The Best TV Shows Running in 2012
If you're looking for "quality" shows that are innovative, off-beat, "special," and feature characters you'll become enamored of, this List is for you.
*** If something is on this List, it's here because it's *different* and stands out from its genre!
(And if you're a movie buff, you might also want to have a look at my new List-in-progress, "MOVIES: Excellent, Offbeat, Quirky, Eye-Candy, Heart-Shredding, and Dark Films of the New Millenium: 1990s-2000s-2013-Present".)
*** This list (and my taste) leans towards:
* Themes of social justice, charitable humanity, and original, innovative, ground-breaking or quirky themes;
* "Authentic" or quirky characters; highly-talented or charismatic actors (either as a single lead or a "team"); and
* Shows starring a lead character or group with a "special gift" of some sort (e.g., hyper-intelligence or professional or supernatural talent).
Although the list may seem top-heavy with crime-themed shows, there are also off-beat dramas, comedies, and several animated series.
Don't "judge a book by its cover" here: Some of the show names, ID pix, and one-line synopses you'll see here may "look like a dozen others," but they're not--again, if something is on this List, it's here because it's *different* and stands out from its genre.
*** If something is on this List, it's here because it's *different* and stands out from its genre!
(And if you're a movie buff, you might also want to have a look at my new List-in-progress, "MOVIES: Excellent, Offbeat, Quirky, Eye-Candy, Heart-Shredding, and Dark Films of the New Millenium: 1990s-2000s-2013-Present".)
*** This list (and my taste) leans towards:
* Themes of social justice, charitable humanity, and original, innovative, ground-breaking or quirky themes;
* "Authentic" or quirky characters; highly-talented or charismatic actors (either as a single lead or a "team"); and
* Shows starring a lead character or group with a "special gift" of some sort (e.g., hyper-intelligence or professional or supernatural talent).
Although the list may seem top-heavy with crime-themed shows, there are also off-beat dramas, comedies, and several animated series.
Don't "judge a book by its cover" here: Some of the show names, ID pix, and one-line synopses you'll see here may "look like a dozen others," but they're not--again, if something is on this List, it's here because it's *different* and stands out from its genre.
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- CreatorBruno HellerStarsSimon BakerRobin TunneyTim KangA famous "psychic" outs himself as a fake, and starts working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation so he can find "Red John", the madman who killed his wife and daughter."Psychic" Patrick Jane is the real star of this character-driven "whodunnit" series. He's not really psychic, but rather an uncanny judge of human nature and motivation.
The real kicks in this show come from watching Patrick's "seeing right through" suspects and telling them (quite untactfully) who they really are and whatever thoughts they're hiding--simultaneously embarrassing both the suspect and Jane's superiors (who, while baffled and even outraged by his methodology, "put up" with his "antics" because he is the best case-closer in the California Bureau of Investigation [CBI]).
Whether his hunches about who's the true culprit are right (which is 95% of the time) or wrong, he uses his uncanny ability to read people to set personalized, elaborate traps that manipulate the bad guy into revealing himself.
It's enjoyable watching Patrick in action: despite his calculating (and sometimes ruthless) professional mind, he has an endearing and disarming boyish charm and is an old-school gentleman. He's also mischievous and enjoys pranking people when someone's bugging him. A born showman, he always "fills the room" no matter what's going on, and that's the real appeal of the show: enjoying watching Patrick Jane being his various selves, and eagerly waiting to see just what he's going to pull out of his sleeve next.
