On the midst of what is currently being perceived as the Golden Age of Television, an era that has spawned a wide quantity and diversity of entertainment content appearing on various platforms from Network to streaming services, none has been more instrumental in the elevation of the televisual arts than Cable Programming. From timeless period pieces such as AMC's "Mad Men", to HBO's tour de force fantasy epic "Game of Thrones", the magnitude of what has been accomplished on basic and premium cable is what has allowed television to challenge universe of the feature film for onscreen supremacy.
Launched back in 1994, Fox Extended, better known as FX, has proven to be no outlier in expanding the arena of TV. Responsible for hits such as "American Horror Story" and "Sons of Anarchy", here are five shows that put the premier behind Fox's cable channel despite it only being basic:
5. "Archer"
An adult animated spy sitcom, "Archer" follows the life and exploits of American Secret Agent Sterling Archer. Striking rapport with viewers and critics for its often dark, and vulgarly abrasive humor, the series was praised for its grimy satire, yet observantly incisive critique of international espionage. The series has also attracted acclaim for the quality of voice acting that has only served to amplify its wealth of potty-mouthed gags.
4. "The Americans"
Another drama centering around espionage, even though it takes on a more dramatic tone, "The Americans" follows the story of Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, undercover Soviet spies carrying out covert operations in the United States during the 1980's. Already dubbed by some as one of the greatest TV shows to ever air, Joe Weisberg's deceptive masterpiece brilliantly examines the theme of identity as it pertains to American Citizenship, ultimately posing to his viewers the question: What is an American? One born in the States? Or one that has lived, and become so assimilated with the beliefs and values of America that it has now become the only place he/she calls home. A relevant question in contemporary politics given that the American Landscape is currently gripped by spikes of xenophobia as it relates to immigration.
3. "American Crime Story"
Painting a visually striking portrait of Los Angeles in the nineties still hobbling on its heels from the controversy of the Rodney King Beating that cast a lasting shadow on the city's police department and entire legal system, "American Crime Story" wasted no time in conveying how this impacted what is often deemed as the most controversial, and politicized trial of this decade in American History.
Capturing with gripping conviction, of how racism can not only taint but distort the application of justice, "American Crime Story" attracted an encore of praise for its near flawless writing, acting and directing as it seemed to relive the events of The People V. O.J. Simpson. Powered by characters that are as every bit multifaceted as the plot, Ryan Murphy's newest anthology is off to a hot, promising wrought start. Here's to hoping the creator of "American Horror Story" and "Scream Queens" can mirror such auteuristic force when the series directs its focus to the murder of fashion mogul Gianni Versace.
2. "Damages"
A legal drama spun from a web woven from deceit and intrigue, "Damages" follows the inner workings of attorney Patty Hewes, and the cunning, ruthless tactics she employs to maintain the illustrious reputation of her law firm and career. Praised for its guileful writing, heart-bending twists, and pitch-perfect acting delivered on the part of Glenn Close, "Damages" is also lauded for its unwavering s reliance on nonlinear plot structure -- a feat few auteurs ever succeed at mastering unless your name is Quentin Tarantino or Christopher Nolan.
1. "Fargo"
Based on the 1996 hit film of the same name written and directed by the Coen brothers, "Fargo" was immediately embraced with universal acclaim, garnering praise for its dark, cheeky comedy, sly wit and off-kilter sensibility. Nominated for a total of 11 Golden Globes, "Fargo" has one twice while three of its awards are pending until the commencement of the 75th Golden Globe Awards.
Though consistently placing in the ballots for Best Miniseries, on an unfortunate note, the much-lauded series will be going on hiatus due to showrunner Noah Hawley's current creative limbo concerning the direction he wishes to take the show. Pray he doesn't stay there too long. With the amount of traction "Fargo" has accrued over its three seasons, there will undoubtedly be a lineup of impatient, disgruntled fans.
