Burnt Orange Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Around SBN: The Record of Wrongs: Vanderbilt Commodores

Ten To Love: TV Shows

Even through most of the summer recession, there's always at least a little bit of news or a topic I'm ready to write about. But I vowed this year that I'd take some of the slowest days this summer and have some fun with other topics of interest. To that end, this marks the first of the "Ten To Love" series, which will pop up who-knows-when as a chance to lay out some of my favorites that have nothing to do with the 'Horns.

I'm kicking off the series with my ten favorite TV shows of all time. Ideally, I'm interested in others' lists as well - Mt. Rushmore style.

Before I lay out the list, let me emphasize that I'm not commenting on these shows as any kind of TV critic. For starters, the only television I see these days is via DVD and I'm woefully out of touch with what's on, what's good, etc. (I've never seen 30 Rock or The Office, for example.) But more importantly, I'm just not a TV snob in the slightest. I like what I like.

On to the list, presented in alphabetical order.

1. Arrested Development - Shameful truth be told, I resisted this show at first, and not for any good reason: MMHorns and Jimmer were watching it before I was and having the grandest time reciting entire episodes back and forth to one another. God forbid I feel left out, I defiantly decided the show was overrated. "I choose not to join in on your Afternoon Delight. Hmmph."

Yeah that didn't work out. And how could it? The show has everything on my comedy checklist: truly unique characters, outrageous plot lines, and enough hyperbole to make Bill Walton blush. I honestly don't know how anyone could be silly-minded enough to have scripted that show. Just awesome.


Seven_thousand_dollar_suit_medium
"Seven grand— you better believe I love them. I mean, look... look what you’re wearing. You look like crap. I mean, at least this is... What...? Who did this?"

Star-divide

2. Battlestar Gallactica - This is not a show I sought out on my own, but watched only because a good friend was so thoroughly obsessed. Honestly, it's so good that I'd invite even the most skeptical to sit down and give it a shot. Whether you start on the mini-series or "33" (Season 1, Episode 1), immediate addiction is inevitable.

The show literally has large doses of everything: heavy action, deep conspiracies, romance, humor, philosophy (political, metaphysical, ontological - no joke), and on and on.

Also, Number Six. Oh dear God she's irresistibly hot.


Number_six_medium
I seriously might sell out the universe if she were whispering in my ear.

3. Cheers - I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure I've seen every episode now. Some are far better than others, but at its best Cheers has always seemed to me the pinnacle of sitcoms. I could write for pages about what I love about Cheers, but in the interest of space, I'll limit myself to three quick thoughts:

  1. The sheer simplicity of the show is remarkable. There's just that one little set - two cameras filming  an endless parade of entertainment at a neighborhood bar - guaranteeing the show's strength would have to come from its characters. Nothing cutesy or clever; just an exceptionally simple premise: good TV shows are about people.
  2. The rapport between Ted Danson and Shelley Long was truly exceptional. A lot of people hated Shelley Long during and after Cheers, a reaction I always interpreted as proof that her performance as Diane Chambers was one of a kind. Even more amazing than that, though, was the chemistry she and Ted Danson shared. I've never, ever seen on film a couple fight as well as those two did. Incredibly, despite a six-season roller coaster, their on-again, off-again relationship never got old. Only because Long and Danson were that dynamic together.
  3. Dr. Frasier Crane. One of the best characters ever invented for TV, and for whom Kelsey Grammar was born to play.

4. Columbo - I'll be shocked if this is in anyone else's Top 10, but I'm a total sucker for any and all shows featuring great (and quirky) detectives. Lt. Columbo more than fit that bill, of course, as one of the most unusual lead characters in a most unusual detective show: each began with the viewer witnessing the murder. The treat was waiting to see how Columbo would piece it all together... one question at a time.

5. Friday Night Lights - I cannot tell you how sure I felt that I would hate this show. And after the first episode, I still had my doubts... They didn't last long. I know I'm preaching to the choir at this site, so I won't prattle on about its merits. I'll just add what a godsend that show was to me in cold, dark South Bend. To say that I miss Texas women is an understatement.

Fnl_girls_medium
Give the casting director two gold stars.

6. NewsRadio - For all its comedic genius, the show was consistently marred by tragedy - big and small. On the small scale, NBC's executives were grossly out of touch with the show's essence, constantly trying to force it to do gimmicky crap to boost ratings (Lisa's on-air wedding, anyone?). And on a much bigger scale, of course, Phil Hartman - the show's best character (among many greats) - was murdered after the fourth season. The show tried to carry on with Jon Levitz stepping in as a replacement, but the spirit was gone and the show folded after Season 5.

Still, for 97 episodes, there wasn't a better comedy on TV, though few seemed to notice. It aired from 1995-99, during the height of the Seinfeld craze, and though it developed a significant devoted following, it never caught on in the mainstream.

7. Six Feet Under - I'm really not one for dramas, but Six Feet Under had no trouble holding my attention through all five incredible seasons. At first there was a certain appeal to the foundation of the story itself - a moderately dysfunctional family in Los Angeles decide to become undertakers when the father passes away unexpectedly.

Engaging though the backstory was, the charm was in the characters. And though the show was very often a sobering drama, it was also rich with dark comedy. Once I'd finished season one, I knew I'd be watching the remaining four.

8. South Park - Do I need to say anything here? I don't, do I?

9. Veronica Mars - This one, on the other hand, may require a little explanation. As I said before, I can't resist a great detective, and Veronica Mars is one of the best ever written for the screen. Before the show was recommended to me, I assumed it was a typical show for teenage girls, but it's far, far more than that. I've never been so surprised to like a show so much. Exceptional dialogue, compelling characters,
and enthralling plot. A++

Veronica_mars_4_medium
Hot. Smart. Spunky. Loves mysteries... Marry me?

10. The Wire - If you haven't seen it or don't like it, I don't know what to tell you... There will be many, many doctoral papers written on this show, no joke.

1 recs  |  Comment 74 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Sopranos and Seinfeld

Wow – no Sopranos and no Seinfeld. I’m shocked.

In Mack Brown We Trust!

by Cyrus on Jun 10, 2008 4:47 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

1. The Wire – Easily the best show in the history of television, and one of the great artistic achievements of our time.

2. Homicide – Another David Simon show; I haven’t watched this lately and I don’t know how well it will age, especially compared to its sister-show The Wire. But boy, did I love it when it was on.

3. Seinfeld
4. Six Feet Under
5. The Simpsons
6. The Sopranos – Lost its way a few times, but top-notch for the most part, not to mention changing the course of TV history.
7. Cheers
8. Deadwood
9. The Office – It’s starting to lose its mojo now, but Season 2 was one of the best things ever.
10. The Shield

Honorable Mention shout-outs to: Arrested Development, My So-Called Life, Brotherhood, Sports Night

by JudenSmithFan on Jun 10, 2008 5:14 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I don’t watch much TV, so I can’t go a full 10. Peter, if you love quirky detectives, where’s Monk?

