2013's Worst Television Series and Episodes

The Worst 

I rarely put the shows that are obviously bad on this list, I would rather put the shows who have fallen from grace, jumped the shark or shows in their first year who tried too hard to be "great" rather than just finding quality writing.  In fact every major network got a lump of coal in their stocking, including one pay cable show.  I honestly hate doing a "worst" list, but some shows, are just begging for it!

1-Dexter (Showtime)

This list has the opposite of the best list.  The best show of the year (Breaking Bad) had one of the best closing seasons of all time, while Dexter had one of the worst, and an atrocious series finale that did not redeem things from the season.  The plot with the beginnings of the code was cool enough, but divide between Dexter and Deb was oddly handled.  While some shows can have a season that has a ho-hum business as usual season this show always was best when it pushed the envelope, like with Trinity.  This was one of the most uneven shows I have ever watched, even last season had rebounded, but this season fell flat, and (SPOILER) Dexter throwing his sister in the sea with all his other victims proved the writers just went along with the motions and the constant changing creative minds can ruin a show. End rant.

2-Family Guy and The Simpsons (tie-FOX)

Brian Griffin died, and he's apparently coming back to life.  Well the creative team behind this show needed people to start talking about this show again in some capacity, and it got the twitter buzz it wanted, but people moved on, something FOX should do, let go.  This show just is not funny any more.

Speaking of shows that need to be put out of their misery, The Simpson's is another animated series, which needs to be put out of its misery.  I watched this years Halloween episode, the intro directed by Guillermo del Torro was awesome, but the rest of the episode felt like it was made 20 years ago without the laughs.  Terrible, time to end! 

4-The Millers (CBS)

A show with so much talent, Will Arnett, Margo Martindale, Beau Bridges, and Jayma Mays wasted.  This material for this show is terrible, CBS's number one comedy is number one because of its placement on Thursday nights, why change the channel, oh that's right because this show like their other crap Thursday show Two and a Half Men is dumb.  This is honestly the best I can do to describe this show, this write up is as simplistic as this show.

5-1600 Penn (NBC) 

Putting Bill Pullman back in the White House seems like a slam dunk, right?  I mean he helped stopped those aliens in the film Independence Day so he should be able to help save an NBC comedy.  Wrong!  This was NBC's worst new comedy last year, but the talent was there.  Josh Gad was directed poorly, and while Jenna Elfman had her funny moments she could not help save this show.  Comedy and politics has worked a lot recently, but this show was a big fat 00.

The Worst Episodes

1-Dads-"Pilot"

Beyond the racism, of the Asian assistant this pilot set in motion a show that almost made the worst list, it would be number 6 above.  The episode itself tries too hard, and guess what characters in real life can't be made like able the way they are set up in Family Guy.  This was just the biggest piece of garbage.

2-Dexter -"Remember the Monsters?"

One of the worst series finales of all time, and that includes my anger towards the fade to black in The Sopranos.  A massive hurricane is coming and Dexter kills someone, goes back and forth driving, toward this storm and ends up a mountain man alone without his son, leaving him with a crazy murderer he really doesn't know?  That's the plan you had from the beginning?  Awful.

3-Glee-"Shooting Star"

When this show gets heavy handed, it gets heavy handed, and this school shooting episode was just out of place.  I get why they wanted to try this, and help people cope, but this was a clunker, and just proves this show needs to be put out of its misery.  (World be number 7 on the list above).

4-Community-"History 101"

The build up from the stars of this show, talking about Community with Dan Harmon was their undoing.  This was an overstuffed episode that tried too hard, and did not get Community.  I hope Dan Harmon makes season four a dream.

5-Mad Men- "The Crash"

I know some people will yell at me for this (my friend Keith), but I hated this episode.  Don and the office on amphetamines? This reminded me of when The Sopranos attempted their trippy stuff, this worked better because of the era, but this episode felt odd, and out of place.  The exposition on Don's past was all that was need, not a trip gone wrong, to make the episode feel just off.

Jumping the Shark Part 4: A New Hope.... to Improve

This part of of my "jumping the shark" entry is going to be a little different.  In the past I called for the end of shows, which had moved past their prime in more ways than one.  Most of the shows in parts one, two, and three have been cancelled, or on the road to ending.  My goal with this entry is to push hope that these few shows will bounce back, and achieve greatness once again.  I am not calling for these shows to cancelled, I am just challenging them to think about their current state, and the direction they are heading.  Be mindful of of spoiler midfield!

