Patrick Pittman makes a good case for Homicide: Life on the Streets being the best TV show ever. I loved Homicide and am convinced it would have found a great audience in this age of TiVo and quick-to-DVD (it was a difficult show to catch on Friday nights). Re: best TV ever, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and M*A*S*H have to be near the top of the list...what are your favorites?
My fourteen-year-old self would say Parker Lewis Can't Lose, though I'm not sure it'd hold up if I got a chance to watch it now.
The Office is quickly becoming a favorite. The BBC version is brilliant, and the US version is close behind.
Old School? The Adventures of Pete and Pete and Two Stupid Dogs.
The Wire - an HBO series about crime in Baltimore. It was created by David Simon, the same guy who wrote the book behind Homicide.
Best ever: The Andy Griffith Show; Second Place: Seinfeld; Third Place: M*A*S*H
The Simpsons, M*A*S*H, Scrubs, The Shield, and though it only lasted part of a season, Firefly, because it was the best sci-fi I've ever seen on TV...
Seconding The Wire. In my estimation, easily bests The Sopranos.
I second Homicide - Life on the Streets. Was great. As far as ground-breaking dramas that proved incredibly influencial, I'd also give props to Hawaii Five-O and Kung Fu. X-Files, Law & Order, ER all came with an uncommon level of quality for an uncommmonly long run.
Seinfeld, Scrubs, Hogan's Heroes and The Brak show.
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned The West Wing. Although excessively idealistic at times, for sheer quality of scripting (the best dialog of any show I can think of) and camera work, it's got to be right a the top.
If limited to name 1 show, The Simpsons for consistent writing quality.
The Cosby Show was awesome, and important.
Cheers was fun, and scandalous for a young me.
The Office was uncomfortably brilliant, but shortlived (more like an extended mini-series or a telenovela)
West Wing; I came in late to this show, but trust me, im catching up quick.
I prefer the science shows, like Nova, Nature, and Modern Marvels.
One has to wonder why the Science channel attracts such less-than-scientific (i.e. sleazy) advertisements .
-Jerry
www.evconvert.com
Does anyone remember SportsNight?I thought that was a perfect show.
Homicide is definitely at the top of my list as well. Other favorites include: Freaks and Geeks, Cupid, The Adventures of Pete and Pete (on Nickelodeon) and M*A*S*H.
All that have been mentioned plus MythBusters, FrontLine and Recess.
I remember Sports Nights, and was gonna say the same thing. As for dialogue, I preferred the snappy, quick wit banter of SN over the West Wing any day. But, the show never found an audience and it was a quickly gone.
Absolutely the West Wing.
Sort of a Fawlty Towers of our time and country
Law and Order--Each series is unique in its own way. It's hard not to be impressed
by the series' longevity as well. Besides, how can you go wrong when the Law and Order crew works with
the Homicide crew? The occasional tie in between the two shows is great.
Hmmm.
Firefly didn't last too long, but was pretty great. When Buffy was good, it was really good. The early years of Cheers. The Ed Sullivan Show had some pretty good acts. I can see why some would include The West Wing (again, early years for me). Up there with M*A*S*H, I'd put All in the Family.
Right now, the only show I watch with any regularity is Corner Gas.
Freaks and Geeks and Sports Night are both great, and excellent to watch on DVD, but for my money nothing compares to Arrested Development. In fact, I can't believe that nobody has mentioned it yet. This show is fantastic: absolutely hilarious. The first season is out on DVD, and the second comes out on October 11th. If you haven't seen it, give it a chance. It takes a few episodes to gain strength (because each episode builds on the last), but by the time you've reached the middle of the first season, you realize just how great it is. It's one of those shows that gets better every time you watch it. (My wife has watched the first season three times in the past three months.)
Arrested Development!
I can't remember a cop drama that I watched on a more religious basis. I saw nearly every episode. And that's B.B.C. (Before Bram Cohen.) I liked everything about it. The screenplay, the cinematic style, the dialog. The cases were almost never contrived, and yet so evocative. And of course, especially Andre Braugher's character.
