Top 10 for 2010 - TV

Doing a top 10 list of TV shows for the year can be a little tricky.  Unlike Movies or Video Games, the same series continue year after year without much change, so these lists can feature a lot of the same shows.  I could have filled the list with perennial favorites like The Daily Show or 30 Rock, but decided to limit my selections to things that are new, or significantly different in 2010.  Plus, I can be pretty finicky with television (and I don't have enough time to watch everything I'd like to), so my list will undoubtedly be missing a few things, simply because I haven't watched them yet.  For example, I just - just - started watching the first season of Breaking Bad (look for a TRS review in the new year), so I didn't consider it in my list.  I also haven't gotten around to watching Sons of Anarchy yet, and somehow never found time to watch the latest season of Mad Men.  I know, I know.  So please take my list below as what I loved watching in 2010.   

1. Louie

No show filled me with more joy, anticipation, or drop-everything-and-watch-this-now urgency when it appeared on my DVR than Louie.  The show is not like anything else on TV - so brutally honest and truthful, so achingly funny and insightful.  It tackles taboo subjects boldly and unflinchingly, but never fails to be entertaining.  I think it is a work of genius.  

2. Justified

Across all my top 10 lists this year - from True Grit in movies and Red Dead Redemption in video games - Westerns have been very prominent.  Justified continues the trend, as a fantastic modern Western on television.  Wonderful, quirky characters, whip-smart dialog, and an awesome over-arching seasonal plot made it a can't-miss new show.  Plus, it has Waltin Goggins.  'Nuff said.

3. Community

Yes, it made my top 5 list last year as well, but I think Community deserves recognition in its second season because, as funny and smart as it was last year, it felt like this was the year in which it really found its voice.  Almost every episode turns into a spot-on genre parody of some kind, from the geek-awesome Zombie episode, to the brilliant Space Camp send-up, and the cast has really found their groove.  It is self-aware pop-culture comedy at its best. 

4. Sherlock

The BBC's new Sherlock Holmes series consisted of only three episodes, but what incredible television they were!  I would never have guessed an updated, modern day take on the Holmes/Watson relationship would work, but in the hands of Steven Moffat, it has become my preferred interpretation of the characters.  Great performances, perplexing whodunnits, and a fantastic way into the head of the smartest guy in the room, it is brilliant on every level.  I cannot wait for more.

5. Terriers

I am saddened to hear that this series will not return, because the Shield (best show ever) creator, Shawn Ryan, delivered another excellent hour-long drama.  After several "dynamic duo" references in the show, I began to realize it is, in fact, a skewed version of Batman and Robin.  They work in questionable ways outside the law, have their own Commissioner Gordon and Batmobile, and relate to each other much like the caped crusaders.  I loved hanging out with the two main characters, and their week-to-week shenanigans were always interesting and fun.  Well worth picking up on DVD when it is released.

6. Walking Dead

I love the audacity of putting a no holds barred zombie show on television, but I wish I liked the casting choices just a little bit more.  This could really have been my favorite show of the year if I felt affinity for the characters.  As a fan of the comic, I just didn't think a few of the actors worked as well as I hoped.  But from an action standpoint, it conveyed the Zombie Apocalypse that we are all preparing for in the coolest, most visceral way.

7. Damages

Damages had one of the best first seasons of television, but I didn't feel the second was nearly as strong.  This year - its third - returned to the high level, with a timely, relevant take on the Bernie Madeoff scandal as its central theme.  One of the coolest things about this show is the use of comedic actors and personalities in dramatic roles.  The addition of Martin Short and Lily Tomlin to the cast this year continued that very interesting trend, but the biggest stand-out was Campbell Scott.  Another tight, season-long mystery with thrilling twists and turns.  Great TV.

8. Cougar Town

I avoided this show, as many of you probably have, because of its title, so it was new to me this year.  I'm so glad I was introduced to it!  Very, very funny writing, a playful wit, and characters that I wish I knew in real life.  No show has more fun than this.  It is a constant good time - like hanging out with the funniest people at a hip party.  The cynicism and irony of most great post-modern sitcoms is enjoyable, but the unabashed positivity here is so refreshing.  I promise you the show is not representative of its title.  Give it a shot.

9. Boardwalk Empire

While Boardwalk Empire never reached the heights of the Sopranos for me, it was like watching part of a Scorsese movie every week.  Finely-crafted, fascinating, and violent, it made for riveting television.

10. Archer

There are many continuing comedies I love more than this - It's Always Sunny, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, just to name a few - but as a new show in 2010, I thought Archer was an underappreciated gem.  Yes it is darkly cynical and in-your-face, but damn is it ever funny.  I really like the style of animation, top-notch VO talent, and the constant barrage of jokes.  Good watchin'.

Ok, there you have it.  My 10 favorites from 2010.  Let me know your thoughts!

I've got one more list coming to round out the year... a list of the top 10 of everything else.  See you then.