Community (2009-Present)-NBC  Dan Harmon is back! I removed this show from a previous list, because there is hope with Harmon back that this show will climb out of the abyss from the wreckage of the fourth season to be the show that it once was.  If I were Harmon I would make the fourth season part of one of the alternate time lines, or something more clever.  Dan Harmon was the genius behind the show, and when NBC canned him I was nervous.  The cast stated that in productions things were feeling and looking the same even without Harmon, but a true fan can see this show has lost something, the fire which made it the wittiest, independent show on television.  The plots are still outlandish, and there are still elements of the original Community, but the show has lost its edge.  The new show runners pulled a Britta, but with Harmon back I have hope this show can be better.

Update: Guess what NBC, bringing Dan Harmon made this show better, who would have thought that the creative mind behind the show, would have done that, sarcasm intended!  From GI Jeff to MeowMeowBeenz, and getting rid of Pierce this show is back, and better than the previous season.  6 seasons and a movie!

Downton Abbey (2010-Present)-PBS/BBC-Season one, or series one was epic, and great.  Series two was solid, but not as great.  Series three was depressing, and just did not hold my interest the way the show has in the past.  The fourth series/season is currently playing in the UK, but it will air starting on January 5th in the States.  My hope is that the show will be able to capture the magic even with Matthew gone.  The love story of Matthew and Mary was what made season three watchable.  These two characters had finally gotten together, but at the end of the third season Matthew dies.  My hope is that the show captures the evolving era well, and the way it influences the traditions/societal norms of the residents of Downton Abbey.

Update: Oh wait, what's that I just barely woke up after watching the most boring season of this show. The only character who even made it worth watching was Jim Carter's Mr Carson.  Raping Anna was pointless.  Julian Fellowes with Robert Altman is drowning in his lack of creativity.  Time to end things, there is no hope.

Girls (2012-Present)-HBO-Season two ended on odd, but interesting note.  Hannah is her own worst enemy; she wants to be a writer, but can't get there.  I know people find this show, and the characters vapid, but I look at it as an interesting sociological study on my generation.  With that said I can see this show faltering, and not lasting long, its niche.  My hope is that is that Lena Dunham continue to use her unique voice, but to not let it over power that natural occurrences within the series.

Update: Season 3 was great, and the finale showed Hannah growing in more ways than ever before.  Hannah reminds me of my Caitlin on many levels, Caitlin is a much better person though.  Should the show have ended here?  I often think shows should end while on top, and this show redeemed itself.  While the show got better I wonder if it should have ended this season.

Homeland (2011-Present)-Showtime One word, Dana. Enough already.  Fans of the show tell you they hate a character, and you give audiences more of her?  I am baffled on this one, fans of a show do not always know best, but in this instance they are correct.  While some of you may think I am as crazy as Carrie for putting this show on the list, there is something that has happened to this show post the episode entitled "Q&A" which have pushed this show on a slight downward spiral in quality.  The acting is great, and Mandy Patinkin is killing it; he is the reason I watch this show now.  I have faith in the show runners, that there is always a plan but the third episode of season entitled "Tower of David" was a clunker, a boring way to tie Carrie and Brody's story together.  A show can not always maintain a high level of quality, and I will stick by this show, but at the moment I am just holding out hope that the creative minds behind this show will push in the right direction.  Now Carrie is pregnant?  How did this not come out while she was being treated?

Update: Season 3 was a creative fail, but Brody is dead, does that mean things will get better? Probably not.  I like that this show can start from a fresh place in season 4, but is one more season enough for this show?  Probably, my prediction it ends at 5 or 6.

Mad Men (2007-Present)-AMC- Season 6 of Mad Men tackled the fall of Don Draper, as he became a shell of himself, losing touch with his suave nature, and becoming unable to hide who he truly has been all his life, Dick Whitfield.  The show also tackled the different civil rights movement well.  Beyond these things characters like Joan, and Peggy felt wasted.  The show felt more lost than usual, the writing less punchy.  The show seemed to spiral in the sense that it just felt like it went nowhere for most people.  I know I am not alone in the feeling that this last season of Mad Men was off.  Mad Men has one two part season left, much like Breaking Bad.  I hope Mad Men can end on top like Breaking Bad did.

