How did I pick my Top TV Shows of the 21st Century (an unabridged explanation)?

NYT posted their list - here's mine because I have watched an embarrassingly large amount of television in the 21st Century. I blame growing up in the 20th century without cable tv and a desire to make up for lost time. Allow me to share a bit of my logic and/or rules to disqualify shows from my list...

I will have had to have seen every episode - therefore, shows that are currently in production are not eligible such as (bullets are in alphabetical order): 

• Beef (Netflix)
• Below Deck (Bravo)
• Black Mirror (Netflix)
• Conan O'Brien Must Go (HBO)
• Corporate Retreat (Amazon)
• Cunk On- (Netflix)
• The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• For All Mankind (Apple)
• Hard Knocks: Training Camp (HBO)
• I Think You Should Leave (Netflix)
• Industry (HBO)
• Interview with the Vampire / The Vampire Lestat (AMC)
• It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX) 
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
• The Pitt (HBO)
• PLUR1BUS (Apple)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• Reacher (Amazon)
• Severance (Apple)
• Shogun (FX)
• Shrinking (Apple)
• Silo (Apple)
• The Simpsons (Fox)
• Slow Horses (Apple)
• South Park (Comedy Central)
• Squid Game (Netflix)
• The Studio (Apple)
• Ted Lasso (Apple)
• Welcome to Wrexham (FX)
• The White Lotus (HBO)
• Widow's Bay (HBO)

Similarly - if I've missed an episode here and there or full seasons - I'm removing them from consideration:

• 30 Rock (NBC)
• Conan (TBS)
• Documentary Now! (IFC)
• Modern Family (ABC)
• Narcos (Netflix)
• Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)
• Search Party (TBS)

[note that The Simpsons is my #1 Favorite Show of the 20th Century, IASIP would 100% make my top ten list if it stopped yesterday, and 30 Rock is a gigantic blind spot in my viewing history that has zero explanation]

Meanwhile... if I had liked the show at the time but for reasons have a bad taste in my mouth and don't want to include on my top ten:

• House of Cards (Netflix)
• Louie (FX)
• Master of None (Netflix)
• @Midnight (Comedy Central)

Finally, I decided to make a separate list of 20 shows that I had too tough a time ranking because they lost their way in one way or another (e.g.; had a horrid final season):

• 24 (Fox)
• American Vandal (Netflix)
• Arrested Development (Fox)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
• Cobra Kai (Netflix)
• Dexter (Showtime)
• Game of Thrones (HBO)
• Girls (HBO)
• Homeland (Showtime)
• The Killing (AMC)
• Killing Eve (Hulu)
• Lost (ABC)
• The Mandalorian (Disney)
• Mr. Robot (USA)
• The Office (NBC)
• Project Greenlight (HBO)
• Sons of Anarchy (FX)
• Stranger Things (Netflix)
• The Walking Dead (AMC)
• Westworld (HBO)

The list is actually my top 139 favorites:

139 Ballers (HBO)

138 The Crown (Netflix)

137 The Newsroom (HBO)

136 The Curse (Showtime)

135 The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)

134 Animals (HBO)

133 You're The Worst (FX)

132 The Old Man (Hulu)

131 SMILF (Showtime)

130 Orange is the New Black (Netflix)

129 Workaholics (Comedy Central)

128 GLOW (Netflix)

127 Playing House (USA)

126 The Rundown with Robin Thede (BET)

125 The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

124 The Shield (FX)

123 The Grinder (Fox)

122 Masters of Sex (Showtime)

121 The Boys (Amazon)

120 Lovecraft Country (HBO)

119 Mare of Easttown (HBO)

118 The Dropout (Hulu)

117 The Comeback (HBO)

116 The League (FX)

115 The Last Dance (Netflix)

114 The Characters (Netflix)

113 The Affair (Showtime)

112 The Bridge (FX)

111 Legion (FX)

110 Shrill (Hulu)

109 I'm Sorry (TruTV)

108 Big Little Lies (HBO)

107 Togetherness (HBO)

106 The Soup (E!)

105 Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

104 Sherman's Showcase (IFC)

103 Battlestar Galactica (SciFi)

102 Paul T. Goldman (Peacock)

101 Desus & Mero (Showtime)

100 Love (Netflix)

099 O.J.: Made in America (ESPN)

098 Maron (IFC)

097 Easy (Netflix)

096 Normal People (Hulu)

095 The Good Place (NBC)

094 The Eric Andre Show (Adult Swim)

093 Telemarketers (HBO)

092 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)

