Best 5 Dramedy TV Shows of 2011

Most TV show genres are described as drama, comedy, thriller, sci-fi or action/adventure. But what happens if "drama" and "comedy" are combined? Then you get "dramedy!" Dictionary.com defines "dramedy" as, "a television program or series using both serious and comic subjects, usually without relying on conventional plots, laugh tracks, etc." Here are my top 5 dramedy television series for 2011.

CHUCK (NBC)
Fridays @ 8:00pm
What is going on in Chuck's head? The nerdy computer geek Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) working at the Buy More accidently gets NSA Top Secret stuff planted in his brain. It is up to NSA secret agent Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin/Firefly & Serenity) and CIA agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) to protect Chuck from the bad guys of Fulcrum. Sadly, Chuck has been cancelled after 5 seasons. (Last air date: January 27, 2012.)

PARENTHOOD (NBC)
Tuesdays @ 10:00pm
In this new age version of the box office hit, Zeek and Camille Braverman (Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia) are the backbone of the Braverman family. With 4 kids and 7 grandkids the drama never ends at the Braverman home. Sarah (Lauren Graham) is a single mom who has had to go back home to live with her parents. It's a good thing they have a big house with a guest house as she brings her two teenagers with her - daughter, Amber (Mae Whitman), and son, Drew (Miles Heizer). And if it wasn't bad enough to have to go live with your grandparents, the teens also have to deal with their mother dating one of their teachers. Julia (Erika Christensen) is a successful corporate attorney while her husband, Joel (Sam Jaeger), spends much of his time at home raising their daughter. Free living Crosby (Dax Shepard) recently found out that he has a 5-year-old son with an old flame, Jasmine (Joy Bryant). Their son, Jabbar, is learning how to cope with being raised by parents who are separated and who also rarely agree on how to raise him. Adam (Peter Krause) is the oldest Braverman child with a lot on his plate. He recently lost his job and then went into business with his brother, Crosby, who is not the most reliable person in the world. Adam's wife, Kristina (Monica Potter), is a stay-at-home mom with their 3 children. Haddie (Sarah Ramos) is an independent-minded teenager, Max (Max Burkholder) is a constant challenge who has Asperger's Syndrome, and now there's a new baby to add into the mix.

WHITE COLLAR (USA)
Tuesdays @ 10:00pm
Once on the FBI's most wanted list, ex-con and con-artist/forger Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) is now assisting the FBI in apprehending others of his kind. Working side by side with FBI Agent Peter Burke (Tim Dekay) and getting help from longtime friend Mozzie (Willie Garson), Nick always gets his man.

ROYAL PAINS (USA)
Wednesdays @ 10:00pm
After losing one too many patients, Doctor Lawson (Mark Feuerstein) goes into a deep depression after he loses his job in the big city. His brother, Evan(Paul Costanzo), convinces him to go with him to the Hamptons for spring break where he accidently becomes a concierge doctor for the rich and famous. With his brother Evan running the business side of HankMed, they soon are overwhelmed with clients and need to hire an assistant, Divya (Reshma Shetty). Eventually their estranged father, Eddie (Henry Winkler), makes his way to the island to join them and is soon working his old con tricks.

THE DEFENDERS
Cancelled after season one.
The very unlikely comedic pair of Jim Belushi and Jerry O'Connell make up the law team of Morelli & Kaczmarek. Their ways may be unconventional and their styles very different but they always seem to get the judges' decision they are looking for.

Read also:
10 Best Comedy TV Shows in 2011
10 Best Reality Game Shows in 2011

* * * *

Sources linked in show titles.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION
I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein.