TVOvermind is back with another article featuring awards (some good and some bad, but all entertaining) for the series’ that were featured during the 2014-2015 TV season. You may have read the previous article that included the “Hottest Cast,” “Surprise Pregnancies,” and “Unsurprising TV Show Cancellations,” but if you have not, it can be viewed by clicking here. This week I decided to dig deeper into the 2014-2015 TV season and recognize the best and worst new series, best and worst season finales, and even an accolade for the best new series to feature a 90s’ heartthrob. Did your favorite TV show make the list? You won’t know unless you read below. Check out part two of my picks for the 2014-2015 TV Season Awards:
Best New Series: How to Get Away With Murder
Shonda Rhimes can do no wrong lately. Her first series Grey’s Anatomy just ended its 11th season, while her other drama Scandal just concluded its fourth season. The latest series Rhimes produced (she didn’t create this one) for the 2014-2015 TV season was How to Get Away With Murder, starring Viola Davis as defense attorney Annalise Keating. The drama was a ratings success, averaging 10 million viewers each week, and the finale let viewers know who actually killed Lila Stangard. The series received an AFI, GLAAD, and an NAACP Image Award.
Worst New Series: One Big Happy
I was really hoping NBC was going to get lucky with a hilarious new comedy during the 2014-2015 TV season, especially after Bad Judge and A to Z turned out to be duds. One Big Happy looked like it had potential to become a worthy replacement for Parks and Recreation, which ended this year. The comedy was executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres and starred Elisha Cuthbert and Nick Zano. I tuned into the pilot episode and couldn’t tolerate watching any other future outings. It ended at the conclusion of its six-episode freshman run.
Best Season Premiere: Chicago Fire
It was not certain who had survived the fire that had trapped many of the Firehouse 51 team at the conclusion of the second season of Chicago Fire. When the series returned for a third season during the 2014-2015 TV season, it was clear that not everyone was going to make it out of the wreckage alive. Paramedic Leslie Shay would be killed after switching spots with Gabrielle Dawson while they tended to a victim. The entire episode focused on Shay’s death and how it affected her friends and co-workers. It was a very powerful way to start an awesome year of television.
Best Season Finale: Parks and Recreation
Not only was this the last episode of the 2014-2015 TV season for Parks and Recreation, but it was also the last episode ever for the beloved NBC comedy. After seven seasons, the Parks Department workers from Pawnee, Indiana said goodbye in a heart-warming episode that made sure that Leslie Knope, Andy Dwyer, April Ludgate and the rest of the gang all got their happy endings. Even Jerry got a proper sendoff after years of being made fun of by his co-workers. If you have not already watched this sure to be classic episode, you need to go “Treat Yo Self.”
Worst Season Finale: Modern Family
Modern Family has been named the Best Comedy at the Emmys for the last five years. However, this may not be the case after the atrocious 2014-2015 TV season. Modern Family lost some its luster it had from season’s prior, but it is still better than a lot of the shows currently on TV today. Sadly, the last episode of the series’ sixth season did not feature any surprise moments that season finales tend to include in the storyline. The only new development was Phil finding out that Hayley likes Andy and vice versa. It is a story that viewers wish would be done already. Maybe next season…
Best New Series to Feature a 90s’ Heartthrob: Secrets and Lies
Some young men that made women swoon in the 1990s were back on TV for the 2014-2015 season in new series’ that were successful and awarded second seasons. There was James Van Der Beek on CSI: Cyber, Joshua Jackson on The Affair, and Ryan Phillippe on Secrets and Lies. The latter takes the award as being the best new show to feature a 90s’ heartthrob. All of the secrets and lies that the Crawford family kept finally came to a head when it was revealed that Ben’s daughter had murdered her half-brother and proved that even a child can be a cold-blooded killer.
Favorite TV Family: The Goldbergs
There were many family sitcoms on the 2014-2015 TV season, including Modern Family, The Middle, and Black-ish. However, none of these families holds a candle to the Goldberg family on The Goldbergs. Murray is the father who would rather watch TV in his underwear and leaves the parenting to Beverly, who prefers to smother her three children more than any parent ever should. This season of The Goldbergs featured the awesome episode “Barry Goldberg’s Day Off” and the brand new hit song “Love Ninja,” that I am sure you are singing as you read this sentence. The Goldbergs shows us how awesome the 80s really were and makes me laugh while doing it.
Comedy That Got A Little Too Real: Mom
People will watch comedies to not only make them laugh, but to also escape from the real world. It is 22 minutes that someone does not need to think, but just watch hilarious TV. At times, these comedies will focus on real world issues and instead of laughing for the entire program, you may also be shedding a tear or two. That was the case with the second season of Mom. The comedy killed off Christy’s dad shortly after they reconnected, and then we watched Bonnie become addicted to prescription pills and begin a downward spiral. No matter how real this comedy gets, we will still continue to watch.
What was your favorite TV show that aired during the 2014-2015 TV season? Let us know in the comments section below.
Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards
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