091 Mythic Quest (Apple)

090 Class of '09 (Hulu)

089 Better Things (FX)

088 NTSF:SD:SUV:: (Adult Swim)

087 Murderville (Netflix)

086 Mindhunter (Netflix)

085 The Last Man on Earth (Fox)

084 Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central)

083 Lady Dynamite (Netflix)

082 Sense8 (Netflix)

081 Devs (Hulu)

080 Baskets (FX)

079 Brockmire (IFC)

078 Orphan Black (BBC America)

077 Children's Hospital (Adult Swim)

076 Shrink (SeeSo) 

075 The Jinx (HBO)

074 The Chris Gethard Show (TruTV)

073 Pen15 (Hulu)

072 Happy Endings (ABC)

071 The Night Of (HBO)

070 Garbage Time with Katie Nolan (FS1)

069 Comedy Bang! Bang! (IFC)

068 Schitt's Creek (Netflx)

067 Enlightened (HBO)

066 Six Feet Under (HBO)

065 Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS)

064 Station Eleven (HBO) 

063 Adolescence (Netflix)

062 Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)

061 Superstore (NBC)

060 The Bear (Hulu)

059 The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)

058 Girls5eva (Peacock)

057 Corporate (Comedy Central)

056 Ozark (Netflix)

055 The Office (BBC)

054 The Patient (Hulu)

053 Key and Peele (Comedy Central)

052 Terriers (FX)

051 Parenthood (NBC)

050 Watchmen (HBO)

049 Kroll Show (Comedy Central)

048 Jury Duty (Amazon)

047 The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail (Comedy Central)

046 Jon Glaser Loves Gear (TruTV)

045 Hannibal (NBC)

044 Vice Principals (HBO)

043 Crashing (HBO)

042 Hacks (HBO)

041 Silicon Valley (HBO)

040 Barry (HBO)

039 BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

038 Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (SeeSo)

037 Eastbound and Down (HBO)

036 Check It Out with Steve Brule (Adult Swim)

035 Damages (FX)

034 The Other Two (HBO) 

033 Newsreaders (Adult Swim)

032 Mad Men (AMC)

031 Enjoy It (Comedy Central)

030 Atlanta (FX)

029 What We Do In The Shadows (FX) 

028 Fleabag (Amazon)

027 The Sopranos (HBO)

026 The Wire (HBO)

025 Broad City (Comedy Central)

024 The Leftovers (HBO)

023 How To With John Wilson (HBO)

022 Hello Ladies (HBO)

021 Justified (FX)

020 Banshee (Cinemax)

019 Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

018 True Detective (HBO)

017 Billions (Showtime)

016 The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)

015 The Rehearsal (HBO)

014 Succession (HBO) 

013 Review (Comedy Central)

012 Friday Night Lights (NBC)

011 Parks and Recreation (NBC)

010 Fargo (FX)

009 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox)

008 Detroiters (Comedy Central)

007 Veep (HBO)

006 The Americans (FX)

005 Nathan For You (Comedy Central)

004 Andor (Disney)

003 Breaking Bad (AMC)

002 Better Call Saul (AMC)

001 Too Many Cooks (Adult Swim) It takes a lot to make a stew / A pinch of salt and laughter too / A scoop of kids to add the spice / A dash of love to make it nice / And you've got Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many Cooks / Too Many... / It takes a lot to make a stew / When it comes to me and you / And him and her and the baby too / Too Many Cooks is True / The saying goes it'll spoil the broth / Honey, I think that's not true / Well, maybe Too Many Cooks will spoil the broth but they'll fill our hearts with so much SO MUCH LOVE!

