Ripping Good Yarns; Short Series Nominees Step 2!

The nominations for short form drama series has reached its next phase!  Four of the nominations are set, and the other two are open for additional consideration.  So please, I continue to need your input!

Considerations for whom to vote for should consider that these shows should be more melodramatic than the average show.  They should have a strong plot line, and interesting characters. Another consideration as to what qualifies as Ripping Good Yarn are continuity elements.  I feel the more the stories and characters cross over into each episode, the better.  This diminishes for consideration, but doesn't eliminate, shows that primarily focus on single, done-in-one stories, such as some of the USA, TNT and Lifetime programs.


These are your four set nominees and the two slots open for consideration:

A Game of Thrones:  I grouped all the premium (pay channel) programs for this and picked the best.  This is an outstanding program with great characters (more than any other show you've watched), terrific story lines, great dialogue, and strong continuity elements that will keep you coming back for more and more.  This is fantasy adventure at its finest.  Yes, there are dragons and sorcery, but it's the magic of the characters and story that will hold you.  It unfolds in a highly realistic manner, and if you haven't read the books, there is no way that you will ever know what is coming next.  The next closest contender is Homeland.  I only show the pilot, but it has gotten very positive critical reaction and some notice from Rippers. Other quality programs on the pay channels include True Blood and Boardwalk Empire. 

Justified:  This came out on top when I grouped all the mystery, detective and western programs.  It is a snap nasty story about a U.S. Marshal in Kentucky, starring Timothy Olyphant.  It has a fine genre feel to it, based on the stories of the great mystery writer Elmore Leonard.  The villains are excellent, often brilliant and stupid at the same time.    Cases and villains flow from one episode to the next.  Each season is like a redneck symphony.   Other fine contenders in this group were Hell On Wheels, the great western about railroad expansion on AMC, and Glades about a detective in South Florida.

Missing: This edged out other programs in a category I call "cancelled but not forgotten".  Missing is a show starring Ashley Judd, and featured her search for her son.  The ratings started too slowly for the network, and they unfortunately had cancelled the show before they realized that the ratings were steaming upward.  Runners up include my personal favorite, Alcatraz, and one of my son Benjamin's favorites, Terra Nova.

The Walking Dead:  This is the favorite in the horror/apocalyptic sci-fi group.  The Walking Dead just stands out as it swallows you into its nightmare world where zombies have over-run just about everything.  But it's the human dram and conflict that really stand out about this show, as you see Sherriff Rick desperately try to keep his band of survivors together.  Also high in this group are TNT's Falling Skies, and F/X's super creepy American Horror Story.

Saved Slot for USA/TNT/Lifetime:  There's nothing wrong with these shows.  I just don't see many of them.  They're a little lighter than what I usually watch.  I think the only ones I see are Psych and falling Skies (which is not really in the same category as the other TNT shows).  I want to be fair to this group and let my fellow rippers have a little bit more input into it.  So, please, I need you!  Shows mentioned already by Rippers include Psych, White Collar, Royal Pains, Burn Notice, suits and Rizzoli & Isles.  Please, Rippers, help me out!

Saved Slot for Best of the Rest: Second chance category for any program that you feel has been slighted.  Pay particular attention to the runner ups mentioned here.  Also the Syfy programs like Warehouse 13, Eureka, The Lost Girls and Alphas.  Once again, I'll take the top vote getter over the next few days for this category.  Also mentioned above:  Homeland, True blood, Boardwalk Empire, Hell On Wheels, Glades, Alcatraz, Terra Nova, Falling Skies and American Horror Story.

Voting is now open, and I will close sometime Wednesday, probably early evening.  Vote here or on facebook.  You can just name your choice, and you can advocate for it - your call.  I would prefer that you not denigrate the choices other people make.  I look forward to your participation.

Let the selection procedure continue! nominations for short form drama series has reached it's next phase!  Four of the nominations are set, and the other two are open for additional consideration.  so please, I continue to need your input!

Considerations for who to vote for should consider that  these shows should be more melodramatic than the average show.  They should have a strong plot line, and interesting characters. Another consideration as to what qualifies as Ripping Good Yarn are continuity elements.  I feel the more the stories and characters cross over into each episode, the better.  This diminishes for consideration, but doesn't eliminate, shows that primarily focus on single, done-in-one stories, such as some of the USA, TNT and Lifetime programs.

Let the selection procedure continue!