1962 - The Lego Movie

In theory the idea of a Lego Movie is terrible.  Seriously.  And when I was asked what it was about, I told someone that the plot was, actually, about how to play with lego.  Which sounds ridiculous.  But it's true - and it's awesome.  It took me a little while to get into it if I'm honest, but part of that was getting my little guy and his popcorn sorted out - so I absolutely need to see it again just to watch it clean and without distractions.  I don't want to say too much about it - the reviews kind of speak for itself, but I will say that the film has one of the smartest third acts in a kid's movie I've ever seen - and what might be my favourite final line of a film - the funniest anyway.
If you've ever played with Lego you should love it.  Unless you're dead inside...

1888 - Arrested Development: season four

I wasn't one of those who felt like the world would have been robbed without more Arrested Development.  I was a big fan of the initial run of the series and I thought that, for better or worse, the show walked away at it's peak - a feat many others can't claim.  And then this came along.  I have to say, the AV Club's season long review sums up a lot of my own feelings:

It’s an occasionally hilarious, sometimes boring, always bloated boondoggle of a project, and it’s the sort of thing that’s at once staggering in its ambition and hard to approach with anything like real affection. It is, in places, masterful. It is also, in other places, at once weirdly pleased with itself and too ready to hold the audience’s hand where that hand needn’t be held. 

I watched the first half until I felt like I was watching it more out of obligation than real interest, and then I took a break.  I found when I came back the second half really started to gel.  Part of the problem with this season is the sheer design of it - because they couldn't get all of the cast back together at the same time, they decided to go with a different kind of situation, but as it gets closer to the end you start to see all the pieces of the puzzle coming together and it's quite rewarding.

There's a number of pretty amazing sight gags - the Jeremy Piven one being one of the most clever.  A huge missed opportunity was in not referencing how the cast had changed so drastically physically (mostly Lindsay and Maeby) and yet it goes without comment - especially in the scenes meant to take place directly following season three.  Alas.

I don't need to recommend this to hard-core fans, you're already in.  Newcomers... this is going to feel like it's a crack experiment - so if you really just want to start the show here, tread lightly.  Also, you're missing out on some amazing things if that's your call.  At one point I really want to revisit the initial run.  One of these days!

1714 - Up All Night: season one

Being a parent of two little kids, this is the kind of show that my wife and I are programmed to love.  And I think that it's actually probably my wife's favorite new show.  I like it quite a bit.  I think that Christina Applegate and Will Arnett are pretty damn adorable.  I have to admit that given the roles that Arnett has been popular for in the past it took a little while for me to warm up to him on the show.  I've always enjoyed him, but he's always been larger than life and so it was hard to accept him as someone grounded in the somewhat real-world, but he is quite good here.  Two issues that I have with this show at this point are that:
1) For a show about people trying to adjust to life as parents - they don't really have the kid in the show all that much.  TV is famous for ignoring the kid characters, but on a show like this you'd think they've be a little better about it.
2) Maya Rudolph.  Now STOP RIGHT THERE.  I adore Maya Rudolph and I think she's grand, but her character is such a cartoon character and seems out of balance with the rest of the cast in a lot of ways.  She feels like a giant satire on a bunch of people, and yet our leads feel a bit more grounded.  Don't get me wrong, it works despite that, but it's a bizarre choice. 
I think it's a good show that could be great in time.  Parents of small children you should be able to relate and enjoy much of this!