If I ever get murdered I want Pembleton on the investigation (and Nate Fisher to console my wife....hmmm, actually skip that).
I think Mystery Science Theater 3000 deserves to be on the list as well. It inspired me to never shut up while watching a bad movie.
Oh. And the freakin' BOX!
I thought Moonlighting had some excellent writing and the chemistry between Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd was always engaging. I also loved Northern Exposure which was unique in its quirkiness. As for current shows, Lost has quickly risen to "all-time" status in my book.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Northern Exposure yet. I loved that show, even after Rob Morrow left. Too bad most folks don't want to watch a show after the lead character leaves.
All the shows here are greats. My wife and I also watch a number of BBC shows (no, not Eastenders). We really enjoyed Monarch of the Glen, which is kind of like a Scottish Northern Exposure.
HBO's Deadwood by far.
Arrested Development. easily the best written/acted comedy to grace the television screen.
Bryan, I'm glad you enjoy NX, too. Lost is really great as well. Both go to show that good writing can make any oddball idea turn great.
My favorite show is a CBC comedy called "Made In Canada" which is about a Canadian TV production studio ,and it stars Rick Mercer
On my list there's Mystery Science Theater 3000, ER, and Northern Exposure gets a nod too. Comming from the UK I'd have to add TopGear and Red Dwarf. Oh, and Transformers.
And another vote for Sports Night. Best. Show. Ever.
Honorable mentions:
Couplings (BBC version - I've never laughed so hard at a TV show)
Anything by Joss Whedon
That Girl - because she was everything I wanted to be
The Wire is easily one of the greatest shows of all time.
American Network TV: Northern Exposure & The Simpsons. American Cable TV: Mystery Science Theater 3000. British TV: The Office, Monty Python. Canadian TV: The Vacant Lot (Knee Slap!), Kids in the Hall.
Seinfeld, I'd say. For non-comedy shows, 24.
My So-Called Life.
When I was a kid I used to watch this old cartoon from Japan called G-Force and then renaimed Battle of the Planets. I wouldn't even know how to rate it today but as a little kid, it was the coolest.
All of mine have been said, but I will reiterate: 24, Scrubs, and Sports Night. I have also gotten into Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks now that they are on DVD.
As far as the British comedies I vote for Father Ted. Another show with sadlt too few episodes but each one is a gem
The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Green Acres, Cheers
The Wire is easily one of the greatest shows of all time.
Good point. All you Homicide fans (and I'm one of them — my wife and I have watched all seven seasons on DVD over the past couple of years) should be aware that HBO's The Wire is produced by the same creative staff, led by David Simon (who wrote the books on which both of these are based).
The first season of The Wire is, to my mind, easily superior to nearly all of Homicide. It's fantastic stuff, and if you liked Homicide, you should check out The Wire.
For comedy, I'd add "Mr. Show" and "Strangers with Candy" to the usual suspects (Simpsons, Seinfeld, etc). Would "The Daily Show" count?
Freaks and Geeks should definitely be at or near the top of the list. It's cancellation is one of the greatest indictments against the television industry ever (besides the continued tabloidization of the news media).
Here goes my list...Kinda newest to oldest...there are very few shows I watch religiously but these are a good sample:
Arrested Development - Has enormous potential. Just f-ing watch it already!
Scrubs - NBC is truly retarded!
Lost
Battlestar Galactica - New Series - Seriously...it's very good!
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Simpsons
Seinfeld
X-Files
Moonlighting
Northern Exposure
NCAA Basketball Tournament
Arrested Development
Family Guy
Freaks & Geeks (and on a lesser scale Undeclared)
Seinfeld
Six Feet Under
The Office (BBC)
MacGyver
Quantum Leap
Currently...favorite TV includes:
Lost
Entourage
The Office (US version is really funny)
Scrubs
Alias (has fallen off lately, but is still great)
Family Guy
There are several new shows this fall that look pretty good. I'm glad to see that networks are returning to the realm of scripted television. Reality is tired.
