repeatedly. She witnessed Dexter offing Boyd and now is going after his friends with Dexter. I'm glad they referenced that 'Lumen' is not a name, because I get really irritated when TV shows makes up crazy trendy names and just act like they're as normal as any other name. I've read that some people are critical of the Lumen storyline because they don't want Dexter saddled with some sidekick this season. If this show didn't have great writers, Lumen could have been Miguel Prado 2.0. But I like her addition. Although how could I not love a season that's basically a rape revenge tale? One of the things I've always admired most about "Dexter" is the twisted morality of it and all the ethical questions it poses with its storylines.

I've grown to enjoy the bond growing between Dexter and Lumen. They have both been with each other in moments of great vulnerability and they understand each other, on some level. Lumen isn't some evil genius like Miguel, offing people who are a threat to her professional life. And finally, she confronted Dexter about his activities killing the killers. I was waiting for that moment for a while, when she would finally realize that Boyd wasn't Dexter's first foray into murder. I was surprised, however, that Dexter was the one who openly offered his history. It echoed his prior confessions about his wife's murder and the shocking decision to trust Lumen with his real name. They are each suffering and they are each helping the other work through it. It's grief therapy, "Dexter" style.

I'm still hesitant about Batista and LaGuerta's storyline. I'm invested in them as a couple to a very small extent so it's hard to care about their hot-and-cold relationship. And after LaGuerta threw Debra under the bus for the nightclub shootings, she's quickly losing any 'sympathetic character' status. As for Debra, I still love her. If I could edit my top ten list about unfairly hated TV characters, I would add Deb so I could defend her more. Many people don't like her because she's not a lovable, cuddly character. She's got a hard exterior and interior, but her sense of justice is strong and as innately held as her brother's code, albeit in a more legal way. She's bitter and cynical, but she has good reason to be and often can't help but be swept up in new relationships that are often bad for her. Which brings me to her current love interest, Quinn. I initially hated this guy, mainly because he was just mini-Doakes. And no one is as badass as Doakes. But lately, he's really growing on me. He clearly cares about Debra and he's torn on whether or not to continue investigating Dexter. He's not as certain anymore about dealing with a dirty cop and was hesitant to use "unorthodox methods" to find out the truth. It seems dirty cop Liddy has taken on the new Doakes role and it appears like he's going to find out a lot about Dexter's extracurricular activities. Liddy's working on the sly, unlike Doakes, but at least Liddy would be easier to get rid of. I am curious what Liddy is going to think about his findings. The show hasn't exactly been afraid to reference things in the past and maintain continuity, so I'm kind of hoping Liddy notices the similarities to the Bay Harbor Butcher case.

This season has had some excellent moments. There have been numerous hilarious scenes (Lumen watching, confused, as Dexter analyzes her crime scene), some great heartwarming scenes (Dexter's moment in the car with Astor), and a lot of witty moments. But the most recent episode had this season's big piss-your-pants moment. There have been some great ones in the past, from Doakes' "surprise motherfucker!" to Trinity's "hello, Dexter Morgan," but the final scene of the last episode was just as chilling. Lumen accidentally ends up on the phone with Jordan Chase, one of her tormentors played by Johnny Lee Miller, who leaves a message for Dexter. "Tell him time is of the essence. Tick tick tick. That's the sound of his life running out. Could you be sure to tell him that? Take care, Lumen." Because it's so epic, I've included it below. My absolute favorite scene, though, has to be from that same episode. It found Dexter beating up a man physically abusing his girlfriend's daughter, with Dexter delivering the most intelligent beat-down ever. As one youtube commentor says, "wow, what a violent and educational ass-kicking, he literally taught Barry a lesson." That clip is the second one below.

"Dexter" is still an absolute treat. This season is a toned-down breather after Trinity, but that by no means equals less edge-of-your-seat entertainment. I've greatly admired this show for being willing to slow things down and catch its breath rather than piling on villains, trying to top itself every season. My only question now is how on earth has this show never won the Emmy for Best Drama? Or, better yet, how has Michael C. Hall still not won a freaking Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series? Seriously, "Breaking Bad" and Bryan Cranston are excellent, but "Dexter" was here first and it's overdue for a whole ton of awards.

Some last minute, pre-Emmy Emmy thoughts

The Emmys are this Sunday and I'm actually happy with the nominations. Well, happier than I've been in past years. Since lists of nominees are posted all over the Internet, I'm just going to list the categories I'm going to comment on.