The 2025 TQ Music Awards

a future quilt?

Welcome to my 15th annual Music Awards / year in review post.

[Previous Years:2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011]

2025 was a rebound year of music for me of sorts as my minutes listened doubled and concerts attended quadrupled from the bad (for many reasons beyond music) previous year. Here's the annual playlist that features two songs that pretty much instantly qualified based on what they used to sample. What a new way to feel old - a new song that uses a song from well before the artist was born but you have clear memories of enjoying when it was new.

Song of the Year: “Beginning From The Ending” by My Morning Jacket

[runner up: “Weight of Desire" by Tennis]

An easy call for me. When a top 3 favorite artist sends a fat fastball down the middle it's gonna be a homerun.

Album of the Year: Face Down In The Garden by Tennis

[runner up: Moments by Cut Copy]

I've been an appreciator of the duo known as Tennis for a while, but I've never seen them perform live (I'll get to that regret later). The nine songs total less than a half hour, but it might hit you like an unexpected drop shot 'cause it's a mood.

Concert of the Year: THREE WAY TIE! My Morning Jacket at Salt Shed

[runner up: Jamie xx at Aragon]

I guess I'm just going to need to see MMJ every night of a visit to my town going forward. It's really one long set with a couple 22 hour breaks. Going the first night meant I heard them cover Radiohead! Going the second night ensured that I would hear my favorite song of the year. The third night was a must to hear the song that I first heard form them that started my fandom. Bonus note: I finally got myself to the Salt Shed and confirm it's as nice as reported.

Song of the Summer: "Daria" by Toro y Moi feat. Kenny Beats

[runner up: "last night i dreamt i fell in love" by Kylie Minogue feat. Alok]

It's a bop.

Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: "NIAMOS! (Chandrilian Club Mix) by Nicholas Britell, Brandon Roberts (used in Andor)

Come on, you know you're about to unhinge from your terrors when a freaking DISCO BALL DROID enters the dancefloor.

Regret of the Year: Not seeing Tennis perform during their... farewell tour?

Yeah, my "I'll get around to seeing them eventually" stance blew up in my face. I don't really follow them too closely and literally learned this news as I was composing this post. One thing I do know is that Tennis is a duo (who are life partners) and hope an idea of another tour is... amicable? 

Best Decision I made in 2025: Invested the time to get all the music I like setup with concert alerts

Seated.com is where I gave them approximately 100 acts that might pique my interest in seeing live.

TQ's Year of TV (2025)

Andor's "Discoball Droid"

Previous Years:
2024 / 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020

2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 

2014 LT / 2014 NLT / 2013 / 2012 / 2011

A quick confession before I begin... If you know me, and know my comedic tastes, this might come as a shock: I haven't watched The Chair Company yet.

I know, I know... I know... I've been saving all the eps and just ran out of time before I could publish this!

Best TV Show That Is Seriously Great:

Andor (Disney) 
Runner-up: PLUR1BUS (Apple)

There's just never been a more apt show for it's time than Andor. My wife couldn't be farther from the Star Wars Universe, but convincing her to watch this show is my #1 TV-related accomplishment. My #2 accomplishment will be anyone that I can get to watch PLUR1BUS, which my wife bailed on after three episodes... Andor is watchable/enjoyable with very little Star Wars knowledge, but PLUR1BUS especially caters to viewers that have been trained in patience by Better Call Saul.

Best TV Show That Has Recently Completed / All Seasons Watch Recommend:

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO) 

Runner-up: Around the Horn (ESPN)

I don't think I appreciated TRG as much as I should've until I realized it was ending. The show has consistently been very funny and their last season might have been their best. To clarify, I am not saying to watch the massive library of ATH episodes, but I want to say I tuned in for the show's last week and appreciate the show for what it was and how it went out (even though I disagree with its cancellation).

