9-1-1 (FOX) - Since this was a Ryan Murphy show, I was pretty skeptical of 9-1-1 despite the stellar cast. Aside from The People vs. OJ Simpson, I typically find Murphy's stuff over the top. Well, 9-1-1 was over the top but in the best way possible. It was a procedural drama but with the Murphy flairs and it shockingly worked extremely well. The superstar cast helped things a great deal but the cases, based on true stories, were gripping even if they were incredibly creepy or disturbing at times. The home lives of the characters were interesting too without getting too sappy or soapy. This was a show I found myself really excited to watch every week.
RUNNER-UP: Deception (ABC) - I don't think Deception was a great show by any means, but I really loved it and I was sad to see it cancelled. Maybe it's a guilty pleasure because I like magic and I like crime solving shows. So I was the target audience. Clearly there's not enough people like me out there.
Worth Mentioning: The Good Doctor (ABC)/Rise (NBC)
Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor (ABC) - The Good Doctor would be just another medical show on TV if it wasn't for Freddie Highmore. As Dr. Shaun Murphy, a brilliant doctor on the autism spectrum, Highmore gives a fascinating performance. Coming from someone who has worked with children on the spectrum, he really had the mannerisms, inflections, and anxieties down. The show became so much more than a procedural medical drama because it had this fascinating character to center things around. Also, coming off of Norman Bates, it was nice to see Highmore playing a better person.
RUNNER-UP: Jack Cutmore-Scott, Deception (ABC) - Playing both famed magician Cameron Black and his twin brother, Jonathan, Jack Cutmore-Scott was very entertaining with the right mix of arrogance and humor. Though I liked his Cameron portrayal more than Jonathan, both were entertaining and I'm once again lamenting the quick demise of Deception.
Worth Mentioning: Peter Krause, 9-1-1 (ABC)/Alan Cumming, Instinct (CBS)
BEST LEAD ACTRESS IN A NEW DRAMAAngela Bassett, 9-1-1 (FOX) - In only her second network TV show, Angela Bassett brought a level of gravitas to the drama. As LAPD Patrol Sergeant Athena Grant, Bassett was at times hilariously sarcastic and at other times very vulnerable. Whether dealing with a crazed criminal or dealing with the grief over her husband coming out of the closet and her marriage dissolving, Bassett was believable in everything. Even with a stellar cast across the board, I found myself almost always enjoying Bassett's storylines the most.
RUNNER-UP: Retta, Good Girls (NBC) - I didn't love Good Girls, but the trio of actresses at the center of it kept me watching season one. It was a close call, but my favorite of the three was Retta, who delivered the most comedy in a show that was tonally uneven at times.
Worth Mentioning: Christina Hendricks, Good Girls (NBC)/Lucy Hale, Life Sentence (CW)
Oliver Stark, 9-1-1 (FOX) - Everything about Oliver Stark's character "Buck" in 9-1-1 should be something I hate. As an overgrown man-child, he seems like a character that audiences would love to hate. But due to Stark's performance and probably the writing as well, he came across as a much more layered character than he would be in other similar dramas. In particular, his relationship with Connie Britton's Abby Clark was surprisingly touching. Stark took a type and turned him into a full fledged character.
RUNNER-UP: Joe Tippett, Rise (NBC) - As football coach Sam Strickland, Joe Tippett was supposed to be somewhat of an antagonist in Rise. But Tippett gave a great performance that he actually seemed more endearing at times than the mopey Josh Radnor in the lead role. Not that I would ever advocate for sports to take precedence over drama!
Worth Mentioning: Richard Schiff, The Good Doctor (ABC)/Kenneth Choi, 9-1-1 (FOX)
Rosie Perez, Rise (NBC) - Rise was a very flawed show in many ways, but the absolute best part of it (besides the source material) was Rosie Perez as assistant director Tracey Wolfe. The perfect foil for Josh Radnor's Lou Mazzuchelli, Perez was by far more endearing. Even though she was supposed to sometimes be in the wrong, I was pretty much almost rooting for her. That might be partly the fault of the other performances and writing, but it's also a testament to the very natural and strong performance from Perez.
RUNNER-UP: Connie Britton, 9-1-1 (FOX) - Joining the drama for only one year in a somewhat isolated role, I am always happy to see Connie Britton on my TV and this was no exception. With a strong performance as both 9-1-1 operator Abby Clark and a grieving daughter with an ailing mother, Britton brought her usual flair and strength.
Worth Mentioning: Britt Robertson, For the People (ABC)/Aisha Hinds, 9-1-1 (FOX)
WORST NEW DRAMAMarvel's Inhumans (ABC) - Even if it was brilliant, this was never going to be a show for me. I'm not a Marvel fan or a fan of shows like this. But that being said, most Marvel fans didn't even like this one. It was laughably bad as far as CGI graphics, the acting was one dimensional, and the writing was confusing and silly. I couldn't even make it through the two hour premiere, I had to give up after one hour and I never looked back. It's clear from how ABC scheduled this show that they had a dud on their hands. I doubt it will, but if it means less Marvel shows on TV, I'm totally fine with that.
RUNNER-UP: The Orville (FOX) - Seth MacFarlane's vanity project struggled with its tone in the series premiere. Was it a spoof or a serious sci-fi show? I never gave it another chance and even if it was better, it was never going to be a show I was interested in.
Worth Mentioning: The Brave (NBC)/Dynasty (CW)
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