The Greatest TV Shows Ever

[Nancy]

Cosmos: A Personal Voyage

best TV series ever

[meadow lark]

Okay, maybe not the best ever, but I am currently binge watching True Blood.  Good vampire porn. 

[psu256]

Huh! ...Who's that at the door?!  :D

It's Secretariat!

doot doo do do/doot doo do do doooooooo, doooo... :D

LOL, people that don't watch TLLS are probably so confused. And if they try actually watching an episode to get them unconfused, they'll be even more confused afterwards...

P.S. I love when celebs come on the show and call the horse Seabiscuit.

P.P.S. I enjoyed when Craig discovered that there are motorized fans in Secretariat's nose.

[ketchup]

Breaking Bad is pretty fantastic.  Only show I've ever gone out of my way to watch on cable.

Community is great. I find The Big Bang Theory painfully unfunny, but that's just like, my opinion, man.

[Daley]

Justified needs some love up in here.

Also, the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

[jat9449]

I love me some Mad Men!

[spider1204]

Dexter!  Go ahead and let yourself sympathize with a serial killer, it's ok.

[dragoncar]

Friends and how I met you mother

No love for Dawson?

[killingxspree]

House

[Kriegsspiel]

Okay, maybe not the best ever, but I am currently binge watching True Blood.  Good vampire porn.

I've watched True Blood a couple times through (well, only up to season 4, that's all I have), it's great.

I also loved House, I watched every season through the library (it took a while).

I also think that The Wire and The Shield are the two best cop shows.

[EK]

Okay, maybe not the best ever, but I am currently binge watching True Blood.  Good vampire porn.

Haha glad I'm not the only one that enjoys the thoroughly entertaining smut that is true blood.  I certainly wouldn't call it the best, but it's such good fun!!


I'm surprised no one has mentioned Game of Thrones... Maybe not best ever, but so good!!!  Makes me appreciate having free access to hbo and dvr at work.

[basd]

My favourites come in two flavours..

Scandinavian series (crime / politics) :
- Bron / Broen (The Bridge)
- Forbrydelsen (The Killing)
- Borgen

Manly stuff (ahem..) :
- Gilmore Girls
- Parenthood

[marty998]

It took me a while to get into House, but I did start to enjoy it from about middle of season 2. After House drove a car through Cuddy's house you could tell they were getting desperate for plots, but the rot probably started earlier than that when Cameron and Chase left and came back and left and you get the idea. Last couple of years have been a bit pathetic to be honest.

I mentioned earlier that my favourite was Boston Legal, but there's a ton of other memorable shows I loved to watch. 3rd Rock from the Sun was a gem, along with Becker and as someone mentioned earlier Frasier. I was too young for Cheers though.

I still like CSI & NCIS (originals only) and the Law and Order franchise was great but has run its course (how many ways can you murder someone, seriously). SVU can be heartbreaking at times, some very intense themes and storylines in that one.

Some classics come out of the BBC. The Thick of It is simply brilliant.

[brighteye]

The Simpsons

I am surprised no one has mentioned them yet.

Although Dawson, Pacey and Joey will always have a special place in my heart :-)

[EMP]

Since most of my favorites have been mentioned already, I'm going with Quantum Leap. My ten year old self is still in lurve with Dr. Sam Beckett.

[davisgang90]

Big Bang Theory FTW!

[Daley]

The Simpsons

I am surprised no one has mentioned them yet.

Probably because the Ian Maxtone-Graham era now outnumbers the good episodes 2-1 (that and the median age of the board is probably young enough to not be old enough to remember back when it was GOOD, let alone old enough to understand the cultural references that helped make it as such). It's hard to call a series a great classic when 2/3rds of the entire quarter-century run has never surpassed formulaic mediocrity.

You are right, though... the first seven seasons (and a handful from season eight) were spectacular and well withstand the ravages of time.

[KulshanGirl]

You guys have named most of my favorites.  But still ...

Dead Like Me

[ketchup]

The Simpsons

I am surprised no one has mentioned them yet.

Probably because the Ian Maxtone-Graham era now outnumbers the good episodes 2-1 (that and the median age of the board is probably young enough to not be old enough to remember back when it was GOOD, let alone old enough to understand the cultural references that helped make it as such). It's hard to call a series a great classic when 2/3rds of the entire quarter-century run has never surpassed formulaic mediocrity.

You are right, though... the first seven seasons (and a handful from season eight) were spectacular and well withstand the ravages of time.

This. I was thinking in the context of current shows, and The Simpsons, while still on the air apparently, hasn't been worth watching in at least ten years.  But the early stuff is gold.