Outstanding Drama Series

Lost
Breaking Bad

Dexter
Mad Men

True Blood

The Good Wife

I think we can just give this one to "Lost" right now, since the Emmys love to give send-off awards for shows that are leaving and had a lasting impact on popular culture. I really hope they don't do this, as I think "Lost" has seen better days and was rewarded for those better days already. This most recent season was rushed, uneven, and rather unfocused. You could feel the writers trying to wrap up storylines as quickly as they could to appease fans when we now know that there was no master plan all along and they just made up most of their answers just for the sake of answering something. Now, I wanted answers and a satisfying conclusion, but "Lost" was at its best when the focus was entirely on the characters. I would love to see "Dexter" finally get its due, especially since it came off a stellar season. I would hate to see "Dexter" never win the Emmys it deserves because it was eclipsed by bigger pop culture sensations. "Breaking Bad" or "Mad Men" are possibilities, neither of which would upset me. They're both excellent shows and they deserve the critical praise they get. The Emmys love "Mad Men," so I wouldn't rule that out completely. "True Blood" getting nominated was enough to make me gag, but I don't anticipate an upset. I regret to say I've never seen "The Good Wife" and can't really comment on it either way.

Outstanding Actor in a Drama

Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Hugh Laurie (House MD)
Michael C Hall (Dexter)

Matthew Fox (Lost)

Hamm, Fox and Laurie are consistently good, but Hall and Cranston are in a league of their own, in my humble opinion. I would bet Chandler is in the latter group as well, but I've never seen "Friday Night Lights." I'm a bad TV addict for this, I know, but all the critical praise in the world doesn't make me interested in some Texas football family small-town drama. Cranston would make me happiest for the win for his work on "Breaking Bad." I finally caught up with this show this summer and he is truly remarkable in that role.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Beau Bridges (The Closer)
Ted Danson (Damages)
John Lithgow (Dexter)
Alan Cumming (The Good Wife)
Dylan Baker (The Good Wife)
Robert Morse (Mad Men)
Gregory Itzin (24)

I'm still biased because of my love of "Dexter," but this really should be John Lithgow's award. Critics and viewers alike were blown away by his role as the Trinity killer. He should win the award just for the Thanksgiving episode alone.

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Mary Kay Place (Big Love)
Sissy Spacek (Big Love)
Shirley Jones (The Cleaner)
Lily Tomlin (Damages)
Ann-Margret (Law & Order: SVU)
Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

The only reason I list this one is because of Elizabeth Mitchell's nomination. Seriously? I love her, and I loved her in past seasons, but did she even have fifteen minutes of screen time in the last season?

Outstanding Comedy
Glee
Modern Family
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Nurse Jackie
30 Rock
The Office

By now, everyone knows this is a race between "Modern Family" and "Glee." I can't shake the feeling that "Glee" is going to take it because of the media adoration, but "Modern Family" was consistently funny and well written. I'm no fan of "Glee," but I did watch most of the season in an effort to see what people love about it. I can understand its appeal for a certain demographic, but the show is very uneven and, with the exception of Jane Lynch's love-it-or-hate-it snarky bitch role, it's just not that funny.

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

I only posted this list because of the craziness that is Tony Shalhoub getting nominated again. Did "Monk" even air this year? I'm not as invested in the comedies as I am the dramas just by nature of what shows I watch, but I don't want to see him take this award one more time, even if it is the last time he could.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Someone from "Two and a Half Men" must have some incriminating information or something, because someone has to be getting blackmailed for that show to keep getting Emmy recognition. There are a lot of people behind Colfer, and he is funny sometimes on that show, but I have a hard time getting past the character as it's such a complete and total stereotype walking. Same with Lea Michele and her character. I feel like people have pulled off their cliche characters better in other programs. I think this award should and probably will go to Ty Burrell for his work as Phil Dunphy. He nails that character, and much as I love Stonestreet, Burrell is the stand-out. The clever writing helps, but it would be nothing without Burrell's absolutely spot-on delivery.

I have nothing to say about reality, as I don't watch any, but I'm still really pissed that "Torchwood: Children of Earth" wasn't nominated for the miniseries category. I can't blame this on the Emmys, however, since The Powers That Be didn't submit "Torchwood" for consideration. I don't understand this for one second. The five-part miniseries was brilliant and deserves recognition. It should go down in television history as one of the best sci-fi programs ever just for the recent miniseries event.

As far as snubs go, "Cougar Town" is my most egregious snub. Busy Phillipps should have been nominated, without a doubt. Emmy voters should know better than to be turned off by a bad title. I'd also add "Ugly Betty" and, more specifically, Vanessa Williams to the snub list. The show had a creative resurgence in its last season and Williams was always excellent, as was Michael Urie. The Emmys keep giving "Monk" awards and even recognized Kristin Chenoweth's performance on the by-then deceased "Pushing Daisies" last year so "Ugly Betty" shouldn't have been overlooked just because it's over. It's also refreshing this year to see some deserved snubs, like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Desperate Housewives" being largely ignored. And rightly so. I love those shows still, but they didn't deserve nominations.

I'll most likely return with a post-Emmys article, reviewing what thrilled me and what enraged me. I'm not expecting much from the host this year, since it's Jimmy Fallon. But anyone is better than reality show hosts.