HONORABLE MENTION -  BEST THING TO WATCH IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN 90 MINUTES

Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Netflix)

Runner-up: Las Culturistas Culture Awards (Peacock)

The Conan special was absolutely funny from top to bottom, start to finish, everything a fan of Conan could dream. Not a dead/wasted minute in the brisk 86 minute run time. If you listen to the "Las Culturistas" podcast - I don't need to say anything more.

Best Comedy Still Running:

The Studio (Apple) 
Runner-up: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Hulu)

I didn't start watching The Studio thinking I'd like it. I can't explain it, but maybe I was getting Seth Rogen fatigue. However, the show proved me wrong and the short season and short episodes really allowed it to cut out all the fat and just delivered huge laughs every episode. Meanwhile, certainly not to my surprise, IASIP is just a Godzilla of a show that has to be nuclear powered to keep being as funny as it's always is.

Best Shelter In Place (one-day-marathon) Show:

The Pitt (HBO)

Runner-up: Hacks (HBO)
If you want to have an absolute roller-coster of emotions and feel as exhausted as one might be after a full shift in an Emergency Room - enjoy The Pitt. The priority you give this show to watch should match your love of the NBC legend er. Noah Wyle is playing Dr Jon Carter again (complimentary). I don't really know what to put in second place here, but if you haven't seen Hacks - and you really only have time for half hour episodes - get Hacks current.

Best TV Show That Is Bonkers:

The Rehearsal (HBO)

Runner-up: Severance (Apple)

If I meet anybody anywhere near the aviation industry, I'll make sure they know about it. Actually - anybody that's ever flown on a plane or plans to in the future should watch season two of The Rehearsal. Severance continues to sever what we attempt to guess versus what happens, which is just a great compliment to its originality in a world dominated by Established Intellectual Property.

Best TV Show That Needs To Get Resurrected ASAP:

The Old Man (Hulu)

Runner-up: Interview with the Vampire (Netflix)

* these are two shows from prior to 2025 that I finally got around to watching this year *

I'm so very sorry that I didn't support The Old Man. I loved the two seasons I watched and realized that not enough people saw them to warrant a third season. You're gonna also hate that the story ends too soon, but you'll be thrilled with it if you watch. IwtV was a fun watch; I think there's a spin-off show on the way - but I really don't know where/how these AMC Originals survive anymore.

Best Limited Run or Anthology Series:

Adolescence (Netflix)

Runner-up: The Lowdown (Hulu)

C O N T E N T // W A R N I N G // I can't recommend Adolescence to anybody with young children. Also, if you watch this show in one day (it's only 3 hours and 48 minutes long), it will leave your body in a destroyed state for a week. On the total opposite end of the spectrum, The Lowdown is a very enjoyable recipe of crazy characters, slapstick and dark humor, historical presence, old school suspense, and Ethan Hawke at his peak. Plus it has what many shows can't promise -- a satisfying ending that both settles the plot for good but with hopes of more to come. 

Best Dad-core:

Slow Horses (Apple)

Runner-up: Reacher (Prime)

I've only seen the SH season that premiered at the start of 2025, not the end of 2025, but regard it as a very smart and enjoyable show. Reacher is very dumb (complimentary).

WHAT ELSE IS ON

• Best Lost (complimentary): Paradise (Hulu)
• Best Nostalgia: Pee Wee as Himself (HBO)
• Best Reality Show (competition) The Squid Game Challenge (Neflix)
• Best Reality Show (documentary) Welcome to Wrexham (Hulu)
• Best Reality Show (late nite talk show) Everybody's Live with John Mulaney (Netflix)
• A Reality Show that I watched: America's Sweethearts (Netflix)
• Best Effort: The Paper (Peacock)
• Worst Effort: South Park (Comedy Central)
• Most Promising: Alien: Earth (Hulu)
• Most Undercooked, needed more heat: Black Mirror (Netflix)
• Most Overcooked, still edible: The Bear (Hulu)
• Most Overcooked, bad for diet but will consume anyway: The White Lotus (HBO)
• Most Overcooked, spit out: Squid Game (Netflix)
• Second Worst TV Show I watched all year: Running Point (Netflix)
• Worst TV Show I watched all year: Four Seasons (Netflix)

LATE TO THE PARTY / shows from previous years

-Man on the Inside (Netflix): Ted Danson was robbed of an Emmy Nomination for his performance and am looking forward to season two.