1. MythBusters – Great premise, great cast, fascinating results, and real life (not CGI) explosions. Hard to beat that.

2. The Office – The most recent season was really hurt by the writer’s strike, but still funny.

3. Flight of the Conchords – I was sure by looking at it that this show was full of trendy, hipster BS. Turns out it has some, but the reason is to mock it. Goes off the deep end occasionally, but the main guys are hilarious.

4. NewsRadio – Agreed on this one.

5. Night Court – What can I say? I like humor with an absurd flavor to it.

by Year2 on Jun 10, 2008 7:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I love Monk

Very nearly made this list. Beat out by a hair by Columbo.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 10, 2008 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Psych

It’s a reasonably good show with quirky detectives.

by Bob LaBlog on Jun 10, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Characters welcome

It caught my eye on the promos. I’ve filed a mental note to check it out sometime. Thanks for the rec.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 11, 2008 12:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Where are the '90s childhood shows?

This from someone who watches almost no TV except sports games.
In no particular order:

1. Family Matters – Who didn’t love Urkel?
2. Duck Tales
3. Reading Rainbow
4. The Fresh Price – I can hear you start to sing, “In West Philadelphia, born and raised..”
5. MythBusters – Keeps me interested
6. The Office – agree with JSF that season 2 was the best
7. Lost – I’ve decided on 3 or 4 occasion to quit watching this. Never works
8. 24 – Edge of my seat every season despite similarities season to season
9. ?
10. ?

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 10, 2008 7:56 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No 1-4. I watch MythBusters when I can. nt whills

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 10, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I’m going to start this off by saying, I love a good drama every now and again. Please don’t mock me too much.

In particular order:
1. Weeds – my favorite new tv series. Can’t wait for season 4.
2. NewsRadio – I’m not sure I could explain it better than you PB
3. Seinfeld
4. Mythbusters
5. Jeopardy – I watch it everyday and it’s one of the few things I look forward to at the end of the day.
6. The OC – Great drama, great characters, great story lines and Rachel Bilson
7. Las Vegas – lots of hot bods and usually great story lines
8. Firefly – One show that fox should have never canceled. Probably the best show Whedon’s created.
9. House – who doesn’t love watching a know-it-all gimp being a complete asshole to everyone
10. Modern Marvels – I love the history channel.

by afaeguy on Jun 10, 2008 8:16 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Weeds is awesome

Not quite in my TOp 10, but a great DVD purchase

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 10, 2008 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

OC

The first two seasons were excellent, but I think I feel that way mostly because I was a senior in high school/frosh in college during those years. I guess I felt like I could identify. The writers did a great job of making you care for all the characters, at least until the 3rd season started.

by BigTexBD on Jun 11, 2008 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

my 10

1. Lost – This show, while admittedly zooming off the rails from time to time and requiring an extreme suspension of disbelief, is simply one of the most awesome shows ever on TV. You can argue it is over hyped and that it’s “lost its direction” or whatever, but you’d be wrong. The creativity and complexity of characters is just fantastic.
2. The Simpsons – How this didn’t make PB’s list when South Park did is beyond me. The Simpson’s mastered satire long before South Park was on anybody’s lips.
3. Ed- Although it only lasted 4 seasons on NBC (damn you NBC), it was an awesome show. The 10 dollar bets with Ed and Mike were awesome, as was Mike’s boss, Dr. Jerome.
4. Scrubs – This is honestly one of the funniest shows to make it on TV, it is also the little engine that could. NBC tried for years to stymie it with slot changes and crappy advertising, and finally they drop it, only for ABC to pick it up for a swan song season. It has lessened in awesomeness over the last 2 seasons, but it still makes me laugh. And Elliot is smokin’ as always.
5. The Wonder Years – People still trash this show, but I’ll never understand it. I can’t think of any show that so perfectly captured adolescence as this one. I only wish it was on DVD.
6. Weeds – This show is great for so many reasons, including the always hot Mary Louise Parker. Kevin Nealon is also the most perfect person they could have cast in his role on the show. Catch it on DVD if you don’t have Showtime.
7. The Sopranos – Yeah, I’m on the bandwagon. This really is a compelling show. It started off as an interesting take on the gangster genre and turned into so much more.
8. CSI Vegas – This is the original, and in my opinion, only good version of CSI. It has had its share of nonsense, like how every freakin’ person on the night shift ends up in some situation where their lives are endangered, and Sara is really annoying, but she’s off the show now, so it is clear sailing.
9. 24- I have to admit I’ve soured on 24 over the last few seasons…how many damn moles or fake moles can one counterterrorist unit have? But I’d be lying if I said I’d quit watching. I wish they’d bring back Elisha Cuthbert in some more torn t-shirts.
10. Gilmore Girls – Rounding out the top 10, and make fun if you will, but I started watching just because of Lauren Grahams’ hotness while sitting at home bored one night and ended up actually liking the show. Great dialogue and funny characters made this a fun show to watch. Plus it always helped when you knew what was happening when talking to the ladies…

Hook'Em!

by HornFanSean on Jun 10, 2008 8:26 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

re: CSI

I’m glad I’m not the only one to admit liking CSI. I’m fanatical about that show, and became even more so after the Quentin Tarantino episodes. Missing CSI at its beginning is the only thing I regret about living overseas for the first half of this decade.

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jun 10, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Now here's a topic where I have some expertise

5 Unmentioned All-Time Greats:

1. The Cosby Show. Cheers was great, but TCS was the best sitcom I’ve ever seen.
2. The X-Files (minus the last two seasons). My nomination for best sci-fi show ever.
3. Sports Night / The West Wing. Has anyone mixed comedy and drama better than Aaron Sorkin?
4. The Kids in the Hall. Monty Python is the nostalgic choice, SNL the popular one, but The Kids beat them both with sketch comedy that’s as relevant today as it was 15 years ago.
5. Cowboy Bebop. No other anime I’ve seen comes close to matching the excellence of this show. Perhaps the greatest TV soundtrack of all time, and one of the coolest lead characters.

by Meekrob on Jun 10, 2008 8:36 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I’ll put these in alphabetical order, since I don’t feel like ranking them, other than to say that Buffy is the greatest show in the history of television. Plus, this is off the top of my head, so I’m sure there are some that were left out.

Arrested Development – A comedy that was too smart and irreverent for its own good.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Simply the best show that deftly combined drama, horror, action, comedy, and suspense with consistently great writing and great acting.

Cheers – The Rebecca years were just as good, if not better, than the Diane years.

Friends – It gets derisively mocked by some, but for reasons totally unrelated to the quality of the show. And it stayed great throughout its run.

The Larry Sanders Show – Unbelievably funny with some of the best writing we’ve seen over the last two decades.

Lost – I can’t wait to watch how it ends, and it has definitely found its stride again after the season two hiccup.

Scrubs – The most realistic medical show on TV. It can be a little too whimsical at times for some, but I think it’s important to counter the seriousness that the doctors face on an everyday basis.

Seinfeld – There isn’t much more I can add to describe the greatness of this show.

Sports Night – Sorkin nailed it the first time for a show that was light years ahead of its time. I still miss it, but there is a special edition DVD coming out in a couple of months.

