You didn’t think we could stop at 12, did you?
After Kim’s top TV moments post, a few of you were kind enough to ask about my list. My babies, you flatter me. It didn’t take long to come up with 12 (and a half) more memorable pieces of television that aired this year. This list is highly subjective and not at all complete – I’m a season behind on Louie, and I haven’t even started Homeland or The Walking Dead. But that’s enough with the excuses. On with the list!
1) The Gabby Giffords “Fix You” Montage – The Newsroom
It’s not that I DON’T realize that Aaron Sorkin is manipulating my emotions, it’s that he’s so good at it that I don’t care. The Newsroom had its moments this year, and the best were usually when the news team kicked into action. This montage also includes some of the best dialogue in the first season of the series: “It’s a person. A doctor pronounces her dead, not the news.” and “You’re a fucking newsman, Don, I ever tell you otherwise, you PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!”
2) Amy Poehler and Julia Louis Dreyfus switch Emmy acceptance speeches.
As much as I worship at the altar of Amy, I’ve got nothing but love for Julia Louis Dreyfus. And apparently, Amy does too. Their bit was cute and clever, and acknowledged that Julia realized (though she’s brilliant) that she was taking home an award for one season of work vs. Amy’s five. The TV funny lady crew has always seemed chummy instead of catty, and you can’t help but cheer on this kind of friendship and support. Love.
2.5) Leslie Knope votes for herself – Parks and Recreation
But seriously, Amy should have won that Emmy.
3) The Battle of Blackwater – Game of Thrones
It seemed like all of the action in the talky second season of GoT was crammed into this episode. Explosions! Fire! Heads chopped off! And meanwhile, Cersei Lannister getting gloriously hammered and bitchy.
4) The Broadway cast of Once performs “Gold” on The Tony Awards
Even without having seen the show, this rousing performance by the cast of Once had me rooting for its eventual Best Musical win.
5) Matthew proposes to Mary – Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes put poor Mary and Matthew through the wringer before giving them this moment in the Season 2 Christmas Special. They’re dressed to the nines, of course, and standing in an aura of glistening snow when the dashing Mr. Crawley asks Mary to marry him. She apologizes to him for, well, banging a Turkish man to death, and he gives the most swoon-inducing answer possible: “I don’t believe you need my forgiveness.” Matthew Crawley: Anti-Slut Shaming Since 1918.
Also, they’re cousins, so Mary doesn’t even have to change her name. Convenient AND creepy.
6) Hannah and Marnie have a Robyn dance party – Girls
Sometimes, when you find out that your college boyfriend is now gay, all you can do is dance it out with your best friend.
7) Arrested Development starts filming new episodes.
Okay, so this wasn’t on TV. But it will be. And that, kids, is why you always keep that torch burning for the show you lost too soon. It may have taken 7 years, but we finally saved our Bluths.
8) “Yeah, bitch! MAGNETS!” – Breaking Bad
Poor, sweet, (relatively) innocent Jesse. All he wants to do is eat pizza, play video games, and hopefully not be witness to any more child murders. How can you not love a friendly meth cooker who’s this jazzed about magnets? Be kind to him in the final episodes, Vince Gilligan. I beg you.
9) Caskett finally happens – Castle
Castle is the best of what I like to call “The Mom Shows.” This category includes the original programming on TNT, USA, and TBS, as well as every single procedural. Especially those whose main character is a cop who’s got some issue to overcome – like he’s blind or disgraced or a zombie or whatever.
ANYWAY, after the requisite buildup of sexual tension, misunderstandings, and bad timing, Rick Castle and Kate Beckett finally got it in at the conclusion of last year’s season finale. Caskett is now canon.
10) Everybody at Fox News loses it on Election Night.
Fox News’ grip on reality was already tenuous at best. But on Election Night, the entire on-air crew saw its worst fears realized and had a complete meltdown. And it was glorious.
11) There is a TARDIS on a cloud – Doctor Who
If your most fervent wish isn’t to find a TARDIS on a cloud at the top of an invisible spiral staircase, then what kind of monster are you?
12) Liz Lemon gets married – 30 Rock
Liz Lemon’s wedding was, like 30 Rock itself, the perfect mix of weird and sincere. How else could Lemon have tied the knot if not in a Princess Leia dress with her best bud and mentor Jack by her side? My only complaint is that she didn’t end up with Floyd, the Michael Clayton of Cleveland.
There you have it, nerds: my favorite moments of the last twelve months of TV goodness. I’ve no doubt that 2013 will bring us plenty of goodies to include in our inevitable Top 13 lists. Leave your favorites in the comments and keep on watching.
PREACH! about the Julia Louis Dreyfuss and Amy Poehler biz. Something I’ve always like about Poehler and Fey et al. is that they are all about Ladies supporting Ladies rather than tearing each other down.
Also “I’m just going to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams really quick” . . . GOLD.
Absolutely. It’s a community and I love that. Remember when they pulled this number? –S
Should I be watching The Newsroom?! I haven’t heard great things, but that Fix You montage got me. I mean, it’s probably irrelevant right now; I have other priorities (TARDIS TARDIS TARDIS).
I love the women of comedy. And the ancient crotchety newsmen who don’t realize that they are also of comedy. And Liz’s Princess Leia costume. I even really like that Castle moment, and I have mixed feelings on Castle (slash I love Mom Shows and could probably engage in a lively debate on why I don’t think it’s the best of them. But you’ve probably already figured out that my loyalties lie with Bones in Mom Show Land. And I can’t argue with Nathan Fillion.)
Sage will agree with me that while The Newsroom can be a bit maddening at times (ahem the way Sorkin tends to write the women) the good outweighs the bad. My problem with the show is that when it is brilliant (like that montage) it is BRILLIANT which makes me yell at my TV “WHY CAN’T YOU BE THIS GOOD ALL THE TIME?!” -K
(PS My loyalties lie with Bones as well)
I’m just mystified by The Newsroom women. I’m watching The West Wing now and, my god, any one of those ladies could singlehandedly take all The Newsroom females in a fight of wits and/or strength. What happened, Sorkin? How did you forget how to do it?–S
I don’t know if I could ever pick just 12 moments of tv in a year, which is why I LOVE reading other people’s.
-That comment on how we KNOW how Aaron Sorkin manipulates us is so accurate. He does it in such a beautiful manner that I just don’t care. Specially in that episode with the first 45 minutes being horrifically about that tabloid lady.
– Amy and Julia are just gifts from God.
-Though I would have included the “Dracarys” of GoT (biased Dany is my favorite), the real housewives of Westeros combined with that awesome battle sequence was just great television I agree.
-Jesse was so proud of coming up with the magnets thing. I love him so much, having JUST watched the entirety of BB he warms up my heart in the only way he can.
-M/M #LETMEDIE
-I love that Girls scene so much, specially knowing how ugly their fight turns a few episodes later. Oh how things can change…
-The entire christmas DW special was EVERYTHING. How beautiful was that cloud scene?! I changed my tumblr theme right away after that lol.
ENOUGH RANTING in conclusion, I love this list.
I also co-signed all of Kim’s moments, so it was more like a top 24. It wasn’t quite as painful. 🙂 –S