Best and worst TV shows of 2011

NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service)

During the show’s ninth season, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon, leads a team for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service at their headquarters in the Washington Navy Yard solving crimes related to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. His personable team consists of Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), the senior field agent known for his ability to attract the ladies, Ziva David (Coté de Pablo), the tactical and independent Mossad agent who captivates men, and Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), the kind and sensitive MIT graduate and tech specialist. The uniquely charismatic team of special agents solves mysteries with a witty and unusual spin every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. on CBS. 3.5/5

Grey’s Anatomy

The world-renowned doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital manage to save lives while maintaining an exciting social life too in the eighth season of “Grey’s Anatomy.” With friends, siblings and couples all working at the same hospital, things can get very dramatic and relationships can get complex.
Doctor Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) is married to Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), older sister of Lexie Grey (Chyler Leigh) and best friend of Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh). Grey has also recently adopted a baby, Lola. Orthopedic surgeon Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) is the girlfriend of pediatric surgeon Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw). However, Torres recently had a baby with her best friend, plastic surgeon Mark Sloan (Eric Dane) and now the three have formed a parenting trio.
“Grey’s Anatomy” follows the doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital as they make scientific discoveries, experience disasters and learn life lessons from their patients and friends. The award-winning show airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC. 4/5

Fringe

Agent Olivia Dunham, played by Australian actress Anna Torv, investigates events that are out of this world, both metaphorically and literally in the fourth season of “Fringe.” She has seen things from shape shifters who mold themselves to look like others to bacteria that is able to control people’s minds. She struggles to keep peace between our universe and the nearly identical alternate universe, where there is a duplicate of everyone here, living slightly different lives.
With help from the adorable mad scientist, Walter Bishop (John Noble) Olivia is able to solve the scientific crimes and mysteries of our universe while she struggles to keep peace with the parallel universe. Walter’s son, Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson) has recently reappeared after being erased from time and is struggling to get back, only to find himself in a world where he never grew up and no one remembers him. To see if Peter is successful in his quest, tune in to FOX at 9 p.m. on Friday nights. 4/5

The Office

Despite the departure of lead Michael Scott (Steve Carell), The Office’s eighth season continues its brand of subtle, cringe-worthy humor. Dunder Mifflin’s idiosyncratic employees are under new management and have to deal with each other in various uncomfortable situations in each 30-minute episode. Jim and Pam (John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer) are expecting their second baby, Andy (Ed Helms) is slowly adjusting to the regional manager position and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) is ambitious as ever. The mockumentary, based on Ricky Gervais’ British comedy of the same name, follows the daily lives of these workers and catalogues their antics with deadpan wit. Scranton, Penn. isn’t nearly as boring as one would expect. Catch “The Office” on Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC. 4.5/5

Community

Greendale Community College is no ordinary school, especially when you have the dean, played by the fantastically fashionable Jim Rash, popping in with a new costume every day and a Spanish teacher living in the air vents. Follow cynical ex-lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) and his band of lovable misfits as they make their way through community college, getting caught up in whirlwinds of pop culture, romance and paintball along the way. From bottle-episodes to quick-witted, fast-paced dialogue, this show has it all. The group of seven originally met to study Spanish, but evolved into a closely knit family throughout the course of the show. “Community” will be finishing its third season in the spring, hopefully tying up some loose ends regarding the Britta-Jeff-Annie (Gillian Jacobs, McHale and Allison Brie) love triangle and throwing in some of Donald Glover and Danny Pudi’s Troy-and-Abed-in-the-Morning for good measure. Every action-packed 30-minute episode propels this oft-overlooked show to new heights. To find out if all dogs really are blue, make sure to watch “Community” at 8 p.m. on Thursdays on NBC. This timeslot may change when season three resumes. 5/5

Sherlock

Make way, “Doctor Who.” BBC has a new resident genius. The British mini-series, “Sherlock,” which follows the familiar adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson set in modern-day London, has gained an enormous and devoted fanbase both here and in the UK. Sherlock Holmes, portrayed by cold, cutting Benedict Cumberbatch, is up to his usual 221B Baker Street escapades but with a 21st century twist, complete with updated forensics, technology and characterizations.
The series puts a contemporary spin on a cherished story and stuns its audience with its clever wit, emotionally jarring episodes, stunning villains and breathtaking cinematography. “Sherlock” has just completed its second UK season (with a bang), and is projected to air a third in summer of 2013. Each season consists of three 90-minute episodes, each creating its own film-worthy story arc. To find the first three episodes of the series, go online to Netflix. If you aren’t willing to scour the Internet for the most recent episodes, you’ll have to wait until May for the U.S. airing on PBS. 5/5.