-Industry (HBO): This is my "real housewives type" of content (high quality trash)

-Black Doves (Netflix): I'm a sucker for any show involving spies. I liked it, but not sure if it was good.

-Trainwreck: (Netflix): Great "Woodstock '99" eps / Enjoyable "Poop Cruise" ep.

-Shoresey (Hulu): I watched the first season upon a lot of recommendation from a friend. It has great comic writing and all the secondary characters are great. I just couldn't get beyond my distaste for the lead character and stopped watching.

LEFT THE PARTY / shows I quit

-The Morning Show (Apple): The first season was good, then it went downhill - then off the rails.

-Yellowjackets (Paramount): same as above

STILL IN THE QUEUE:

(note: the below group is purposely batched by channel - according to my own power rankings of Apple #1, HBO #2, Hulu #3, Netflix #4, Peacock #5)

Shrinking (Apple)

Mr. Scorsese (Apple)

Bad Monkey (Apple)

The Chair Company (HBO)

The Last of Us (HBO)

Duster (HBO)

Tokyo Vice (HBO)

House of the Dragon (HBO)

Somebody Somewhere (HBO)

Secrets of the Bunny Ranch (Hulu)

The Deli Boys (Hulu)

Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)

Say Nothing (Hulu)

Adults (Hulu)

Stranger Things (Netflix)

Man on the Inside (Netflix)

Stranger Things (Netflix)

Black Rabbit (Netflix)

Death By Lightning (Netflix)

Ripley (Netflix)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

See it soon,

TQ

Thoughts on the Emmy Nominations ('24-'25)

In lieu of a "what I watched so far / planning to watch" post, here's my initial reactions to the newly announced Emmy Nominations (so there might be some overlap with last year's post)

Best Drama Series

Best of what I've watched: Andor (Disney)
Best of what I guess I'll have to watch: The Pitt (HBO)

Best I'll probably never see: The Diplomat (Netflix)

Best for people who liked Lost: Paradise (Hulu)

Best "not quite at its peak yet" hopefully: Severance (Apple)

Best dadcore: Slow Horses (Apple)

Nom that's getting worse and prob should not be nominated: The White Lotus (HBO GO)

Best Comedy Series

Best of what I've watched: The Studio (Apple)

Best of what I guess I'll have to watch: Shrinking (Apple)

Best underrated / sad it'll never get/got to win: What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu)

Best overcooked: The Bear (Hulu)

Best I'm too far behind to catch up: Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Best I never started and am too far behind: Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Best of the rest: Hacks (HBO GO NOW)

Nope, not every gonna watch: Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

Best Limited or Anthology Series

Best of what I've watched: Adolescence (Netflix)

Best of what I guess I'll have to watch: Dying for Sex (Hulu)

Best of the Rest: Black Mirror (Netflix)

Best overrated: The Penguin (HBO GO NOW MAX)

Saw it, should not be nominated, full stop: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)

Best Television Movie:

Best of what I've had on my list since it came out and now I need to prioritize: Mountainhead (HBO GO NOW MAX PLUS)

Best of what I learned of its existence today and want to watch (tie): Nonnas (Netflix)

Best of what I learned of its existence today and want to watch (tie): Rebel Ridge (Netflix)

Best I'm too far behind to catch up: Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Peacock)

Nope, even though I watch and tend to love any movie involving a sniper and/or assassin, is bad and should not have been nominated: The Gorge (Apple)