Veronica Mars – I’m glad to see this on your list PB, because this was far from typical teenage girl fare. One of the best father-daughter relationships ever depicted on the screen.

by Jason Mayer on Jun 10, 2008 8:51 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

In an effort to not repeat:

Some of my SciFi favorites that have not been mentioned:

1. Farscape – If you love character driven story, this space opera was freaking amazing. SciFi canned it early, but it finished off with a miniseries a few years later due to the fans outcry. Totally ridiculous at times, and totally freaking awesome. Great villians, great comedy, and smoking hot Claudia Black and Gigi. And Muppets!

href="http://www.achannel.ca/images/shows-barrie/farscape_lrg.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.achannel.ca/images/shows-barrie/farscape_lrg.jpg[/img]

2. Star Trek – The original series Ill put up there first, as it was as ground breaking a show as there ever was on TV. Campy? You bet. Politically driven? Much more than you first think it was. The Next Generation was a good show, and Deep Space Nine probably had the best story arc.

href="http://www.ugo.com/movies/star-trek-casting/images/star-trek-crew.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.ugo.com/movies/star-trek-casting/images/star-trek-crew.jpg[/img]

3. Babylon 5 – The special effects are laughable, but the universe and story of Commander Sheridan are nothing short of epic. Some of the best aliens ever are on this show.

href="http://homedir-a.libsyn.com/podcasts/9d5a82e02574ae6f30958bb6ca58041e/484e86de/scifitalk/images/peterjurasik.jpg" target="_blank">http://homedir-a.libsyn.com/podcasts/9d5a82e02574ae6f30958bb6ca58041e/484e86de/scifitalk/images/peterjurasik.jpg[/img]

4. Futurama – Quirkier than the Simpsons. Every episode in its short run was comic gold. Episode for episode one of the strongest cartoons ever done. Who doesn’t love Bender Bending Rodriguez?

href="http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/0/o/2/bender.jpg" target="_blank">http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/0/o/2/bender.jpg[/img]

5. Space Ghost Coast to Coast – Not nearly as strong as Futurama, many episodes were hit and miss, but when it hit, it was the funniest damn thing ever on TV. Episodes like Curses, Snatch, Chambraigne, Piledriver, with guests like Conan O’Brian, Moby, Bob Costas, and Shirley Manson. Man the good episodes are forever classics.

href="http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/7351/Space_Ghost_C_To_C.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/7351/Space_Ghost_C_To_C.jpg[/img]

6. Sealab 2021 – Dont talk to me, just go watch the first two seasons. But dont watch past that, Harry Goz died, and was the best character on the show, it went downhill afterwards.

href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/439003926_1570013e18.jpg" target="_blank">http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/439003926_1570013e18.jpg[/img]

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jun 10, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

God damnit

Fubared all the picture links… oh well.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Jun 10, 2008 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Looks like the work of Beergut! ;-) nt whills

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 10, 2008 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

So, you're clearly an [adultswim] fan...

and one of my new all-time favorite shows is The Venture Brothers. I’ve been so excited about the third season starting this year.

The show is just brilliant. All the Johnny Quest-ian references, the Star Wars nods, the subtle humor, the failure, the rampant sex and violence…I just don’t know if it can get any better.

by hornbone on Jun 10, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

amen to the battlestar galactica pick

my girlfriend - who absolutely hates anything remotely sci-fi - loves this show, too. seriously, some of the best writing on TV. see barking carnival’s excellent analysis: http://www.barkingcarnival.com/crazyjoedavola/frakkin-a

and, i also used to be a big Six fan, until i saw the maxim pics of grace park. OMG: http://www.beyondhollywood.com/asiancelebs/grace-park-in-maxim-magazine/

bleeding orange up in nyc. get a rope.

by cwofford on Jun 10, 2008 9:18 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Shows

In no particular order here are my top shows.

Veronica Mars – When my wife wanted to watch the first season on DVD, I didn’t know what to think. I ended up liking it much more than her. It is a shame the show got cancelled before I actually got caught up.

The X-Files – While it faded toward the end, the first five seasons were amazing. I loved how they would have some episodes dealing with the overall government conspiracy and others just focusing on an isolated case.

The Simpsons – The show is in a sad state now, but the first 7-9 seasons are as watchable as ever. There is rarely a moment in life where someone could not find a relevant Simpson’s joke to make about the situation. Phil Hartman’s death also had an effect on the Simpsons as he was one of the best and most consistent guest stars.

South Park – This is a show that was good in the beginning, but reached greatness once they started utilizing satire, parody and references to old TV and movie cliches. The show has definitely pushed boundaries, but never seems to do it just for the sake of controversy, usually having a corresponding message.

Scrubs – Yet another show that needs to die…like 3 years ago. I think the first four seasons were phenomenal, but then they started reusing old joke and plots again and again. Now I hear the show is moving to ABC for yet another season. This show has transformed from an entertaining show to a relationship show and now to a sort of family/’YES DEAR’ show. But, it makes my list because of how good it used to be.

30 Rock – The characters on this show are awesome. Alec Baldwin is always funny and Tracy Morgan is great at playing himself. I think this might be the funniest show on TV right now.

The Office – I hope it can keep going strong. I will certainly miss the Toby vs. Michael angle.

Seinfeld – I cannot even watch this anymore because I have seen every episode at least fifteen times. But it has provided me years of entertainment.

The Cosby Show – Bill Cosby could interact with a lampost and it would probably be funny. This is one of the first shows I watched regularly and I still catch an occasional episode to this day.

by JohnsonUT on Jun 10, 2008 9:18 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I think Scrubs was great up until the

sixth season. When everyone started having babies it got a little tougher to enjoy. I was still glad to hear it is back for one last season.

I want to see everything tied up and not a totally jacked up in the middle of the strike type ending, it deserves that at least after all the good laughs.

Hook'Em!

by HornFanSean on Jun 10, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Question...
Hot. Smart. Spunky. Loves mysteries… Marry me?

You were talking about the one with the hair, right?

I would just like to pimp Mythbusters for a second. I guess this falls into the same category of obsession as PB’s mystery fetish, as nothing on TV these days can ruin a productive day for me like a day-long marathon of Mythbusters. The show usually has three types of myths:

1.) Myths that are stupid. These are more on the show to let Jamie and Adam be themselves. They really highlight the reason that the show is great: Characters. Every time you laugh at Adam impersonating Jamie, you’re applauding the show’s chemistry.

2.) Legitimate myths. These are the biggest draw to the show, or are at least tied with the next category. My personal favorites are the ones where they try to build things using only period technology. Confederate Rocket, anyone? Steam cannon? Tell me you didn’t wish beyond wishing that the magnifying mirror death ray worked. Another interesting category is the series of survival myths. Getting out of a sinking car, buried alive (they put him in a casket and covered it with tons and tons of dirt!), and the like.

3.) Explosions. They blew up a cement truck. Seriously, if you haven’t see that episode, your life is not complete. The cement truck is there in one frame, and in the next it is not there. Unreal.

