TV Shows That I Do Not Look Upon with Contempt and Dismay
Submitted by yvgeny on Wed, 10/05/2005 - 03:08
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- Arrested Development - This has got to be one of the funniest shows ever written. The jokes are so subtle and they just keep coming. TV perfection.
- Mr. Show - David Cross is also one of the reasons why I love Arrested Development.
- I'm Alan Partridge - Brits can do white trash just as well as Americans.
- Reading Rainbow - I seriously became a voracious reader partly due to this show.
- Monty Python's Flying Circus - No comments required.
- Seinfeld - Of course.
- Curb Your Enthusiasm - There is nothing I like more than watching people in uncomfortable situations.
- Da Ali G Show - Ditto from above. Some people can't watch this stuff for long because it makes them want to cover their eyes or leave the room because it so awkward or embarrassing but I eat this stuff up.
- X-Files (earlier seasons) - Very mysterious and great running story arc in addition to well written single episodes but the novelty wore off in the later seasons and it got too self-referential after a bit.
- Jeopardy - It has remained popular without a lot of gimmicks (except for the Clue Crew or whatever) because the drama is built right into the gameplay. We saw that with the hoopla over Ken Jennings.
- The Shield - I've heard that cops love this show. It's because this isn't your typical cop or fake forensic science or L&O clone show.
- Homicide: Life on the Streets - My other favorite cop show because the interesting stuff wasn't really the plots or crimes but the characters. And all the actors were awesome and it was impeccably filmed.
- Red Dwarf - Brits and sci-fi comedy. Why are they so good at it?
- Get a Life - Chris Elliot really was ahead of his time and he needs to do another show.
- The Simpsons - Another iconic show that doesn't need any comments.
- Futurama - Like the Family Guy, it was short-lived but is so damn smart and funny.
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Absurdist humor at it's best. The greatest thing about this show is that it doesn't make any sense.
- The Family Guy - I was reading a Family Guy quotes website and, man, the funniest quotes were basically transcripts of whole episodes because that's how packed this show is with intelligent humor. Glad it's back on.
- Spaced - Comics, gamers, young slackers, artists, all the pop culture references. It's no wonder this same crew did so well when they made Shaun of the Dead.
- Black Books - What's funnier than an angry, bitter, drunk Irish bookshop owner?
- Mythbusters - I think they've pretty much exhausted every interesting urban myth and have gotten a few wrong even. Although scientists have just now confirmed what this show showed about quicksand, the Archimedes mirror actually worked even though they 'busted' it. Still, I like watching them blow things up.
- Battlestar Galactica - Not just a good sci-fi show. A good show period.
- The Daily Show - Finally a show that says everything I wished other editorial and news analysis shows would say, "Give me a f%$king break, that is a load of bulls%^t."
- Newshour with Jim Lehrer - The single best source of news and very thorough. It's only one that does a careful selection of stories that actually matter and then takes the time to report them. It's the closest thing to reading a newspaper but on television. I can't tell how angry I am with the disparity between the quality of print journalism and the quality of television journalism. Jim Lehrer and his team bridges that gap somewhat. Local and cable news are dismal on their own merits but in comparison, just look no better than reality shows.
- Countdown with Keith Olberman - I've never had occasion to disagree with this guy.
- Real Time with Bill Maher - Underneath his sneer, he has such a pragmatic view of politics and culture.
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien - He is the king of late night. He actually has funny stuff that isn't just safe and stale and old and is circa 1980 and caters only to the over 40 crowd.
- Hardball with Chris Matthews - He's loud and funny.
- The McLaughlin Group - Started watching in elementary school because of SNL and I've been hooked ever since.
- Freaks and Geeks - It took the 40 Year Old Virgin to get everyone to notice Apatow is a comedic genius?
- The Venture Brothers - Somebody had to spoof Johnny Quest sometime, right?
