The 30 Best Television Debut Series of 2011
This is my personal list of the best debuting series of 2011. This year is surprisingly good.
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30 titles
- CreatorLauren IungerichStarsAshley RickardsBeau MirchoffJillian Rose ReedAn unpopular 15-year-old gains immediate, yet unwanted, popularity at her high school when the student body mistakes an accident she has for a suicide attempt.The best teen dramedy so far, edging Suburgatory (also in this list) at the top. This show has the wit, drama, comic timing of all teen drama cliches combined (Glee, Popular, Felicity, Freaks and Geeks, et al) and has the cutest love triangle ever (I sound like a fangirl typing this. Haha.). The Jenna-Matty-Jake would make John Hughes proud. And Sadie is such a Heather you'll love her bitchin'.
- CreatorBrad FalchukRyan MurphyHalley FeifferStarsLady GagaKathy BatesAngela BassettAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.When I heard Ryan Murphy is doing the horror genre a run, I thought I had it with Nip/Tuck circa Season 2-3. With the horror house in the mix with Tennesse Williams aspirations and Gothic roots, this first season is fun and a good effin' mess. Plus, TATE LANGDON!
- CreatorLaura DernMike WhiteStarsLaura DernDiane LaddSarah BurnsA self-destructive woman who has a spiritual awakening becomes determined to live an enlightened life, creating havoc at home and work.I know since then Mike White is a writing genius. And Laura Dern is a multi-faceted Method actress. Even though the ratings do not ensure its return next year I am glad I had my chance for a therapy kind of television.
- CreatorAlex GansaHoward GordonStarsClaire DanesMandy PatinkinDamian LewisA bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.When all great writing genius behind 24, Cold Case, E.R., Beauty and the Beast and Alias come together, we get the verve of psychological warfare at very far heights. What you get is Claire Danes being annoyingly effective, Damien Lewis at his most charismatic acting, and Mandy Patinkin at his best.
- CreatorFarhad SafiniaStarsKelsey GrammerConnie NielsenHannah WareMayor Tom Kane, diagnosed with a dementia disorder, struggles to keep his grip on power in Chicago.A tragedy of Greek proportions. And Jeff Hephner is love.
- CreatorMike KelleyStarsMadeleine StoweEmily VanCampGabriel MannAn emotionally troubled young woman sets out to exact revenge against the people who wronged her father.A future gay camp classic.
- CreatorEric C. CharmeloNicole SnyderStarsSarah Michelle GellarKristoffer PolahaIoan GruffuddSix-months-sober Bridget is key witness to a murder but flees, visiting her identical twin, who "suicides". Bridget takes over her rich, glamorous, married life in New York City. Out of the ashes and into the fire?Silly, tired, but understandable. Plus, it heightens its entertainment level episode by episode.
- CreatorDavid CaspeStarsEliza CoupeElisha CuthbertZachary KnightonThis Chicago-set sitcom follows the intertwined lives of six young urbanites trying to learn the ropes of adulthood. Through breakups and whatever other curve-balls life throws them, the pals stick together.The funniest television show this year.
- CreatorCurtis GwinnEric WeinbergStarsTexas BattleBryce JohnsonTania RaymondeA mockumentary following a police force as they deal with various perpetrators who are mostly supernatural in nature.The 2nd best at being funny this year. Plus, the gorefest is the *beep*
- CreatorJoe GaytonTony GaytonStarsAnson MountColm MeaneyRobin McLeavyThe Civil War is past, but former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon can't put it behind him. Fresh are the memories of the death of his wife, killed at the hands of Union soldiers, an act that sets him on a course of revenge.AMC has found another gold.
- CreatorChad HodgeStarsRandy SteinmeyerEddie CibrianDavid KrumholtzCenters on the Bunnies and patrons of the original Playboy Club in 1960s Chicago.The critics attacked its nudity, shallow attempt at thiller and above everything else its writing. Yet I find it the best at its campy best. Amber Heard is a plus.
- CreatorEmily KapnekStarsJeremy SistoJane LevyCarly ChaikinTessa Altman is used to the big city, but when her dad moves her away, she has to adapt to her new suburban life in Chatswin.Jane Levy is a revelation. Jeremy Sisto is a hot dilf. Cheryl Hines is funny. This should last.