Father Ted, Black Books, The Office, Sopranos and Six Feet Under.
Oh, and a guilty pleasure, the Gilmore Girls.
As for american TV, I'd go with:
- Seinfeld,
- Six Feet Under
- Friends (yeah, yeah... I know...)
- Cheers,
- E.R. (I particularly enjoy the latest seasons),
- Simpsons,
- Saturday Night Live.
We also have great tv shows down here in Brazil, which most of you don't know:
- A Grande Família ("The Great Family" - hilarious!)
- Casseta e Planeta (A SNL policital/cultural satirical thing going on).
The Daily Show, hands down. Absolutely the smartest, sharpest show on television, and I'm glad that they've finally started to get some recognition for it in the past few years.
Say what you will about the longevity of the Simpsons, that show is STILL hilarious, though when I catch earlier episodes in syndication I'm struck by how much more defined the "plot" of each episode was.
Also, Arrest Development, which I've been watching on DVD, has this bizarre blend of subtlety and madness in its humor that you rarely see on television. Definitely unique among current comedies, especially for FOX (on the flip side of that, stay the hell away from "The War at Home," a comedy that is offensively bad.
I have to second a few nominations: Arrested Development (Only if they kill it at the end of this season. The current rumor is that Henry Winkler will be leaving only to be replaced by former Happy Days alum, Scott Baio.) , The Office (UK/US), Spaced (This is my personal favorite. If you haven't seen it, do so.) And winner of the best premise, without any followthrough. G4TV. It seems like they're always 2 steps behind the "blogosphere." It feels a lot like getting an eCard from your grandmother, only to have her tell you later how novel it was..
Sorry for the double post, but I can't believe I forgot to mention Joss Whedon's Firefly. Yes, it's a space/western, so yes, people use hyperdrive to fly to planets where they then fight for cattle with shotguns, and while it takes a little getting used to, it is SO GOOD. Well worth the cost of the DVD. I can't wait for the movie.
I love House and Lost. The early seasons for Alias were good too (last year was meh). I loved The West Wing of a few years ago.
I saw someone mention Firefly.
Oooo, let's not forget Due South!
CSI is entertaining, as is Numb3rs. Medium is all right. Prison Break too.
Keeping an eye on Invasion now.
I have not had the chance to watch Six Feet Under and the Office, but I'd like to. The new Battlestar Galactica: I only saw the pilot, and did not get to watch the rest. Promising.
._. I tried to make a heart for Firefly, but the system wouldn't accept it. Sorry. Fireflyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! When I heard the actors use Chinese expressions, that tipped it for me. Hehe.
Babylon 5 is good too.
I'd HAVE to go with Deadwood for sheer 'engagingness', scripts, direction, photography, performances, art direction, music..
I think there are a lot of great recommendations here that I'd agree with (Kids in the Hall, the Office, etc.), but I'm surprised Futurama didn't get a nod. Right when the Simpsons started to jump the shark, Futurama showed up and delivered the goods. I still blame Fox's Sunday Night Football for killing it off.
Homicide: Life on the Street is my favourite of all time... but best? I think to be the best show you have to
demonstrate some sort of wider cultural impact. Because of the dunderheaded moves of the NBC schedulers
that never happened.
Current fave: Dog the Bounty Hunter, featuring a surprisingly endearing and caring case of characters.
I have the simpsons memorized. family guy is always a comfort. 6ft under was excellent, watched every season. we only got tv recently, but we rent or bittivo shows and we just completed season 1 of lost. that was good fun, and i'm pretty amped about season two.
we wait till someone recommends a show, then digest a season quickly.
I'd put St. Elsewhere slightly ahead of Homicide. Best comedy is Fawlty Towers.
I really loved Homicide, but to me the Wire is even better. It's good to see that so many other people feel the same way. For the uninitiated: it's hard to get into at first, but once you do, there is nothing else like it.
