99 Words About … The best of 2011

It's no secret "Breaking Bad," "Community," "Sons of Anarchy" and "Boardwalk Empire" remained among TV's best. But here are some standouts you may have overlooked.

Showtime bookended 2011 with "Shameless" and "Homeland," the year's most audacious newcomers.

BBC America stayed classy with the edge-of-your-seat "Luther" and the stylish "The Hour."

And FX's "Justified" and ABC's "Cougar Town" had breakout sophomore seasons.

Other highlights:

■ The manic hilarity of ABC's "Happy Endings."

■ The heartbreak of Fox's "Fringe."

■ IFC's too-cool-for-most-rooms "Portlandia" and "Todd Margaret."

■ The awkwardness of Fox's "New Girl."

■ The guilty-pleasure genius of ABC's "Revenge."

■ And MTV's monstrously funny "Death Valley."

-- CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE