Best and worst of TV in 2011
There's a saying in Hollywood that awards don't mean anything until you win one. TV writers James Croot , Chris Philpott , and Erica Thompson dish out some accolades for the 2011 television year.
The 'We Didn't See That Coming' Award
Lady Mary ending up with a dead Turkish diplomat in her bed on Downton Abbey.
Britta and Kevin hooking up on Go Girls.
Ned Stark losing his, er, role on Game of Thrones.
The Surprise Hit Award
The Food Truck. Even in a cooking show-saturated market, Michael Van de Elzen's fast food makeovers were tasty fare.
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. Appalling and mesmerising all at the same time.
The Good Telly Unfairly Screened Way Past Bedtime Award of Shame
The Good Wife, Justified, Shameless, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Tudors, Hawaii 5-0.
Best TV From Across the Ditch Award
The Amazing Race Australia . Better than the American version.
The Gruen Transfer -7 Days meets Fair Go.
The Biggest Reality Show Injustice Award
Aroha's elimination from New Zealand's Next Top Model. Everything went downhill from there.
The Kiwi Export Award
Anna Paquin. Even if True Blood fans gave this year's show a mixed report card, Sookie is still one feisty faerie.
Danielle Cormack and Chelsie Preston Crayford: leading ladies in Aussie tale Underbelly: Razor.
The 'What Were They Thinking?' Award
Charlie's Angels 2011. Ugh.
The WANNABEn crew's Auckland Airport stunt.
Dancing with the Stars US. Who are these people?
Best Supernatural Villain Award
Zombies. While vampires still outnumber them on TV, The Walking Dead's zombies really killed this year.
Best Retro New Zealand Fashion Award
Marty "rhymes with party" Johnston on Underbelly NZ: Land of The ! Long Gre en Cloud.
The Most Angry Viewers Award
TV One moving Coronation Street to 5.30pm (and then back again to two days a week).
TV3 replacing new episodes of Modern Family, House and The Good Wife with old movies on Sunday nights.
The TV Wedding of the Year Award
William and Kate. Kim Kardashian's ill-fated wedding may have been a circus too, but the royal couple were all class.
The Hidden Gem Award
Miranda. The British comic has reinvigorated the old-fashioned sitcom.
ESPN's 30 for 30 Series. Far more interesting than any of the regular free-to-air international Disease of the Week contributions.
The Best Thing To Happen to TV Award
Sky's launch of the SoHo channel. Yes, it will cost you, but at least Kiwis now have the option to (legally) watch the greatest television on the planet.
The Rising Star Award
Maori Television. It had great wins with its Rugby World Cup coverage and is spreading its wings with its own programmes like The Fit Club and reality show, Head Start.
TV3 Firstline. Finally, a no- nonsense news alternative at breakfast.
The 'I'm Not Hungry Any More' Award
Big Fat Family Challenge. Britain's Chawner family may have failed to lose any weight, but they really motivated the rest of us to start walking to work.
The End of an Era Award
Oprah Winfrey calls it a day after 25 years.
- Fairfax NZ News
Newest First
Oldest First
Comments