Other Snap Judgements

• My wife loves The Traitors (Peacock) 
• Rooting for Jimmy Kimmel (ABC)
• John Mulaney (Netflix) should have been nominated for Best Scripted Variety Series
• It'll be fun to see Adam Scott win for Severance (Apple)
• I keep hearing how great Sharon Horgan is, I need to watch Bad Sisters (Apple) 
• Don't like how three separate Severance (Apple) actors will split votes for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
• Stephen Graham is a lock to win Best Actor in a Limited Series for Adolescence (Netflix)
• I think this show may also produce both winners in the supporting categories with Owen Cooper and Erin Doherty (their ep may be the best hour of all TV this year)
• Could see a sweep of all Emmys including writing and directing
• The White Lotus (HBO GO NOW MAX PLUS MORE) does not deserve four nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
• A great opportunity to right a past wrong is to give The Boys' (Amazon) Giancarlo Esposito the Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series
• She won't win for Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series, but I'm cheering for Merritt Wever in Severance (Apple)
• Best Actress in a Comedy Series should not go to anybody from the unfunny The Bear (Hulu)
• Best Actor in a Comedy Series should not go to anybody from the unfunny The Bear (Hulu)
• I'm happy that Colman Domingo was nominated for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series because it proves voters saw The Four Seasons (Netflix) and agree that the rest of it was trash
• I might yell in celebration the loudest if Kathryn Hahn wins Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Studio (Apple)
• Five of the six nominations for Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series are from The Studio (Apple) - with the only other nomination going to a show that is unfunny - should be Bryan Cranston, but will find it as a way to give an Emmy to Ron Howard or Martin Scorsese
• My wife might yell in disgust if Robby Hoffman wins Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Hacks (HBO GO NOW MAX PLUS MORE AND)
• Rashida Jones was the highpoint of the recent Black Mirror (Netflix) season and hope she wins for Best Actress in a Limited Series
• I HAD TO SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BEST WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES TO LEARN THAT NATHAN FIELDER FINALLY GETS A NOMINATION FOR THE REHEARSAL (HBO GO NOW MAX PLUS MORE AND READY FOR TAKEOFF)
• I think the speech I most want to see is either Janus Metz winning Best Directing a Drama Series or Dan Gilroy winning Best Writing for a Drama Series with Andor (Disney)
• BEST DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES NEEDS TO GO TO NATHAN FIELDER FOR THE REHEARSAL (HBO GO NOW MAX PLUS MORE AND READY FOR TAKEOFF FOR THE MOHAVE MIRACLE)

Until Sunday September 14,
TQ

The 2024 TQ Music Awards

Welcome to my 14th annual Music Awards / year in review post. A more truthful statement would be...

Welcome, me in the future, to your diary entry to what music was in your life during 2024.

[Previous Years: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011]

2024 was a very bad year. Were my listening choices (leaning more to dance and pop) made in a subliminal effort to improve my mood? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

My annual playlist looks more like it was made by a 17-year-old girl and not the 45+-year-old suburban husband that I am. But even if my annual playlist doesn't reflect it, the following are still true:

• My favorite band is Radiohead
• The music I've seen live the most is still Broken Social Scene, My Morning Jacket (including Jim James solo efforts), and Cut Copy
• I would get on a plane to see Explosions in the Sky
  

Song of the Year: “Baddy On The Floor” by Jamie xx

[runner up: “She's Gone, Dance On” by Disclosure]

I didn't need an evil streaming prison* to tell me what** was the most played song for me this year. It was released early in the year and nothing since came close to besting it. And in a return to tradition, I saw it performed live this year!

*Spotify

**Not to get all "tinfoil hat" on ya, but... Do we really believe what they (see above asterisk) are telling us?

Album of the Year: BRAT by Charli xcx

[runner up: In Waves by Jamie xx]

There are two paths to this award for me. One is the typical "can't stop listening to it" album and the other is "I ended up listening it to a lot because I couldn't decide which one track to add to my Best Of playlist." BRAT wins because of the ladder.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Concert of the Year: Pitchfork Music Festival (Saturday only)

[runner up: this was the only live music I saw in 2024]

For the first time ever, a music fest placed the three acts I wanted to see most on the same day at non-conflicting times. Jessie Ware, an act I've always wanted see but hadn't before. Carly Rae Jepsen, the official center of my wife's and my Venn Diagram of music tastes. And Jamie xx, an artist I've vowed to see every time they are in town. Bonus: I have tickets to see Jamie xx when he returns in January 2025!

