Seinfeld
Breaking Bad
Arrested Development

The Wire, hands down.

I suspect anyone who picks Prison Break over it is a woman and should be banned.

(09-20-2013 10:25 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  I'd be curious to see if any older posters can comment on shows from the 50-70s and tell why they were important at the time.

Like many professions, some skills have declined in the race to the bottom for corporate profits. One in particular is music.
Even the best of series today, Breaking Bad, doesn't have music that can compare in originality to the Twilight Zone theme. I think
the Composer was Lalo Schifrin. They used real instruments, real orchestras, real arrangers. Not just plugged in pop songs.
The studio system kept people out, but sometimes that had a good effect where a genius like Schifrin could write like crazy and not worry about his next gig.

The Twilight Zone addressed deep existential issues like unreasonable hatred, the conformity of beauty, the brevity of life.

Particularly relevant to this forum is an episode which starts after some unknown catastrophe, and there is no one alive except a man and a woman.
They start out trying to kill each other, and it develops metaphorically from there.

I remember I was a small child when my parents used to watch TZ, and sometimes I wouldn't want to watch because it was too scary.

The Original Star Trek also looked at things like immortality, nature of evil.

Actually, we have all missed British series The Prisoner, which is definitely in the top 10 of all time, it was surreal in its portrayal of... you just have to see it!

I also really liked Mannix, he was a PI without a gun a lot of times going on humanistic cases.

Another thing is all these older series were on FILM, as in ORGANIC irreplaceable medium. Video has never looked so good, except on something like Battlestar Galactica which was supposed to look alienated and futuristic.

You might notice how Breaking Bad is on FILM , and looks noticeably better than everything else-- For instance The Borgias, which is clearly better than Game Of Thrones, is shot on Arri Alexa, and although the costumes and set designs are to die for--def better than even Breaking Bad-- the final image cannot match Breaking Bad.

Also, in those days people really worked, there were about 40 episodes some seasons in Mannix, over 200 overall.

-

I didn't really watch X-Files as a kid but I'm sort of surprised nobody has brought it up yet.

(09-21-2013 02:37 AM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  -

I didn't really watch X-Files as a kid but I'm sort of surprised nobody has brought it up yet.

Yeah, that was a great show, addressed some serious themes such as people who are total outcasts.

Not mentioned yet but very good:

Faking It (British)
Locked Up Abroad
I Shouldn't Be Alive

Classic

Little House on the Prairie

(09-20-2013 10:35 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

(09-20-2013 12:40 PM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  Cowboy Bebop

I'm not really a huge anime fan, but this 26 episode series really engaged me in a way that most TV shows and films do not. It does have an artistic quality to the way the stories of the main characters intertwine which transcends what you typically see in Anime which is loaded with bad clichés such as robots and girls in school uniforms. The music is also top notch and composed by a legit musical prodigy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Kanno

Has anyone seen the show "Samurai Jack" ?

-

NO RESERVATIONS with Anthony Bourdain.

Can't believe I didn't mention this before. I absolutely love this show.

I enjoyed X Files but Breaking Bad for me, enjoying Suits as well

Action: 24

Comedy: Chapelle's show

Cartoon: Archer

HBO Rome the biggest budget ever for TV series

OZ best in your face scare tactics

I believe Sopranos was a game changer for paid television. If breaking bad have a better ending than the above it will be a better show

Quote:The only other shows that seem to push the limits in terms of formulaic bullshit that you see on TV were South Park and Beavis & Butt-head. They both are pretty subversive in terms showing how stupid American culture can be, and I can't think of any other shows that took it that far.

I'd submit it's always sunny in philadelphia as well. Very submersive.

(09-21-2013 02:37 AM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  -

I didn't really watch X-Files as a kid but I'm sort of surprised nobody has brought it up yet.

One of my favourites, the last few seasons sucked though. My other's are Freaks and Geeks (it's a crime that it only lasted one season), Breaking Bad, the Battlestar Galatica reboot, Entourage and the first two seasons of Veronica Mars (keen for the movie).

I don't think Game of thrones and Rome are considered usa tv shows because they are filmed in other countries with primarily British actors?

The best usa show of all time is the simpsons. They are confirmed through season 25 though they have lost some steam in the past few seasons.

My favorite sit coms
Cheers
Cosby Show
the office
married with children

my favorite sci fi shows
star trek tng
babylon 5
battlestar gallactica(2005)
24
twin peaks

my favorite dramas
breaking bad
the wire
homicide life in the streets
law and order and law and order svu
dexter(really fell apart in the last season)


honorable mention
spartacus(not the best written, or best acted, but they paid off their storylines extremely well and it was very satisfying to watch a 40 minute episode of that show)

shows that had a really good first couple of seasons that they couldn't sustain
Prison Break(they broke out, then were getting chased, then back in jail for season 3)
Heroes(has an amazing first season but was absolute shit by season 4)
the Shield(should have ended after season 4 or so, I just didn't care about any of the characters by season 7)

old shows that were groundbreaking that still hold up
the twilight zone
I love lucy (good physical comedy and ahead of it's time)
newheart
all in the family

I didn't get lost. I think the audience was lost. You don't go back in time when you drop a nuclear bomb on a geothermal generator. You would get a lot of radiation like in Hiroshima or Nagasaki or Chernobyl. I was glad they finally explained the numbers, and was glad it finally ended.

here is what the writers guild thought(they had the sopranos at #1, no real shock)
http://tvline.com/2013/06/03/100-best-wr...-sopranos/

(09-21-2013 08:54 AM)master_thespian Wrote:  I don't think Game of thrones and Rome are considered usa tv shows because they are filmed in other countries with primarily British actors?

