We love TV. You have to when you watch as much of it as we do. And one of the side effects of viewing an unhealthy amount of TV is you become evangelical about anything that stands out from the mind-numbing masses. So pardon us a moment while we get back up on our soapbox to reflect on the shows that impressed us most this year. We believe from the bottom of our hearts to the tips of our remote controls that if you give these TV treats a taste, you'll soon be hungry for more. (And if you disagree, tweet us at @YahooTV and let us know what's missing from our list!)Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"American Horror Story" β€” Storming out of the gates with a can't-look-away premiere, FX's giddily over-the-top horror/drama quickly marked its territory as one of the fall's most buzzed-about new shows. "Horror Story" combines dense mythology, scenery-chewing melodrama (thank you, Jessica Lange), and good old-fashioned scares into an irresistible bundle of crazy. Sure, it verges on the ridiculous at times; any show that teeters on the edge is bound to fall off once in a while. But it certainly got us talking, and we can't wait to see what's next for the Harmons and their house of horrors.FX - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Boardwalk Empire" β€” Season 1 drew us in; Season 2 blew us away. HBO's Prohibition-era gangster epic upped the ante in a big way with its sophomore run, dialing up the action while deepening the criminal underworld that surrounds blood rivals Nucky Thompson and Jimmy Darmody. The gorgeous cinematography and period detail make this the best-looking show on TV, and our jaws are still on the floor after the formidable one-two punch of the season's final two episodes. "Boardwalk" went out with a bang, that's for sure.HBO - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Breaking Bad" β€” By Season 4, most dramas have a hard time surprising viewers, but this year Bryan Cranston and crew proved as unpredictable as the junkies who smoke Heisenberg's ultra-pure meth. After kicking things off with a startling (and bloody) season premiere, the show shifted into low gear as Walt and Gus played a chess match that both knew would end badly. We watched on the edge of our seats as Jesse, the perfect pawn, slid back and forth across the table, ultimately falling for the checkmate move that revealed what a monster Walter White had become.AMC/Ben Leuner - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Downton Abbey" β€” Compared to the slam-bang action of "Breaking Bad" and "Game of Thrones," watching PBS's regal period drama feels like sipping a soothing cup of afternoon tea. But don't be fooled: There's serious conflict to be found here, whether it's among the Earl's headstrong daughters or the servants scheming downstairs. Julian Fellowes's whip-smart dialogue is a welcome antidote to a year overstuffed with brain-dead reality TV. Plus, in this jaded smartphone era, it's just fun to watch a family ooh and ahh over the installation of a telephone.Courtesy of Masterpiece - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Game of Thrones" β€” "They would never cancel 'Game of Thrones.' It's a crossover hit. It's not just for fantasy enthusiasts. They're telling human stories in a fantasy world," argued "Parks & Recreation" character Ben Wyatt. And he couldn't be more accurate. Included in every critic's Best Of list, HBO's epic drama "Game of Thrones" has done what no other fantasy show has done before: deliver on mass appeal. Intricate plotlines, dazzling production values, and impressive performances all add up to one of the year's finest, most brilliant television series and a totally satisfying one at that. We look forward to the return of "Game of Thrones" in April 2012 as the fight for the Iron Throne continues.HBO/Nick Briggs - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Happy Endings" β€” Initially dismissed as yet another wannabe "Friends" among many that debuted earlier this year, "Happy Endings" quickly became one of TV's most enjoyable comedies. The show's success can be credited to consistently witty writing and quick pacing, plus its wonderfully funny ensemble cast of characters -- a close-knit group of six stereotype-defying, zany, 30-something pals with undeniable chemistry and comedic chops. Week to week, we tune in to this gem of a comedy, secretly wishing our real-life friends were just as wacky and could make us laugh just as much.ABC/Craig Sjodin - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Homeland" β€” Intriguing from the start, this new Showtime thriller expertly managed to lay card after card on the table without ever diluting the show's central mystery. Damian Lewis played tortured POW Nicholas Brody with calm, steely detachment, while Claire Danes practically hit every note in the emotional spectrum in her wide-eyed portrayal of bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison. You don't need to be an intelligence analyst to know how this show's going to do at the Emmys.Showtime/Ronen Akerman - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Louie" β€” Louis C.K. toiled for years as a midlevel road comic before stumbling on the key to his current success: He got real. Dispensing with jokes for the sake of jokes, C.K. started telling stories based on his own life and innermost thoughts -- raw, revealing material that sometimes made him look like a jerk. Combining that same approach with near-unheard-of creative control (C.K. writes, directs, and edits each episode himself) has resulted in a show whose dark humor sometimes rings uncomfortably true -- and which looks and feels like nothing else on television.FX - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Parks and Recreation" β€” We want to thank the good people of Pawnee for delivering the finest calendar year of network comedy we can remember. From April and Andy's sweet impromptu wedding to Tom and Donna's "Treat Yoself!" spa day, "Parks and Rec" somehow manages to be funny without relying on easy gags, and heartwarming without descending into schmaltz. The cast's chemistry is flawless, the catchphrases are plentiful ("food rakes"!), and like another great Thursday night NBC comedy, "Parks" just feels like a place where everybody knows your name.NBC/Mitchell Haaseth - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

"Shameless" β€” Based on an award-winning British series bearing the same name, Showtime's "Shameless" is one of the year's breakout TV hits. The drama revolves around the dysfunctional Gallagher family led by an alcoholic patriarch (played by William H. Macy) who spends his days and nights drunk while his six children are left struggling to make ends meet in any way possible. "Shameless" boasts outstanding performances top to bottom, but especially by its cast of young actors including Emmy Rossum, Cameron Monaghan, and Jeremy Allen White. The characters are engaging and compelling and the gripping storylines range from hilarious to heartbreaking and everything inbetween. The Gallaghers may not be the perfect family, but their intoxicating tenacity makes you root for them every step of the way. β€œShameless” is a remarkable example of the right way to Americanize a British series.Showtime - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 1:21 AM

Honorable Mentions: "The Vampire Diaries" (complex characters, fast-paced plotting, and cliffhangers in every episode make this vampire series an addictive, must-see weekly adventure); "Awkard." (a true treat among other MTV fare, with hilariously raunchy dialogue and a leading lady we completely adore, Ashley Rickards as Jenna); "Modern Family" (an Emmy darling that hasn't been consistently funny this year, but is still one of the better half-hour comedies on television by far); "Revenge" (a fabulously campy and over-the-top primetime soap full of sex, lies, and murder -- a guilty pleasure that's actually really, really good).CW,MTV,ABC - Wednesday, December, 21, 2011, 2:21 AM

        New Winter Shows           Year In Review         Guide to Holiday TV  Saturday, December, 17, 2011, 1:17 AM