Song of the Summer: your fave Chappell Roan track

[runner up: your fave parody of a Chappell Roan track]

For me? It's "HOT TO GO!" Yes, I'm aware that is technically a track released in 2023, but this is the best Music Madlib song since "Call Me Maybe." There are so many seven-letter words I love to sing now (e.g.; C,H,I,C-,  A-,  G,O!). Shout out to whoever first thought of "H, O, T, D-,  O-,  G, S! One-dollar-and-fifty-cents!

Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Pump It Up” by Endor (used in The Substance)

Regret of the Year: Not moving to Tidal

I've heard Tidal is the best for artists. I need a 12-step program to get Spotify-sober. Tidal, pun intended, is how I want to leave the island where I've sat since shipwrecked since 2011.

Best Decision I made in 2024: Writing this post

I don't like looking back at this past year. I don't like any "stats" from 2024. But as the title of the second most track I listened to states: She's Gone, Dance On. Finally, to the 5 (not an exaggeration) others that see this, thank you very much for reading (or listening).

TQ's Year of TV (2024)

It's an honor just to get watched

Previous Years:
2023 / 2022 / 2021

2020 / 2019 / 2018

2017 / 2016 / 2015 

2014 LT / 2014 NLT

2013 / 2012 / 2011

Best TV Show That Is Seriously Great:

Presumed Innocent (Apple) 
Runner-up: Conan O'Brien Must Go (Max)

PI wins because I remembered the 1990 movie (the one with Harrison Ford) based on the same book and was still very captivated. I'm told - for "Taylor Swift Reasons" - one's not to like Jake Gyllenhaal. JG does a great job of embodying a character you know should be hated but also kinda understand why people could be attracted.

Meanwhile, more of unbridled, unshackled by networks, Conan!

Best TV Show That Has Recently Completed / All Seasons Watch Recommend:

What We Do In The Shadows (FX / Hulu) 

Runner-up: English Teacher (Hulu) 

I've been saying WWDITS is the "best comedy currently running" and now it's gone.

Meanwhile, if you know you know... I don't think ET is getting a second season.

Best Comedy Still Running:

Hacks (Max) 
Runner-up: Girls5eva (Netflix)

It's really tough to "be funny showing funny" but Hacks does it.

Meanwhile, I just hope we get more songs from Girls5eva.

Best Shelter In Place (one-day-marathon) Show:

Mr. McMahon (Netflix) 
Runner-up: Baby Reindeer (Netflix)

My wife will tell you that MM is enjoyable with zero pro wrestling or context knowledge.

Meanwhile, I am not recommending BR, but it is a high quality show that you will never want to watch again.

Best TV Show That Is Bonkers:

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A. (Netflix)

Runner-up: The Boys (Amazon)

Mulaney created the ultimate "you had to be there" show.

Meanwhile, The Boys may appear less bonkers because the world is becoming more bonkers.

Best TV Show That Needs To Get Resurrected ASAP:

The Day of the Jackal (Peacock)

Runner-up: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple)

I can't get enough of any show about a highly skilled assassin that also has multiple Radiohead songs in its soundtrack.

Meanwhile, M:LoM is likely the best show on Apple you're not watching.

Best Limited-Run Anthology Series:

Disclaimer (Apple)

Runner-up: Fargo (FX)

Disclaimer is almost in Baby Reindeer territory in how it will catch you off-guard in the worst way, but unlike BR - I recommend watching it..

Meanwhile, Fargo is GONNA FARGO and we all love it.

