It’s getting close to the end of the year, which means it’s time once again to start putting together the year-end critics’ lists. As I mentioned to another TV writer the other day, this year I’m thanking God for returning shows, because I’d have a hard time finding anything in this fall’s debuts to put on a year-end Best list: partly because of the new shows’ quality and partly because there are fewer of them.
But it’s also getting near Thanksgiving, so I should also try to be grateful. And there have been small things I’ve enjoyed among the new fall shows. Fringe isn’t yet consistent enough to make the pantheon, but I love John Noble’s performance. Easy Money was an out-of-nowhere surprise, which might have counted for more if it hadn’t gone on hiatus after about six people watched it. Life on Mars was much better than I expected, though I’ve fallen behind on it.
In the spirit of holiday charity, what have you been thankful for this fall?