So we're almost halfway through 2023 (I KNOW) and for those looking for TV to watch, here is my Top 20 as it stands on May 22nd, organized not in order of favorites but by streaming network.
I'm as surprised as you are that the lead network is probably Peacock, which also has Girls5Eva, Killing It, Rutherford Falls, and AP Bio, all comedies I recommend.
Peacock
Poker Face (Rian Johnson. Natasha Lyonne. A stacked cast of guest stars. Maybe the best new show of 2023. All episodes available, but thankfully there's a season 2 coming)
Quantum Leap (I've never seen a full episode of the original, but this continuation of the continuity with new characters is so much better than it has any right to be. Clever, often funny, often touching, with solid mythology and really excellently written episodes of the week)
Mrs. Davis (Damon Lindelof's next iteration of fatih vs. science, featuring an omnipresent AI, a magician's assistant-turned-nun, and so much ridiculousness. A love it or hate it show, and I love it)
Bupkis (Curb Your Enthusiasm style fake autobio with Pete Davidson, really funny and out there)
Apple+
Ted Lasso (3 seasons, best show on TV, about to be complete in a couple weeks)
Shrinking (Another contender for best new show of 2023, first season all available, from several creators of Ted Lasso, and Harrison Ford is delightful in this)
HBO Max
Barry (4 seasons, among the best shows on TV, about to be complete in 1 week)
Last of Us (1 of 2 seasons done, it's gonna be a long wait for season 2, this is grim but also kinda uplifting at points, like Walking Dead if it were 100 times better and less interested in spinning its wheels and torture porn)
White House Plumbers (Mini-series about the Watergate burglary, especially notable for Justin Theroux's delightful portrayal of G. Gordon Liddy as a total boob)
Prime
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (4 seasons, about to be complete in a few weeks, looks like it's gonna stick the landing, some of the best banter on TV)
Primo (Perfect first season of a sitcom, sweet and very funny, shows the fingerprints of producers Mike Schur and Morgan Sackett (The Good Place) but is based on the life of and written/showrun by Shea Serrano)
Disney+
The Mandalorian (Seems to have fallen into love it or hate it territory, I still love it. If you loved Clone Wars, Rebels, and Bad Batch, I suspect this will be up your alley as well)
Star Wars Bad Batch (Speaking of... A-Team in the post-Order 66 Star Wars universe is fantastic)
Hulu
The Great (Season 3 of the darkly funny, surprisingly horny, only slightly based on true events story of Catherine the Great)
Grand Crew (A really delightful ensemble cast in a comedy about friends hanging out in a wine bar and living life in LA..)
Paramount+
Ghosts (2 seasons in, this American remake of a British comedy is a delight, with great characters and expanding world-building, and features Rose McIver in the lead)
Star Trek Picard (After an uneven first couple seasons, the third season is basically a new finale and victory lap for the returned Star Trek Next Generation crew, and if you have any nostalgia for TNG, you'll want to watch this)
STARZ
Party Down (The reason to have STARZ, an impressive cast returning to a show made before they were all quite as famous, outrageously funny, if all returns were as good as this, I'd be less skeptical of them. Get STARZ for a week and watch the whole series)
I'm waiting to binge all of Mayor of Kingstown and Yellowjackets, both of which likely would be on this top 20.
