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TV Show Recommendations
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Registered User regular
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So I've found a video rental place near my house that has an absolutely insane collection of stuff, including a massive selection of TV shows. Problem is the selection is so wide that I'm not really sure what I want to watch, and I was wondering if anyone could provide me with some decent recommendations (keeping in mind that of the guys I usually watch TV on DVD with there's one guy who doesn't like cop shows and hates Star Trek)
Shows that I've watched already and liked:
Deadwood
Battlestar Galactica
Oz
Firefly
Band of Brothers
Arrested Development
Bits and pieces of Star Trek Next Generation and Voyager.
Shows that I'm thinking of checking out:
Carnivale
Sopranos
Any other ideas? Thanks in advance.
Shows that I've watched already and liked:
Deadwood
Battlestar Galactica
Oz
Firefly
Band of Brothers
Arrested Development
Bits and pieces of Star Trek Next Generation and Voyager.
Shows that I'm thinking of checking out:
Carnivale
Sopranos
Any other ideas? Thanks in advance.
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Posts
Freaks & Geeks
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Dexter
Weeds
Current favourites are:
The BBC version of The Office. I've only seen the first season of the American version, and it's can't hold any sort of candle. Ricky Gervais is just amazing.
The first season of Heroes is quite good. I'm 3 shows away from the end, and I'm loving it so far. I've heard season 2 took a little bit of a quality dive, but I hope it can recover.
The Larry Sander's show is pretty good, too. If you liked Jeffrey Tambor in Arrested Development, he's in this show, too.
Seinfeld is funny if you start near the beginning and really get to know that characters. After a while you might start to realize that I'm just watching a bunch of anal assholes do stupid shit for no reason, but it's still pretty funny.
Anyone want to beta read a paranormal mystery novella? Here's your chance.
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I like the US version of The Office even after having seen the UK version first. It definitely hiccups through the first part of the 1st season (i'd start with episode 4 out of 6, The Alliance), but once it comes into its own pace and stops trying to imitate the UK version (near the end of season 1, beginning of season 2) it gets really good.
I've been watching the old seasons of Scrubs through but that's more of a guilty pleasure.
Try Invader Zim.
And I think The Office (US) is the best show on TV now. 30 Rock is also good.
It's a really fun and clever show. First season was awesome, second season was alright, and the 3rd (and final) season was satisfying. There's a decent amount of bullshit relationship crap that you might not like, but the rest of it is solid.
GFWL: studaud (for SF4)
In keeping with the HBO theme, I'll add Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rome and Flight of the Concords.
If you love the Wire as much as every other sensible person who watches it, you might want to follow it up with The Corner.
The Shield. Think there are 5 seasons of that out there with the 6th starting soon.
PSN: Broichan
My suggestions:
- Carnivale is great.
- Flight of the Conchords is sooo hilarious
- I enjoy both the UK and US versions of The Office (though I just skipped the first season of the US one as I was told it was a crap clone of the UK version).
- Extras with Ricky Gervais (The Office) is awesome
- Veronica Mars is very cool, written well, involving and funny.
- Rome is absolutely incredible. It really is a piece of art.
- Sopranos, same as above.
- Entourage is lots of fun
- Greg The Bunny! :P
On the English side of things I started watching The IT Crowd and The Mighty Boosh recently and they're both weird and funny.
Cartoons-wise, Invader Zim, Avatar, The Critic - all entertaining.
Looking over this list I think I can probably pick up 60-70% of what you've mentioned at this one particular place, for the rest I guess there's always Netflix (or whatever the best Australian equivalent is.)
Thanks again, if you have more suggestions feel free to keep them coming.
heard good things about Rome
if you can find the awesomeness of Babylon 5, watch that... but it's fairly old and therefore may be difficult to hunt down
HEROES!!!! I am in love with that show
Veronica Mars was a good show, but feels pretty girly at times. Roswell was a fun show that feels very teen-ish at times (ie, occasionally lacks true depth)
I also second the motion for Invader Zim
I keep meaning to catch the 4400 as well.. I have it on my computer, not sure if it's all on DVD at the moment yet though. But I saw a few episodes and it looked good enough to watch from the start, sooo
I'm really enjoying (season 1) of Heroes too. But the first few episodes weren't great. There are a few story threads, some of them weaker than others. It gets better when they begin to tie together.
I've been watching Prime Suspect on DVD. Never watched it on TV. It's very good.
I also suggest you don't get American Gothic. If you remember seeing it years ago, keep in mind that nostalgia is a powerful thing
Don't thinkabout Sopranos, just fucking watch it!! Carnivale was ok, nothing special.
When Terminator comes to DVD I suggest watching that series since it seems you like quality sci-fi.
Other shows I like that aren't already things you've seen:
Alias
Freaks And Geeks
24
Millenium - 2nd season was the best of the 3, imo.
Dead Like Me
The 4400
The X-Files - I can't imagine you didn't watch these when they were on TV, but just in case
CSI
CSI: Miami is also good, but not as good as original CSI - more of a standard cop show with shoot outs and David Carusoe sucks at delivery of both his cheesy joke lines and his threats to criminals.
Also, on the comedy side: How I Met Your Mother.
Too many other good suggestions above to repeat them all.
I second Scrubs - Honestly, if you don't like this show...theres something wrong with you. Watching Scrubs every day at 7pm on Comedy Central is one of the few reasons I get up in the morning. It'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry.
