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  3. 10 Best (and 5 Worst) TV Shows of 2012: Ken Tucker's Picks

10 Best (and 5 Worst) TV Shows of 2012: Ken Tucker's Picks

''Nashville,'' ''Girls,'' ''Louie'' make EW critic's Honor Roll; see his No. 1. Plus: This year's Hall of Shame

By Ken Tucker December 09, 2012 at 05:00 PM EST
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BEST 10. Nashville

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Credit: Chris Hollo/ABC

The best new show of the fall season, boldly soapy, seamlessly musical.

Read Ken's review of the series premiere.

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BEST 9. The Good Wife

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Credit: Jeffrey Neira/CBS

Even with the frustrating Kalinda's-husband subplot (we're irritated because we care!), this is network drama's best show, with the best use of guest stars.

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BEST 8. Justified

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Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX

The most hardboiled season yet, with an out-of-town hit-man giving Raylan his most formidable villain.

Read Ken's review of the season 3 premiere.

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BEST 7. Parks and Recreation

Beautifully unironic, carefully avoiding undue meanness, yet still gut-punchingly funny.
Credit: Tyler Golden/NBC

Beautifully unironic, carefully avoiding undue meanness, yet still gut-punchingly funny.

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BEST 6. The Colbert Report

The funniest and most devastating political humor in an election year.
Credit: Comedy Central

The funniest and most devastating political humor in an election year.

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BEST 5. Mad Men

Unbuttoning in the 1960s, with characters taking trips both geographical and chemical, making risky business and personal decisions. Read Ken's essay on Roger Sterling.
Credit: Ron Jaffe/AMC

Unbuttoning in the 1960s, with characters taking trips both geographical and chemical, making risky business and personal decisions.

Read Ken's essay on Roger Sterling.

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BEST 4. Girls

Girls | ''I didn't get into Girls watching week by week so I left after 3 episodes but after binge watching it, I am surprised to sayÂ…
Credit: HBO

The year's most impressive debut, and one of its most original sitcoms.

Read Ken's review of season 1.

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BEST 3. Louie

Expanding sitcom conventions with storylines that allowed for dramatic moments, quiet moments, crazy moments, sometimes all in one episode (see: Parker Posey).
Credit: FX

Expanding sitcom conventions with storylines that allowed for dramatic moments, quiet moments, crazy moments, sometimes all in one episode (see: Parker Posey).

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BEST 2. Breaking Bad

The half-season that paid off on Vince Gilligan's original conceit: ''Mr. Chips will turn into Scarface.'' Read Ken's review of season 5.
Credit: Lewis Jacobs/AMC

The half-season that paid off on Vince Gilligan's original conceit: ''Mr. Chips will turn into Scarface.''

Read Ken's review of season 5.

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BEST 1. Homeland

Super-tense, conventional-narrative-shattering, great acting from both Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Read Ken's review of the season 2 premiere. NEXT: Ken picks the worst TVÂ…
Credit: Kent Smith/Showtime

Super-tense, conventional-narrative-shattering, great acting from both Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.

Read Ken's review of the season 2 premiere.

NEXT: Ken picks the worst TV of 2012...

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WORST 5. Phillip Phillips wins American Idol

A fitting end to a lousy season; tedious judging, little suspense, a fine-grade sandpaper-voiced but unfortunately bland winner.
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

A fitting end to a lousy season; tedious judging, little suspense, a fine-grade sandpaper-voiced but unfortunately bland winner.

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WORST 4. House of Lies

How could a show with such a talented cast be so boring?
Credit: Jordin Althaus/Showtime

How could a show with such a talented cast be so boring?

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WORST 3. Anger Management

Charlie Sheen makes a triumphant return to TV! Well, no, let's just make that a ''return to TV.''
Credit: Greg Gayne/FX

Charlie Sheen makes a triumphant return to TV! Well, no, let's just make that a ''return to TV.''

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WORST 2. Animal Practice

Justin Kirk and Joanna Garcia-Swisher didn't deserve to be stuck in these tedious monkeyshines.
Credit: Neil Jacobs/NBC

Justin Kirk and Joanna Garcia-Swisher didn't deserve to be stuck in these tedious monkeyshines.

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WORST 1. Work It

Bosom Buddies without the fun — the year's most pointless new show.
Credit: Michael Ansell/ABC

Bosom Buddies without the fun — the year's most pointless new show.

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  • By Ken Tucker @kentucker

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 15 BEST 10. Nashville
    2 of 15 BEST 9. The Good Wife
    3 of 15 BEST 8. Justified
    4 of 15 BEST 7. Parks and Recreation
    5 of 15 BEST 6. The Colbert Report
    6 of 15 BEST 5. Mad Men
    7 of 15 BEST 4. Girls
    8 of 15 BEST 3. Louie
    9 of 15 BEST 2. Breaking Bad
    10 of 15 BEST 1. Homeland
    11 of 15 WORST 5. Phillip Phillips wins American Idol
    12 of 15 WORST 4. House of Lies
    13 of 15 WORST 3. Anger Management
    14 of 15 WORST 2. Animal Practice
    15 of 15 WORST 1. Work It

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    10 Best (and 5 Worst) TV Shows of 2012: Ken Tucker's Picks
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