AFT Awards: Best Comedy Series

This is the twentieth and final category of the 8th Annual AFT Television Awards, my personal choices for the best in television during the 2013-2014 seasons. Finalists and semi-finalists are included to recognize more of the impressive work done on television today. Nominees are pictured in the order I’ve ranked them.

Best Comedy Series

Last year’s nominees: Episodes, New Girl, Parks and Recreation, Shameless, Veep

Emmy nominees: The Big Bang Theory, Girls, Louie, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Veep

Semi-finalists: House of Lies, Modern Family, New Girl

Finalists: Family Tree had the stylings of a British comedy but a tone and premise all its own. Eastbound and Down signed off with its second final season, staying true to the incomparable Kenny Powers and his unique legacy. Wilfred got weirder and more depressing as its events became even more muddled in uncertainty. Silicon Valley took a bit of time to get comfortable but ended up being one of the most current and promising comedies. Welcome to the Family got a paltry three episodes but made the most of them – I just wish we’d seen more of this NBC comedy.

The nominees:

Veep tackled a new storyline – a campaign – and handled it with true hilarity the whole way. Episodes introduced a new element into its already frantic world to tremendous satirical effect. Orange is the New Black catapulted Netflix to comedy relevance with this occasionally hilarious, occasionally devastating hourlong dramedy. Hello Ladies was a perfectly British comedy that should have lasted more than just one short season.

The winner:

Parks and Recreation didn’t fade at all in its very funny sixth season, which expanded its universe and gave its characters even more fun and ridiculous things to do.

Next up: That’s a wrap! The Oscar race is getting started, so stick around here for pilot reviews and head over to MoviesWithAbe.com for everything on movies!