WHAT ELSE IS ON

• Most over-rated: The Morning Show (Apple)
• Most over-hyped, but still good: The Penguin (Max)
• I can't quit you, but you're getting worse every time: Love Is Blind (Netflix)
• I think I have quit you because you got worse every time: Cobra Kai (Netflix)
• Honorary Distopian Future, thus I must watch: Silo (Apple)
• Honorary "I'm still very good" Premise, thus I'll always watch: True Detective: Night Country (Max)
• Too Much Intellectual Property, Star Wars Division: The Acolyte (Disney)
• Too Much Intellectual Property, Marvel Division: Agatha All Along (Disney)
• Episode, you know which one, of the year: The Bear (Hulu)
• Dadcore Award of the year: Reacher (Amazon)
• Johnny-Come-Lately Award for show from a prior year that I watched late: Hijack (Apple)
• Reality-show Adjacent Award for Competition: AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
• Spousal Duty watch because your wife has an inexplicable and undying lovecrush on the seemingly very sexy Ray Romano: No Good Deed (Netflix)
• Best show to watch on airplane because it's subtitled and others can enjoy: Shōgun (Hulu)
• The show I kinda liked but don't know if anybody who didn't read the book would like: Dark Matter (Apple)
• The show that's impossible for me to like because I didn't read the book: Dune Prophecy (Max)
• I quit but wish I was smarter enough to enjoy: 3 Body Problem (Netflix)
• Legal system reconciliation plea of the year: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)

STILL IN THE QUEUE:

Man on the Inside (Netflix)

Black Doves (Netflix)

Bad Monkey (Apple)

Mr and Mrs Smith (Amazon)

Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)

Say Nothing (FX / Hulu)

The Old Man (Hulu)

Poker Face (Peacock)

Tokyo Vice (Max)

Industry (Max)

Ripley (Netflix)

House of the Dragon (Max)

Somebody Somewhere (Max)

The Diplomat (Netflix)

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

See it soon,
TQ

The 2023 TQ Music Awards

Welcome to my 13th annual Music Awards / year in review post.

[Previous Year End Reviews: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011]

Last year I said I was officially over the hill because both my annual playlist and that my minutes on Spotify were less from the prior year. Sadly, that trend has continued in 2023. However, there is another metric that has increased for two years now, which gives me hope... the increased influence that the Eurovision Song Contest has in my annual post!

Song of the Year: “Tattoo” by Loreen

[runner up: “Cha Cha Cha” by Käärijä]

Yes - my top two tracks of the year are the top two vote getters in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. I had a blast watching Eurovision live (on Peacock!) this year and have had both songs in my Best Of playlist ever since. If I ever find myself in a karaoke bar in Sweden - I'm going with "Tattoo!"

Album of the Year: That! Feels Good! by Jessie Ware

[runner up: My Soft Machine by Arlo Parks

Jessie Ware has had a handful of albums, but her latest effort is arguably the best.  At first she was positioned as the next Amy Winehouse - but I think she's more a hybrid between Winehouse and Janelle Monae. That! Feels Good! is a timeless pop album that feels at home in a speakeasy or junior high dance. 

Concert of the Year: Explosions in the Sky at Ryman Auditorium

[runner up: Adam Pally at The Den Theatre]

More than a decade after I wrote down "See a show at the Ryman Auditorium" on my Bucket List - I crossed it off in September! My wife and I had a great long weekend in Nashville that was punctuated by seeing one of my favorite bands: Explosions in the Sky. It was perfect. Even my wife was "having a great time" at it.

Song of the Summer: "Cha Cha Cha" by Käärijä

[runner up: "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa]

Song Discovered Thanks to a TV Show / Movie of the Year: “Like An Eagle” by Dennis Parker (used in The Curse on SHO)

Regret of the Year: Missed shows

2023 is a year I'd like to forget, full stop. My concert going this past year is in line with that sentiment. I had tickets to as many acts (LCD Soundsystem, Jamie xx, Phoenix, Beck) as I saw (Explosions in the Sky, The National, Soccer Mommy).

Best Decision I made in 2022: The Nashville Weekend

Thank you very much for reading (or listening).