Top 10 for 2010 - Video Games

My week of top 10 lists continues today with video games.  One caveat, of course, is that I didn't play everything that was released this year.  In fact, some very notable games never crossed my controller, including Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Medal of Honor, and Gran Turismo 5.  But here are my favorite 10 of what I played in 2010.

Oh, and one other thing.  I didn't consider Cataclysm as a viable candidate for this list.  As an expansion that requires multiple other purchases to work, I didn't think it qualified - plus, it exists in some nebulous other realm - a lifestyle rather than a game.  It is a different beast entirely and unfair to compare it to everything else.  So it has a giant asterisk and hovers above the entire list, looking down on it with disdain.

1. Civilization V

If I were only allowed one game to play for the entirety of 2011, I would not hesitate to choose Civ 5.  It provides the deepest, most engrossing experience of any game this year, and I find myself dreaming about finding opportunities to play "just one more turn."  The refinements made to the series, including a gorgeous graphics engine, new one-unit-per-tile military strategies, a slick, easy to understand UI, and a host of other new features make even previous Civ games obsolete.  It is on my short list for favorite game ever.

2. Red Dead Redemption

Yep, it is as good as everyone says.  One of the most beautiful, believable game worlds every created, an ambitious, well-written story, and so many different kinds of things to do make it a triumph of the open-world genre.  Add one of the best all-time video game endings, and RDR goes down as one of the most memorable video game experiences I've ever had.  I just wish Rockstar could fix some of the annoying, persistent control issues in their games.  Still, minor gripe for a game this good.

3. Starcraft 2

This game oozes quality on every level.  Of course the multiplayer is top-notch.  But I was struck by how ambitious Blizzard was in pushing forward the single-player aspects of the game.  Missions are far more interesting and varied than they ever were in Starcraft or Brood War, and the Terran-only storyline turned out to be absolutely meaty enough to sustain its own release.  Great looking, sublime to play, it manages to outshine its predecessor - a game I've always considered the closest thing to a perfectly designed video game.

4. Limbo

Some might object to a short, downloadable game ranking this high on my list, but I felt a grander sense of wonder and discovery in Limbo than I did in many larger, more expensive games this year.  Simple, intuitive, with an elegantly communicated story, I believe it is a must-play game.  And talk about fantastic endings!  It was certainly one of the most rewarding game experiences of the year.

5. Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain is a game I find myself constantly referencing.  It is the type of bold, innovative interactive experience that I wish more game designers were attempting.  I loved the clever ways the different movements of the controller conveyed feelings analogous to what the onscreen characters were experiencing, and the automatic save system connected me to my story - the story I was crafting - in a profound way.  I think Heavy Rain did more for video gaming as a medium than anything else released this year.

6. Alan Wake

I was sad not to be able to fit this game into my top 5 and sadder still that it did not sell better.  Alan Wake was an awesome experience that deserved more attention.  Fun, visceral combat, an engaging storyline, memorable characters, and a marvelously realized game world - plus, the kind of tight, effective controls I wish Rockstar could master.  If you have not played Alan Wake, you missed one of the best games of this or any year.

7. Mass Effect 2

Bioware managed to fix nearly every problem of the first game in the series, but created a few more.  Still, Mass Effect 2 is crackling good fun.  What a difference great combat makes!  The gorgeous graphics and excellent dialog system are still intact, and the story is still good pulp sci-fi.  Hours and hours of great interactive entertainment.

8. Halo Reach

We get to number 8 before any FPS titles make the list, but exciting, unpredictable firefights, great level design, and the best storytelling of any Halo title to date, makes Halo Reach an undeniable winner.  Add in multiplayer for any kind of gamer, from co-op to competitive matchmaking and team play, Halo Reach is a phenomenal package - and another game with a great, memorable ending. 

9. Darksiders

Darksiders is my dark horse for 2010, my favorite underappreciated game of the year.  Is it derivative of Zelda?  Sure... but what a wonderful game to be derivative of!  Spot-on, tried-and-true gameplay, that awesome feeling of being over-powered with each new power-up, great controls, and all in beautiful HD!  If Nintendo refuses to give me my HD Zelda, I am happy to enjoy this darker, equally thrilling cousin.  Bring on the sequel!

10. Kirby's Epic Yarn

Perhaps Super Mario Galaxy 2 is the more robust, inventive platformer, more deserving of a spot on the top 10, but I just can't deny the joy, wonder, and unabashed whimsy on display in Kirby's Epic Yarn.  It is a visual work of art, and the game's mechanics are solid, and never fail to surprise and entertain with each new challenge.  I adored my experience playing it and am so glad it exists.

There you have it, my favorites of the year.  A great year for video games, no doubt, but 2011 looks like it could be even stronger.  Let me know what you thought of the list and don't forget to check out our official Totally Rad Show game of the year episode, too.

Tomorrow, we take a look at TV.

Top 10 for 2010 - Movies

It is the end of the year, so you know what that means... top ten lists!