One Tree Hill

Brooke, Nathan, Haley and Quinn are back for One Tree Hill’s ninth and final season. While the show originally centered around a group of teenage students’ adventures with love and basketball, the later seasons focused on their adult lives and relationships. The melodrama escalated to heights previously thought impossible, with the near-deaths of Clay and Quinn in season seven.
Brooke and Julian go through the adoption process and encounter a few surprises of their own, and Haley and Nathan tackle the challenge of raising a toddler with another child on the way. Season 1-6 lead Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) will return for a guest appearance in the final episode to say goodbye to the rivercourt, where it all began, for the last time. “One Tree Hill” airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW Network. 3/5

How I Met Your Mother

It all started with a father telling his children the story of how he met their mother. Going back to his late 20s, Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) recounts the tale from the very beginning with his friend Marshall (Jason Segel), who marries aspiring artist Lily Aldrin. Legendary ladies’ man Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) accompanies Ted on his journey, and they are later joined by Barney’s love-interest Robin Scherbatsky. Each 30-minute episode features Ted searching for the woman of his dreams with the help of his four best friends. The series is narrated through flashbacks, and has covered approximately six years in-universe. The show’s eighth season has been confirmed, although it is rumored to be Segel’s last. To find out exactly how Ted meets his children’s mother, tune in to CBS on Mondays at 8 p.m. 4/5

The Big Bang Theory

Roommates and physicists Sheldon (Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) live across the hall from perky, blonde Penny (Kaley Cuoco), whose last name has never been revealed. Their lack of social skills coupled with Leonard’s innate awkwardness and Sheldon’s technobabble keep the show captivating, especially in contrast with Penny’s social prowess and general ditziness. “The Big Bang Theory” isn’t afraid to get technical, which Sheldon proves in nearly every 30-minute episode. The show has been renewed through 2014. Catch “The Big Bang Theory” on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. 3.5/5

Psych

James Roday writes and stars on “Psych” as crime consultant Shawn Spencer as the show enters its sixth season. By using his strong instincts and keen observatory skills, he convinces friend and foe that he uses psychic abilities to solve crimes. Shawn’s best friend and detective partner, Burton “Gus” Guster, is played by Dulé Hill. Together, they solve crimes (and sometimes battle) with members of the Santa Barbara Police Department, solving unlikely murders. Guest stars in the past have included John Cena, William Shatner, Tim Curry and the cast of “Twin Peaks.” The show is full of obscure ‘80s references and never-ending, bromantic witty banter. Episodes air at 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights on USA Network and will start airing again this summer. 3.5/5

Revenge

Amanda Clark (Emily VanCamp), who switched identities with her cellmate (Margarita Levieva) and is now known as Emily Thorne, has dedicated her life to getting revenge on the people who framed her father, David Clark, for treason in the first season of “Revenge.” Amanda, grew up as an orphan between foster homes and juvenile detention centers and learned the art of revenge. She then moves back to the Hamptons, where she grew up to take justice into her own hands. After building up her character and gaining trust and credibility in the community, Amanda takes every opportunity to make the lives of Victoria (Madeleine Stowe) and Conrad Grayson (Henry Czerny), the ones responsible for her father’s troubles, miserable She has involved herself with their son Daniel Grayson (Joshua Bowman) to gain access to the family. However, as time goes on, Amanda’s involvement deepens. Will she take things too far and ruin herself? To find out, tune into ABC on Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. 3/5

Modern Family

The Dunphys and the Pritchetts compose a diverse and entertaining family that reflects family life in today’s society in the third season of the award-winning “Modern Family.” All of the characters, from the loud Colombian Gloria (Sofia Vergara) and her prodigal and mature son Manny (Rico Rodriguez), to the dimwitted Phil (Ty Burrell) and the sometimes-foolish Haley (Sarah Hyland), have unique personalities and captivating dynamics that make for an always entertaining comedy. The 30-minute show follows the families as they encounter many situations and react in an original and funny style. With a new adventure every time, “Modern Family” provides original comedic material every Wednesday evening at 9 p.m. on ABC. 4/5

House

Based loosely on the Sherlock Holmes stories, “House” stars a misanthropic doctor, Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), who heads a diagnostic team at Princeton-Plainsboro hospital. House’s sharp wit and bitter sarcasm has kept his audience glued to the screen through each hour-long episode. Now that the show is on its eighth season, it seems that the writers have run out of ideas for far-fetched and convoluted medical mysteries (after all, it can’t be lupus). House has gone through multiple medical teams and relationships, and even his dynamic with his best friend, James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), is in jeopardy. After love-interest dean of medicine Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) left the show, “House” has lost much of its charm. While the first four seasons would have earned the show five stars, the quality has endured a steep downward spiral over the past few years. To see if the show can regain its former caliber, catch “House” on Monday nights at 8 on FOX. 2.5/5