[MrsKensington]

How has no one yet mentioned NYPD Blue?

Ahhh, the demons and redemption of Andy Sipowicz, one of the best characters ever written. (Thank you, Dennis Franz and completely crazy David Milch.)

I know I'll probably get knocked for this, but I also really enjoyed The Closer (and am enjoying Major Crimes).

[psu256]

The Simpsons

I am surprised no one has mentioned them yet.

Probably because the Ian Maxtone-Graham era now outnumbers the good episodes 2-1 (that and the median age of the board is probably young enough to not be old enough to remember back when it was GOOD, let alone old enough to understand the cultural references that helped make it as such). It's hard to call a series a great classic when 2/3rds of the entire quarter-century run has never surpassed formulaic mediocrity.

You are right, though... the first seven seasons (and a handful from season eight) were spectacular and well withstand the ravages of time.

This. I was thinking in the context of current shows, and The Simpsons, while still on the air apparently, hasn't been worth watching in at least ten years.  But the early stuff is gold.

I was reading yesterday that if you notice, there are no cable channels that carry The Simpsons. Apparently, when first syndicated 22 years ago, the syndication agreement had a "no cable" clause. The article stated that no one at the time ever imagined the show would be on for 25+ years and 530+ episodes. Fox is apparently finally attempting to drop the "no cable" clause from its syndication agreements. (And one article I read speculated that Fox may even be planning a new "All Simpsons" cable station.)

[tomsang]

In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense that Breaking Bad appeals to Mustachians.

1) Entrepreneurship
2) Taking control of your own destiny
3) Flouting the laws and what society deems acceptable behavior
4) A few cubic meters of dollars bills in a discount storage unit
5) Mike.

Agreed. I love it for all of those reasons.

After hearing about this show over the past several years and reading about it here, the wife and I decided to pull it up on Netflix this weekend.  Well 11 episodes later, I went to work with bleary eyes and completely worn out on Monday.  I was going for episode 12, but the wife snatched the Hulu remote away and hid it. It was like, she snatched my meth pipe.  That show is like crack or Meth!  Not that I would know about either of those, but it is still very addictive. Only 37 more episodes until we are caught up.  If work didn't get in the way, that would be done by tomorrow.     

[psu256]

In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense that Breaking Bad appeals to Mustachians.

1) Entrepreneurship
2) Taking control of your own destiny
3) Flouting the laws and what society deems acceptable behavior
4) A few cubic meters of dollars bills in a discount storage unit
5) Mike.

Agreed. I love it for all of those reasons.

After hearing about this show over the past several years and reading about it here, the wife and I decided to pull it up on Netflix this weekend.  Well 11 episodes later, I went to work with bleary eyes and completely worn out on Monday.  I was going for episode 12, but the wife snatched the Hulu remote away and hid it. It was like, she snatched my meth pipe.  That show is like crack or Meth!  Not that I would know about either of those, but it is still very addictive. Only 37 more episodes until we are caught up.  If work didn't get in the way, that would be done by tomorrow.     

You know, I was at the library yesterday, and stopped to read the back of the Season 1, Disk 1 DVD and I thought about getting it. I know so many people like the show, but I'd really need to know more about it to be convinced it was worth watching. I can't imagine myself sympathetic to a drug maker. (Unlike a really swell guy like Dexter the serial killer.)

[matchewed]

In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense that Breaking Bad appeals to Mustachians.

1) Entrepreneurship
2) Taking control of your own destiny
3) Flouting the laws and what society deems acceptable behavior
4) A few cubic meters of dollars bills in a discount storage unit
5) Mike.

Agreed. I love it for all of those reasons.

After hearing about this show over the past several years and reading about it here, the wife and I decided to pull it up on Netflix this weekend.  Well 11 episodes later, I went to work with bleary eyes and completely worn out on Monday.  I was going for episode 12, but the wife snatched the Hulu remote away and hid it. It was like, she snatched my meth pipe.  That show is like crack or Meth!  Not that I would know about either of those, but it is still very addictive. Only 37 more episodes until we are caught up.  If work didn't get in the way, that would be done by tomorrow.     

You know, I was at the library yesterday, and stopped to read the back of the Season 1, Disk 1 DVD and I thought about getting it. I know so many people like the show, but I'd really need to know more about it to be convinced it was worth watching. I can't imagine myself sympathetic to a drug maker. (Unlike a really swell guy like Dexter the serial killer.)

The protagonist (Walter White) is a character that you can feel sympathy for. Give the first season a shot, I almost guarantee you'll have more sympathy for him than you would for Dexter (might just be my own experience shining through but whatever).

