The Best of 2023
(In my rarely-if-ever-humble opinion)
We’re back with everyone’s favorite series, “Eddie’s Best Of”!
I know, I know. You just could not leave 2023 without reading “Eddie’s Best Of” list for the year. I get it. It’s an important, Earth-shattering list. Hey, you demanded, I delivered!
Here’s the rundown for those of you new to this schtick:
Inspired by former President Barack Obama “Best Of” lists to commemorate the year, I decided to make my own!
Unlike the 44th leader of the free world, however, I don’t keep my lists focused on entertainment exclusively released in 2023. (If I did, well…it would be a really small list).
SO, instead, I keep track of every great piece of entertainment that I consumed specifically in the calendar year, regardless of when it came out. Really, this article should be titled “Best of…things Eddie specifically first watched/read in 2023”. Not as catchy though, right? And hey, what other “Best of 2023” list will you find that features Fiddler on the Roof?? And even more scandalously, what “Best of 2023” list will you find that does NOT feature Succession, Barry, Barbie, Maestro, May December, Killers of the Flower Moon, or Oppenheimer???
Okay, enough scandals for one intro. Let’s get on with the list!
Best Things Actually Released in 2023
Movies
Theater Camp
Honestly, if you’ve never been in a theatre show, you probably won’t understand the majority of the jokes in this film. But if you have ever been in a theater production in your life, you should be laughing from start to finish in this fun, niche, non-life-changing-but-still-thoroughly-entertaining comedy.
You People
With so many promising dramas that came out this year, I was disappointed to find that the movie section of this year’s “Best Of” list only featured a couple of comedies. Okay, enough disappointment. Like Theater Camp, this movie had me cackling from the first second, with a stellar cast and heartwarming message.
Television
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 5)
Magnificent. Majestic. And, yes, simply Marvelous. A beautiful sendoff to a beautiful show. Brava!
Jury Duty
This show is not funny. And yet, I found myself spitting out my water while watching it. I laughed harder at this show than I have at anything in a very long time. And it’s not funny. If you describe what happens in the show on paper, you’ll find the premise clever, perhaps even humorous. But not funny. I cannot stress that enough. And again, this show made me laugh harder than many “funnier” shows out there. How can this be possible? You decide (or better yet…you be the judge).
Beef
Smart, timely, unique, fresh. This Beef was delicious!
Big Mouth (Season 7)
While it may never reach the glories of its earliest seasons, this show still comes back every few years with a season that puts it up there with the best animated shows on the market!
Documentaries
The Insurrectionist Next Door
Alexandra Pelosi is one tough cookie. Talking to those who would threaten our democracy is one tall task for anyone, let alone the daughter of the then-Speaker of the House! An important look at the “other” side, reminding us of the importance of having a conversation, even if it’s with someone on the exact polar opposite end of the political (and moral) spectrum.
See, I told you the list was small! Now, on to the not-actually-released-in-2023-but-I-first-watched-or-read-them-in-2023 bests (in not too particular of an order):
Plays
◦ Hillary and Clinton (Lucas Hnath)
◦ tick, tick…BOOM! (Jonathan Larson)
◦ After Ashley (Gina Gionfriddo)
◦ The Play That Goes Wrong (Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields)
◦ Baby Food (David Lindsay-Abaire)
◦ 13th Night (Ian Downes)
◦ Fiddler on the Roof (Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein)
Television
◦ Batman the Animated Series: S3
◦ Everybody Hates Chris: S2, 3
◦ Futurama: S6, 7, 8
◦ One-Punch Man: S1, 2
◦ Superman the Animated Series: S1
◦ Gravity Falls: S1
◦ Samurai Jack: S2
◦ Modern Family: S2
◦ The Other Two: S1
Documentaries
◦ Last Chance U: Basketball S2
Movies
◦ History of the World: Part 1
◦ This Boy’s Life
◦ Top Gun: Maverick
◦ American Graffiti
◦ Airplane
◦ One Hour Photo
◦ CODA
Graphic Novels
◦ Sin City Vol 3: The Big Fat Kill (Frank Miller)
◦ Sin City Vol 4: That Yellow Bastard (Frank Miller)
◦ Sin City Vol 5: Family Values (Frank Miller)
◦ Cruel Summer (Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips)
Books
◦ The Memory Keeper’s Daughter (Kim Edwards)
◦ The Pilot’s Wife (Anita Shreve)
And as a bonus, here are my previous “Best Of” Lists!
What are you thoughts? What did I miss? What did I get just right? Let me know! And if you liked my Best of 2023, check out all my Best of All Time lists!
And for more things Datz, check out eddiedatz.com!