Character background: Patrick Jane has zero police training, and is paid by the CBI as a "consultant." Jane was raised by "carnies" in a traveling carnival, and his father was also a con-man, who had Patrick running cons with him from childhood--an early education which left Jane with his trademark finely-honed people-reading (and -manipulating) skills. - CreatorJoel SurnowStarsPeta WilsonDon FrancksEugene Robert GlazerA clandestine anti-terrorist organization fakes the death of a convicted murderer and trains her in the fighting skills necessary to succeed in her new job.NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH: 'Nikita (2010 TV Series)' (listed further down)
This late-nineties series totally rocked when it originally began airing in 1997, and now, 13 years later, it still rocks. Unlike many shows 10+ years old, this Nikita series does not on any level feel "dated". The dialogue and idioms are not anachronistic; the cinematography still holds its own in 2012; costuming (clothes and hairstyles) look just like the here-and-now; and the slick musical score is as current as any of today's music (largely because--to support the ambiance of the "dark plot"--someone really smart chose to score every episode with indie and "alternative" music tracks, and music from little-known, progressive groups).
Another reason the "look" of the show is timeless is because, in this "prequil" to the 2010 series, Nikita (blonde, and played by stunningly beautiful Australian actress Peta Wilson) and Michael are both working inside Section 1 (renamed "Division" for 2010) for the duration of the series, which means lots of "look" changes when these characters are on ops that require disguise or impersonation. This Nikita owns dozens of pairs of sunglasses of all colours, uses wigs of all colours, lengths, and styles, and dresses in cutting-edge fashion, both on and off the job
This show is very different from the 2010 reincarnation, because "this Nikita" is slave-driven and working under duress in every episode. Section 1 is under the thumb of "Operations" (reincarnated as 2010's "Percy")--a sinister, ruthless man who keeps Nikita under a microscope for her "unique style" of operating (i.e., Section hasn't broken her humanity, and she routinely deviates from and even blatantly defies orders in order to preserve her own humanitarian agenda). She lives under constant and repeated threats of being "Canceled" (executed in-house) by the fear-mongering. Machiavellian "Operations."
Many elements of Nikita 1997 were very "dark": they were shocking then, and are still shocking today.
The show pushed the violence envelope farther than any show of its time, specifically, showing graphic, horrific torture, usually performed by a sinister pair of Section torturers. The steel restraint chair in "Containment" (Section's torture room) makes us witness the unthinkable. Most everyone unlucky enough to survive a Section "strike" is hauled back to Section, where they are tortured for information in Containment. Under Operations' iron rule, even the characters we know well and sympathize with (Nikita, Michael, Birkoff, Walter, and others) have all had their own turns in that dreaded chair in Containment.
The 2010 reincarnation is a lot easier to watch in some ways. We are spared the horrific inner workings of Section 1 as the "new Nikita" (Maggie Q) is free of, and operates outside of, that malevolent environment. - CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.
- CreatorTim KringStarsKiefer SutherlandDavid MazouzGugu Mbatha-RawA widower struggling to raise his emotionally challenged son discovers that he can predict events before they happen.
- CreatorMatt NixStarsJeffrey DonovanGabrielle AnwarBruce CampbellA spy recently disavowed by the U.S. government uses his special ops training to help others in trouble.
- CreatorShane BrennanStarsChris O'DonnellDaniela RuahLL Cool JNCIS's covert operations team go undercover to investigate cases involving terrorism and National Security.
- CreatorDonald P. BellisarioDon McGillStarsDavid McCallumSean MurrayMark HarmonFollows the Major Case Response Team (MCRT) from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as they get to the bottom of criminal cases connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel.This quirky, elite team of Naval Criminal Investigators solve murders of Navy personnel against a lightly humourous backdrop of inter-team teasing and one-upsmanship.
No-nonsense Special Agent Gibbs (who is old enough to be the father of everyone on the team) is a distinguished, masculine role-model for men and possibly an attractive father-figure type for women. Gibbs relies upon his polar opposite, Abby Sciuto, for genius-level forensics and hot-shot computer skills. Abby is the highlight of the show: brilliant, beautiful, and routinely showing up for work in Goth-to-the-nines attire, complete with studded dog collar. It's hard to talk to Abs because she works with headphones on with the music cranked unimaginably loud. Other refreshing treats in the show are the dazzling array of movie-references constantly spouted by film buff Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, and Israeli expat Ziva entertains by getting English idioms wrong in every other sentence. DiNozzo is a shameless womanizer who we love to hate, and Ziva routinely astonishes with her finely-honed close-quarters combat skills (acquired in Israel, where she was formerly a Mossad agent with a high-ranking father in the Israeli political scene). - CreatorMark EllisStephanie MorgensternStarsHugh DillonAmy Jo JohnsonDavid PaetkauThe missions and trials of a Toronto police tactical unit.So many good things to say about this top-notch Canadian-produced series!