No updates for Mad Men, still waiting for the premiere, which airs April 13th.  Critics were allowed to see the first episode only and the reactions have been mixed.  I have heard the general tone is good character development, no plot development.  Which is the shows biggest critique recently.  Only time will tell, but there are only 7 episodes, which could be tricky for this show.

NBC's Massive Overhaul Creates a Thoroughly Unimpressive Fall 2013 Line-Up

A few days ago NBC announced massive cuts, they cancelled every sitcom except Community, and Parks and Recreation, and the only returning dramas are not massive ratings grabers like Parenthood, Grimm, and Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit.  Chicago Fire, and Revolution are the only first year dramas returning at the moment.

NBC's new Fall schedule has been announced and they moved everything around, and even shelved Community until 2014, so Parks is the only returning sitcom for the peacock.  Why the massive time shifts, and cuts?  NBC is attempting an overhaul, which looks incredibly unsuccessful.  At the moment there are a few shows still in limbo: Celebrity Apprentice, Hannibal, Fashion Star, and Beauty White's Off Their Rockers.

Listed below is Fall 2013 Schedule 

MONDAY
8/7c The Voice
10 pm THE BLACKLIST (new series) 

TUESDAY
8 pm The Biggest Loser
9 pm The Voice
10 pm Chicago Fire

WEDNESDAY
8 pm Revolution
9 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
10 pm IRONSIDE (new series)

THURSDAY
8 pm Parks and Recreation
8:30 pm WELCOME TO THE FAMILY (new series)
9 pm SEAN SAVES THE WORLD (new series) 
9:30 pm THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW (new series)
10 pm Parenthood

FRIDAY
8 pm Dateline NBC
9 pm Grimm
10 pm DRACULA (new series)

SATURDAY
Encore programming

SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football

SUNDAY (Post-football/Winter 2013)
7 pm Dateline NBC
8 pm Nate Berkus’ AMERICAN DREAM BUILDERS (Reality)
9 pm BELIEVE (new series)
10 pm CRISIS (new series)

Believe (Drama)

EPs | Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk (Fringe)
CAST | Kyle MacLachlan (Desperate Housewives), Johnny Sequoyah, Jake McLaughlin (Savages), Delroy Lindo (The Chicago Code), Jamie Chung (Once Upon a Time), Sienna Guillory (Resident Evil), Arian Moayed (The Following)
Follows an unlikely relationship between a gifted young girl and a man sprung from prison who has been tasked with protecting her from the evil elements that hunt her power.

Crisis (Drama)
EPs | Rand Ravich and Far Shariat (Life)
CAST | Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Dermot Mulroney (New Girl), Rachael Taylor (666 Park Avenue), Michael Beach (Third Watch), James Lafferty (One Tree Hill), Lance Gross (House of Payne), Halston Sage (How to Rock), Max Martini (Revenge), Max Schneider (How to Rock), Joshua Erenberg (Suburgatory)
Examines what happens when an unlikely puppeteer pulls Washington’s elite — including the President of the United States — into an international conspiracy.

About a Boy (Comedy)
EP | Jason Katims (Parenthood)
DIRECTOR | Jon Favreau (Revolution, Iron Man)
CAST | David Walton (New Girl), Minnie Driver (The Riches), Anjelah N. Johnson (MADtv), Benjamin Stockham (1600 Penn), Leslie Bibb (GCB), Al Madrigal (The Daily Show)
Based on the book and subsequent 2002 film starring Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult, the single-cam comedy centers on the relationship between a man-child and the young boy who moves in next door.

Sean Saves the World (Comedy)
EPs | Victor Fresco (Better Off Ted), Todd Milliner (Hot in Cleveland)
CAST | Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), Linda Lavin (Alice), Echo Kellum (Ben and Kate), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911!), Lindsay Sloane (Weeds, Grosse Pointe), Samantha Isler, guest star/recurring Vik Sahay (Chuck)
A multi-cam sitcom about a man attempting to both parent the teenage daughter who just moved in and appease a temperamental new boss.

The Michael J. Fox Show (Comedy)
CAST | Michael J. Fox (Spin City), Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Kate Finneran (I Hate My Teenage Daughter), Wendell Pierce (Treme), Juliette Goglia (Easy A), Ana Nogueira
The single-cam comedy is inspired by Fox’s real life and stars him as Mike Burnaby, a husband and father of three in New York City juggling the challenges of family and career while dealing with Parkinson’s disease.