Jericho - A great show I been catching, that I don't want to spoil at all. Well, I've become less impressed with its later episodes (I've just seen season 1), but get it just for the 1st episode (and the few after that)...they are *intense.*
Curb Your Enthusiasm - From the creators of Seinfeld comes a show *about* a creator of Seinfeld. Funny because of all the bizarre situations Larry David (I wanted to put Larry Craig, which made me laugh) finds himself in as he tries to pitch a new show. Good times.
Dr. Who - The new series, I guess. I loved Ecchelson's Dr. Who in the first season - he was awesome. I wasn't able to get into the later seasons (because they changed actors -_-) but I know the first seasons is pretty sweet....and I've heard good things about the other seasons. Good sci-fi there.
First television series I ever bought --> Venture Brothers - One of the greatest pop-culture, parody shows ever made in my opinion. Makes me laugh every time. You can catch it on Adult Swim occasionally (if you're awake Sundays around...midnight, I guess)...but I definitely advocate renting it...if not outright buying it.
I dont watch alot of TV, but Breaking Bad is the only show I make time for. At least until Galactica comes back.
The Wire, Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, and Weeds are my favourite shows of all time. Also, check out the last few seasons of South Park if you haven't been watching. That show still continues to shock and amaze me (Imagination Land was epic).
The Office: both series are good. Start with the UK version, then start with Season 2 of the US version. If you start with Season 1 after having seen the UK version, you'll probably be turned off US version for good, which is a shame.
Season 1 of Friday Night Lights is amazing. The subject matter is enough to turn a lot of people off (Texas high school football), but it was seriously my favorite thing on TV last year (and I hated the football when I was in HS in Texas). It's just so much more than the premise would indicate. Season 2 is not as great, unfortunately, although it has its moments.
I've also got to second Avatar, which we devoured on DVD last summer. It's so tremendously kickass, and the DVD format is great for it because it gets really linear.
Also, Animaniacs and/or Pinky and the Brain. I loved them when they were on TV, and they're even more awesome now that I get all the references.
It's amazing how many people grow attached to "their first doctor". I know I felt the same thing about Eccleston's Doctor, but eventually I got over it. David Tennant makes a fantastic Doctor. The two are each brilliant in their own right. The episode "Blink" (the one with the weeping angels) from the most recent series is fantastic.
Also, I third Scrubs. It'll make you laugh, but it can also bring a tear to your eye, or just warm your heart.
House, another awesome show
The Venture Brothers
How I Met Your Mother
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Titus
Undeclared
The Office UK (and US, but with lowered expectations)
I wasn't too crazy about The Sopranos, and managed to watch 5 seasons of it, and the last episode. Probably the most well made TV show I've ever seen, but just wasn't my thing. I also didn't get in to Dexter, or Weeds either, but I know a lot of people seem to like them. Same with Scrubs.
Gonna throw in once I don't recall seeing so far in this thread - The Simpsons. I know it has dropped in quality (although a number of episodes this season have been well above their recent average), but almost everything in seasons, oh, say 3 or 4 through 9 is excellent (and I'm sure exactly where to start and end is wildly debatable). Seriously, The Simpsons at its best is leagues better than Family Guy or South Park (imo). Futurama is also excellent.
All of these are good recommendations, although Joss Whedon shows aside (his shows are always amazing), they all "jumped the shark" at some point.
I will add Farscape to this discussion, because it is amazing and never jumped the shark.
I'll also add Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which is the best Star Trek show ever made (and I've seen all of them).
So, this has thread derailing potential, but I have to disagree on your Jump the Shark claims. Buffy jumped - to avoid ruining plot for those who haven't seen I'll just call it the end of season 5. That or "relationships" in season 7. Don't get me wrong, I'm an obsessive Whedon fan - my cat is named in his honor - but there was a clear turn in quality. I've not gotten through Angel so I can't speak to that, but from what I know of the last season there it sounds a bit "jumpy".
Also: VMars only jumped in terms of stupid teen drama, if you ignore the romantic plot after midway through season 2 you're fine. House hasn't jumped, neither has Lost, though I am rather new to it, maybe I've missed it already. Word up on Farscape though. Only jumpy bit on that was the transition from the clifhanger series finale to the follow up miniseries.
- Veronica Mars (season 1 is brilliant, S2 and 3 somewhat less so)
- Weeds (a MUST-SEE, particularly S1 and 2. A phenomenal cast with amazingly witty writing)
- 30 Rock (especially since you like Arrested Development)
New suggestions:
- jPod. It's about a quirky game design team working at "Neotronic Arts" (aka EA). Imagine the zany characters and plots of Arrested Development or 30 Rock but with the pacing of an hour-long drama. It's very weird, but I'm completely hooked. The first season just started the end of January, so it's easy to catch up.
[edit]D'oh, turns out jPod is only airing in Canada. I just watch all the eps online.
On that tangent, Malcolm In The Middle is always a great show to spend a lazy afternoon watching. Its funny for all the right reasons, and I submit that it had the best series finale of all time. I laughed and cried in that episode and at the end, I was completely satisfied.
I think Malcolm is very under-rated. I loved this show, but never really think of it. Even while it was still on I would think it was no longer on the air, and then find out there are still new episodes. And yes, the finale was the best end of a series i have seen.