He's a man looking out for his family who is too prideful to rely on help. He'll make sure that his family is taken care of no matter what.

[meadow lark]

Love me some Dexter.

[jfer_rose]

After hearing about this show over the past several years and reading about it here, the wife and I decided to pull it up on Netflix this weekend.  Well 11 episodes later, I went to work with bleary eyes and completely worn out on Monday.  I was going for episode 12, but the wife snatched the Hulu remote away and hid it. It was like, she snatched my meth pipe.  That show is like crack or Meth!  Not that I would know about either of those, but it is still very addictive. Only 37 more episodes until we are caught up.  If work didn't get in the way, that would be done by tomorrow.     

This reminds me of a skit from another fun show, Portlandia. The couple spend the whole weekend watching episode, after episode of a tv show they've never seen before. When it is time to work, they call in sick so they can keep watching. This goes on until they get fired from their jobs but then of course, eventually, the series ends...

[hybrid]

It took me a while to get into House, but I did start to enjoy it from about middle of season 2. After House drove a car through Cuddy's house you could tell they were getting desperate for plots, but the rot probably started earlier than that when Cameron and Chase left and came back and left and you get the idea. Last couple of years have been a bit pathetic to be honest.

When that show was in its heyday I wanted a T-shirt that simply read....

"It's not lupus"

House was the very definition of formulaic to me.  Here is how damn near every episode went (or at least what it felt like).

Minute 1 - something bad is about to happen.....
Minute 2 - but not to THAT guy, to THIS guy
Minutes 3-36 - What could it be?  Nope.  Nope.  Run more tests!  Still Nope.  It's not lupus.
Minute 37 - Some random event happens around House that triggers a revelation.  He's cured!
Minutes 38-42 - the meaningful dialogue you waited the first 37 minutes for.

[Eric]

Seinfeld is my fav.  There's an episode that will match to just about any situation you can find yourself in.

I liked the first 3 seasons of Breaking Bad.  I thought it went downhill really fast after that, and I've stopped watching it.  It went from something semi-believable to something so totally over the top that I lost interest.  I think I'm the only one though.

Has anyone ever seen Suits?  My wife and I really like the first two seasons of that.  It's a lawyer show about life at a top law firm in NYC, with the twist that one of the main characters doesn't have a law degree, but instead a photographic memory.  That description doesn't make it sound that good, but it's reasonably well acted and usually pretty funny.

[KulshanGirl]

Better Off Ted
Foyle's War
First three seasons of Lost

[marty998]

It took me a while to get into House, but I did start to enjoy it from about middle of season 2. After House drove a car through Cuddy's house you could tell they were getting desperate for plots, but the rot probably started earlier than that when Cameron and Chase left and came back and left and you get the idea. Last couple of years have been a bit pathetic to be honest.

When that show was in its heyday I wanted a T-shirt that simply read....

"It's not lupus"

House was the very definition of formulaic to me.  Here is how damn near every episode went (or at least what it felt like).

Minute 1 - something bad is about to happen.....
Minute 2 - but not to THAT guy, to THIS guy
Minutes 3-36 - What could it be?  Nope.  Nope.  Run more tests!  Still Nope.  It's not lupus.
Minute 37 - Some random event happens around House that triggers a revelation.  He's cured!
Minutes 38-42 - the meaningful dialogue you waited the first 37 minutes for.

Yes all true, but I'd like to add it's never amyloidosis either!!

[footenote]

It took me a while to get into House, but I did start to enjoy it from about middle of season 2. After House drove a car through Cuddy's house you could tell they were getting desperate for plots, but the rot probably started earlier than that when Cameron and Chase left and came back and left and you get the idea. Last couple of years have been a bit pathetic to be honest.

When that show was in its heyday I wanted a T-shirt that simply read....

"It's not lupus"

House was the very definition of formulaic to me.  Here is how damn near every episode went (or at least what it felt like).

Minute 1 - something bad is about to happen.....
Minute 2 - but not to THAT guy, to THIS guy
Minutes 3-36 - What could it be?  Nope.  Nope.  Run more tests!  Still Nope.  It's not lupus.
Minute 37 - Some random event happens around House that triggers a revelation.  He's cured!
Minutes 38-42 - the meaningful dialogue you waited the first 37 minutes for.

Yes all true, but I'd like to add it's never amyloidosis either!!

"House" should perhaps have been my favorite, because I have a disorder (sorry to tell you, it is in the lupus family) that was a House episode. (My diagnosis took literally four months. So I wish House could have dropped by to speed that up.)