So there’s a little more to the show than at first you’d imagine. While they don’t seem to be completely scientific at times, part of the fun is griping about how they didn’t disprove such and such ridiculous myth that you don’t believe properly. This is one of the only shows I seriously watch.

By the way, BiC mentioned Space Ghost Coast to Coast. You’re right. If they had a good show, there was nothing better on TV. And imagine, they did all that with maybe 20 animations. I can think of shoot, zorak/brak explode, moltar pull lever, moltar nod, Space Ghost point, and not much else. Hilarious.

by Horn Brain on Jun 10, 2008 9:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

HB

The series of TNT explosions that failed capped off by exploding the whole freakin’ truck has been the highlight of my tv-watching life.

Come to think about it – I’ve peaked. It can’t get better than that. I should stop watching TV shows.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 10, 2008 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Water heater FTW

The episode where they set off the water heaters is by far my favorite. The cement truck was great, but turning a full-sized residential water heater (which virtually every house has) into a sub-orbital object was phenomenal. Who needs nitroglycerin when you can harness the horrendously destructive power of steam?!

So take that.

by Kahuna on Jun 10, 2008 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Completely forgot that one.

Agree, though. That was epic.

by Horn Brain on Jun 10, 2008 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Best high speed camera shot yet.

by Year2 on Jun 10, 2008 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

1. 24- jack bauer is the most bad ass character in television history. this link is just a small example. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An_EzHV8q2E
2. Lost- it just keeps getting better
3. Entourage- i idolize turtle (not really i just love this show)
4. Arrested Development
5. Family Guy
6. Scrubs
7. South Park
8. Futurama
9. Man Vs Wild
10.24- its so good it deserves to be on the list twice

Heres to the nastiest defense in college football 2008-2009

by Olemissreb451 on Jun 10, 2008 9:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hard to put them in order

These are ones I planned my life around
- MA*SH
- Star Trek
- Twilight Zone
- X Files
- Firefly
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Babylon 5
- Lost
- Monty Python

Now for the 10 best on now:
- Lost (again)
- Shield
- Battlestar Gallactica
- Bones
- Burn Notice
- Smallville
- Colbert Report
- Torchwood
- Bill Moyer
- Countdown (Olberman)

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Jun 10, 2008 9:23 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The Best Now

24-IMO, easily the best show on television.

Psych-I love this show, it is just one of those shows that is very fun to watch. Roday and Hill have excellent chemistry.

The Office-It was worse last season than before, but it was still watchable. It just has those “oh-no-he-didn’t” histirical moments.

South Park-Satire at its greatest, and I mean GREATEST. What beats the episode “Two Days Before the Day After Tommorow”?

CSI:Miami- I used to love the origional CSI, but somewhere down the road it just got way to boring and stupid, somewhere around the time Tarintino directed an episode. However, I am hooked on this spinoff. It has the crime scene moments but it is more or less an action show. Yes, its cheesy, but its awesome. Horatio is one of the best characters on television simply because of those moments at the beggining when he says something and puts his shades on.

Two and a half men-Has been on a downward spiral of late but before the last couple seasons this was a great show.

NCIS-Great action show, Mark Harmon is the GREATEST actor on the face of the planet. (Just Joking, but no, really he is)

Reaper-Really good show that is more comedy than anything else. The main character is good but his fat best friend sock is what makes the show, him and the devil anyways.

Dexter-I bought season one on DVD a couple months back and I am hooked. The show is a very well thought out drama and Michael Hall is excellent playing a serial killer.

Family Guy-Peter Griffin is the awesomest retard on in the world.

by Romo9 on Jun 10, 2008 10:38 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Star Trek
Battlestar Galactica
MASH
Veronica Mars
Seinfeld
The Simpsons
X-Files
Top Chef
King of the Hill
Aliens in America

by crocodile235 on Jun 10, 2008 10:52 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

screw it, i'm putting mine IN ORDER

1. The Wire – it’s not even close. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the greatest show in the history of television. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the most important show in the history of television. The only question still slightly lingering in my brain is whether this is the greatest work of art in the last 100 years of pop culture. I’m leaning towards yes. I cannot say enough about this show. It blows my mind every time I see it and I’m currently on my 4th time through the entire series. It’s one of those shows where you see an actor play another role and it freaks you out because you don’t think of them as actors; you think of them as real people. At this point, having seen every episode about 4 times, I know exactly when someone’s going to die or go through something terrible and I still cry every single time because they’re real people to me. I’m not being hyperbolic here either. Nothing has ever moved me like this show.

2. Arrested Development – still the funniest show I’ve ever seen and the closest any show’s ever come to fully pandering to my sense of humor. It rewards its devoted following unlike any other show, with in-joke after in-joke and refuses to make the humor easy for viewers. A favorite of mine, after Gob buys a boat called the Seaward (hint: rhymes with “C-word”) with corporate money: Michael: “Get rid of the Seaward, Gob.” Lucille, appearing out of nowhere: “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready.” [awkward silence] And then, a season and a half later, in the finale, Michael pulls out of the harbor in a boat called the “C-word.” I appreciate that.

3. The Simpsons – no matter how bland and repetitive it’s become, that’ll never change what it once was.

4. The Sopranos – it couldn’t sustain itself as long as it tried and parts of every season except the first meandered and were flat-out boring at times, but when it was at its best, it was the most artistic TV show ever.

5. Seinfeld – it had to be here somewhere.

6. Lost – there were some serious problems with this show in the second season and the first half of the third, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t my current favorite show on television again. The show has literally changed the way I think about what television can be.

7. 30 Rock – the heir apparent to Arrested Development. Not quite as absurd and not quite as funny, but the same type of show done extremely well. And all the New York City in-jokes The first half of the first season was mediocre but the show then really hit its stride and nothing on TV right now is funnier. Except…..

8. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – I hate to put this here because it’s such a one-note show without a lot of depth, but it’s just so damn funny, I don’t know what to say. I can’t help myself, I love everything about it.

9. NewsRadio – One of the most unconventional “3 cameras and a laugh track” sitcoms of all time, I just loved it. Every single character was hilarious. Jimmy James is one of my favorite TV characters ever. Hell, this show made both Joe Rogan and Andy Dick funny. You have to give points for that. And you’re right PB, it was never the same after Phil Hartman died, despite a valiant effort from Jon Lovitz.

10. Friday Night Lights – It veers into melodrama sometimes and the plot can be a little too O.C. from time to time for my tastes – i.e. the Landry storyline in season 2 was flat-out stupid. But the acting here is phenomenal, the drama so intense, the emotion so visceral, the family interactions so true to life, that I can’t help but love it. And it doens’t hurt that every single female character is ridiculously hot, including one of the hottest TV moms ever.

Honorable mentions: Weeds, The Riches, Colbert Report, Scrubs, The Office (British and American versions), South Park, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Flight of the Conchords, Kids in the Hall.

by billyzane on Jun 10, 2008 11:19 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

forgot a few honorable mentions...

