2015 TV Wrap-Up – Comedies

Season 1
Fresh Off The Boat is absolutely my favorite new comedy in a long, long time. Everything about the show is perfect –  the cast is impeccable, the writing is sharp, and the humor is always on point. Constance Wu in particular, is a revelation as the Huang family’s matriarch, and she infuses the show with a hysterical dose of mania and obsessiveness. If you feel like starting a new comedy, this is it. Utterly incredible.
Nad Rating
A

Season 1
As unlikely as it sounds, I was immensely entertained by ABC’s medieval comedy musical from the very beginning. With its top-notch production, catchy songs and witty lyrics, Galavant is unlike anything else on television. However, I was sure the network would kill the show seeing as how its ratings were pretty dismal, so imagine my surprise when they decided to renew it for a second season. I guess miracles do happen, because this show deserves the chance to find a larger audience.
Nad Rating
B+

Season 1
I don’t remember why I started watching Grace & Frankie. It didn’t seem like my kind of show, but after House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Daredevil, I felt like I owed it to Netflix to give their newest show a shot. I’m thankful that I did because I ended up loving this quirky little dramedy. Headlined by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin’s complex performances, Grace & Frankie is the kind of show that’s both immersive and just so darn lovable. Plus it’s got a poignant message about moving on in your life no matter what hardships you might face. Bring on season two!
Nad Rating
B+

Season 1
I want to say The Last Man On Earth was a brilliant comedy, but it squandered one of the best comedy pilots ever with a string of episodes that gradually decreased in quality. By the end of the season, it unfortunately became a chore to watch. Still, the show has enough promise to warrant me coming back next year and see if it can improve. Perhaps the season two premiere will restore the potential I know the show has? Because this is one premise (it’s all in the title) that’s far too good to waste.
Nad Rating
B-

Season 1
So the pilot was atrocious, but slowly yet surely, Selfie became more confident in its voice and its special brand of comedy. Sadly all that improvement came far too late, and the show was eventually canceled. That’s a pity, as the two central performances (and social media infused humor) made it a comedy with a whole lot of potential. So long Selfie, we hardly knew ya.
Nad Rating
C+

Season 3
When The Mindy Project was first cancelled a few months ago, I was ready to get violent. Its ratings might have been low, but Mindy was a confident comedy with a dependable cast and laugh-out-loud humor. Thankfully, Hulu swooped in for the save and picked up the show before it was too late. If the show proved anything this year, it’s that you could totally put your endgame couple together and not ruin your show in the process. The comedy still managed to create hilarious situations without forcing needless drama to keep its core couple apart. Gold star!
Nad Rating
A

 Season 4
Few shows are as nuanced and intelligent as Veep. The primary reason the White House comedy works so well is thanks to Julia Louis Dreyfus’ freakin’ astounding performance. She marvelously brings to life her character’s neurosis and insecurities, and delivers mind-boggling work in the process. There’s a reason this woman has won the Emmy three years in a row, and after Selena Meyer became President this year, the show rose to even greater heights. Veep might not be for everyone, but it’s outstanding TV nonetheless. Fingers crossed for a fourth Emmy!
Nad Rating
A

Season 6
Cougar Town‘s final season was everything I wanted it to be: uplifting, emotional, and consistently hilarious. I do hope this show will go down as one of the all-time classics that people continue to discover well after its departure. It’s so easy to misjudge the show based simply on its title, but few comedies have such a firm grasp on their sense of tone and characters. The series finale was wonderfully satisfying, and perfect in pretty much every way. Here’s hoping Courtney and the rest of the magnificent cast continue to find great material going forward.
Nad Rating
A

Season 6
Way back in 2010, I watched the pilot for an enjoyable little sitcom starring the amazing Betty White and the exceptionally talented Wendi Malick. It was a fun opener, but little did I know that Hot in Cleveland would become one of my most favorite comedies ever. Across six seasons, Cleveland soared with its whacky sense of humor and lovable characters. The show was indeed the unofficial heir to The Golden Girls, (of course Betty White’s presence helped confirm that notion), and it was always there for me whenever I needed a laugh or two. The show’s final season went out on a strong note, and while the finale may not have been the show’s funniest hour, it was still extremely gratifying. Ladies, you will be sorely missed.
Nad Rating
A-

Season 6
I often find it difficult to sit down and watch Modern Family. I love the show and I’ve been watching it since the day it debuted in September 2009, but there isn’t much emotional investment since the characters never really evolve and mature. So many other comedies take the time to let their characters develop, that it feels like Family sometimes pales in comparison. Nevertheless, the show is always tremendously fun, and the cast is uniformly stellar. Although the Haley cliffhanger with iPad Phil was mildly amusing, this season was more of the same – nothing more, nothing less. But after six seasons of hijinks, how could I possibly ever give these guys up?
Nad Rating
B+