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 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.

Political Animals Cancelled-A Show Cancelled too Early, or Just on Time?

A few days ago USA Network announced some major cancellations, which included Fairly Legal, Common Law, and Political Animals.  While I do not watch the first two, I was a fan of Political Animals, the show had potential.  Although the term cancelled was not used rather "the network is not moving forward."  I am not sure if the show is gone forever, but I am guessing the answer is yes, although they left a major cliffhanger out there, and many of the stories appeared to amp up for another go around.  With no closure the "limited series" fells like a disappointment.  However it could have continued to grow given more time, and place in a better time slot.

I often think networks have to let go an allow for certain shows to exist.  While I understand money talks, networks often kill shows that have huge cult followings with fans more loyal than any other show.  Political Animals will probably join the list below, but here are the shows (I watched) that were not given their due, and cancelled too soon.

Arrested Development-The show is the reason NBC has kept, The Office, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation etc., for so many years.  Arrested Development's quirky humor paved the way for off brand television humor, and FOX was widely criticized for canceling this show (a winner for Outstanding Comedy Series) in the third season.  The show is being reborn in 2013, with everyone on board, namely because this show has proved to become a bigger hit than anyone could imagine.

Family Guy-That's right folks, FOX cancelled this show too, many moons ago, but after amazing DVD  sales, and great ratings on Adult Swim they brought show back and Seth MacFarlene is a brand now.  MacFarlene's power is so great he has a loyal fan base following him into films with Ted, and he is going to host to Oscars this year.  FOX made a smart decision here (although the show needs to end), but bringing this show back was the right call to make.

Freaks and Geeks-NBC's only entry on the list.  This show about the 80s was equal parts comedy and drama, and was the most under appreciated show on the air.  If you look at the cast you will see a whose who of Hollywood A-Listers came from this show, and thats namely because Judd Apatow recycles the same actors.  The show could work a little better now with nostalgia being as popular, but I would also like to see them do a reunion special, that would give me the closure I need.

My So-Called Life-Claire Danes is one of the most talented actresses, but ABC let her slip through their fingers with this show.  At the time everyone was all about cops and doctors with the high paced tense shows like NYPD Blue, ER, and Law & Order taking over.  This was an honest representation of what it meant to be a teen in the 90s, and I would have liked to see Angela as she aged at least a few years more.

Pushing Daisies-I blame the writer's strike on this show's cancellation.  This is possibly one of the most fun/clever shows I have ever watched on television.  With a great cast, and a creative premise the show about the pie maker who brought people back to life to solve crimes was just too darn cute.  The end provided some closure, but I could have used one or two more seasons.

The same could be said for many shows within the sci-fi genre like Firefly, Star Trek, Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles, or quirky dramas like Deadwood, Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, and Veronica Mars.  Shows within specific niche genres always have had a hard time sticking around.  There have been shows like Lost, and The X-Files, which have helped other shows like Fringe have a fighting chance (although the only reason Fringe lasted was because its big wig's favorite show).

Do these shows end too early though, or does their shortened run make them creatively better and more like able?  I think if many of these shows lasted longer then they did fans would soon become bitter as they often do, and grow angry.  Maybe ending early is blessing that makes these shows better than the ones that last 10 or 12 years.  A good friend said to me today "things are better in small doses" and I think this is true within the world of television.

Seth MacFarlane Named Oscar Host for 2013

Throughout the 2000s the Academy Awards have seen a variety of hosts.  From the Steve Martin and Billy Crystal stylings to Jon Stewart and Chris Rock.  Let's just try to forget about Ann Hathaway and James Franco.  Today the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has announced that Seth MacFarlane creator of Family Guy, America Dad, and writer/director for this year's hit film Ted will host the Academy Awards.

I would say that this choice falls within the Chris Rock/Jon Stewart category, bold, but not an outrageous concept.  MacFarlane has not done much award show hosting (televised that is); he however was the first host for this year's first episode of Saturday Night Live, and did a fantastic job.  MacFarlane was also a recent presenter at this year's Emmy Awards.  Here are the things I have learned from both his Saturday Night Live stint, his job as an Emmy presenter, and his other work that will be great for the Oscars:

1) MacFalane is great at not only voice work (like within his animated series) he is also great at impressions.  I hope his Ryan Lochte comes to the Oscars.

2) Although I had always known he was a good singer, I am excited to see what his blend of Comedy/musical talent will bring to the Oscars.

3) He does not follow the norm/rules, it was clear he did not go to rehearsal for presenting at the Emmy Awards he made a big flub

4) More importantly he is clever and thinks quickly on his feet and provided some great laughs when he presented.

5) His loves using popular culture references, and uses them well, which will be great fodder for the Oscars

MacFarlane is a smart choice in my book; he will bring in audience that may not typically watch the show without lowering the quality of the humor (too much).  I think this a bold choice, and proves that AMPAS is willing to step outside the box, and change things up.

Ted Extends the Fun of Family Guy into a Live Action, Implausible, Film

Ted (3 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by Seth MacFarlene (Family Guy)

Written by Seth MacFarlene, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild 

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and Seth MacFarlene

I am avid fan of Family Guy, and although its brand of humor is off putting to many I think creator Seth MacFarlene has pushed the envelope and made a creative television series.  As of late the show has become more stale, and even MacFarlene himself would say that the Griffin family has done what they needed to do, but the show is a juggernaut, and helped his film become the highest grossing film at the box office this weekend.  Ted is able to the put the R rated spin on MacFarlene's humor, and that let's the film spread its wings and be itself, mindless fun.

Ted is about a young boy named John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) who is unpopular and as Patrick Stewart narrates even someone the Jewish boys make fun of.  On Christmas John gets a Teddy bear, and with bear he finds a new best friend, and wishes for it to be real.  When John wakes up he finds that Ted has come to life and he runs to tell his parents, with one of my favorite cameos being Alex Borstein (his mom) that Ted has come to life.  Ted runs into the room, and rightfully so freaks out his parents, but they soon realize their son has found a new friend, and let him have his toy.  They also have him do the talk show circuit.  As the years pass by Ted and John remain friends, and never seem to grow up.  In the meantime John meets Lori (Mila Kunis) they are four years into their relationship, and looking to move forward, but a grown man with a teddy bear for a best friend is not an easy thing to deal with.

Ted is irreverent, crude, mindless, pointless, lacks depth, much like most of MacFarlene's other work, and yet it is similarly hilarious.  MacFarlene knows what he is doing; he knows his audience, and how to create something that is meant to be exactly what its supposed to be.  Ted does not pretend to be anything other than a mind numbing comedy, and I say way to go.  I thought the film was entertaining, and I laughed a lot.  Wahlberg and Kunis have great chemistry, Marky Mark is pretty damn hilarious, and should do more comedy; he was so great in I Heart Huckabees too.  Yet MacFarlene steals the show off and on screen; he does the voice for Ted, and is hilarious, he even makes fun of the fact that his voice does not sound like Peter Griffin.  

The film is no masterpiece and has a lot of flaws, but in a film like this flaws are not the point.  The film is meant to be fun, and that exactly what Ted is.  MacFarlene knows funny, and Ted is one of the funnier movies I have seen this year, all I have to say is do not do a sequel or a television show.