In this first of two year-end episodes of Streamed & Screened, hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz go over the best shows of the year, breaking down Miller's Top 10 list and adding in plenty of other options to catch up on if you need something to watch during the holiday season. Listen to the discussion through the podcast player above and read more from Miller below.
2024 got us to embrace the idea of six-and-done-episode series.
With plenty of examples (Apple practically owns the concept), it was a time to celebrate an end to bloated network runs and cheer 10 really good episodes of something like 鈥淗acks鈥 or 鈥淏aby Reindeer.鈥
2024 also brought more big names to the screen and gave Netflix a fighting chance to land several strong contenders in the Oscar race.
People are also reading…
Putting those films out of the running (sorry, 鈥淓milia Perez鈥), the year鈥檚 best series, specials and 鈥渆vents鈥 stacked up like this:
1.聽BABY REINDEER聽鈥 Adhering to the 鈥渨rite what you know鈥 theory, creator Richard Gadd opened a vein and told a compelling (and frightening) story about a comic and the woman who became his stalker. Just when you thought that story was closing, he introduced another and made this the most surprising and complete series of the year.
2.听厂贬翱骋鲍狈听鈥 Reaching back to the 1980s might not seem like a good idea (unless you鈥檙e plotting a 鈥淏ack to the Future鈥 reboot), but producers found a way to make the James Clavell miniseries even more lavish and meaningful. While we might not agree with the idea to continue it for a second (third or fourth) year, it was a standout. Star and producer Hiroyuki Sanada deserves much of the credit. He had a dream to redo 鈥淪hogun鈥 and was able to see it through.
3.聽ENGLISH TEACHER 鈥聽Brian Jordan Alvarez has always been a good supporting actor but putting him in the lead and letting him craft his own take on education today was another brilliant move by FX. The comedy touched on areas 鈥淎bbott Elementary鈥 can鈥檛 and gave Jenn Lyon an opportunity to make a huge impression as a demanding mother who thinks a double Sprite and steak nuggets can change a student鈥檚 grade. Best Guest Performance in a Comedy Emmy, please.
4.听罢贬贰听笔贰狈骋鲍滨狈听鈥 Yup, there鈥檚 life in supporting characters (thank you, 鈥淛oker鈥) that television managed to recognize. Covered in more makeup than Demi Moore in 鈥淭he Substance,鈥 Colin Farrell brought The Penguin to life in his own origins story and gave Christin Milioti a dandy dramatic turn. There鈥檚 lots of life in this concept (and an open door for a good Catwoman adventure).
5.听尝础狈顿惭础狈听鈥 Tyler Sheridan may have tired of Kevin Costner and his 鈥淵ellowstone鈥 antics, but he put his heart and soul into this look at the oil industry in Texas. Finding his own 鈥淯pstairs/Downstairs鈥 vibe, he gave Billy Bob Thornton one of the best roles of his career and Jon Hamm, Demi Moore and Ali Larter a way to sign on for a series without signing their lives away. Like 鈥淕iant,鈥 鈥淟andman鈥 made us question preconceived notions and gave us reason to rethink the 鈥渂igger is better鈥 theory that thrives in Texas.
6.聽ALEX EDEMAN: JUST FOR US聽鈥 Alex Edelman鈥檚 Tony-winning standup routine pulled him into the Mike Birbiglia realm and let us ponder one of those situations few people encounter. In this case, it鈥檚 attending a meeting of white nationalists without revealing he鈥檚 Jewish. The wild ride covered a lot of bases and gave audiences a wide-ranging look at his life and the disconnects within it.
7.听贬础颁碍厂听鈥 The best (and most consistent) comedy on television, 鈥淗acks鈥 hit a stride this year that didn鈥檛 make star Jean Smart look like she was stepping back. In the third season, she got to aim for new highs (a late-night talk show) and find a real sense of peace with her associate (the excellent Hannah Einbinder). This won the Emmy award and it鈥檚 easy to see why. 鈥淗acks鈥 adhered to the rules of the game and came away a winner.
8.聽THE DAY OF THE JACKAL聽鈥 Who knew Eddie Redmayne could play a cold-blooded assassin? In this adaptation of Frederick Forsyth鈥檚 novel, he delivers an award-worthy performance as the target of a British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch, who鈥檚 also great). The game twisted all over Europe and gave audiences a fascinating look at a tried-and-true story.
9.聽THE BEAR聽鈥 This was the year of discontent for television watchers. After embracing two seasons of absurdity, they called out the series and said it wasn鈥檛 a comedy. Perhaps that鈥檚 true, but it鈥檚 still an outstanding piece of work, deserving of awards in countless categories. If it is a drama, put it in that category and let it dice the competition. Anywhere, it鈥檚 a hit.
10.聽COLIN FROM ACCOUNTS聽鈥 Spouses Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall struck gold with a comedy that's always just one event away from tragedy. Their shared concern (the dog called Colin) shows we're softies at heart -- even if life wants us to harden up. American streaming services: Keep Australia in your radar.
ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING:聽"John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA"; 鈥淪t. Denis Medical鈥; 鈥淢atlock鈥: 鈥淒isclaimer鈥; 鈥淪omebody Somewhere鈥 and 鈥淭okyo Vice.鈥