Freaks and Geeks, the West Wing and Sports Night. Also, just for the hell of it, i LOVED Saved by the Bell.

by billyzane on Jun 10, 2008 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Word

Arrested Development needed a couple more years. It sounds like there will most likely be a movie. I hope it can be close to as good as the series.

Cheers.

by jimmer on Jun 10, 2008 11:30 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Just old School top ten

Frontline. Actual journalism on TV

Green Acres. Surrealistically veering from Stupidity to Kafkaesque paranoia. Best watched with a large pitcher of Martinis during business hours.

Wide World of sports. Always pushed the the limits of great production.

Pee Wee”s Playhouse. The show most likely to make you say “What the Hell”

Saturday Night Live, More talent has gone through this one show than most Networks.

Afternoon kids shows circa 1968
. Some stupid clown/ local host shows old cartoons and comedy shorts. Comedy genius of the Three Stooges, Laural and Hardy, with Crazy cat, Coco the Clown, Betty Boop, Warner brothers great’s Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Fritz Freleng.

Austin City Limits. Who knew music on TV could work.

Addams Family. Goth and humor/satire still ahead of it’s time.

Married with children. Finally a chink in the wall of the the fortress of the puke inducing happy TV family.

Soap.Altmanesque ensemble with topics to adult for prime time.

by Xerxes on Jun 10, 2008 11:33 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

My Top 10

1. The Office – This is really more of a co-favorite, as I absolutely revered the British show, prejudged the American show to be absolute garbage, then found myself proven more wrong about anything I’ve probably ever been wrong about in my entire life. While unquestionably Season 4’s writer’s strike and NBC’s fool hearty decision to force the hand of the writing staff into 4 consecutive hour long episodes to start the season (which while ripe with subtle quips I notice for the first time every re-watch left the episodes feeling unnecessarily drawn out) was a mistake, the show’s first 3 seasons are amongst the finest in television history. I can’t even begin to calculate how many times I’ve called it a week night with an episode on in the background for the half dozen or so times. And while I’m justifiably weary of how the spin-off will effect the make up of the writing core (rumor has it Michael Schur aka Ken Tremendous is headed to co-head the venture), I’m optimistic Season 5 will serve as a return to form for easily the best adaptation ever and arguably one of TV’s best overall to date.

2. Arrested Development – I won’t waste too many words echoing what’s already been said more times than necessary, but easily the finest ensemble cast in television history. “But check your lease man, because you’re living in Fuck City!”

3. Senfield – A show about nothing, and despite a painfully mediocre finale, probably the best sitcom ever made. The re-runs and DVDs ability to age with time speak to the show’s incredible strength. As a bonus, anyone in the least bit into hip-hop/rap (really whether they cared for the show or not) owes it to something to cop one of music’s brightest, rising stars’ Wale’s latest, the Seinfeld themed “The Mixtape About Nothing”.

3. The Simpsons – I say this with a huge caveat: Basically first 10 seasons only. To me The Simpsons are Ken Griffey Jr: early promise followed by a mind blowingly amazing stretch that has us questioning if what we were witnessing was amongst the best ever, followed by a lame duck stretch riddled with injury, mishaps, and something, that while occasionally still capable of hitting it out of the park, is but a shell of its former self.

4. South Park – It’s amazing how a show who’s first couple seasons made it seem like a flash in the pan, potty mouth humor show aimed at early teens would evolve into one of the strongest, most relevant, and consistently amazing pieces of social commentary and satire. South Park ostensibly killed The Simpsons and Family Guy with their brilliant two part episode proving exactly why Family Guy is absolutely unwatchable.

5. Extras – Ricky Gervais understands the art of the small screen, as well as the half life of British comedy perhaps better than anyone. In many ways Extras takes what “The Office” did and evolves it to the next logical conclusion. If anyone can watch the Patrick Stewart episode without laughing their asses off, they probably greatly pine for more episodes of “Yes, Dear” and “Everybody Loves Raymond”. But alas, the proof is in the pudding.

6. House, M.D. – I was never able to get into any crime investigation or legal dramas, but my child hood ambitions of practicing medicine lead me to love the medical mystery drama that is House. The cast and writing is tremendous, and while much of Season 3 left much to be desired, Season 4 bounced back with a vengeance satirizing reality TV while introducing new characters amidst the familiar tried and true formula.

7. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia – I was really apprehensive about this one, and frankly didn’t get even after a few regular viewings. After committing myself to watching an entire season on DVD, I finally saw what I was missing and became absolutely obsessed with the show. 3 seasons later I can’t wait for the 4th this summer and think this is easily one of the funniest shows on TV today.

8.Friday Night Lights – I have to admit; I’m a bit of a sucker for decently written, teen melodrama. You can’t be honest with yourself if you can’t admit that the first season or two of Dawson’s Creek were solidly executed from a writing stand point and that there was a more than palatable level of snark and wit in the first season of The O.C., but if there’s ever been a show that doesn’t take the finest elements of the genre, as well as incorporate engaging back story, and a must see what happens next universe of characters, FNL would be this. There’s probably never been a show that you could spent an evening with a lady friend watching you both would be so enamored with and not be embarrassed to say as much. The absolute absurdity of how they won every single game of their fateful championship season aside, the football seasons are also praise worth as some of the best filmed. I also get more than my fair share of kicks seeing where I spent many a friday nights myself, Nelson Field, in back shots constantly.

9. King of the Hill – From the creative team that eventually would bring us The Office, I initially resisted this puppy as well (see a trend?) before finally giving it a chance and realizing what I’d been missing. Even the new episodes, while not quite as strong as the early ones, are true to form.

10. My one absolutely guilty pleasure: The Real World – I tolerate very little reality television, but this one started it all and still provides the highest array of unintentional comedy on television today. It’s a sociological character study on the American Dream, and what happens when you put 7 or 8 of the most myopic, shallow individuals you couldn’t stand in high school and college on 8 freighters all headed for one another at full speed. If anyone could watch Los Angeles’ Joey put down an entire 2 liter of White Z, black out, still not pass out til 8 the next morning, and threaten all of his roommates’ lives without eating up the unintended hilarity, you’re missing the point. “The Real World” remains amongst the trashiest pleasures on TV to date.

by WorstFan on Jun 10, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Extras

I’d totally watch Patrick Stewart’s movie.

by jc25 on Jun 10, 2008 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A few oddballs I secretly coveted that merit some sort of mention...

-Fox’ short lived military science fiction war drama Space: Above and Beyond was a strong favorite during my middle school years.
-While everyone will undoubtedly revile me for this, I was one of the 20 people that actually rather enjoyed David Milch’s John from Cincinnati. Yes it was convoluted as fuck, difficult to follow, and had an absolute cop out of a series finale, but the show’s narrative was not unlike a three act play with tremendous character dialogue based interaction and slow arching progression. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the fact that Austin Nichols reps the 512…
-The already mentioned Freaks and Geeks. Anyone who likes the 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Superbad should peep what the Apatow crowd was up to almost a decade ago. Another absolutely stellar ensemble cast.

by WorstFan on Jun 10, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

my favs . . .

