In embedded tweet form! Take it away Paddy-boy…
17. Girls
Brilliant return to form over the final two seasons for this zeitgeisty comedy of fluctuating consistency. The final narrative arc showcasing Hannah's burgeoning acceptance of adulthood was perfectly realised, and Riz Ahmed is always terrific. "I won" was a great line.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
16. Survivor: Game Changers + Heroes vs Hustlers vs Healers
HHH was a dud for the first half of the season tho it manfully recovered while I can't remember anything about GC, except that I was consistently excited to get home Thursday nights and fire up my streaming machine.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
15. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
I've been an Andre Braugher fan since the glory days of Homicide: Life On The Street and Andy Samberg is great in everything. The bisexuality storyline was a delightful twist brimming with verisimilitude and pathos.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
14. Please Like Me
Perhaps the greatest Australian scripted comedy of all time, I bingewatched Josh Thomas' masterpiece over the last summer hols. Loved the focus on food, family and failings. Heartbreaking denouement.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
13. Offsiders + Insiders + Gruen
Three ABC panel shows that provided tremendous entertainment, mirth, insight and, in the case of the Sunday morn duet, hangover relief. Gruen especially is a quintessential example of a basically simple premise executed magnificently.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
12. The Handmaid's Tale
I love Elisabeth Moss, I love Margaret Atwood and if I squint while watching, it's like Commander Fred is played by Ralph Feinnes, who I also love. We all know how good this was, deserves all the awards, go watch it.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
11. Master Of None
Aziz Ansari has become a true auteur who muddles technique, playing with the very concept of what is TV for his exploration of minority dating life in Trump's America. A triumphant return, worth savouring repeatedly, if only for the Thanksgiving chapter.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
10. Veep
Hilarity at every contrivance! What started as a parody of politicians' base hypocrisy morphed into a documentary of America's crazy clime, all while never abandoning its absurdist roots. JLD might just be the funniest actperson of all time. And then there's Hugh!
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
9. Big Little Lies
Our Nic had a brilliant year and all it started with BLL. Genuine prestige TV looping hot button issues into a brutal, human and occasionally hilarious mystery. That scene of NK with the marriage counsellor will live with me for a long time.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
8. Difficult People
In an age of comedies in theory, DP dares to actually be funny! Props for Arthur Tack's revolving urbane dictionary of pet names and all the bantz at the Cafe de Inclusivity. Sad to see it go but I know Julie Klausner will be back with more hot takes!
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
7. Modern Family
I watch this show a lot at the gym, while riding a stationary bike, often raising the mirth of fellow gym junkies with my constant guffaws. The kids have grown up but the incisive portrayal of middle class America hasn't faded with age.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
6. Dear White People
The frat house episode was the most powerful piece of TV this year.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
5. Stranger Things
An improvement on ST's breakout debut, the uninspiring new characters were more than up for by an improved storyline, Jurassic Parkiness, Sean Astin's demise (spoilers!), the Ghostbusters singalong and, of course, more Winona! I quite liked the warehouse ep.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
4. 13 Reasons Why
Deeply flawed but oddly compelling, 13RW gets props for being genuine watercooler TV in an era of everyone making visual memes to share on hate generators. Many conversations were started, and while I disagree with some of the production choices, 13RW won out.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
3. Last Show Tonight With John Oliver, Seth Meyers & Stephen Colbert
I'm kinda cheating here to get them all in. These three comedy geniuses and their capacious crews constantly get the job done making sense of this crazy world we live in. Colbert reading Trump's tweets is A1.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
2. Jeopardy!
Nothing beats getting up early for a lazy 10k then settling in for 61 As and Qs with a toasted bagel and a large long black. We get J! a year behind the US so it has been fascinating watching a quiz show come to terms with Trump's campaign, 12 months removed.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
Shows that just missed out on my Top 17 TV in 2017: South Park, Game Of Thrones, Red Oaks, Broad City, Sherlock, You Me Her, Santa Clarita Diet, Love, Atypical, Alias Grace, Search Party, Mindhunter, Friends From College & Ozark.
My next tweet will reveal the #1 TV of 2017…
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
1. BoJack Horseman
My #1 show three out of the past four years, BJHM came back stronger, darker and funnier than ever, tackling meaty subjects like institutionalised misogyny, memory fallibility, profound grief and the difference b/w a manager and an agent with awesome alacrity.
— Patrick Avenelllllllllll (@Patrickavenell) December 23, 2017
