Blue Glow TV Awards: Todd Van Der Werff

Topics: Best of 2012, 2012 Blue Glow TV Awards,

Blue Glow TV Awards: Todd Van Der Werff

Todd Van Der Werff is the TV critic at the AV Club.

Todd’s top 5 (“I hope you know how awful this is to submit without having seen whether the “Homeland” finale saves/tanks that show’s whole season.”):

1. “Mad Men” (AMC)
2. “Louie” (FX)
3. “Girls” (HBO)
4. “Homeland” (Showtime)
5. “Rev.” (BBC)

Special Categories:

1. What was the show of the year? “Mad Men.” The series of episodes in the middle of the season may be the best stretch of television in a long, long while and certainly since the glory days when HBO had “The Sopranos,” “The Wire” and “Deadwood” all on the air.

2. What was the best scene? Carrie and Brody face down across the interrogation table in “Homeland’s” “Q&A.” It’s rare to have two actors playing at this high a level on TV, but “Homeland’s” endlessly watchable, intensely problematic, wildly entertaining second season wouldn’t have worked without Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, and this scene shows why. (And “Homeland” even has one in the chamber with Mandy Patinkin. It’s an embarrassment of riches, even when it’s embarrassing.)

3. Best performance of the year? There’s a lot of great acting on TV, but I think I’m going to go with Monica Potter on “Parenthood,” who’s taking what should be a horribly clichéd arc for a character who can be hard to like, giving that character cancer, and making it heartbreakingly real.

4. What was the funniest joke or line? I think any time ”New Girl” lets Jake Johnson rant at somebody, it’s hilarious, but the show’s funniest joke ended up not even being delivered by him, as Lamorne Morris’ Winston reads the zombie novel written by Johnson’s character, Nick, aloud.

5. Which series best evoked life in 2012? I’ve been hard on “30 Rock” in the past, particularly in its listless fourth season, but it’s had a wonderful comeback year, and part of that has stemmed from having its finger firmly on the pulse of who we are right now.

6. And the personality of the year goes to … As long as this category exists, I’m probably going to pick Craig Ferguson, who does the only late-night show I watch at all consistently.

* * *

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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