Good afternoon! As we count down the final days of the year, today I will be sharing with you the top five things that I watched this year in movies and on television. This year I watched some films that were very thought-provoking and said goodbye to some of my favorite TV shows. And so now I share them with you as a way to remember the year that was from the things that I watched.
Shows We Said Goodbye To
This year we said goodbye to two of my favorite shows – The Newsroom and Sons of Anarchy. 
When The Newsroom first aired in 2012, I was floored by the first episode. For one it spoke to the political side of my brain and had me re-visit global and domestic issues in a new way – the way our media channels have to effectively cover the news. Within the first five minutes of the show I was hooked. Starring Jeff McDaniels as the intelligent, yet very complicated anchor of a prime-time news show Newsnight, you were able to get a glimpse of what it might have been like breaking the news when important global and domestic events were happening. As with most shows that I watch, what attracted me to the show was the characters. From Newsnight anchor Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) to president of the news division Charlie Skinner(played by Sam Watterson), each character was passionate and yet complicated. And yet, each one had a job to perform during some of the most crucial times in history. Yes it’s a scripted show, but I’ve always been amazed at writers who can create characters with who are driven yet very human. In case you haven’t watched the show or missed the final episodes you can click here to purchase seasons 1 & 2 and you can watch the final episodes on HBOgo or HBO onDemand. I don’t normally say this about shows that I love, but it was only right that this season of Sons of Anarchy was the final season. If you’ve watched the show then you know that the chaos needed to end. There needed to be closure and you know that there was no way that it would end happily. Once again, this was a show with some very complicated characters who find themselves in situations beyond their control. It was fast paced, unexpected, yet relatable on several levels. My favorite character on the show was Chibs (played by Tommy Flanagan). I really liked his character because under all the grit there was a sense of reason, yet accountability for what he had done. If you have not watched the last season you it is available on Hulu. If you haven’t seen any of the seasons, then you can download them from Netflix here.
Best New Comedy 
As I type this, I’m laughing. It’s so funny, but so relatable. The show –‘black-ish. I was actually really excited to see this show for a number of reasons. First, the cast included Tracy Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishbone, and Anthony Anderson. Secondly, it was on ABC which is known for their outstanding series, and lastly, I was in search of a new comedy. Needless to say, this show covered all three. The comedy is relatable and not over the top and the chemistry between all the characters makes you feel like you’re in their living room just watching the hilariousness unfold. It’s ridiculously funny, but real. Haven’t watched it yet? Click here for full episodes.
Movie of the Year
Without question the movie of the year goes to Selma. I don’t want to post any spoilers but what I can say is that you have to go see it. It’s a movie that is long overdue and gives you great insight to a pivotal moment in American history and how it impacted the social fabric. Click here to purchase tickets. 
Best Made for TV movie
Without question my vote for this goes to The Normal Heart. Set in New York City during the early 1980s, this film gave you the true depiction of what it was like for gay men who were struck with what was then a new disease (HIV) and how it impacted them and everyone around them. Matt Bomer, Mark Ruffalo and Julia Roberts gave stellar performances and as a young child growing up in Manhattan during the early 1980s, and having seen how this disease ravaged the lives of so many, it was a sharp reminder of how far we have come and paid homage to those who have devoted their lives understanding and finding not just a cure, but a safe haven for those who were directly affected by the disease. If you have not seen it, it is still available on HBOGO or HBO OnDemand. Well, those are my picks for this year in What to Watch. Come back tomorrow for my top picks in music for the year. Until then – SEE. TOUCH. TASTE.