Vulture TV Awards 2014

Vulture is the entertainment arm of New York Magazine. It has some wonderful writers and a great daily recap of entertainment news. Over the past week, it has announced its Vulture TV Awards. There are some unexpected choices. There is also a fair amount of spoilers. If you don't want to spoil a show that you have not yet seen, open this post with caution.

Best Comedy Performer, Female: Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Shumer
— I understand that people love her and love her show. Her brand of humor is just not for me.

Best Comedy Performer, Male: H. Jon Benjamin, Bob’s Burgers and Archer
— This is an interesting choice as the work is voice only. I don’t watch either of these shows, so am unable to comment on how good the voice work is.

Best Teen Show: The Fosters
— I watched this show when it originally aired, but gave up on it when it became too melodramatic. To be fair, many critics talk about how the show has fixed its problems and become much stronger. For me, however, Twisted is the best teen show. Yes, it is melodramatic, but the acting and the story are wonderful.

Best Child Actor: Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones
— I no longer watch Game of Thrones, but when I did, this young girl never ceased to amaze me. She is truly talented.

Best Couple: Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, The Americans
— Agreed. The Jennings might not have the healthiest relationship, but it is certainly compelling to watch.

Best Drama Performer, Male: Matthew Rhys, The Americans
— Certainly one of the top character arcs of this season, Matthew Rhys played Philip Jennings as a man on the edge. Riveting stuff to watch.

Best Drama Performer, Female: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
— The reason I keep watching this show is Julianna Margulies’ performance. She imbues Alicia Florrick with strength and vulnerability, making choices that are not always the right ones. Her grief this season, as she lost the man she loves, was pitch perfect.

Best Directed Scene: “Are You All Right" Montage, True Detective
— Episode four of this show was game changing. Two scenes were memorable. The first was the famous six minute tracking shot through the housing project. The second was this one. I could be convinced that either was the scene of the year.

Best Episode: Mizumono, Hannibal
-- Another I cannot comment upon as I have not yet seen it. I have not read Heather's review as I don't want to spoil my viewing of the second season later this summer.

Best Villain: Walter White, Breaking Bad
-- This is a show I have yet to get into, but from everything I have read, Bryan Cranston deserves every ounce of praise heaped on him.

Best Death: Richard Harrow, Boardwalk Empire
-- Another show I stopped watching a while ago. Richard Harrow is played by Jack Huston. More than one critic has praised his work on this show.

Best Network: FX
-- Good choice. Some of the best shows on television (Justified, The Americans) play here. I believe it is a sign of things to come that the best is no longer on the Big Four.

Best Late Night Moment: The Colbert Report: Daft Punk'd
-- Rarely has a late night sketch gone so viral. And, for good reason. This was genius. Interestingly, TPTB have taken the video off Vimeo which is where I found it. Bad versions of it appear on YouTube.

Best Dressed Characters: Various
-- Here is the slideshow that Vulture put together of this year's best outfits. Not sure I agree with them all.

Best Dialogue: Sherlock
-- I have yet to watch this series, but certainly plenty of people think this is the best written show on television right now.

Best Comedy Sketch: Inside Amy Schumer: A Very Realistic Military Game
-- Not sure where the comedy is, but here you go.

Inside Amy Schumer
Get More: Comedy Central,Funny Videos,Funny TV Shows

Best Plot Twist: House of Cards, The Frank/Meechum Kiss
-- Although I have yet to review this episode, this scene was a stunner. I'm not sure it was the best of the year, but it was the best of this season of this show.

Best Comedy: Bob's Burgers
OK. I have never seen an episode of this, nor do I have any desire to. If you watch it, comment below on whether you agree with this choice.

Best Drama: Hannibal
-- I am only through part of the first season, but this is a show that never ceases to amaze. Is it the best? Maybe; maybe not. It's up there, however.

Most Disappointing Show: How I Met Your Mother, The Finale
Although I didn't think it was as bad as many others did, the finale of the show was a disappointment. It could have been done ever so much better. My biggest disappointment was Anna's rape on Downton Abbey. It almost ruined the show for me.

Best Show You Missed:
-- The editors couldn't decide on one show, so they picked ten. I don't agree with them, but I do about Masters of Sex. You still have time to catch up on the first season before the second kicks off in a couple of weeks.

Best New Show: Silicon Valley
-- This show speaks to many, but not to me. I really didn't like it. My favorite new show was easily Sleepy Hollow.

Best Music: True Detective
-- Certainly, the music was wonderful and added to the overall sense of time and place. This would be a hard category to judge as music adds quite a bit to many shows. Consider the theme song to Justified or the annual Kansas open to the Supernatural season finale.

ChrisB is a freelance writer who spends more time than she ought in front of a television screen or with a book in her hand.