10 Best Drama’s on Television
1. Mad Men: AMC's flagship series. Its production values, writing, acting, directing set and fashion design are all top-notch. So much has been written about it I won’t even bother. It’s all true
2. Breaking Bad: Another AMC wonder. The fact that AMC holds spots one and two is remarkable in and of itself with HBO still in existence. Bryan Cranston takes this wonderfully wrought story and runs with it. Breaking bad is always compelling this show is brilliant.
3. The Big C: Score one for Showtime. A show about someone dying of cancer can’t be too high up on anyone’s must watch list, but The Big C will change all that immediately. Laura Linney might just be the best actress in America as indy film fans will tell you and Oliver Platt shines beside her. You wouldn’t think this would resemble Weeds in any way, but pay close attention and you’ll see the parallels in structure.
4. Boardwalk Empire: When Martin Scorsese attaches his name to something you can bet it’s great and a partnership with HBO is a match made in heaven. HBO has been at the apex of original programming for nearly 20 years. My only problem with the show is the violence is a little too graphic for some tastes.(including my own)
5. Dexter: The second Showtime entrant. Michael Hall stars as America’s favorite serial killer. The show is always intruiging and it seems every year they find an amazing guest star to share the screen with Hall. John Lithgow, Edward James Olmos, Keith Carradine and Jimmy Smits are examples.
6. The Good Wife: CBS is making a mistake by putting this up against the NFL on Sunday or Monday or more men would appreciate this compelling law drama. As it stands the general perception is that this is a girl show. It is not. Watch and be amazed as Julianna Margulies struts her stuff.
7. Justified: Renegade US Marshall Raylin Givens pokes his nose around backwoods Kentucky and gets into all kinds of trouble with the local hill folk. Great Cast and the show improves over time.
8. Treme: set in post Katrina New Orleans this show has HBO’s production values and features a terrific ensemble cast and compelling storylines. The detail in which New Orleans is presented makes you want to go there visit and maybe rent a little apartment in the worst area in New Orleans.
9. Sons of Anarchy: Get your biker fix in with this FX favorite. The show has great action sequences and a really compelling story line with a terrific cast.
10. Game of Thrones: HBO scores big time with George R.R. Martin’s bestselling fantasy series. I put this last, only because I love it so much I couldn’t be sure of my own personal biases.
Honorable Mention:
Damages: Glenn Close in a legal Drama that’s trademark structure helps make this show extremely suspenseful and separates it from many of its kind
Friday Night Lights: This show went off the air in March of this year or it would hold a really high place on this list