Family Guide (Comedy)
EPs | DJ Nash (Bent), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Jim Garavente (Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium)
CAST | Parker Posey (Louie, The Good Wife), J.K. Simmons (The Closer), Eli Baker, Ava Deluca-Verley
The single-camera sitcom centers on a son who idolizes his blind father and enjoys his mom’s newfound adolescence after his folks divorce and ultimately grow closer.

The Blacklist (Drama)

WHO | James Spader (The Office), Megan Boone (Law & Order: LA), Ryan Eggold (90210), Diego Klattenhoff (Homeland), Harry Lennix (Dollhouse), Ilfenesh Hadera

WHAT | The world's most wanted criminal suddenly turns himself in and offers to give up anyone he's ever worked with. The catch: He'll only work with a new FBI agent, one with whom he has no known connection

Ironside (Drama)

WHO | Blair Underwood (The Event), Brent Sexton (The Killing), Pablo Schreiber (Weeds), Neal Bledsoe (Smash), Spencer Grammer (Greek), Kenneth Choi (Sons of Anarchy)

WHAT | Based on the '60s cop drama, a tough, sexy and acerbic police detective is relegated to a wheelchair after a shooting, but is hardly limited by his disability as he pushes and prods his hand-picked team to solve the most difficult cases in the city.

Welcome to the Family (Comedy) 

WHO | Mike O'Malley (Glee), Mary McCormack (In Plain Sight), Ricardo Chavira (Desperate Housewives), Justina Machado (Private Practice, Six Feet Under), Ella Rae Peck (Deception, Gossip Girl), Joey Haro (Glee, Awkward), Aramis Knight

WHAT | In the single-cam comedy, cultures collide when a white family and a Latino family are bonded together by their children who fall in love followed quickly by an unplanned pregnancy.

Dracula (Drama)

WHO | Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors), Jessica De Gouw (Arrow), Katie McGrath (Merlin) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones)

WHAT | Based on Bram Stoker's novel of the same name, the 10-episode series finds Dracula preparing to unleash hell on the Victorian society responsible for ruining his life. But he's thrown when he falls for a woman who's a dead ringer for his beloved, long-deceased wife.

The 2014 shows, or midseason shows are as follows, dramas: Crossbones, Chicago PD, and The Night Shift, the comedies: Community, About a Boy, Undateable , and The Family Guide.  If you look at the actual descriptions of the new shows along with the schedule shifts like Revolution to Wednesdays at 8 pm, and Parenthood to Thursdays prove the person running this network has no clue what they are doing.  Although I vow to watch anything that replaces the Celebrity Apprentice.

Jumping the Shark Part 3: Revenge of the Sitcom, Drama, and Beyond

Revenge (2011-Present) Remember when Emily Thorne had a list and she crossed names out on the list?  The show was about revenge, and the simplicity of her avenging her father's death, and then enter the initiative.  This season has had a few episode which brought out some of those traditional things which made the first season great, but I hate to say I was right, but I was right.  This simple show about revenge should have a short shelf life, but the creator is stretching out the concept too thin, and not focusing enough on the basics.  I loved the simple red sharpie, and the way each episode Emily/Amanda got revenge on someone who contributed to the downfall of her father.  Emily's mother being alive was wasted, and the shows fans can tell.  Time to keep it simple folks, do not let this show go on too much longer.

American Idol (2002-Present) Whoever the judges are, and whatever beef they have with one another it's time to put this show out of its misery.  The show is no longer relevant, and often feels like a bad karaoke contest.  I am tired of shows like this focusing on the judges and host rather than the actual talent.  This show not about Nicki vs. Mariah, but that's what is has turned into now.  Get this show off the air and put it out of its misery!

Saturday Night Live (1975-Present)-Justin Timberlake can come back as host as many times as you want, but he is not going to save your show forever.  This show has peaks and valleys, but the most recent years beyond some of the strong female talent have proven to be worse than the SNL of the 80s which is saying a lot!  Host after host this season has been atrocious, and only Timberlake could back bring in the ratings and deliver.  Yet it was the weakest of his five past performances because the writing is just plain terrible, and the talent on the show is so lackluster these people would be booed off stage at the Chuckle Hut. This show has jumped the shark many times, but these past few seasons prove more miserable than most.

