Continuing with this year's list of television's best … including a treat from Instagram!
Young Sheldon / Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage (CBS) -- This year saw the end of Young Sheldon, a smart show that never really received the critical support it deserved, and the launch of its spin-off, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage(pictured at top), which via full-time status or guest appearances continues the adventures of almost all of the characters from Sheldon, except for Sheldon himself (who is away at school) and, of course, Sheldon, Georgie and Missy's dad George, who passed away as Sheldon concluded. (Those guest appearances by Jim Parsons as adult Sheldon and Mayim Bialik as his wife Amy at the end of Sheldon were a stroke of genius, by the way.) Georgie is a winner, too. The expertly written end of Sheldon chronicled how an average early-90s working-class family dealt with the sudden death of their husband and father and the grieving that followed. Georgie, to the credit of all involved, continues to do the same. Hats off to Montana Jordan, the winning young actor who plays Georgie, for his ingratiating performance as a goofy 19-year-old who is learning what adulting is all about. He's a new husband and new father managing a new full-time job while also dealing with unexpected jolts of grief following the loss of his dad. Emily Osment, as Mandy, is pretty darn great, too. Dare I add that they make a sexy couple? There aren't many of those on broadcast TV these days.
Adventures of Ghostie (Instagram) -- In general I don't keep up with children's programming. (That includes Bluey. Sorry, kids.) But I am captivated by the short stop-motion animated adventures of the adorable Ghostie and his friends. As his bio reads, this social media gem is all about "Chronicling the adventures of a little ghost living in a pumpkin house and doing some very cozy things." Seriously, it's relentlessly charming. If I were a smart executive at a network or streaming service, I would contact the creators of Ghostie (pictured above) and inquire about the rights. Then I would build it into a hit children's TV series or a series of inevitably popular seasonal specials and crank up the merch machine.
Ghosts (CBS) -- Staying with the ghost thing, CBS' stunningly original comedy Ghosts didn't skip a beat in its third season, and its fourth is off to a fine start, as well. The characters continue to be developed as individuals, and in various group dynamics. I loved the first season, but I thought the concept might get stale after a year or two. Nope. The cast seems to be having as much fun now as it did then. It remains a pleasant, consistently funny watch, punctuated by moments of human drama that are profound but never overdone, and it is always life-affirming, even though most of its characters are dead.
Somebody Somewhere (HBO) -- This quietly profound dramedy wasn't for everybody, even though it spun stories out of universal challenges shared by everyone -- managing grief, navigating friendships, reconciling the past with the present while figuring out the future and, once identified, living an authentic life regardless of external influences. Critics everywhere seemed to emotionally bond with the characters and their stories, with many weeping over their keyboards when writing about the recent (and perfect) series finale. Star and executive producer Bridget Everett was unforgettable as a middle-age woman who returns to her hometown in Kansas to care for her dying sister, remains there after she passes, and keeps on carrying on … with unexpected results. Now that Somebody has completed its run it's going to make a great three-season binge.
The Diplomat (Netflix) -- The television landscape is loaded with political thrillers, but they don't come better than this one. Keri Russell as the title character and Rufus Sewell as her ambitious husband continued to pull no punches in season two, while Allison Janney added fresh drama as steely Vice President Grace Penn (who had an agenda of her own). No spoilers here, but season three promises to be another blast.
To be continued ...