[spider1204]

"House" should perhaps have been my favorite, because I have a disorder (sorry to tell you, it is in the lupus family) that was a House episode. (My diagnosis took literally four months. So I wish House could have dropped by to speed that up.)

Even if it meant he would come inches away from killing you first? : p

[bkru21]

Mad Men, especially the first couple seasons

[Dr.Vibrissae]

Minutes 3-36 - What could it be?  Nope.  Nope.  Run more tests!  Still Nope.  It's not lupus.

When I was in practice one of the other vets hated this show, because she said that she'd get the right answer every time too if she could run every last test she wanted.

It's not perfect, but I also loved the first few seasons of Bones, although if you are in science/pathology/medicine it often requires the suspension of disbelief, and ignoring obvious inaccuracies in diagnostic capabilities.  But who doesn't love a mystery?

[footenote]

"House" should perhaps have been my favorite, because I have a disorder (sorry to tell you, it is in the lupus family) that was a House episode. (My diagnosis took literally four months. So I wish House could have dropped by to speed that up.)

Even if it meant he would come inches away from killing you first? : p

Yeah, my docs beat him to that <lol>.  And Hugh Laurie is cuter, so....

[Will]

I will cast my vote for Dexter.

[RetiredAt63]

Going back to the oldies (Mary Tyler Moore, MASH, WKRP (and didn't we all envy Jennifer's hair back then?)), the British Man about the House was extremely funny - it got ripped off for American TV as Three's Company, which was pretty lame.

Non-fiction TV (my Canadian bias coming through?) Rick Mercer Reports (the CBC does something right), Til Debt do Us Part.

[madage]

You guys have named most of my favorites.  But still ...

Dead Like Me

Yep, Dead Like Me was fantastic. Don't know if I've ever seen a bad Mandy Patinkin performance.

Another short-lived series I really enjoyed was Wonderfalls. It was cancelled after four episodes in 2004. You might be able to get all 13 episodes on DVD (region 1 only) from your library. The DVD's are (of course) available for purchase online, as well. I don't think it was ever released for streaming.

[Self-employed-swami]

I can't believe this hasn't been said yet!

Law & Order


Best show EVER.  I cried when the actor that played Lennie Briscoe died (Jerry Orbach).  I loved him, and I always had a bit of a crush on McCoy.

[Daley]

I didn't mention it before, but I should. The original BBC Life On Mars.

[savingtofreedom]

What is wrong with you people ;)

The Wire

This.  The wire is the best show ever and it's not even close.

Agreed!

[kkbmustang]

I'm going to go with season one of "Alias".

Seriously. This show rocked.

Also, Orange is the New Black. Netflix original programming. (Take that cable!)

[kkbmustang]

And also The West Wing and Ally McBeal.

[madage]

Also, Orange is the New Black. Netflix original programming. (Take that cable!)

Yep. House of Cards is another excellent effort from Netflix.

[MrSporty]

* Suits                  (why anyone didn't mention this is a wonder to me!)
* Sons of Anarchy (------------------------"--------------------------------)
* Game of Thrones
* Shameless (American version)

[ace1224]

I can't believe this hasn't been said yet!

Law & Order


Best show EVER.  I cried when the actor that played Lennie Briscoe died (Jerry Orbach).  I loved him, and I always had a bit of a crush on McCoy.

+ 1,000,000

[WageSlave]

The Simpsons

Probably because [...] the median age of the board is probably young enough to not be old enough to remember back when it was GOOD, let alone old enough to understand the cultural references that helped make it as such

I was gonna mention The Simpsons, but you guys beat me to it.

I could argue that many of my college (97--01) friendships were built around a mutual love of that show.  When we weren't watching it, we'd spend hours just talking about it.  Remembering our favorite parts and whatnot.

[spider1204]

Shameless (American version)

I'm loving this show now, especially their more entrepreneurial activities.

[Self-employed-swami]

I can't believe this hasn't been said yet!

Law & Order


Best show EVER.  I cried when the actor that played Lennie Briscoe died (Jerry Orbach).  I loved him, and I always had a bit of a crush on McCoy.

+ 1,000,000

Thank you!  At least someone else around here, has good taste!

[arebelspy]

I can't believe this hasn't been said yet!

Law & Order


Best show EVER.  I cried when the actor that played Lennie Briscoe died (Jerry Orbach).  I loved him, and I always had a bit of a crush on McCoy.

+ 1,000,000

Thank you!  At least someone else around here, has good taste!

I've never seen it, but my schema around it is that it is an old person's show.