SEASON IN REVIEW: Unscripted and Other Honors

The 2010-2011 season is officially over. Over the last two days, I looked at the best (and worst!) in new comedies and dramas and today I will give a few other miscellaneous awards. Enjoy!

BEST UNSCRIPTED SERIES

The Voice (NBC) - NBC's newest addition to the entertainment competitions has brought a new twist on a frequently used format. For the audition rounds, it was a "blind" audition as the coaches had their backs to the contestants. It's too bad that only lasted two weeks though because it was so enjoyable and interesting. The battle rounds have been fun too and the coaches are top notch. This show feels fresh and new and has been a much needed hit for NBC. It's well deserved and when they iron out the kinks for season 2 next winter, it could be a real force to be reckoned with.

Runners-Up
Million Dollar Money Drop (FOX) - FOX's new game show where contestants start with a million dollars and then slowly lose it wasn't anything special but it was a guilty pleasure. It had high drama and a mix of contestants to root for and annoying contestants to root against. It was a typical game show but it was fun.
Live to Dance (CBS) - Paula Abdul's failed dance show finished as a runner-up due to the lack of better competition. Some of the performers were quite good but that's about it as it was too produced to feel real and earnest.

BEST UNSCRIPTED PERSONALITY

Adam Levine, The Voice (NBC) - The Voice has a great slate of coaches but Maroon 5's Adam Levine is the best of the bunch. His coaching is good, his advice is solid and educated, and he's quite funny. You can tell that he actually cares a whole lot about what he's doing and it's nice to see a rock star putting in the effort which didn't always happen with Steven Tyler on American Idol this season.

Runners-Up
Christina Aguilera, The Voice (NBC) - Another great addition to the voice was pop diva Christina Aguilera. She had gone through a rough winter while flubbing the Super Bowl's national anthem, falling at the Grammys, and an arrest. But she has worked her way back into the public's favor by doing a great job as an excited and sweet coach on The Voice.
Cee Lo Green, The Voice (NBC) - Yes, another coach from The Voice is here and honestly the fourth judge Blake Shelton wasn't far behind. Cee Lo is eccentric in many ways but he fits perfectly with the great coaching panel and, like the others, gives sound advice to the talented singers.

BEST RETURNING SERIES

Parks and Recreation (NBC) - There weren't many great new comedies but there were many great returning comedies. But this one was without a doubt the most consistent in quality and humor this season. The residents of Pawnee, Indiana have become a welcome group on my TV each and every week. Every single cast member of this ensemble is solid and the additions of Adam Scott and especially Rob Lowe have only made them stronger. More people should watch this great great show.

Runners-Up
Modern Family (ABC) - How could a comedy top its freshman season where it won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series? By delivering an even-better second season. The cast jelled from the pilot but jelled even more this season. This show has many more great years ahead of it and many more stories to tell.
The Middle (ABC) - ABC's other Wednesday family sitcom is sadly underrated because it is such a quality show. The situations are so simple and yet so relatable. The cast is top notch and the show seemed to tighten some loose screws in its second season. I can't wait to see what happens next.

BEST THEME SONG FOR A NEW SERIES

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) - Okay so this may be cheating a bit but CBS's intense reboot of the classic 1970s series also gave an intense reboot to the theme song. It wouldn't be Hawaii Five-0 without the classic theme song and the new version didn't disappoint. I didn't watch the show every week but when I did, I kept wishing the show lived up to the excitement of the music.

Runners-Up
Better With You (ABC) - It would be nice to see more sitcoms use classic-style theme songs like this one did. It was able to have a nice little song with each cast member given a billing. It is a huge travesty that most shows bypass a full theme song, I'm glad this one didn't.
Blue Bloods (CBS) - CBS's new cop drama has a song that fits the show perfectly. I can't really explain it, it just fits. Watch an episode and listen to the theme song, you'll see what I mean.