TV viewers never know what to expect each season from their favorite shows because the powers that be behind those shows are sneaky, they like to freak us out, make us laugh, make us cheer and sigh in relief.
Every season there is a lot going on that sometimes it’s hard to point out all of the good (and the bad) that TV provides the viewers, but the following list, which is featured in no particular order, is what really stood out:
[Photo Credit: CBS]
Highest Rated New Drama – All Rise (CBS)
Out of the 9 new one-hour dramas that debuted on the major networks since the 2019-2020 TV season got underway in September, the CBS legal drama All Rise came out on top in terms of overnight ratings. The show averaged 5.3 million viewers from September to December.
[Photo Credit: The CW]
Best Actress in a Drama – Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin (The CW)
Gina received rave reviews for her 7-minute monologue, where Jane talked on and on about her dead husband Michael’s very unexpected reappearance, in the season premiere of Jane the Virgin; an episode that she also directed.
[Photo Credit: Amazon Prime]
Best Actors in a Drama – Michael Sheen and David Tennant in Good Omens (Amazon)
The third episode of the debut season found Aziraphale (Sheen) and Crowley’s (Tennant) friendship over the centuries played out. The entire episode was quite the montage of how this angel and demon grew and changed over the millenia, hiding their friendship from their superiors.
[Photo Credit: AP Images]
That Really Wasn’t A Surprise – Mateo was the narrator on Jane the Virgin (The CW)
For much of the series’ run, viewers of Jane the Virgin contemplated the identity of the narrator with the reveal being made in the show’s final episode; and while it may have come as a surprise that the narrator was a grown-up Mateo (voiced by Anthony Mendez), I was pleased to learn that I was correct in my belief since season two that it was Mateo.
Best Reality Star – Kodi Lee, America’s Got Talent (NBC)
I am the first person to state loud and clear how much I detest reality programming. I honestly think it’s the bane of existence and should be wiped off the TV landscape fully and completely, but every once in awhile there are a few good things that come out of that genre of programming. Kodi Lee is one of those unicorns. He is the blind and autistic singing phenom who won season 14 of the reality competition show.
Check out Kodi’s audtion for America’s Got Talent:
[Photo Credit: Netflix]
Talk of the Streaming World – Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (Netflix)
The Japanese organizing consultant and author debuted her new show on the streaming service at the beginning of the year, becoming quite the talk of the internet especially with her “sparks joy” method of organizing.
[Photo Credit: Nuccio DiNuzzo-Getty Images]
What Were You Thinking? – Jussie Smollett
The Empire actor-singer claimed to be the victim of a homophobic-racist assault, but after receiving endless amounts of support, it was revealed to have been a hoax; although the actor never confirmed that was the case. He was indicted on 16 counts, but eventually charges were dropped and his record was wiped clean. However, he essentially lost his role on the FOX drama and has become a bit of a society pariah.
[Photo Credit: The CW]
Best Villainess – Rachel Skarsten as Alice on Batwoman (The CW)
From the pilot episode it was clear that Alice was a complicated character. Her backstory is heartbreaking but also very telling in why she became who she is now. She has been so set on revenge that she doesn’t even she how vile and villainous she has become. [SPOILER ALERT!] Taking the life of her stepmother and setting up her father as the killer took that villainy to an all-new low.
[Photo Credit: Ron Batzdorff-NBC]
Hunky Newcomer – Blake Stadnik as Jack on This Is Us (NBC)
The fourth season premiere of This Is Us gave us a look at a young man, who was revealed to a successful blind musician and was also revealed to be Jack, the grown son of Kate and Toby. His mom’s scary premature birth caused Jack to be blind. Being from the Pearson line he is just as charming and lovable as the Pearson men and he inherited his singing genes from the Pearson women.
[Photo Credit: Kharen Hill-The CW]
Prettiest Newcomer – Kennedy McMann as Nancy Drew (The CW)
While the show itself hasn’t been performing well in the ratings, and for those of us who aren’t sold on this more modern take on the teenage sleuth, this new incarnation of Nancy Drew may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Kennedy is the prettiest of the newcomers this TV season.
[Photo Credit; Clipart Library]
Where’s the Viewers – Ratings decline
TV viewership has been on the decline, but this fall as existing series returned and new ones debuted, the overnight ratings have seen a noticeable drop – even popular shows. In some instances, returning shows have lost at least a million, if not more, viewers weekly.
[Photo Credit: Dean Buscher-The CW]
Best Comeback From Death – John Winchester on Supernatural (The CW)
It may have only been temporary, but getting to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan as John Winchester on Supernatural was so terrific. Sam and Dean inadvertently summoned their dad from the year 2003, allowing the family – including Mama Winchester – a chance to have one somewhat “normal” night together before bidding an emotional goodbye to him yet again.
[Photo Credit: Syfy]
[Photo Credit: Hulu]
Most Upsetting TV Deaths – Quentin on The Magicians (Syfy) and Logan Echolls in Veronica Mars (Hulu)
Quentin shockingly sacrificed himself in order to save his friends and officially vanquish The Monster.
Logan was unnecessarily killed by a bomb inadvertently left inside Veronica’s car not too long after they finally married.
[Photo Credit: TV Land]
It’s About Damn Time – Diana (Miriam Shor) finally learned the truth about Liza (Sutton Foster) on Younger (TV Land)
It only took SIX seasons for the truth to finally be revealed to everyone, but seeing Diana deal with that truth was quite something to behold.
[Photo Credit: HBO]
The Girl with No Name, Takes Down the King – Arya Defeated the Night King on Game of Thrones (HBO)
Say what you will about the final season of Game of Thrones, but one of the best scenes from that last run was watching mighty but mini Arya take out the big bad Night King, using the best subterfuge possible.
[Photo: ABC-Mitch Haaseth]
We Are One – “Silent All These Years” episode of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
In this episode, every single woman on the show lined the hall to usher Abby, a sexual assault survivor, into surgery. When the episode aired, Christine Blasey Ford has just testified about her sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh, who – despite Ford’s meticulously detailed testimony – was confirmed as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
[Photo Credit: HBO]
Getting What She Justly Deserved – Brienne of Tarth Knighed on Game of Thrones (HBO)
It was a long time in coming, given all that the warrior woman had done, in the war for the Iron Throne, but Brienne was finally knighted by Jamie Lannister before the final battle ensued.
[Photo Credit: Diyah Pera-Netflix]
That Was Quite a Twist – The identity of the Dark Lord in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)
The big reveal was made in the finale of the second season with Sabrina Spellman learning that the Dark Lord was one other than her own dad (how Star Wars-like, right?).
[Photo Credit: Netflix]
How Could You? – Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini) was the hit and run driver, who killed the husband of Jen Harding (Christina Applegate) in Dead to Me (Netflix)
The two women met through a therapy group made of bereft spouses. They became quick friends, but in the final moments of the finale, Judy admitted the truth; but then it was shown that the body of Steve, Judy’s ex-fiance was floating in Jen’s pool
[Photo Credit: HBO]
The Most Mind-Blowing Show – Watchmen (HBO)
This series, based on the acclaimed graphic novel, was mind-boggling for those not well-versed in the canon, but visual stunning in its directorial vision, expertly acted by its ensemble cast, led by the amazing Regina King, and incredibly complex in its storytelling.
Young Inspirations – Teenage Climate Activists
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old girl from Sweden with Asperger’s Syndrome may be the face of the young climate activists – especially after being named as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year – but she is not the only one.
Just take a look at this article to see that she is not the only one nor should she be seen by the world as the only one.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2019. Please share.
TOMORROW: Movies
Rueben's Ramblings 
Leave a comment