Two to pick up if you havent seen them: The Shield and Veronica Mars.
Out of the newer crop: Prison Break, Rome and Weeds are shaping up alright.
I was surprised to see that it took so long for Futurama to be mentioned. I love that show. The Simpsons is still great. And Mystery Science Theater 3000 is fantastic.
Putting aside my early faves (The Patridge Family, The Brady Bunch, ugh), I'll say The West Wing and X-Files. I also loved MST3K when Joel was on it.
I've got to second the nominations for Northern Exposure, Arrested Development, CYU, Seinfield, the Daily Show and the Sopranos. One that hasn't been mentioned, and is really an excellent show, is the first season of Murder One. Its on DVD now.
Homicide, without doubt. And better than the wire. I must be watching a different show than everyone else. It's not even close.
And st. elsewhere ahead of homicide? Even worse.
I'm not good at "all-time" lists, but I would like to point out my all-time favorites in two other categories...
Best Educational Show: Good Eats
If you get Food Network, give this show a shot. Alton Brown is a little dorky, but his show is intelligent, humorous, and certainly doesn't "feel" like a cooking show.
Best Game Show: Press Your Luck
Pound for pound, this was the most exciting half hour of television there was in the mid '80s. The remake of this show is horrible, and no other game show has matched its intensity. No whammies, no whammies and STOP!
A wider cultural impact is not a function of a "best show". The width of cultural impact is a function of television programming and successful marketing, at least, it is in the States. Meaning and impact on a personal level is a function of a "best show". Homicide nailed it.
All these people's faves look like they were taken right off a list of top 20 rated adult primetime network television dramas. (http://www.rateitall.com/t-6-tv-drama-shows-current.aspx) What a surprise. (Of course, they look like my list too. :P )
Arrested Development, Battlestar Galactica (the new one), the Venture Brothers
hmm... think the author of this piece has seen The Wire?
i'd venture not -- because that, my friends, IS the best TV show ever, far and away.
Just because it hasn't been mentioned: The Newsroom.
Wow, Jason, if you liked Homicide, you'll be absolutely blown away by The Wire (and I know this has been said several times). Still, it's an amazingly realistic and progressive show about the drug war, life on the streets, crime, and urban development. Each season is structured as one large plot -- i.e., no single episode stands on its own -- giving the show a novelistic feel. Season 1 is great, Season 2 is probably the best season of television I've ever seen, and Season 3 delves into social and urban policy worthy of Jane Jacobs.
Also, Deadwood is the closest modern television has ever approached Shakespeare. Seriously. Here's a sample soliloquy from season 2:
A man, as it happens a rival of mine, learning the secret of a great
man's lieutenant, would make that lieutenant his slave. My rival
knows that expanding the circle of the informed, dilutin' his power,
will confound his intention, so he takes precaution to be sole sharer
of his secret. (chuckles) Then the world being the world…(drinks)
along comes a half-assed knight-errant, Utter, Hickok's ex-partner, to
put all my rival's plans at risk. I'd seek audience with Utter,
verify my thinking. He earns his bread shipping packages. And as the
dimwit nobility that made him intercede may now make him reticent,
you, Chief, will be my prop and ploy. Whilst I seek to draw him out.
(He walks over to the chair in front of his desk, a package on it. He
sets his shot glass down on the desk and sits in a neighboring chair.)
I congratulate myself on having kept you around. Why make a show of
disposing of you was my fucking thinking. (Pours another shot) It's
not like we need the storage space. And if there's a chance in a
thousand you people have been praying right, (looks up) why get your
bosses attention? (drinks) Anyways, I've no plans of us partin'
company. (He gets up, takes the package by a rope handle) As you will
note…I have inscribed – (opens door) no address. (He leaves)
seinfeld has amazing replay value, sopranos for one time sitting: drama up the heeezzay
1. Seinfeld (Widest cultural influence of any tv show ever)
2. The Simpsons (Most brilliant writing for longest time)
3. Homicide (Greatest drama ever filmed, 110% influence of every single cop show since)
4. Picket Fences (Absolute height of David E. Kelly, one of the 5 best tv minds ever)
5. EZ Streets (Plotting, drama, atmosphere nearly perfect)
6. Saturday Night Live
7. Columbo
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm (Seinfeld with swears: what else can you say?)
