I like great television shows. I don’t have a TV, but I do really appreciate a really engaging series. In fact, I think television quite regularly trumps cinema for great storytelling these days.
One day, when I have nothing else to do, I’m going to sit on a comfy chair and work my way through a pile of DVDs of TV series everyone raves about and that I’ve never watched. I’m sure I’d love these as much as you do… and I’m not avoiding them. I just haven’t caught up yet. I figure they’ll probably still be good when I’m old and infirm.
Here’s the list of stuff I’ve completely missed:
The Sopranos
Mad Men
The Wire
House
Band of Brothers
Being Human
Prison Break
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Weeds
Peep Show
Justified
The Shield
Arrested Development
Heroes
X-Files
24
Lost
The Singing Detective
Boys From The Black Stuff
Queer As Folk
Cracker
The Prisoner
Fringe
Hustle
The L Word
Lie to Me
Teachers
Medium
Nikita
CSI
Law and Order
United States of Tara
V
Caprica
Cold Case
Nip/Tuck
Numb3rs
Bones
Freaks and Geeks
Breaking Bad
Damages
Sherlock
Sons of Anarchy
Nurse Jackie
The Event
True Blood
Entourage
Carnivale
Shameless
30 Rock
The Good Wife
Criminal Minds
And some stuff I started, loved, but never finished…
Dexter
Treme
Outrageous Fortune
Six Feet Under
Battlestar Galactica
Californication
Oz
The West Wing
The Riches
Torchwood
Doctor Who
Dollhouse
The Simpsons
Futurama
Seinfeld
Supernatural
Not included above are soaps, talent quests, “reality” series and survival, modelling or cooking competitions. I’m not curious enough to check those out. I get enough panel shows, and don’t feel I need to see all of QI or Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Also, I have no intention of ever watching Glee or Skins. But to top it all off, I think I’ve only ever seen two episodes of ANY Star Trek show (both original). What sort of geek am I?
That’s a pretty long list, and I’m going to have a lot of TV time to catch up on when I’m finished being busy doing other stuff – but I’m sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Any suggestions for other stuff I may have missed?
Don’t worry – I’m totally on top of the essential Joss Whedon stuff (Buffy, Angel, Firefly), and pretty up to date with Family Guy. I’m not completely deprived…
You need to add Gilmour Girls to that list. :)
No you don’t.
You should definitely get to the end of dollhouse.
That list reads a lot like a lot of the TV I have actually watched of late.
The one big omission I would say it ‘Misfits’ which is genius and somewhat amazingly not american.
I’d pass on Prison Break – it gets lamer and lamer as it goes on. Same for Heroes. And the new V. American shows rarely know when to stick a fork in it.
Start with Star Trek: Next Generation.. season 3 all the way till the end. Superb. House is great.. Six Feet Under and Sopranos are great although more on the depressing side. This is a great list, I may steal my next unwatched series dvd selection from the pile.
Out of both lists I have only seen – and loved – Peep Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I am a big fan of both and I actually have all the episodes on DVD. Also Father Ted and the Gervais/Merchant stuff. Out of the ones I haven’t seen I’d say Mighty Boosh (seen it partly) is the one that I should finish and complete. Of course I’ve seen a few episodes of many of these. Is there even need to ask about the Flight of the Conchords from a New Zealander?
Actually – I’ve only seen the first series of Conchords. People didn’t seem so keen on the second series, and it sort of put me off.
You appear to have missed Generation Kill. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995832/
Essential.
Oh, and since you have put Band of Brothers on your list, The Pacific cannot be left out. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374463/.
Sorry about the war and gore stuff I submit just now, you seem to be well covered in all other departments :-)
I second the Gilmore Girls recommendation, the show shares some of the same producers, actors and creators as Family Guy. Need I say more?! You also have to watch Community, the best programme I’ve seen in ages only 2nd maybe to 30 Rock.
I’ve just started watching The Wire, its ace, don’t get how I missed it the first time. 30 Rock, The Good Wife and Breaking Bad have been popuilar in our house too.