Family Guy (1999-Present) MacFarlane is slowly becoming one of the most bankable funny men in media, but the television series which put him on the map has lost so much of his time an attention its starting to tarnish his brand a little.  Is the quality of this show preventing him from getting more work, No!  MacFarlane hosted the Oscars, had Ted, and is working on his first non animated sitcom; he is doing just fine.  So who suffers, the original fans of Family Guy because the show is just not funny anymore, and the schtick of the obnoxious talking baby Stewie has worn off.    Time to put this show to bed, and let America love different shows from this comic genius.

Art Director's Guild help set the Stage for the Newly Best Production Design Oscar Category

Today the Art Director's Guild announced their awards, and while there were no surprises, except no Moonrise Kingdom these Guild Awards help show which smaller films have more support.  In the film categories they also break down the nominees by genre: period, fantasy, and contemporary film.

The actual Oscar nominees usually fall between the Period and Fantasy film categories.  I think this year's Oscar nominees will be all of the period films (minus Argo) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  Cloud Atlas and Life of Pi have a strong shot to knock out Django, but I think Django's recent release gives the film a leg up on the competition.

I have to add that the television nominations are also incredible, and they nominated two of my favorite shows, Newsroom, and Community. Bravo!

NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A FEATURE FILM IN 2012:

Period Film

ANNA KARENINA
Production Designer:  Sarah Greenwood
ARGO
Production Designer:  Sharon Seymour
DJANGO UNCHAINED
Production Designer:  J. Michael Riva
LES MISÉRABLES 
Production Designer:  Eve Stewart
LINCOLN 
Production Designer:  Rick Carter

Fantasy Film

CLOUD ATLAS  
Production Designer:  Uli Hanisch, Hugh Bateup
LIFE OF PI 
Production Designer:  David Gropman
PROMETHEUS 
Production Designer:  Arthur Max
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES 
Production Designers:  Nathan Crowley, Kevin Kavanaugh
THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY 
Production Designer:  Dan Hannah

Contemporary Film

FLIGHT  
Production Designer:  Nelson Coates
SKYFALL 
Production Designer:  Dennis Gassner
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
Production Designer:  Alan MacDonald
THE IMPOSSIBLE 
Production Designer:  Eugenio Caballero
ZERO DARK THIRTY 
Production Designer:  Jeremy Hindle

===

NOMINEES FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION FOR 2012:

One-Hour Single Camera Television Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE Episode:  Resolution
Production Designer:Bill Groom
DOWNTON ABBEY Episode:  Christmas Special
Production Designer: Donal Woods
GAME OF THRONES Episode:  The Ghost of Harrenhal
Production Designer: Gemma Jackson
HOMELAND Episode:  The Choice
Production Designer: John D. Kretschmer
NEWSROOM Episode:  We Just Decided To
Production Designer:Richard Hoover

Television Movie or Miniseries

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM Episode: I Am Anne Frank, Part 2
Production Designer:  Mark Worthington
GAME CHANGE
Production Designer:  Michael Corenblith
HATFIELDS and MCCOYS
Episode:  Ep.#1.1-Night One, Ep.#1.2-Night Two, Ep.#1.3-Night Three
Production Designer:  Derek R. Hill
HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN
Production Designer:  Geoffrey Kirkland
MOCKINGBIRD LANE
Production Designer:  Michael Wylie

Episode of a Half Hour Single-Camera Television Series

COMMUNITY Episode:  Pillows and Blankets
Production Designer:  Denise Pizzini
GIRLS Episode:  Pilot
Production Designer:  Judy Becker
MODERN FAMILY Episode:  Mystery Date
Production Designer:  Richard Berg
PARKS & RECREATION Episode:  Soda Tax
Production Designer:  Ian Phillips
THE NEW NORMAL Episode:  Sofa’s Choice
Production Designer:  Tony Fanning

Episode of a Multicamera, Variety, or Unscripted Series

2 BROKE GIRLS Episode:  And The Silent Partner
Production Designer:  Glenda Rovello
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION            

Production Designer:  Bruce Rodgers
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Episode:  The Magicians Code Part 1
Production Designer:  Stephan Olson
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Episode:  Mick Jagger Host
Production Designer:  Keith Raywood
THE VOICE
Production Designer:  Anton Goss, James Pearse Connelly