In 2012, you may have entered an asylum run by deranged nuns and encountered a blood-thirsty psychiatrist, or maybe you became a family member of the new normal gang, or perhaps you shed blood upon the sands of ancient Rome.  Maybe you prepared delicious dishes, or designed exquisite clothes – or maybe, just maybe, you sang your heart out to see if you were the voice.  Then again, maybe you identified with the crime dramas, or tripped into a science fiction realm where modern technology ceases to exist.  Perhaps you’ve even battled in the courtrooms, where you wrestled DA’s during the day before taking on alligators at night.  Or perhaps your life was a little more subdued and you watched as a group of geriatrics prank young people while Joseph Gordon-Levitt shed his clothing on late night.  Whatever your fancies were in 2012, television had a lot to offer.  But with those offers came the heart-break of cancellation (Harry’s Law), or death, or maybe even the joys of love (Covert Affairs) and new additions.  So without any further hesitation, here are my selection for the Best Television of 2012:

Dramatic Television Series:  American Horror Story – Asylum (FX)

2011 Winner:  Covert Affairs (USA)

Television Series Comedy:  The New Normal (NBC)

2011 Winner:  Harry’s Law (NBC)

Sci-Fi Television Series:  Revolution (NBC)

2011 Winner:  American Horror Story (FX)

Reality Competition:  The Next Iron Chef (Food Network)

2011 Winner:  WWE Tough Enough (USA)

Animated Series:  Electric City (Web Series)

2011 Winner:  The Simpsons (FOX)

Talk Show:  Oprah’s Next Chapter (OWN)

2011 Winner:  Ellen (NBC)

Reality Television Series:  Gator Boys (Animal Planet)

2011 Winner:  Deadly 60 (Nat. Geo. Wild)

Reality Television Personality:  Paul Bedard – Gator Boys (Animal Planet)

2011 Winner:  Steve Backshall – Deadly 60 (Nat. Geo. Wild)

Actor in a Supporting Role:  John Gallagher – The Newsroom (HBO)

2011 Winner:  Manu Bennett – Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Starz)

Actress in a Supporting Role:  Lily Rabe – American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)

2011 Winner:  Jessica Lange – American Horror Story (FX)

Actor in a Leading Role:  Justin Bartha – The New Normal (NBC)

2011 Winner:  Dylan McDermott – American Horror Story (FX)

Actress in a Leading Role: Jessica Lange – American Horror Story: Asylum (FX)

2011 Winner:  Kathy Bates – Harry’s Law (NBC)

Guest Star in a Television Series:  Patricia Arquette – Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

2011 Winner:  Andy Whitfield – Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Starz)

There they are – my television cream of the crop.  BEST OF FILM nominees coming Sunday, January 13 (one of my favorite BEST OF lists!).  Until then, ciao, ciao for now!

-Bobby-james