Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Justified

Raylan Givens is like Vic Mackey with a southern drawl, Jack Bauer without the time constraints. He may be a good guy, but he sure seems to do some mighty bad things.

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Harper’s Island

Henry and Trish wanted their wedding to be picture perfect. A killer turns it into a TV show.

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Grey’s Anatomy

A whole lot has changed in the medical-comedy world since a gaggle of fresh-faced interns first lusted over “McDreamy” in 2005. (But not when it comes to the sexualized, over-the-top plotlines.)

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Jane the Virgin

If this CW show seems like a bad telenovela, well, that’s the point.

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

If the Coen brothers, the members of Monty Python, the cast of Jacka–, the screenwriters for Seinfeld and The Three Stooges teamed up to make a sitcom, it would look something like this FX show.

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Castle

Technically, Richard Castle’s a mystery writer. So why doesn’t he publish a book about why he does so little writing and so much crime fighting with a beautiful NYC detective?

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Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor is back … on Netflix. And it’s bringing more problems into the Oval Office than it had on ABC.

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Fear Factor

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Unless, of course, it’s gulping down flies, hornworms and stink bugs.

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American Gods

Simply put, American Gods is the worst show on television. And it’s not even close.

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Growing Up Fisher

You could say this sitcom is about the blind leading the clueless. But it always ends with a family hug … sometimes literally.

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Parks and Recreation

Amy Poehler is pretty much done paving the streets of Pawnee, Ind., with her good intentions and political positivity. Too bad we can’t give her NBC sitcom the same pronouncement.

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I Am the Night

This TNT crime drama’s whole appeal, beyond the big names involved, is its tawdry, tantalizing setup.

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Sam & Cat

Sam & Cat is a double spinoff, with character links to Nick’s iCarly and Victorious. We want to know: Are scions always this silly?

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The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

It could be argued that Jon Stewart is young America’s favorite anchorman. Too bad the guy’s actually a comedian—and a pretty crass one at that.

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Worst Week

‘Worst Week’ isn’t TV’s worst show. It’s not even CBS’ worst show. But that doesn’t mean it’s not miserable.

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