Year in Review: Robert Lloyd’s top new TV for 2011

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Thirteen favorite things new to TV in 2011, in 10 entries.

‘Enlightened’ (HBO): Mike White and Laura Dern’s numinous, luminous comedy on the difficulties of spiritual reform.

‘Portlandia’ (IFC): Site-specific countercultural sketch show, from an “SNL” stalwart and an alt-rock rock star, examines the attitudes of doing right.

‘New Girl’ (Fox): Zooey Deschanel stays up on the tightrope her costars keep taut.

‘Downton Abbey’ (PBS): Julian Fellowes’ post-Edwardian upstairs-downstairs, country-house comedy-drama is a digest of British literary and TV traditions.

‘Homeland’ (Showtime) / ‘The Killing’ (AMC): Hazy mysteries trap the attention of troubled, talented female investigators (Claire Danes and Mireille Enos, respectively, as good as can be but better).

‘Mildred Pierce’ (HBO): Todd Haynes’ languorous, detailed adaptation of the James M. Cain novel is lifelike and larger than life.

‘The Hour’ (BBC America) / ‘Page Eight’ (PBS): Hugely satisfying British thrillers; the first jumps like an Aston Martin, the second purrs like a Rolls.

‘Boxing Gym’ (PBS): A little symphony in pugilistic percussion from Frederick Wiseman, 81.

‘George Harrison: Living in the Material World’ (HBO) / ‘Woody Allen: A Documentary’ (PBS): Great big films about artists easy to take for granted.

‘Wilfred’ (FX): Brainy low humor with a sweet streak as awesome Jason Gann (in a dog suit) leads Elijah Wood hectically toward the light.

A low point: After 45 years, Jerry Lewis is clumsily cashiered as the public face, and telethon host, of the Muscular Dystrophy Assn.

For more, here’s an essay on TV in 2011.

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The year in television essay: Robert Lloyd

-- Robert Lloyd