TV's Best Dramas

I am continuing TV week on my blog this week with my picks for the best dramatic series from the 2010-2011 season.

Best Drama:
1. Fringe, FOX
"Fringe" is easily the most compelling and most original drama on network, cable, or any kind of television. It gets better every season, and the third season was the show's best. If there were justice, this would be the show that would win the Emmy on Sunday night. Sadly, it's not even nominated.

2. Game of Thrones, HBO
"Game of Thrones" was the best drama on HBO last year, which is saying something given the depth of creativity for this pay-cable network. Great performances, a great story, and some fascinating execution. I didn't know what to make of this show when it first premiered, but it quickly became my favorite hour of the week.

3. Justified, FX
This is another cable show that is lights out. The second season of "Justified," based on the short story by Elmore Leonard, was incredible. Great performances from Timothy Olyphant, Margo Martindale, and Walton Goggins.

4. Friday Night Lights, DirecTV and NBC
This is easily the best family drama on television. For five seasons, "Friday Night Lights" has been a model of the medium in terms of writing, storytelling, and acting. The heart of the show are Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, who have been consistently excellent.

5. Downton Abbey, BBC America
This fascinating series is a great period piece with rich performances and great cinematography. "Downton Abbey" had only six episodes in its first season (and the American Emmys misclassified it as a mini-series), but it was incredible and engrossing.

Top Actors:
1. John Noble, Fringe. Noble is the heart of the show, and was deserving of top honors this season.
2. Timothy Olyphant, Justified. Olyphant is the heart of the show and has created and indelible character.
3. Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights. Chandler was finally recognized this year by the Emmys, and rightfully so. He has turned in five seasons of great work.
4. Idris Elba, Luther. Another BBC America production, but Elba is incredible in the lead role of this dark crime drama.
5. Sean Bean, Game of Thrones. Bean was the heart of the show, and his demise in episode nine caused a furious fan uproar. That says a lot about the power of his work.

Top Actresses:
1. Anna Torv, Fringe. Torv had the most complex job of any actress on TV last season, playing a number of characters and variations. Her work channeling Leonard Nimoy was incredible.
2. Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights. Britton is the heart of the show, consistently delivering some of the best work on TV.
3. Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer. The show may not be as great any more, but Sedgwick is still a wonder to watch.
4. Mirelle Enos, The Killing. I HATE "The Killing" for the way it ended, but it's hard to argue that Enos had a great performance in the show. She didn't write it, so she can't be held responsible for that...
5. Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey. McGovern was the lone American in this production, and she did an incredible job in a complex role that was near the heart of this great show.

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