Having succumbed to a TV routine this year, here are my daily picks for the best TV shows from 2012 Summer to 2013 Spring:
Monday
How I Met Your Mother: The latest season gave us a glimpse of the mother, but more importantly, gave us the full character arcs of Barney and Robin with humorous and poignant results. If you weren’t a little choked up at the proposal, shame on you.
Tuesday
New Girl: The will they-won’t they between Nick and Jess created a really strong second half of their season. Expect big things from this show in the fall.
Don’t Trust the B in Apt 23: One of the best pro-women, contemporary shows on TV. Kristen Ritter is great as the crazy character (not too many women on TV doing this role), and James Van Der Beek kills as an over-the-top version of himself.
Wednesday
The Middle: With apologies to Modern Family, this family sitcom has become the best one on TV. With at least one or two relatable experiences for anyone not excessively rich growing up, this show really understands how to generate comedy and suspense out of the day-to-day. Eden Sher and Charlie McDermott deserve Emmy nominations.
The Americans: The best new show of the year, a family sitcom coupled with a spy thriller starring Matthew Rhys and Kerri Russell. The sleeper cell concept is really intriguing and the character development is better than most shows on TV.
Thursday
Parks and Recreation: Leslie Knope and the Parks department continue to churn out one great episode after another. Amy Poehler and Adam Scott are probably the best on screen relationship since Jim and Pam on the Office. Plus Ron Swanson is a walking one-liner.
Wilfred: This show really grew up in its 2nd season. Elijah Wood and Jason Gann are great together, and this show’s tone (comedic, dramatic, suspenseful) changes on an episode by episode basis.
Friday
Happy Endings: Though it was cancelled, this was the funniest show on TV this year that also gave us some really good character work. Jack Bauer’s daughter is a really good comedienne, and Damon Wayans Jr. is destined to be a star.
Saturday
Saturday Night Live: Wins by default since no other great show is on on this day (sorry Smash). This year is transitional, but gives promise for next year (Taren Killam and Kate McKinnon get to star in more sketches) and some good hosts new (Kevin Hart, Louis CK, Christoph Waltz) and old (Timberlake, Ben Affleck, Anne Hathaway).
Sunday
Game of Thrones: Blackwater was the best episode of TV in some time, and the show is a unique wonder completely built around the world and not around any set of characters, although it boasts the best cast on TV right now.