Editors' Picks: Favorite TV Shows of 2012

Editor's Note: The following is part of a special "end-of-the-year" series in which local editors from your nearby Patch towns highlight their favorites in various topics.  

What was your favorite TV show from 2012? 

Ben Paulin - Editor, Walpole Patch

"Breaking Bad" is the best show on TV and maybe the best show ever. Every episode is more thrilling than the last and I will be sad to see it go next year. Walter White's journey from high school science teacher to crystal meth king pin has been truly incredible to see unfold. The creators of the show do an amazing job of leaving no stone unturned and leaving no loose ends. If you haven't seen it yet, I would highly recommend it.

Jeff Sullivan - Editor, Mansfield Patch

Too many to count. This year saw another season of "Dexter," Season 2 of "Game of Thrones" and an awesome season finale from "Boardwalk Empire," all around it was great. I have to say the best new show of 2012 was the "Newsroom" with Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer, but as journalist I have to say there's some bias there. The most amazing part of the show is how close it gets to recent news topics. Besides, it's awesome to see Harry Dunne yelling at people with authority.

Dan Libon - Editor, Wrentham Patch

I know there were several good shows this year, but I don't watch a lot of TV, so "Mad Men" was my favorite show of 2012. In its fifth season, the show didn't even have its best season and it still proved to be better than the vast majority of what is on TV.

Kelly Mello - Editor, Norton Patch

"The Walking Dead," hands down. I love survival stories, and if you throw zombies in there, I'm going to like it even more. But it's not necessarily a story about zombies. It's more about how people are coping in this new world and learning who you can trust not to become a nut job.

Kelly Glista - Editor, Norwood Patch

Definitely HBO's "Newsroom." I was, well still am, a big fan of "The West Wing," so when I heard that Aaron Sorkin was writing a TV show about journalists I got very excited. Despite the fact that many were disappointed by the first season, I still find it enjoyable. I believe it was also nominated for a Golden Globe award this year.

Jeremie Smith - Editor, Foxborough Patch

"Dexter. A likable serial killer? The thought of it is disturbing, but Michael C. Hall finds a way to make it happen in this highly entertaining suspense/thriller series on Showtime. I really got hooked on this TV show last summer and with "Entourage" no longer airing, this has taken over as my new favorite. Season 7 just concluded on Dec. 16 with a pretty intense finale, so I'm stuck waiting until next winter for Season 8. A close second to Dexter would be "The League" on FX. The fantasy football comedy is a true laughter for any sports fan … especially those who can relate to the roller coaster of emotions that is fantasy football.

Pat Maguire - Editor, Easton Patch

Aaron Sorkin's latest HBO Drama "The Newsroom" is absolutely fantastic. As someone who is a news and political junkie, it was right up my alley. But, anyone can enjoy it. The show is well-written and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout every episode using real-life current events and a fictional newsroom. I thought the show was so good that I was prompted to go back and watch all seven seasons of Sorkin's previous show "The West Wing."

Jeff Pickette - Editor, Stoughton Patch

Obviously the top show of the year is that high-quality "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" program on TLC. What a role model for America's youth. Actually never seen an episode, and don't plan to. I have caught a few episodes of "The Newsroom," though, which was very interesting from a journalistic/media perspective. Also, can't go wrong with ABC's Wednesday comedies "Modern Family" and "The Middle." Brick Heck (Middle) is my favorite character on TV and who doesn't root for the happy-go-lucky, perpetually optimistic Sue Heck (Middle)? 

Jonathan Friedman - Editor, Attleboro-Seekonk Patch

Since it premiered in 2005, "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel has shown celebrity chef (don't tell him I used that term) Anthony Bourdain travel to some of the most exciting, exotic and sometimes dangerous places around the world. So when the final episode of the show was set to take place in Brooklyn, it seemed like an odd choice. The man lives in New York City. But he admittedly had never taken much time to explore Brooklyn. The final episode didn't seem like much of a finale, especially since it appears he'll be doing a similar, if not the same, show on CNN next year. But the best moment of the episode came after he enjoyed his final meal at a Jewish deli (chopped liver and pastrami on rye bread and a Dr. Brown's Cream Soda) and offered these words of wisdom for his viewers:

"If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move as far as you can, as much as you can, across the ocean or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in somebody else's shoes or at least eat their food, it's a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move."

Want to weigh in? Let us know what your favorite TV show of the year was. Tell us in the comments section below!