CURRENTLY RUNNING:

A. House (cynicism rules; I’m not suppose to use sarcasm near my kids, so I live it vicariously here)

B. Whose Line is it Anyway? (2000’s ROTF funny)

C. Man vs. Wild (the only intelligent Brit on the “telly”)

D. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (good guys win)

E. My Boys (my honey, PJ, doesn’t exist in real life)

NOW, MY “10” LIST:

1. SNL (top of the class all by itself, especially the early years; anyone who didn’t write down Saturday Night Live simply forgot that the TV is still on, and that the action isn’t really being played out in his/her living room)

2. Miami Vice (south beach before South Beach; the thongs during the opening credit were enuf to justify this show)

3. Max Headroom (pre-1984 comedy in George Orwell’s dark world)

4. The Equalizer (good guys win, circa 1980’s)

5. Star Trek: TNG (gotta love the Borg, anything that would spawn Seven)

6. Cheers (1980’s lighthearted funny)

7. Seinfeld (1990’s seriously funny)

8. ER (the medical world is alien to me; but this is what I’d imagine it’d be like)

9. West Wing (politics are alien to me; but this is but what I’d imagine it’d be like)

10. McHale’s Navy (b&w series always on after-school, lighter side of classic movie JFK and PT109 that would replay near Thanksgiving)

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." J.Piper

by bravobevo on Jun 10, 2008 12:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I don't have that much to add...

In no particular order:

1.Arrested Development
2. The Office
3.Seinfeld
4.The West Wing
5.Battlestar Galactica (by the way PB, the current season has been amazing so far)
6.The Simpsons
7.South Park
8.Lost
9.Six Feet Under
10.The Venture Brothers (everyone needs to tune to Cartoon Network Sunday nights to watch this brilliant show…though I’ll admit it’s pretty nerdy and fits a niche audience, probably not for everyone)

To add: I’ve never seen the Wire, though it’s on my netflix queue, never seen Friday Night Lights, and I’ve never seen Firefly, which I’m guessing I would love, and is also on my netflix queue.

by hornbone on Jun 10, 2008 12:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

All lists incomplete.

Any list without Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot is incomplete.

by billb on Jun 10, 2008 12:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comedy

I mostly watch TV for sports or escapist laughter, so Top 10 (non-sports)...

Arrested DevelopmentThis list is alphabetical, but this is the runaway favorite.

Big Bang TheoryOnly one season (will there be more?), but the funniest and smartest current show. Added bonus eye candy.

FriendsYeah, I know… couldn’t stand the characters and their stupid lifestyles, but it always made me laugh.

CheersNever gets old. (Plus, every time they show Woody, I see NBK – it’s a good kind of creepy.)

I Love LucyFirst rate, the grandmother of them all. Simple, yet refreshing.

Malcom in the MiddleTop notch cast and very funny, especially Hal.

NewsRadioMost missed this gem the first go ‘round. Have been catching up on Hulu and love it.

ScrubsRefused to watch at first (my better half’s ex was an M.D. and that’s all I heard about when this was on), but relented and it’s probably in my Top 3.

SeinfeldSomething about this show annoyed me at first (like Friends), but undeniably one of the best. Laugh even at the (syndicated rerun) commercials.

The OfficeHilarious, but almost too real. Did my time in offices. Never. Again.

Honorable mentions to:

All My Children (since it began) and One Life to Live (since early 80’s college) – The best soaps, with great writing and the best looking casts bar none.

Hell’s KitchenKind of a one-trick-pony, but I can’t miss an episode.

Twilight Zone (original) – Amazing writing, acting, direction, photography. Just amazing.

Brown Control to Major Applewhite...

by bfaut86 on Jun 10, 2008 12:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Revision

Not that anyone cares, I’m sure. But…

Friends replace with King of QueensF-ing hilarious, good male humor, Jerry Stiller and ultimate eye candy Leah Remini.

Brown Control to Major Applewhite...

by bfaut86 on Jun 11, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nice work

I was watching KoQ late last night and thought, “I should have added that to my BON list”.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 12, 2008 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Shocked that no one has mentioned

Mr. Show. Hands-down THE funniest sketch comedy this side of Python. 4 seasons of pure gold and at least one drop-to-your knees moment per episode.

by zam88 on Jun 10, 2008 1:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

1.) Mrs Show
2.)The Office (BBC)

3.) Arrested Development
4.)Twin Peaks
5.)Mr.Show
6.) The State
7.) The Office (NBC)
8.) SNL
9.)30 rock
10.) Always Sunny in Philly

"...think about it: why would they lie.?..if you're dead, you can't smoke."

by burntorangenance on Jun 10, 2008 1:28 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

For creativity's sake...

I’ll actually try to do mine Mt. Rushmore style

Best drama – Lost
Best comedy – Seinfeld
Best animated – South Park
Best other – Jeopardy

And since so many of my other favorites have already been listed, here’s 10 yet discussed:

Boy Meets World: Best TGIF show. Woefully underrated next to Family Matters and Full House, but definitely better. Used to watch the Disney 1 am showings in college; I don’t think they have those anymore.
Animaniacs: Cartoon of choice growing up. Always wanted to memorize the country song, but never got passed Panama.
Undeclared: My Judd Apatow pick. Hilarious.
Band of Brothers: Not a TV show, but the best thing HBO has ever shown. Period. The Wire? Sopranos? Uhh, no. Band of Brothers.
America’s Best Dance Crew: Uhh, better than American Idol, anyway. Besides, AC Slater? The other guy from NSync that could actually sing, only he never became famous like Justin Timberlake? Yes and yes.
Saved by the Bell: Which reminds me, this show was pretty good, too. Not Boy Meets World good, but still good.
Even Stevens: Shia LeBouf’s only redeeming quality.
Everyday Italian: Giada. Yes, please.
Cash Cab: surprisingly watchable.
Stump the Schwab: I used to know one guy that would get 95% of the answers right. Borderline ridiculous.
Real World: Austin: Just to see where they went. The blonde was pretty good-looking as well.

by jc25 on Jun 10, 2008 1:29 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Anyone else watch Win Ben Steins money back in the day?

Good choices jc25; I used to watch Boy Meets World

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 10, 2008 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was at its best before Kimmel left. No one after him was as perfect a sidekick, but the show was great.

by Year2 on Jun 10, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Duh

Ok, I just realized that was 11, since I didn’t bold Everyday Italian. Consider Giada a bonus.

by jc25 on Jun 10, 2008 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

cash cab

Good show indeed.

by Blitzburgh on Jun 10, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm

Honorary One (too good for the list): The Wire

1. Seinfeld
2. The Office (British)
3. The Simpsons
4. Freaks and Geeks (cult hit bump)
5. Curb Your Enthusiasm
6. Gilmore Girls (wonderfully written, punished for the music)
7. South Park
8. King of the Hill (for a show that’s been on the air more than a decade, criminally underrated. Just goes about its business)
9. Arrested Development
10. I Love Lucy (honorary inclusion)

Man, I have watched a lot of terrible television. Thank god nobody said Gray’s Anatomy.

by SMQ on Jun 10, 2008 1:47 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd like to add the X-Files and the Colbert Report

I’m going to be remembering other shows all day, and probably looking them up on YouTube. Damn you, Bean.

