It was the best of years, it was the worst of years. Actually, we don't recall any bests in 2024, except perhaps that brief flurry when we thought Kamala Harris could be president. It was also a bad year for queer TV and yet we managed to find joy and delight, pathos and provocation on the tube.
There were also some stellar performances, some of which were groundbreaking. So here is our best of 2024, in no particular order because each of these shows stands alone in its exceptional and unique qualities, with a hat tip to some of the LGBTQ stars whose performances were provocative and poignant, and worthy of special note.
While we weren't a particular fan of "The Traitors," queer host Alan Cumming stood alone (well, next to RuPaul) as the best host ever of a reality TV series. It's worth watching some episodes to catch Cumming in his full brogue and tartan kilt taunting contestants. He's just fabulous.
"Baby Reindeer" was one of the most acclaimed series of the year. Trans actress Nava Mau's performance stood out for us. Mau received an Emmy nomination for supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie, making her the first openly trans woman to be nominated for that category of the Primetime Emmys.
On her role as Teri in "Baby Reindeer," Mau commented, "It seemed really important to show people that trans women exist in real life and in relationships with real people."
"Interview with the Vampire," season 2, continues the story of Anne Rice's immortal novel.
In the year 2022, the vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) lives in Dubai and seeks to tell the story of his life or afterlife to renowned journalist Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian). Molloy is deeply cynical. Now in his 70s with Parkinson's disease and a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, he's intrigued by Louis calling him back as he has his own demons to reveal.
"Interview with the Vampire" centers on the life story of Louis as told to Molloy, to whom he previously gave an unpublished interview in 1973. In 1910, Louis is a 33-year-old closeted Creole man and successful brothel owner in New Orleans. He is haunted by guilt and seethes at the racism directed at him.
Louis is romanced and later turned out by the charismatic French vampire, Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid). Lestat is still in thrall to his maker and former lover, Armand (Assad Zaman).
Louis struggles with his humanity, and the introduction of Lestat's newest fledgling, the teenage vampire Claudia (Delainey Hayles), only strains their relationship further. In the present, Molloy begins to doubt the veracity of Louis' story, noting differences from the earlier version.
This series is incredibly provocative and has absolutely mind-blowing sensuality and sexuality. This is the gayest series of 2024, in our opinion. Reid and Anderson have superb chemistry and Reid is the vampire to die for. The acting in this series is stellar. We used to live in New Orleans and the essence of the city shines through; an AMC original.
"True Detective: Night Country" is the fourth season of "True Detective," HBO's anthology crime drama series. This season is set in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska.
Eight scientists working at the Tsalal Research Station disappear, with a woman's severed tongue left at the scene. Local police Chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) deduces that the tongue belonged to an Indigenous woman.
Alaskan Native trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) believes the victim to be Annie Kowtok, an Iñupiaq woman who was stabbed to death and her tongue cut out after protesting against the construction of a local mine; the case remains unsolved after six years, which Navarro blames on Danvers.
"Night Country" was created by Issa López, who serves as showrunner, writer, and director. Night Country received widespread acclaim from critics and was ranked amongst the top 10 television programs of the year by the American Film Institute.
"Night Country" received 19 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Foster won for Outstanding Lead Actress. Other nominations included Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor (for John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior), Outstanding Supporting Actress (for Reis) and Outstanding Directing and Writing (for Lopez).
Foster is incredible here and she and Reis have amazing chemistry. The great Fiona Shaw (Rose Aguineau, a woman living on the edge of town, who discovered the naked bodies of the researchers, frozen in a solid mass, with their clothes carefully folded on the snow) is also in the cast. This is a dark and deep exposé of racism, misogyny, who matters to society and who does not. Absolutely searing commentary as well as a gripping and edge-of-your-seat thriller. Just extraordinary viewing.
"English Teacher" is a fabulous sitcom created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, who stars as the main character, high school English teacher Evan Marquez. Marquez finds himself at the intersection of professional, political, and personal aspects of working at Morrison-Hensley High School as a gay man.
He's under investigation for being gay and he's trying to teach and bring his students to the best place. Alvarez is charming and wry and funny. There are many life lessons posed in this series, which has some of the same delights as "Abbott Elementary."
With Stephanie Koenig as Gwen Sanders, a fellow teacher and Evan's best friend, Enrico Colantoni as Grant Moretti, the principal of the high school, Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge, the gym teacher and athletic director at the high school and Jordan Firstman as Malcolm, Evan's ex-boyfriend and a former teacher at the high school. Trixie Mattel does a hilarious turn as Shazam, a drag queen and friend of Evan's; an FX original.
Based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), "Agatha All Along" is a Disney+ original series that became the hit of the season.
Three years after being trapped under a magical spell in the town of Westview, New Jersey, at the end of the miniseries "WandaVision" (2021), the witch Agatha Harkness escapes with the help of a mysterious teenager who wishes to face the trials of the legendary Witches' Road.
Without her magical powers, Agatha and the teen form a new coven of witches to face the trials while contending with some of Agatha's old enemies. Hahn received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance. With Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Patti LuPone and Evan Peters.
"There's danger everywhere, but danger's never looked quite like this before." So begins "Under the Bridge," a true-crime drama based on the book by Rebecca Godfrey. It's the tragic and true story of 14-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta), who went to a party with friends but never came home.
The show delves into the secret world of the young girls accused of the murder and reveals shocking facts about the improbable killer via the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and local police officer Cam Bentland (Lily Gladstone).
This series is such a deep and perilous ride, asking so many questions about what inspires people to skirt the edge of the humanity we presume is innate, but isn't. Gladstone is amazing, yet again. A Hulu original.
Award-winning comedian Hannah Gadsby hosts an extraordinary global comedy special, "Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda." Curated by Gadsby, the show brings together a line-up of the world's absolute funniest genderqueer comedians. Recorded at London's iconic Alexandra Palace Theatre, the special features Alok, Chloe Petts, DeAnne Smith, Ashley Ward, Jes Tom, Mx. Dahlia Belle and Krishna Istha.
Gadsby is an Australian comedian, writer and actor, best known for their 2018 comedy special "Nanette," which is a stunning piece about violence and family, homophobia and transphobia, and the role our personal trauma plays in comedy.
The backstory here is that Gadsby, who had done previous pieces for Netflix—this is a Netflix original—was enraged by Dave Chappelle's homophobic and transphobic screed, "The Dreamer" and basically demanded redress for how Netflix had promoted that and paid millions for it.
This is that payback and it's pretty amazing that Gadsby fought for and got a special that trashes Netflix for what they allowed to happen to queer and trans people by Chappelle. Bravo, Gadsby.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and all the blessings of the New Year. Don't forget to stay tuned.
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