9. Chicago Hope (Personal favorite)
10. Undeclared (Pitch-perfect comedy, excellent cast, re-watchable x 2)
Definitely Firefly (can't wait for the movie...) and Deadwood are my favourites from the past couple of years.
I like Six Feet Under too (I'm only as up-to-date as the DVD releases) but I'm having a hard time watching them lately, as everything always always turns bad and characters seem to turn from good to evil within a season or so.
I can't believe that a unique show like Arrested Development can get cancelled when something like that goofy, backwards sitcom with John Belushi that I can't even remember the name just seems to go on and on.
Sex in the City, The Office, Lost and The Sopranos are also recent shows I've enjoyed.
Homicide is hands down my favorite tv drama show. They used have all-day tv marathon, when it was being syndicated on CourtTV.
I'm shocked no one has mentioned the godfather of great TV, Twin Peaks. The first season was absolutely incredible, and in my mind influenced a lot of what we take for granted now in good TV.
Besides that, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, The Office (BBC), and the Simpsons (seasons 4-6, roughly) would be my choices.
Definitely Weeds and Prison Break. And I can't believe no one has mentioned South Park. Oh, come on, there's so much hidden "value" in that one :) No, really. Like Satan having relationship problems, or that you're always inevitably going to be voting between a turd sandwhich and a douche bag....
SportsNight
Futurama
Seinfeld
Bob Newhart Show
There are only two dramatic television series that matter, that go beyond mere craftsmanship designed to sell junk to the American public and, by almost sheer fluke, rise to become great art. They are Twin Peaks and The Prisoner.. All else is mere filler.
FUTURAMA! Seinfeld, Scrubs, The Office (US), The Daily Show, Arrested Development.
I'm going to have to agree with Homicide being the #1
And I'm going to add, in no particular order:
All in the Family
Law & Order (Michael Moriarty years only)
This Hours Has 22 Minutes (Canadian fake news show that's been around for *years*, and of course only the years w/ the original cast)
The Simpsons
Chef!
Damnit!
I forgot to add Farscape, the best made for tv SF show ever.
Twin Peaks
Max Headroom
Since nobody's mentioned any news shows, I'll mention the only(?) ones worth watching:
- The Newshour with Jim Lehrer (really! try it!)
- Newsnight with Aaron Brown (yeah, he's a real nerd, but who would you rather have dinner with, him or Chris Matthews?)
- The Daily Show
All great & previously mentioned: Deadwood, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office (UK), Freaks & Geeks, Sports Night, West Wing (w/ Sorkin), Arrested Development, NOVA (here, dog)
Thanks to all the recs here, I can't wait to check out "Firefly" and "The Wire" !
The Office (UK)
Monty Python's Flying Circus
I also really liked 60% of the first season of both 24 and House, M D.
SCTV anyone?
Hello, anyone here remember a little show called Star Trek? For a little three-season show with rinky-dink sets and often-cheesy plotlines, it has had a tremendous positive impact on our culture. There was even once a study done at some engineering school that asked students what their main inspiration was in becoming an engineer, and a huge majority of the kids answered "because of Scotty".
Also, Buffy. Absolutely.
The Wire is the best television show ever made. I loved Sports Night and once saw the woman who played Dan's girlfriend in the waiting room at my shrink's office in Beverly Hills. I nearly couldn't stop myself from saying, 'Wow, you were great as Dan's girlfriend."
Freaks and Geeks is great (and holds up as a DVD) unlike Northern Exposure whose first two seasons were great at the time, but seem almost unwatchable now on DVD -- I think that might also be true of Six Feet Under in the future.