That is all.

by SMQ on Jun 10, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dr. Katz

Man that was an awesome show. I don’t know how they decided on wavy animation, but it sure worked.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 10, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Katz and Home Movies

Those are my wife’s two favorites. I like Home Movies better. There’s just something about a character named Brendon that appeals to me.

by Bob LaBlog on Jun 10, 2008 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The comment section

Has reminded me of quite a few shows I love that slipped my mind in coming up with a list.

It’s also given me some new ones to consider; I’m due for a new DVD set to burn through.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Jun 10, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why Gilmore Girls?

Why do people like this show? I get that the dialogue (just the raw words) can be witty, but I would probably rank it as the worst acting I’ve seen on a show. I remember in one act play in high school we had a drill where we would say our lines as fast as we possibly can to try to eliminate the pauses between speakers, and that’s all they do on that show. Do I not “get it”? It’s extremely annoying to listen to them say things like “Wellyoushouldn’tbesoupsetaboutit”“I’mnot,you’retheoneactingupset”. Especially when they just stand there and say their lines like they’re reading aloud in English class. My girlfriend loves this show but it just frustrates the hell out of me. Sorry about the rant, I’ve done it before.

by Horn Brain on Jun 10, 2008 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've noticed the same thing

The primary actors must have great lung capacity. The should all be swimmers.

It's a Horns' world. Even Aggies play hoops with a burnt orange ball.
Is it football season YET?

by Speedway on Jun 11, 2008 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Probably for the same reasons you like Veronica Mars

I didn’t get that show, though I like Kristen Bell.

I like almost any show that sticks with realistic characters over time in a way that doesn’t strain my credulity, and Gilmore Girls is as good at that as any show I know. The fast-talking annoyed me at first, too, before I actually watched it (I don’t know why I actually did watch it) and was hooked pretty quickly—in context, neither dialogue nor delivery has ever bothered me. There’s a lot of awful superficial things you have to get past – the music, the teen girl marketing, the occasionally obvious Warner Bros. Record artist placement in conversation, the entire seventh season. There are many, many caveats to this show. In non-sentimental moments, though, it has a sensibility I really like, and it builds something over time. The whole is better than the sum of individual episodes.

That said, my opinion of it is definitely on the downward curve, so who knows what I might think if I go another year without seeing it and suddenly catch a the wrong episode.

by SMQ on Jun 11, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

To be clear...

... it was PB that liked Veronica Mars. I’m no mystery buff. Thanks for attempting to make that show make sense to me.

by Horn Brain on Jun 11, 2008 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

seinfeld

it begins and ends w/ seinfeld

by ikaroni5150 on Jun 10, 2008 6:00 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ah yes,

home movies. Reminds me of some years ago when me and my buddies decided to make a music video for Linkin Park’s “In the End”, in which I accidentally destroyed the ceiling fan in my friend’s living room with my Wilson tennis racket/Fender Stratocaster. Anywho, here’s my dumb box top 10:

1. Seinfeld: one of those shows where you might have seen every episode a million times but it never gets old. Kramer is possibly the greatest television character ever (mad props to Frank Costanza too).
2. Lost: I don’t even know where to begin with this one, it’s simply stunning.
3. Dragon Ball Z: 20 bucks says no one has even heard of this one. It can be a little slow, with the characters basically talking sh*t to eachother 90% of the time, but the fight scenes are amazing.
4. Man vs. Wild: Bear Grylls is the baddest man on the planet, I don’t care what anyone else says. He would absolutely man-handle Les Stroud or any other posers.
5. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Who wouldn’t like to watch this fat guy go around the country and eat a bunch of burgers and other tantalizing, greasy foods? To quote David Spade, I can just hear him getting fatter.
6. The Simpsons: ‘Nuff said.
7. SNL: The Celebrity Jeopardy skits are greatness.
8. Jackass: Crazy guys doing pretty much every dumb thing ever known to mankind. What’s not to like?
9. Wildboys: See above
10. Ren and Stimpy: Anybody remember this old gem? Man, I loved this one, it was quite possibly the most vulgar cartoon ever created.

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, as long as you come in first.

by Super Saiyan Patrick on Jun 10, 2008 8:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

AW's

Comedy: Seinfeld and there is no second place.

Drama: West Wing

Not mentioned yet but one of my older favorites, Northern Exposure.

--AW--

by awiggo on Jun 10, 2008 8:20 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

No love for Unsolved Mysteries?

I appreciate the Colombo reference PB.

Do game shows count also or is for a different diary? I used to always watch Win Ben Stein’s Money.

by goingforthecorner on Jun 10, 2008 11:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

joining late, nothing new...

and INPO…

South Park
The Office
Scrubs
It’s Always Sunny in Philly
Freaks and Geeks
The O.C. (first 2 seasons)
the Flight of the Conchords episode of HBO’s One Night Stand (more than a year before they had their own show, they were on an episode of ONS; it was the funniest 25 minutes of “stand-up” I’d ever seen. I was disappointed at their series, though)
Deadliest Catch
SprotsCenter when it was Olberman and Patrick
SNL in the 90s and until about 04-ish
Entourage (first 3 seasons)
The Simpsons

by BigTexBD on Jun 11, 2008 10:37 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

love this thread

there are clearly some recurring favorites out there, but I of course have to throw out my support for Arrested Development as the tops. The Wire is great and probably #2 for me but good drama is easier to come by than good comedy.

You also have to give AD props as the leader in this new live-action documentary styled cinematography.

We can all take solace – “in February 2008, cast members Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Bateman confirmed in interviews that a future motion picture may be in the works, and that although Hurwitz “does not yet have a script, he has a good, solid understanding of what he’d like to do for the movie.”[3] Will Arnett also confirmed a movie was currently being planned on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

Crystal Balls

by MMHorns on Jun 12, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hmmmmm... television...

...love making ‘best of’ lists…especially when it’s conjecture and personal opinion and not completely hard-fact, black and white, no disagreements possible, like, for example: “Best college football player who ever strode the earth” which, as every sentient being knows begins and ends with one Vincent Paul Young, Jr.

The thing about lists… Way back in the ‘80s, when Bill James wrote his fantastic Historical Baseball Abstract, he got to the section where he was going to rank players, and started with a definitional problem – are we talking about Peak Value, or Career Value. He has a long analysis of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays to illustrate. In his peak 5 year prime, Mickey was undoubtedly (and sadly, since I’m a Yankee-hatin’ Willie-lovin’ kind of guy…) the better player. Conversely, over the course of their respective careers, Mays undoubtedly was the superior ballplayer. So James ended up with two separate lists – one for Career Value, and one for Peak Value.