The best usa show of all time is the simpsons. They are confirmed through season 25 though they have lost some steam in the past few seasons.

My favorite sit coms
Cheers
Cosby Show
the office
married with children

my favorite sci fi shows
star trek tng
babylon 5
battlestar gallactica(2005)
24
twin peaks

my favorite dramas
breaking bad
the wire
homicide life in the streets
law and order and law and order svu
dexter(really fell apart in the last season)


honorable mention
spartacus(not the best written, or best acted, but they paid off their storylines extremely well and it was very satisfying to watch a 40 minute episode of that show)

shows that had a really good first couple of seasons that they couldn't sustain
Prison Break(they broke out, then were getting chased, then back in jail for season 3)
Heroes(has an amazing first season but was absolute shit by season 4)
the Shield(should have ended after season 4 or so, I just didn't care about any of the characters by season 7)

old shows that were groundbreaking that still hold up
the twilight zone
I love lucy (good physical comedy and ahead of it's time)
newheart
all in the family

I didn't get lost. I think the audience was lost. You don't go back in time when you drop a nuclear bomb on a geothermal generator. You would get a lot of radiation like in Hiroshima or Nagasaki or Chernobyl. I was glad they finally explained the numbers, and was glad it finally ended.

here is what the writers guild thought(they had the sopranos at #1, no real shock)
http://tvline.com/2013/06/03/100-best-wr...-sopranos/

What is it British TV shows ?

(09-21-2013 09:06 AM)urbannomad Wrote:  

(09-21-2013 08:54 AM)master_thespian Wrote:  I don't think Game of thrones and Rome are considered usa tv shows because they are filmed in other countries with primarily British actors?

What is it British TV shows ?

I did a little googling because I was curious.

Apparently Rome was considered a "british-american historical drama" and game of thrones is an american show (produced and written by an americans even though most of the actors are british)

1. Breaking Bad
2. Sopranos
3. Suits

My personal opinion. I haven't seen The Wire yet though so this is obviously subject to change.

Magnum P.I. - This show reminds me of being a kid. There is an interesting overall story line; Magnum, an ex Navy SEAL has somehow helped Billionaire recluse writer Robin Masters, and has been given the invitation to stay at his guesthouse in Hawaii. Magnum, being broke and a freeloader MOVES IN planning to stay forever (or as long as possible). He becomes a private investigator and wants to live a more relaxed lifestyle after serving in Vietnam. The head of security/caretaker of the estate is an ex British Soldier (Higgins) who disapproves of Magnum's carefree and irresponsible nature. Magnum win's over Higgin's respect begrudgingly after Magnum shows he's more than capable when he chooses to be. Always a change of beautiful scenery with the style of the mid to late 70's.

Deadwood - Taking place during the gold rush Deadwood is a city in South Dakota that is on the outskirts of civilization. The characters are all last chance fugitives or stars in their eyes prospectors or both. Human life is cheap and the lack of women, nature of the hard men that live there, combined with the possiblity of becoming wealthy charge all sorts of confrontations and power plays. Too many epic characters to list. They speak proper fucking English, and it's awesome to hear.

Breaking Bad - forces you to put yourself in the places of the characters to sort out moral dilemmas. This show is well known, no need to talk about it further. It's simply amazing.

The Sopranos - Mob Boss Tony Soprano is a highly intelligent gangster (which explains his quick rise to power), but he suffers from crippling anxiety attacks that force him to seek therapy. He has to dance around certain laws where he can't say everything he's doing and he has to keep his therapy a secret from his men (a colorful list of characters). He juggles a family at home and a crime family at work which often intersect. The food they are always eating makes me feel like I'm there enjoying it too. I used to watch this with friends in L.A. and we'd order Italian. Epic Epic series. I wish it didn't have to end as I could watch Tony take down rivals, run scams and rackets forever.

South Park - Hilarious concept where they take hypocritical ideologies from politics (usually liberal policies) or news headlines and then bring those concepts to a logical conclusion, exposing just how absurd the idea actually is.

Spartacus is basically a porno.

The funniest comedy series ever was the British sitcom "Fawlty Towers" with John Cleese.

Surpised All in the Family hasn't made an appearance.

Profit was a really great show, although only aired one season.

(09-21-2013 03:26 AM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  

(09-20-2013 10:35 PM)Vitriol Wrote:  

(09-20-2013 12:40 PM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  Cowboy Bebop

I'm not really a huge anime fan, but this 26 episode series really engaged me in a way that most TV shows and films do not. It does have an artistic quality to the way the stories of the main characters intertwine which transcends what you typically see in Anime which is loaded with bad clichés such as robots and girls in school uniforms. The music is also top notch and composed by a legit musical prodigy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Kanno

Has anyone seen the show "Samurai Jack" ?

Very unique art style. I also like the minimal use of dialogue.

Family Guy.

Peter Griffin is one of the greatest comic characters ever. And I mean ever, in any art of any period. He is a creation of genius. And Stewie is up there too.