The American Film Institute thinks it’s been a great year for new TV shows. (And we agree.)
Six freshman series — including NBC’s fall hit This Is Us — made the AFI’s annual list of the year’s ten best TV shows, released on Thursday. Other new shows honored: FX’s experimental hip-hop comedy Atlanta and courtroom biopic The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story; Netflix’s sci-fi thriller Stranger Things and British monarchy drama The Crown; and HBO’s bleak legal drama The Night Of.
Four veteran shows also made the AFI’s top ten: FX’s Cold War drama The Americans; AMC’s Breaking Bad spinoff Better Call Saul; and HBO’s perennial Emmy-winners Game of Thrones and Veep. (The Americans, Saul and Thrones all made AFI’s list last year as well.)
The AFI also bestowed a “Special Award” on ESPN’s sprawling O.J. Simpson documentary, O.J.: Made in America.
“Year after year, we are reminded of the power of artists to bring us together as one,” AFI president and CEO Bob Gazzale said in a statement. “AFI Awards is proud to recognize the achievements of the storytelling teams who have enlightened and informed us, guided and inspired us and ultimately invited us to empathize with others in a reminder of our common humanity.”
Was Westworld eligible?
This is Us is my favorite new show of 2016 but The Crown is a very close second – just loved it.