Thursday, October 25, 2007

MeTube

Deep in an unrelated thread (on sleep) at Toast's place, the topic of television was raised. It started with "Greatest Sitcom of All time" and became a general debate on television in general. I thought I'd sit down for a moment and throw my thoughts down.

First of all, it should be noted that between my Kids' Bedtime Duty, and my freelance workload, I hardly watch television at all right now. Even with the Sox in the Series, I am TiVoing, and/or catching games online, not always live. So any judgements on current television are going to be speculative or based on year old data (at best).

Sure-fire shows I would watch if I had the time: The Daily Show, Colbert Report...um...that's about it.

Shows I enjoyed recently, but may have slipped: The Shield, Rescue Me, Definitely Slipped: Grey's Anatomy, 24, Scrubs, Without a Trace

Shows I've heard really good things about that I wish I could see: The Wire*, The Office, Heroes, Deadwood*, Battlestar Galactica, 30 Rock, Prison Break, Jericho

Fantastic (recent) shows I mourn the loss of: Arrested Development, Firefly (which I never saw, but I loved "Serenity"), actually good Simpsons

Recent guilty pleasures: Everwood, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars

Shows that seem to me to be utter crap/overrated: South Park, Family Guy, CSI: Miami, Entourage

All-Time Favorites: Homicide, good Simpsons, The X-Files, Seinfeld, Star Trek (original and TNG only)

*I imagine all these HBO-type shows are good, but I will NEVER pay for them, so if I ever see them, it will be on DVD from the library.

So that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Feel free to have at it in the comments, and I will add things as they occur to me...

9 comments:

Toast said...

I would put Arrested Development in the "overrated/utter crap" category. Tried watching that a few times and was like "What the fuck is supposed to be so great about this show?"

I have no "Guilty Pleasures". I'm incapable of feeling guilty about anything I enjoy.

Toast said...

BTW, this would make a good blogmeme.

michelline said...

I don't think Scrubs has slipped. I may have a different perspective as I only started watching last year. Now that I've seen them all, I can't think of any real duds. It was only last season they did the musical show, that was awesome.

Shows I've heard really good things about that I wish I could see: The Wire*, The Office, Heroes, Deadwood*, Battlestar Galactica, 30 Rock, Prison Break, Jericho

I watch The Office, Heroes and Battlestar Galactica and they're all good. Especially BSG. I used to watch Prison Break, but I got tired of it.

The Simpsons isn't hitting every show nowadays, but it's demise is much exaggerated. BTW, the movie was great.

Both Family Guy and South Park are really good, in different ways.

It seems nobody in our group but me watches Numb3rs which is really well done (stupid spelling notwithstanding). Also, the original CSI is still operating at a high level. Much better than its spinoffs.

Toast is right, there are no such things as guilty pleasures. Fuck anyone who puts you down for what you enjoy. :).

Anonymous said...

Shorter for me to list the series I watch when they're in season: Heroes, Journeyman, Rescue Me, Nip/Tuck, Torchwood, Doctor Who, Burn Notice, The 4400, and The Dead Zone. Only 2 of those on network TV.

John Howard said...

I'm with Chris, The Simpsons demise is greatly exaggerated.

Also, I agree with Toast, I could never get into Arrested Development.

Count me in n the not feeling guilty, either.

Toast said...

Burn Notice?

Mr Furious said...

Burn Notice

Is that the show about the CIA operative who's been "retired"? I remember seeing some ads about that...On USA or something?

As for the "guilty pleasure" designation, if I actually felt guilty about it, I wouldn't have mentioned them. I guess all I'm saying is, I recognize they are NOT particularly good shows, or they're cheesy, yet I enjoy them.

Check that—Everwood was a fantastically-written show, and well played all around. It was just a total chick show...

Mr Furious said...

Too bad for you guys about Arrested Development, it took me a few episodes to catch on, but I swear, I have never laughed harder.

Give it a shot on DVD sometime.

Mrs Furious said...

I would put Arrested Development in the "overrated/utter crap" category

That show was fucking hilarious! I almost broke me legs once while watching that from laughing so hard and working out on the treadmill at the same time. Mr F didn't think it was as funny as I did... but seriously that is my all time favorite comedy!

Everwood I miss you...

and Mr F you forgot to mention Judging Amy... you know you had a man crush on Bruce!