- CreatorStephen CarpenterDavid GreenwaltJim KoufStarsDavid GiuntoliRussell HornsbySilas Weir MitchellA homicide detective discovers he is a descendant of hunters who fight supernatural forces.Better than Once Upon a Time in terms of making me stick to it. This has the edge of being procedural, meaning it would be sure to last.
- CreatorNancy Hult GanisJack OrmanStarsChristina RicciMargot RobbieMichael MosleyPeriod drama about the pilots and flight attendants who once made Pan Am the most glamorous way to fly.It wasn't as good as I expected it to be but it is worth the dedication and the patience.
- StarsAnderson CooperKathy GriffinGloria VanderbiltLive talk show hosted by Anderson Cooper.Anderson Cooper is love.
- CreatorJason GannDavid ZuckermanAdam ZwarStarsElijah WoodJason GannFiona GubelmannThe story of a depressed man who inexplicably is the only one who can see his neighbor's dog as a full-grown man in a dog suit.This is funny and sad.
- CreatorJeff DavisStarsTyler PoseyHolland RodenDylan O'BrienAn average high school student and his best friend get caught up in some trouble causing him to receive a werewolf bite. As a result they find themselves in the middle of all sorts of dramas in Beacon Hills.Hot guys alert. Yum, yum!
- CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.The best drama of its genre.
- CreatorVeena SudStarsMireille EnosJoel KinnamanBilly CampbellA police investigation, the saga of a grieving family, and a Seattle mayoral campaign all interlock after the body of 17-year-old Rosie Larsen is found in the trunk of a submerged car.I found nothing wrong with the show runners making a Twin Peaks effect this time around. It's actually thrilling and poetic.
- CreatorNeil JordanStarsJeremy IronsFrançois ArnaudHolliday GraingerIn the fifteenth century, Pope Alexander VI tries to control all power in Italy with the help of his several sons, through murder, intrigue, war, and marriage alliances.A political treasure.
- CreatorAdam F. GoldbergSeth GordonStarsBret HarrisonAlphonso McAuleyChristian SlaterA high-tech security firm takes extreme, and often questionable, measures to sell their protection services.It has the energy of Chuck and the wit of Better Off Ted.
- CreatorAlexandra CunninghamLynda La PlanteStarsMaria BelloBrían F. O'ByrneKirk AcevedoJane Timoney, an iconoclastic female detective, must make her bones in a tough New York precinct that is dominated by men.Maria Bello just delivered a knock-out performance.
- CreatorJeremy CarverAnna FrickeStarsSam WitwerMeaghan RathSam HuntingtonThree twenty-somethings share a house and try to live a normal life despite being a ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire.Thrilling and cute.
- CreatorPaul AbbottJohn WellsStarsEmmy RossumWilliam H. MacyEthan CutkoskyA scrappy, feisty, fiercely loyal Chicago family makes no apologies.I love this show. Forever.
- CreatorEmily SpiveyStarsChristina ApplegateMaya RudolphWill ArnettTakes an irreverent look at parenthood through the point of view of an acerbic working mother, along with her stay-at-home husband and opinionated parents.Cute.
- CreatorElizabeth MeriwetherStarsZooey DeschanelJake JohnsonMax GreenfieldAfter a bad break-up, Jess, an offbeat young woman, moves into an apartment loft with three single men. Although they find her behavior very unusual, the men support her - most of the time.Yay!
- CreatorJonathan NolanStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanAn ex-CIA agent and a wealthy programmer save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes. However, the details of the crimes, including the civilians' roles, are left a mystery.This takes time for some love. Like Fringe.
- CreatorRobert RodatStarsNoah WyleDrew RoyMaxim KnightSurvivors of an alien attack on earth gather together to fight for their lives and fight back.Fun.
- CreatorKelly MarcelCraig SilversteinStarsJason O'MaraShelley ConnChristine AdamsCenters on the Shannons, an ordinary family from 2149 when the planet is dying, who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization.Exciting.
- CreatorMichael KarnowZak PennStarsDavid StrathairnRyan CartwrightWarren ChristieAlphas is a science fiction drama focusing on a team that investigates people with supernatural abilities.So far so good.