--- description: The TV awards, from a movie organization, show the breadth and strength of television in 2014. title: AFI Names Best TV of 2014, From The Americans to Transparent image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0a9d5bde50e95b01/69876d80428a9e3e57cc5e5c/ta_206-3_054_hires1.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # AFI Names Best TV of 2014, From _The Americans_ to _Transparent_ by [James Poniewozik](/author/james-poniewozik/) ## James Poniewozik Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 8, 2014 9:36 PM CUT  Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in FX's The Americans. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys in FX's The Americans.Craig Blankenhorn/FX by [James Poniewozik](/author/james-poniewozik/) ## James Poniewozik Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Dec 8, 2014 9:36 PM CUT Another hour, another best-TV-of-the-year honors. A while ago I posted about [_Fargo_ winning the Hitfix 2014 TV poll](http://time.com/3623284/fargo-best-show-of-2014-tv-critics-poll/ "undefined"), in which I (and many other critics) participated. This year I also voted in another, quite different TV awards, from the American Film Institute (which apparently also honors some upstart genre known as “movies”). Unlike the Hitfix poll, the AFI awards are decided by a [jury](http://afi.com/afiawards/jury.aspx "undefined") of critics, academics and TV professionals. ([Among our crew this year](http://afi.com/afiawards/jury.aspx "undefined") was Vince Gilligan, who had no dog in the fight a year in between _Breaking Bad_ and _Better Call Saul_.) Also unlike that poll, and most others, it doesn’t rank its finalists in order (which I wouldn’t either if TIME didn’t require it). We just watch our shows, argue for our favorites, complete a ballot, and publish a civilized, alphabetical list. This year, those ten shows were: THE AMERICANS FARGO GAME OF THRONES HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER JANE THE VIRGIN THE KNICK MAD MEN ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK SILICON VALLEY TRANSPARENT Exactly half of those shows were on [my own top ten list](http://time.com/3592117/best-tv-shows-of-2014-poniewozik/ "undefined"), and almost all the rest came close. (Except for _How to Get Away With Murder_, which I don’t think is quite there but is definitely a hell of a lot of fun.) The AFI also considers only scripted TV, so one of my picks for TIME, _Last Week Tonight With John Oliver_, was ineligible. But even if I didn’t vote for each of these shows, I like the range they represent, in genre, style and format. (Though in a sign of the times, there are only two broadcast network shows–the same amount as shows from online streaming services.) As usual, it was a fun process that helped me sort through my own feelings about the past year in TV. As for yours, feel free to quibble or offer up your own list in the comments. 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