So it is with ‘best’ or ‘favorite’ TV shows… If a show is just incandescent for a season or two, then either fades into insignificance or, just goes away, how do you compare it to one that remains consistently good for an extended run? How much do you reward a show for going out on top instead of limping to an agonizing close (for some reason the Bill Cosby Show just jumped into my mind there… )? How about the British and American versions of The Office? I think the British is way funnier, and even more painful, but the British mindset of: get in, do some great shows, then get out… it’s in some ways closer to a mini-series… although that sure avoids the late-in-the-run, jumped-the-shark seasons so many great shows have endured… I won’t do two completely separate lists, but this distinction would probably change the order at the top. And the rest of my list, I’m probably leaning a lot more on peak value – the best (which usually equate to: the earlier) seasons…

Over the course of a long, long time, and through various substantive cast changes – the kind which are usually fatal, Cheers remained top-notch. Superbly written, with a great cast, astonishingly outlandish characters who still remained somehow real… simply the most consistent great show ever. And bravobevo – I love ‘em both, but I think you’re completely backward on Cheers being “lighthearted funny” and Seinfeld being “seriously funny”... Anyway, by almost any standard, Cheers wins the “Career Value” award… but…. I don’t think there was a single episode or even season that was as flat-out funny as Fawlty Towers. And there comes the dilemma- how do you rate Fawlty, considering there were only about a dozen shows total??? Since I don’t think you could come up with a dozen best episodes of any show and have them contain more laughs than the entire run of Fawlty Towers, I’d have to give Fawlty the “Peak Value” award.

So… my list:
1a – Cheers
1b – Fawlty Towers
3 – Hill Street Blues - for those of you who were not there, everything you see on television and take for granted started here… Nothing like it had ever been on the tube before. It did not sustain the level of the first few seasons, but… man, what a mountain top that was… I’m still, by the way, completely in love with Veronica Hamel.
4 – It’s Garry Shandling’s Show - it was so completely original; I don’t think anyone had played with the ‘third wall’ like that ever before. I also really liked the Larry Sanders Show, but still like this one better. It should be on the list for the theme song if nothing else… “This is the part where we start to whistle…”
5. – The Rockford Files – a TV detective who keeps his gun in the cookie jar and lives in a trashy trailer and hangs with his dad… they avoided pretty much every cliche they could… Also loved the old Maverick show, and even the short-lived Nichols series. Mr. Garner could really carry a series…
6 – Seinfeld - just find somebody who’s never seen this show and try to explain it to them, and see if you can even get across why it was so funny… you can’t… but if they’ve ever seen the show, just mention one of the catchphrases and they laugh…
7 – Arrested Development - maybe its premature demise kept it from aging poorly or getting stale… but man, I wish we’d had more of it…
8 – Monday Night Football - and here the distinction of Peak/Career really comes into play. I’m talking about the first few years, and most especially the very first season, before Frank Gifford came along (quick – who was the play-by-play guy that first season, hoss? Ah yes, how sweet the wine…). It’s hard to imagine nowadays just how big an event MNF was those first few seasons. Or how big a deal those halftime highlights narrated by Cossell were – remember, back then halftime shows on Sunday were not catching up on scores and highlights from around the league, they were likely to be actual halftime shows from local high school bands… you probably had read about a game in Monday’s paper, but it was very unlikely that you’d seen any of the highlights from it. And even for loser matchups, host cities just dressed up and turned out for MNF.
9 – NewsRadio- My take is the same as the others who mentioned it. One thought – this really epitomizes what I mentioned earlier about the cast changes in Cheers. NewsRadio never really recovered from the loss of Phil Hartman, yet Cheers managed to get through losing not only Coach, but Diane as well… and stayed at the top of their game. That’s just crazy good when you think about it…
and 10 – Late Night with David Letterman - So how better to end a top 10 list??? Not his show now… but his early mid-day show (thank goodness for my 75-lb. huge, top-loading early-model VCR!!!) and the first few years of his Late Night. Before it all became rote. Back when the show was brought to you by Larry "Bud" Melman…

I don’t know how in the world I left out The Sopranos, or The Simpsons, or SCTV, or The Beverly Hillbillies, or the first few seasons of Saturday Night Live, when people actually planned their weekends around it… but there you are… And also, I’ve never actually seen it, but from everything I’ve heard, both here and elsewhere, The Wire might be right up there. It’s definitely on my list to try, once I get enough time to get hooked on another show…

by Pflash on Jun 12, 2008 2:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Figured I'd offer a late list

It’s difficult to put them in any order since I love them all.

1. Futurama. It took up the mantle that the Simpsons had tossed into the proverbial dust bin. All the intelligence and character of the early seasons of the Simpsons, yet with a narrative structure that allows for a lot more variation without the hackneyed bullshit that characterizes The Simpsons these days.

2. Daily Show/Colbert Report. Required viewing 4 days a week. Insightful and incite-ful at the same time! No one is funnier than Colbert when he’s on a roll.

3. Freaks and Geeks. Does any show capture the trials and tribulations of High School so hilariously and poignantly at the same time? Plus, Lisa Cardinelli is any high school nerd’s dream girl.

4. Firefly. It’s a great show with witty dialogue, a unique setting, and memorable characters. I saw Serenity in the theater and it got me hooked on the T.V. show. A casualty of Fox’s inability to give shows a chance.

5. Arrested Development. Another Fox casualty, along with Firefly and Futurama. What more can be said about it? Groundbreaking.

6. The Office. A solid show with great characters. What gives it the most staying power is its ability to find comedy in the mundane, as opposed to outrageous. The newer seasons have gotten away from this formula to some extent, but nonetheless it remains the current king of sitcoms.

7. John from Cincinnati. Some of the best dialogue I’ve ever heard in a television show.

8. South Park. The most biting, accurate social satire in television. More importantly, it’s on the right side of the Family Guy problem.

9. Seinfeld. The Gold Standard in television comedy, and one of the few shows that I’m able to watch the same episode over and over again.

10. Mythbusters. Shit blows up, red-head is hot, no ghost hunting or virgin mary finding, and most importantly shit blows up. Therefore, the best show on Discovery.

by AgnosticTheocrat on Jun 17, 2008 7:07 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Burnt Orange Nation, a blog dedicated to University of Texas athletics. Get BON updates via Twitter.
Start posting about the Longhorns »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Motionless Offense
Texas_old3_small
From #1 to 1 and done
Worsley_small
The best player for Kansas tonight was Jordan Hamilton
2828_75589049482_500259482_1575116_316800_s_small
2010 Big 12 Baseball Preview -- Return to the Promised Land
Small
Shall we start a firerickbarnes.com website
Small
tight end position
Small
Spring Football notes
Small
2009 NCAA Team, 2010 NIT Team
Small
Parking for Kansas game tonight?
2401104_1__small
Way too early 2010 Football Season predictions

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Site Editors

Pb3_small Peter Bean

Dark_pumpkin_small awiggo

Menbooger_small GhostofBigRoy

Contributing Authors

Gse_multipart20834_small 40AS

Pigeons_small billyzane

Zombie_profilepic_small Horn Brain

Jersey_front_small 54b

Small whills

Me_small burnt in ny

Small TheElusiveShadow

Rosebowl_small txtwstr7

Brandedbevo1024x768_small dimecoverage

Official Partner of CBS Sports