Firstly, Kudos! to Executive Producer Anne Marie LaTraverse! It is rare to see a woman "behind" an action/crime show. But it is perhaps precisely because a woman is in charge of this show that it stands apart from most crime shows.
"Flashpoint"--although revolving around a "SWAT Team"--is no mere "break the door in and shoot all the bad guys" copycat. Rather, this special police team is an elite "Strategic Response Unit" (SRU), all of whose members have been additionally trained in the deeper aspects of "negotiating": Psychology, sensitivity training, you name it--with the result that they are able to resolve most stand-offs without a single shot fired.
Nevertheless, this superb show manages to induce a high level of viewer interest and involvement in every episode: it achieves a high level of humanistic and dramatic tension, along with edge-of-your-seat suspense.
To quote an oft-repeated negotiation lead-in offered to "subjects" by team-leader Sgt. Greg Parker: "Nobody has to die here today. We can all get to go home today."
And Parker's equally-life-affirming message to his SRU teammates when they are heading into an unusually dangerous situation:
"Let's go save lives, people." - CreatorJonathan NolanStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanAn ex-CIA agent and a wealthy programmer save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes. However, the details of the crimes, including the civilians' roles, are left a mystery.
- CreatorAlan DiFioreRobert WertheimerStarsAaron DouglasPaul PopowichOna GrauerA cop becomes a union leader for the police force. He has to balance between protecting the police force as well as take out the dirty cops in the force.
- CreatorShawn RyanStarsJason ClarkeJennifer BealsMatt LauriaDetective Jarek Wysocki, one of Chicago's toughest cops, struggles to clean up the town's violence and corruption.
- CreatorHoward OvermanStarsNathan Stewart-JarrettJoe GilgunIwan RheonA group of young offenders doing community service gets struck by lightning during a storm and start to develop superpowers.
- CreatorMichael KarnowZak PennStarsDavid StrathairnRyan CartwrightWarren ChristieAlphas is a science fiction drama focusing on a team that investigates people with supernatural abilities.
- CreatorMorwyn BrebnerTassie CameronEllen VanstoneStarsMissy PeregrymGregory SmithEnuka OkumaAndy McNally and her friends are out of the academy and must adjust to the challenging life of a police officer at the 15th Division in Toronto.
- CreatorJanet TamaroStarsAngie HarmonSasha AlexanderJordan BridgesDetective Jane Rizzoli and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles team up to solve crimes in Boston.
- CreatorMichael AmoSam EganStarsCraig OlejnikEnnis EsmerLauren Lee SmithA young paramedic discovers he has telepathic powers.
- CreatorMatt CormanChris OrdStarsPiper PeraboChristopher GorhamKari MatchettFresh out of the farm, Annie Walker must adapt to the challenging life of a CIA operative under the guidance of her handler, Auggie. But soon she realizes her recruitment might have to do with her last boyfriend rather than her talent.
- CreatorCraig SilversteinStarsMaggie QShane WestLyndsy FonsecaA rogue assassin returns to take down the secret organization that trained her.NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH: 'Nikita (1997 TV Series)' (listed further up)
- CreatorTina FeyStarsTina FeyAlec BaldwinTracy MorganLiz Lemon, head writer of the sketch-comedy show "TGS with Tracy Jordan", must deal with an arrogant new boss and a crazy new star while trying to run a successful television show without losing her mind.NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH: 'Third Rock from the Sun' (not in this list)
- CreatorGreg SpottiswoodBernard ZukermanStarsAmy Price-FrancisAlan Van SprangGabriel HoganThe life of detective Jessica King does not run exactly smoothly. When she becomes the head of the Major Crime Task Force, she is eager to prove she is the best cop in town.
