"If I think that a show has a pretty good chance at being in the running for the Top Ten, I will add a little note. I probably should also have a list of the shows I gave up on midway through, but I think it would just be too long of a list. If I feel like something doesn't really have a lot of promise, and it's not in the cultural conversation, then there's no reason for me to keep watching."
"You don't seem that jazzed about the year. A lot less than I usually do. I only finished about three dozen seasons-but I want to specify finish. It's not the same as watch, or try out. But, in other years, I finished a lot more. My spreadsheet says that, in 2022, I finished more than a hundred seasons of TV."
"Luckily, there were still some bright spots: Kang's list of the Top Ten shows of 2025 is out now. Some of her choices may surprise you. Prestige shows such as "The White Lotus," "Severance," and "Adolescence" didn't make the list, but "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City" did. I called Kang to discuss her process, her picks, and why "Housewives" made the cut."
About three dozen television seasons were finished in 2025, a steep decline from more than a hundred seasons finished in 2022. A running spreadsheet tracked finished seasons and noted shows with Top Ten potential. Numerous series were abandoned midway when perceived as lacking promise or cultural relevance. Fewer new shows and industry-driven business problems contributed to a generally dispiriting batch of television. Several prestige series were omitted from the Top Ten, while reality programming such as The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City received placement. The year’s uneven quality led to a shorter watchlist and unexpected selections.
Read at The New Yorker
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