Top 25 Programs of 2019, Part Two

No 20 amp8211 Americaamp8217s Got Talent NBCRecent controversies aside NBCamp8217s reliably entertaining summer staple did not disappoint even without the muchmissed Mel B and Heidi Klum at the judgesamp8217 tableamp160 Although the network now includes an allstar version of this show on its midseason roster it is remarkable to me that it has never removed this vibrant show from its summer berth and burned it out during the amp8220traditionalamp8221 broadcast season which runs from SeptemberMayamp160amp160As a result ratings for AGT remain robust every year the network dominates among broadcasters during the summer months and it has a dandy promotional platform in place through which it familiarizes the audience with its upcoming new fall showsamp160 That doesnamp8217t do much good when the shows are bad but we canamp8217t blame the publicity and promotion AGT provides for the failure rate of the networksamp8217 new shows can weamp160 Judge and executive producer Simon Cowell repeatedly referred to the 2019 edition as AGTamp8217s best season yet in terms of talent and it was hard to disagreeamp160 Watching at home it was impossible to pick the winner but congratulations once again to champion Kodi Lee the clear audience favoriteamp160 As I have noted before the integration of the longtime sponsor formerly known as Dunkinamp8217 Donuts now simply Dunkinamp8217 remained one of the most vivid advertiser partnerships in all of television and certainly the best since Foxamp8217s relationship with Coca Cola on the original American Idol amp160In tandem with American Ninja Warrior another summer sensation AGT makes NBC the place to be on those lazy hazy summer nightsNo 19 amp8211 FosseVerdon FXWeamp8217ve had better limited series in recent years including 2019amp160 But I canamp8217t recall a performance in any of them that was superior to that of Michelle Williams as fourtime Tony Awardwinning actress and dancer Gwen Verdon amp160Williams has matured into one of our finest actresses but even with four Academy Awardnominated performances to her credit she outdid herself in this roleamp160 Itamp8217s always thrilling to watch a performer hit her peak as Williams repeatedly did conveying more passion disappointment skepticism or rage with a fleeting glance or quick turn of the lip than others might do in entire plays or moviesamp160 Oscarwinner Sam Rockwell was also great as Verdonamp8217s second husband and professional partner the legendary choreographer Bob Fosse and everyone in the supporting cast was given time to shine especially Margaret Qualley as actress and dancer Ann Reinking and Kelli Barrett as Liza Minnelliamp160 But this was Williamsamp8217 show from beginning to endamp160 She went on to win the TCA Award giving the most profound and heartfelt acceptance speech I have ever heard and the Emmy Award stealing that show too with an acceptance speech that was one for the agesamp160 BravaNo 18 amp8211 Barry HBOI have never been as taken with this violent comedy as most of my colleagues but I have loved every minute that Henry Winkler has been on screen during its first two seasons and I have found Bill Hader to be consistently fascinating throughout as a hapless hitman who discovers a love of acting and aspires to change careersamp160 Their performances and those of the rest of the cast had me considering a spot on this list for the show but it was one episode in particular amp8211 the muchtalked about ronnylily that secured itamp160 An instant classic quite unlike anything I had ever seen on television it featured several brutally violent and brilliantly choreographed fight scenes one of them pitting Barry against a little girl amp160I know how that sounds amp160Surprisingly it was probably the funniest sequence I have seen in this series to dateamp160 I know how that sounds tooamp160 Trust me it played much better than it reads hereamp160 This stunning halfhour was written and directed by Hader making it a careerbest trifecta for himamp160 And it premiered right after The Longest Night the longawaited episode of Game of Thrones in which our heroes battled and conquered death itself amp8211 making it truly an exhaustive night for HBO viewersNo 17 amp8211 David Makes Man OWNItamp8217s hard to find the right words to describe OWNamp8217s most distinctive scripted series to date so letamp8217s go with something Ms Winfrey herself is quoted as saying in the press kit for the showamp160 amp8220It literally took my breath awayamp160 The whole piece is just one exalted beautiful intriguing penetrative poemamp160 Weamp8217re now doing poetry in scripted TVamp8221amp160 A lyrical trippy gritty comingofage story about a teen prodigy surviving life in Florida housing project David takes some time to get used to and even longer to fully understandamp160 But once it grabs you there is no turning away amp160Sixteenyearold Akili McDowell gives a breakthrough performance in the lead role amp160Created and written by Tarell Alvin McCraney who wrote the Academy Awardwinning drama Moonlight this quirky eccentric authentic gem didnamp8217t get nearly as much attention as it deserved when it premiered last August perhaps because it premiered in August but I have the feeling it is going to come around againamp160 With Oprah Winfrey and Michael B Jordan as executive producers how can it notNo 16 amp8211 South Park Comedy CentralIn its most recent season this longrunning animated marvel became something newamp160 A brandnew animated marvel titled Tegridy Farms with an opening image reminiscent of one of televisionamp8217s alltime greats the unapologetically goofy Green Acres amp160It was all in keeping with the reputation TVamp8217s most relentlessly relevant show has maintained for over 20 years showing and saying and challenging everything that everyone else is too timid or intimidated to point outamp160 Diving into the legalization of marijuana and the current cannabis craze with dispensaries that look like Apple stores popping up on every other block and new CBDinfused products appearing every other week the focus of South Park turned to Stanamp8217s father Randy who owns and operates his own cannabis empire with puts amp8220integrityamp8221 and pride of product above all elseamp160 His business associate stoner bath towel Towelie oversees quality controlamp160 Series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have made sure to keep other stories going and have ensured that Cartman and his pals remain at the center of the merry madness including the recently added PC babiesamp160 As South Park prepares to enter its fourth decade it continues to make clear that nothing is sacred and noone is safe from Parker and Stoneamp8217s ferociously fertile commentaries on current eventsNext upamp160 Programs 1511Click the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively 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Top 25 Programs of 2019, Part Two

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Ed Martin

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Top 25 Programs of 2019, Part Two

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