Cannes Film Festival 2013

'Walking Dead,' 'Boardwalk Empire' crack AFI's TV Top 10

'Mad Men,' 'Glee' and 'Modern Family' all make repeat AFI appearances

<p>A 'Walking Dead' zombie</p>

A 'Walking Dead' zombie

Credit: AMC
The American Film Institute announced its film and television Top 10 lists for 2010 on Sunday (Dec. 12) afternoon, with a TV roster that pretty much cleans house from last year. 
 
Of the 10 entries on the AFI TV list, only "Modern Family," "Mad Men" and "Glee" are back from last year's Top 10, as the Institute elected to recognize a slew of new programs, as well as a pair of miniseries/movies, a step away from last year's all-series Top 10.
 
Joining "Mad Men" in the Top 10 are "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead," leaving "Rubicon" as the only AMC series not to make the AFI list. 
 
While HBO's "True Blood" may have fallen off of the AFI Top 10, the premium cable giant equalled AMC's haul with new drama "Boardwalk Empire," plus "Temple Grandin" and "The Pacific" making the cut. 
 
Beyond "Glee" and "Modern Family," the only network series in the AFI Top 10 was returning favorite "30 Rock," while Showtime's "The Big C" also cracked the Top 10.
 
Your AFI TV Programs of the Year:
"The Big C"
"Boardwalk Empire"
"Breaking Bad"
"Glee"
"Mad Men"
"Modern Family"
"The Pacific"
"Temple Grandin"
"30 Rock"
"The Walking Dead"

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor
A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.

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  • Default-avatar

    Leonard Pierce

    No Terriers, No Community. AFI proves it doesn't know anything.

    December 12, 2010 at 4:49PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Kent

    Glad to see Walking Dead and all, but how many critics list does Community have to top before the old guard pays attention? I could not believe that they didn't even get an Emmy nod.

    December 12, 2010 at 4:53PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Jim

    Boardwalk Empire has absolutely phenomenal writing.

    December 12, 2010 at 4:56PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    James

    Yes

    December 12, 2010 at 4:57PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Dave

    Community. Yawn. Get over it. It's not that good.

    December 12, 2010 at 5:11PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      Stacy Yes it is.

      December 12, 2010 at 9:52PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Joe Stacy=Correct

      December 12, 2010 at 10:26PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Jeff

    Completely disagreed, Dave. Community is the best sitcom currently on TV (though I admit I haven't yet gotten to watch through Modern Family). As much as I enjoyed the comics, the writing on The Walking Dead left a lot to be desired.

    December 12, 2010 at 5:46PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    cletus van damme

    Dave is right.

    Even as someone who loves Community since the paintball episode I completely agree that Community is nearly as overrated as Party Down or Better Off Ted. It's nowhere near as groundbreaking as The Office, Curb your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development, Entourage or Weeds where in their early seasons and even today it isn't better than those or other good comedies like Parks & Recreation, Bored to Death, Eastbound & Down, 30 Rock, Modern Family or the underrated How I met your Mother.

    What I can't understand abou this list is the absence of Sons of Anarchy, Dexter or Justified in favor of Glee and 30 Rock. Still a pretty good list though.

    December 12, 2010 at 6:23PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      Son of Mecha Mummy I would love to know what ground Weeds and Entourage broke.

      December 12, 2010 at 7:25PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Joe As much as I love The Office & HIMYM they're no longer near the quality of Community. Parks & Rec & Community are the two best sitcoms today.

      Agreed on your last point though. Glee is far too uneven to be on any legitimate top 10 list, & once Justified got going it was as good as anything on tv.

      December 12, 2010 at 10:31PM EST
    • Default-avatar

      Hector How I Met Your Mother better than Community? Absurd.

      December 12, 2010 at 10:39PM EST
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    Big D

    HIMYM is far and away better than Community as are BBT, Cougar Town and The Middle.

    December 12, 2010 at 11:26PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Kujo

    I enjoyed "The Walking Dead", but I don't think an abbreviated 6 ep season deserved to be on this list.

    I'll never get the appeal of Glee. Talk about an over-rated show.

    December 13, 2010 at 12:09AM EST Reply to Comment


  • Glee and Modern Family are both over-rated. I'd add Community, BBT, Terriers, or Californication in their place.

    December 13, 2010 at 12:09PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Arigato

    No Louie? I'm not sure what the overall ratings were like (good enough for a second season, obviously), but it was a fantastically shot and performed show.

    December 13, 2010 at 6:37PM EST Reply to Comment

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