It’s been a busy year in the TV universe — which is now a lot bigger with the advent of streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon et al.).
So, without further ado, here are our “2016 TV Yearbook” picks encompassing the best, brightest and, well, worst moments of the year.
Best breakout: Issa Rae, “Insecure,” HBO
Unlike some of the younger female characters on premium cable, Issa Rae struck a positive note right off the bat: She was an adult. Her character on “Insecure” has a job. And a conscience. She has a face that cannot lie and one of the best TV smiles we’ve seen in a long time. It’s addictive fun to watch her mess up, break up and make up with the young strivers in her orbit. So we’ll be back when “Insecure” returns for Season 2.
Best Episode: “Home,” “Game of Thrones,” HBO
When Jon Snow was stabbed in this epic drama’s Season 5 finale, diehard fans did not believe he was really gone. In the second episode of Season 6, Ser Davos eventually asked Melisandre if she could revive the Lord Commander. The Red Woman gave it a whirl, chanting and praying over Snow’s bathed corpse with Davos, Tormund and Edd hoping for a miracle. No dice. Defeated, the group left the chamber. Not so fast: Suddenly Jon opened his eyes and breathed.
Vindicated, the fans went nuts. And the season was off to a running start.
The Mr. Television Award: Steve Harvey
If it seems that Harvey is here (“Family Feud”), there (“Showtime at the Apollo”) and everywhere (“Little Big Shots”), it’s because he is. The uber-host has now replaced Ryan Seacrest, whose “American Idol” gig ended, as the busiest man on the tube. Soon he’ll have enough shows to have a Steve Harvey calendar — one for each month.
Best Sendoff: “Downton Abbey,” PBS
Everybody loves a happy ending and the beloved “Downton Abbey” tied up all of its loose ends with grace and humor. Lady Mary finally remarried (to a commoner, but she got over the class difference). Lady Edith stopped sobbing and married a man who didn’t mind that she had a bastard child (smelling salts, please!). Bates and Anna welcomed a baby boy. And so on. Sins were forgiven, reputations restored and as always, the Dowager Countess had the last line. When her friend Isobel Crawley asked at Edith’s wedding, “What else could we drink to? We’re going forward into the future, not back into the past,” her reply was to the point: “If only we had the choice.”
Best Slap: “The Good Wife,” CBS
Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) really landed a good one against the insolent Alicia Florrick’s (Julianna Margulies) horrified puss in this drama’s series finale.
Biggest tease: “The Walking Dead,” AMC
Who knew a zombie apocalypse could be so boring? Season 7 bookended its first half by answering a cliffhanger in the most gruesome possible fashion and a mildly satisfying reunion to send us off into hiatus. The rest was just filler, jumping among locations and the now-sprawling cast — whole episodes go by without seeing fan favorites like Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) — with only marginal advancement of story.
Best Party Crasher: Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee may have been passed over to host “The Daily Show,” but no matter: Her “Full Frontal” on TBS decisively disrupted the late-night boys club with its ferocious and proudly female point of view. Who’s laughing now?
Best Revival: “Gilmore Girls,” Netflix
That polarizing ending aside, “Gilmore Girls” did the sequel right, with a sharply written love letter to its fans that managed to perfectly recreate that old-fashioned Stars Hollow ethos while, importantly, evolving its core characters of Lorelai (Lauren Graham), Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Emily (Kelly Bishop).