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John’s top 10 TV shows of 2013

These were my 10 favorite shows of 2013:

1. “Bunheads” (Season 1, ABC Family) — I know “Bunheads” was the best show on TV in 2013 because it appealed to both the heart and the mind. And also because — with its dance numbers that attempted to illustrate the mood of the story — it was a daring work of art unlike anything else. Even Amy-Sherman Palladino’s trademark show, “Gilmore Girls” — to which “Bunheads’ ” quirky small town and obscure references owe a debt — wasn’t this ambitious. I also know “Bunheads” was the best show of the year because it hurts like hell that we aren’t getting new episodes or even a DVD release.

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First episode impressions: ‘The Killing’ Season 3 (TV review)

“The Killing” (8 p.m. Central Sundays on AMC) returned for its third season — and second case — on Sunday looking as good as ever. With its run-down urbanity, misty woods, drizzly docks and messy dwellings, Veena Sud’s murder mystery series still makes the best use of Vancouver since “The X-Files.”

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‘The Killing’ isn’t dead after all! Plus: 9 other resurrected shows (TV commentary)

With the awesome news earlier this week that AMC changed its mind about “The Killing,” which it canceled a few months ago but has now resurrected for a third season (to air later this year), I thought I’d take a look at a few notable resurrected (or un-canceled, if you prefer) series through the years.

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John’s top 10 TV shows of 2012

Here are my top 10 TV shows of 2012:

1. “Parenthood” (Season 3-4, NBC) — I hate to have the same No. 1 two years in a row, but “Parenthood” — the only current series where having a Kleenex box nearby is a must — gives me no choice. During the run of “Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood” was “Jason Katims’ other show.” Now it is filling “FNL’s” niche as the major-network show that best captures the universal human experience even though parenthood, like football, isn’t universal. This fall has been dominated by Kristina’s cancer arc, but it’s the non-awards-baiting moments such as Max winning the student presidency or Julia finally connecting with Victor that really stand out.

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Ron Swanson: TV’s greatest libertarian character ever? (Commentary)

Since I’m venturing into politics with this post (which will eventually be about television), I’ll admit my bias up front: I’ll be voting for the Libertarian Party ticket of Johnson-Gray in November. But I think anyone who’s been paying attention knows that the growing distrust of Big Government, Big Spending and Big War is the noteworthy political development of 2012 (with its roots in 2008, when Ron Paul first ran for the Republican nomination).

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First episode impressions: ‘The Killing’ Season 2 (TV review)

“The Killing” (8 p.m. Central Sundays on AMC) continued to unfold like a great page-turner in its two-hour Season 2 premiere on Sunday, delivering a lot of new surprises and questions but most importantly providing the “Whew!” revelation we were all hoping for: Detective Holder (Joel Kinnaman) isn’t a bad guy after all.

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