- CreatorJeff DavisStarsKirsten VangsnessMatthew Gray GublerA.J. CookA group of criminal profilers who work for the FBI as members of its Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) using behavioral analysis and profiling to help investigate crimes and find the suspect known as the unsub.
- CreatorHart HansonStarsEmily DeschanelDavid BoreanazMichaela ConlinF.B.I. Special Agent Seeley Booth teams up with the Jeffersonian's top anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan, to investigate cases where all that's left of the victims are their bones.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsJames SpaderWilliam ShatnerCandice BergenBoston Legal is a spin-off of the long-running David E. Kelley series The Practice (1997), following the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore (James Spader) at the legal firm of Crane, Poole, and Schmidt.
- CreatorLarry DavidStarsLarry DavidCheryl HinesJeff GarlinLarry David stars as an over-the-top version of himself in this comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events.
- CreatorChris HaddockStarsNicholas CampbellDonnelly RhodesVenus TerzoA Vancouver cop turned coroner searches for truth and justice with the help of his friends.
- CreatorAaron KorshStarsGabriel MachtPatrick J. AdamsMeghan MarkleOn the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers.
- CreatorGreg BerlantiJon Harmon FeldmanStarsMichael ChiklisJulie BenzKay PanabakerThe Powells are a typical American family living in Pacific Bay, California, whose members gain special powers after their plane crashes in the Amazon.
- CreatorDi McElroyHal McElroyStarsJohn BatchelorMatthew HolmesLisa McCuneFollowing the crew of the patrol boat HMAS Hammersley, as they patrol the northern sea border of Australia. They have to deal with foreign fishermen poaching fish, smugglers and with political unrest in a neighbouring island state.
- CreatorMichael MacLennanAdrienne MitchellStarsMeg TillyJodi BalfourCharlotte HegeleA drama about World War II women at work in a munitions factory.
- CreatorSeth MacFarlaneDavid ZuckermanStarsAlex BorsteinSeth MacFarlaneSeth GreenIn a wacky Rhode Island town, a dysfunctional family strives to cope with everyday life as they are thrown from one crazy scenario to another.
- StarsAnais LilitRick OttoJose RoseteFollow the path of the red-handled weapon used by Rick Grimes to kill Terminus leader Gareth; from its innocent beginnings on a hardware store shelf at the start of the apocalypse into the hands of various survivors, familiar and new.
- CreatorRhode MontijoKenn NavarroAubrey AnkrumStarsDavid WinnEllen ConnellWarren GraffA series of horrible sudden deaths keep happening to a group of creatures caused by themselves doing the most stupid things.
- CreatorRick BermanMichael PillerJeri TaylorStarsKate MulgrewRobert BeltranRoxann DawsonPulled to the far side of the galaxy, where the Federation is seventy-five years away at maximum warp speed, a Starfleet ship must cooperate with Maquis rebels to find a way home.
- CreatorGene RoddenberryStarsPatrick StewartBrent SpinerJonathan FrakesSet almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
- CreatorNicolas FalacciCheryl HeutonStarsRob MorrowDavid KrumholtzJudd HirschWorking for the F.B.I., a mathematician uses equations to help solve various crimes.
- CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.
- CreatorChuck LorreBill PradyStarsJohnny GaleckiJim ParsonsKaley CuocoA woman who moves into an apartment across the hall from two brilliant but socially awkward physicists shows them how little they know about life outside of the laboratory.
- CreatorJustin HalpernDavid KohanMax MutchnickStarsWilliam ShatnerJonathan SadowskiNicole SullivanA middle-aged son moves in with his old-fashioned dad.