Another vote for Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks. Curb Your Enthusiasm is also good. Family Guy for best cartoon. And Extreme Makeover: Home Edition would kick ass if they'd get rid of Ty and his fucking loud speaker.
M*A*S*H and Twin Peaks. No competition.
I am a complete West Wing fan. I am South African so don't take issue with the politics as some Stateside viewers might. I love the sound of politics I don't understand wooshing past my head.
I never got into the Sopranos. I think you either take the West Wing route or the Sopranos route. Both are fantastically deep and require a lot from you, both together leaves you winded.
Otherwise Seinfeld, The Office, The Simpsons, Futurama, The Practice and, wait for it, Will & Grace. Rosario is classic.
Python among the classics, Spaced and Black Books more recently. Green Wing made me laugh till I cried in 2004, and hopefully there'll be a second series very soon. Jon Pertwee / Tom Baker-eraDoctor Who was a childhood favourite. The recent revival was top notch; I only hope Tennant makes as good a job of it as Eccleston. Have I Got News For You is an enduring pleasure.
Among American shows, Northern Exposure is probably the one I have the fondest memories of. Twin Peaks was utterly brilliant at the beginning, nearly as good at the end, and rather disappointing in the middle.
The Watergate Hearings were the best TV ever.
"We're currently experiencing technical difficulties--please stand by," is pretty great too, compared to almost any of the other shows on American TV.
Roseanne was the best sitcom ever. I'm serious. Totally funny, groundbreaking, dead-on about the realities of raising kids.
A few episodes of the Sopranos and a few seasons of Six Feet Under are the best I've seen TV get so far. Sublime.
Chapelle's Show is probably the funniest shit ever on the TV. I've never laughed harder at television than I did at the Rick James episode.
I gotta throw a few more UK programmes into the mix. How about I'm Alan Partridge, League Of Gentlemen, Little Britain, Royal Family, Shameless and even...ehem...Coronation Street?
90210, Seinfeld, and BBC's The Office
I wonder if a favorite show is determined by when one reaches a certain age. I've thought this about Rush albums, i.e., Rush will always be there cranking out studio and live albums so that when you or yours become 11-18 yrs. old, you will have a favorite Rush album. Like the Mr. Show bit, "Your generation is all 'Return of the Jedi', while my generation is more 'Empire strikes back'."
Shows:
Twin Peaks - first must see
Northern Expo
STNG
Ren and Stimpy cartoons
MASH - yes, cried at the end.
honorable non fiction mention:
early 120 minutes
those Aerobacize vids from early cable days - lordy
A couple of people have mentioned the early years of "The West Wing." I've seen every episode of every season, many of them more than once, and to me, the show got its groove back last season on the campaign trail. Can't wait to get home from work tonight and watch the season premiere. (And regarding the late, great "SportsNight": It was written by Aaron Sorkin, the same guy who wrote the early "West Wings.")
"Homicide" is one of my few faves from more than a couple of years back that still stands up (along with "Seinfeld" and, strangely, "Friends"; sorry, "Northern Exposure" and the non-Borg "Star Trek" episodes). A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I saw a "Homicide"/"Law & Order" crossover episode. She loves "L&O" (especially ADA McCoy) but knew nothing about "Homicide." At the end, Falzone asked McCoy some "Homicide"-style philosophical question, and McCoy was stuck for an answer. So
my wife supplied one: "Look, I'm from a simpler show, where we don't think about those things." Obviously, she was impressed with "Homicide."
I also never miss "The Shield," "24," "Over There" and the new "Battlestar Galactica."
I'm surprised to see Futurama on the list. I enjoy it, but it seriously pales in comparison to the Simpsons, which is the only reason I own a television.
I'm glad to see the League of Gentlemen on the list! That has to be the most disturbing, bizarre thing that's been on TV. Along with Banzai which I am sad was cancelled so quickly. That show was freakin' hilarious.
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.
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sarah22 23 2005 8:22AM
My favorites are: Sopranos, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, the short lived Freaks and Geeks, Seinfeld, I also liked the Cosby Show.