We covered our Top 5 favorite films of the year in this episode of the Totally Rad Show, but I thought I'd expand on that to discuss my top 10 of 2010.  So, without further ado...

1. True Grit

Another Coen Bros masterpiece of language and storytelling.  Fantastic performances anchor an unpredictable, riveting tale of revenge and coming of age.  In typical Coen Bros style even the smallest characters are interesting and memorable.  I didn't have a more enjoyable time at the movies all year, and it instantly made my all-time list of favorite Westerns.

2. Social Network

Forget the geek inside-baseball backlash about how little verisimilitude the film brings to Mark Zuckerberg's real life story (what biopic doesn't play fast and loose with the truth?).  In the hands of Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher, the Social Network is a snowball careening down a mountain, a torrent of god-I-wish-people-really-spoke-like-that dialog and impossible intelligence, that dives in and out of different times and events, building to what feels like a breakneck pace.  It makes legal depositions and computer programming feel like high drama, and is a relevant, fascinating film, regardless of how accurate it is to the real story.

3. 127 Hours

The most inspiring film of the year.  A tale of true heroism and a lesson in using willpower and determination to survive.  It is also an incredible piece of filmmaking.  That Danny Boyle is able to maintain tension and interest inside a crevasse when we know the outcome of the story is remarkable.  This film is far, far better than the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire.  

4. Inception

An audacious, grand, hard science-fiction tale that also managed to be mass market entertainment.  I am still in awe of the imagination at work in Inception, and will be thinking about it for years to come.  No movie was talked about more, dissected, or provoked more thought.  

5. The King's Speech

Clearly, I am enamored with movies that value language, and The King's Speech absolutely revels in it.  Colin Firth's performance is spectacular, and only in part because of the remarkable affectation he adopts.  The nuance of bluster and insecurity, of familial power struggle and personal denial he conveys is even more impressive.  I was moved by the message of the film that even a small personal victory can be a monumental achievement. 

6. Toy Story 3

It is possible this movie deserves to be even higher on this list.  It is a wonderful, satisfying, finely-crafted piece of entertainment - the one film on this list that could literally be recommended to anyone, young or old, without hesitation.  How Pixar manages to create something so universally appealing without being trite or unintelligent is astonishing.  That it is also so beautifully eloquent on the subject of growing up makes it an instant classic.

7. Catfish

I debated whether or not I'd include this movie, because the experience of seeing it for me was probably very different from most others.  I knew nothing about the movie going in, and was able to see a private screening at the studio before any of the hype had started (I dare say I contributed to the hype).  But in that context, this was one of the most powerful movies I saw all year.  Since its release there has been all sorts of information that may or may not strip the experience of some of its impact, but forgetting all of that, I found the ideas expressed, the pure emotional drama and edge-of-my-seat excitement/fear/desire to know what was going to happen next to be amazing.  It felt like a true movie of our time, dealing with technology, morality, and interpersonal relationships in a way that was impossible only 5 or 10 years ago.

8. How to Train Your Dragon

Had there been no Toy Story 3 this year, I suspect many more people would have been singing this film's praises.  A wonderfully heartfelt wish-fulfillment story the touches on the feeling of everyone who has ever owned a pet, and anyone who has ever dreamed of flying.  Funny, touching, sweet, and exciting, it is a fantastic film. 

9. Kickass

My list, my rules.  Kickass felt like a reward for being a geek.  The pot of gold at the end of a comic-book reading, video game playing, socially awkward rainbow of childhood.  Exhilarating and fun, funny and poignant, it gave me goosebumps by how personal it felt for me.

10. Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Along with Kickass, I think SPvtW is way ahead of its time.  A kinetic mashup of pop and video game cultures into a visually thrilling riff on the geek mindset.  It felt like something truly new and will undoubtedly become a cult hit.  I had a blast watching it, and only wish it hit me on a more emotional level.  Still, one of the most memorable movies of the year.

There you have it.  My top 10 for 2010 in movies.  Let me know what you think and then stop by tomorrow for my list of my favorite video games of the year.

Tues, December 28th: Toronto Tweetup!

I'm doing my first ever Tweetup this week!

If you're in or near Toronto and would like to come out and say hi, I'd love to meet you.  I'll be at the Friar & Firkin pub for a few hours, starting at 4:30pm.  Hoping to get a couple of my Canadian gaming journo pals to show up as well.  It'll be very casual, just come out for a drink and maybe meet some folks with similar interests.

Here are the details:

Friar & Firkin

160 John St
Toronto, ON M5V 2E5
Neighbourhood: Queen Street West

Tuesday, December 28th

Starting at 4:30pm

I'll be the freshly bearded American geek in the back trying to stay warm and look Canadian ;)

Hope to see you there!

A Very Special Message for the Holiday Season...

Here is Christmas comedy sketch I did a while back with my web comedy group, Very Angry Neighbors.

If you've never seen it before, I hope you enjoy it!  If you have, I hope it gives you a laugh all over again.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!