Between being sick all week, the NBA playoffs ending, and this constant rain, I've had a chance to clear a lot of stuff off the old DVR as of late.
This year, I've really enjoyed:
- Mad Men (incredible season, especially a stretch in the middle of the season that featured some of the episodes the series has ever produced)
- Sherlock (the BBC version, which is absolutely fantastic)
- Parks and Rec (another solid season from the most consistently great comedy on television)
- The Office (found a surprisingly solid footing after struggling for the first half of the season)
- Homeland (really fun first season)
- Girls (really witty, if not intentionally irritating)
- Game of Thrones
- Community (weirdest season ever; great show, but I can't imagine it winning any new fans it's gotten so inside)
- Portlandia
- SNL (surprisingly great season, will be interesting to see how they cope without Kristin Wiig, Andy Samburg, and possibly Jason Sudakis)
- New Girl (loved this show, and Zooey D)
- Bob's Burgers (best new animated show in a decade)
As far as older shows go, I'm a huge sucker for the Wire, Curb your Enthusiasm, Freaks and Geeks, and the Wonder Years, and can't wait for Breaking Bad to come back.
And I also think Smash and Glee are two of the most terrible shows I've ever seen.
Those two aside, it's crazy just how good scripted television has gotten.
Just curious as to what some of the other MetroJaxers are watching these days?
I second a lot of these! Community is my favorite comedy right now. I don't see Boardwalk Empire on your list though. I think that if you like mad men you'd probably like that show as well
Louie is the best thing on TV right now.
I watched Girls and thought it was decent. Could get better in it's second season.
Not currently playing, but The Wire and Arrested Development are easily the two best shows of the past decade. Whenever I'm sick, I usually watch those again and again.
The past decade or so will be looked back upon as the "golden age" of TV. It's amazing how many great shows there are.
Great list btw Ken. I thought this was the best season of Mad Men so far, after a slow couple seasons. Guess the layoff helped. The tripping scene with Roger was beautiful and brilliant, as were several moments in the season. The show is just pure art.
I also think Breaking Bad may be one of the greatest shows ever. It started a little slow, but every season has been better and better. The last season was pretty much The Godfather of TV seasons, so I can't wait to see what happens in the finals season.
For comedies I love Parks and Rec, Curb, It's Always Sunny, Arrested development, used to love The Office, Girls and VEEP both look promising after decent first seasons.
Dexter used to be my favorite show, but the later seasons have been hit or miss. Still great though.
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Speaking of which Shameless is a very underrated show. Really, really good stuff.
I'm probably forgetting a lot. That's just how good tv is these days.
I don't know if you can say easily the best Ben. Maybe it's just because I finished The Wire a few years ago, but I think there is a strong case that Breaking Bad is as good or maybe even better. If Season 5 of Breaking Bad is as good as Season 4 was, I think a lot of people will consider it the best show ever (a lot already do)
Game of Thrones is without a doubt the best thing on TV in quite a while.
Didn't like the premier episode of Girls, but it grew on me and now I think it is pretty darn good.
I would add The Walking Dead to the list.
- Thanks for the recommendation on Boardwalk Empire. I've heard good things about it, I'll have to check it out!
- Love Louie, but some reason, I just cannot get into The Walking Dead.
- As much as I love Breaking Bad and consider it a top five show of all time, I don't know if I could, in good conscious, put anything above Mad Men or the Wire on my all-time favorite list. It's so hard though, bordering on impossible, to subjectively compare a show like Breaking Bad to something like Mad Men. My personal list would probably be 1) Mad Men, 2) The Wire, 3) Breaking Bad, 4) The Sopranos, 5) Friday Night Lights (a nearly perfect show, save for one awful three-episode storyline).
- The more time that passes, the more I think this had to be the best season of Mad Men to date, and by proxy, maybe one of the great single seasons in television history. There was one notable miss (the Fat Betty episode), but nearly everything else was flawless. From the incredible dark Richard Speck nightmare episode, to Don's breakdown after he thought Megan left him in the Howard Johnson episode, to Peggy's reasserting her power and feminity via a movie theater hookup, to the brilliant LSD episode, to Lane's suicide, to the horrific downward spiral of Pete Campbell (watching the other guy move in on his girl at the DMV, being emmasculated when Don fixes the faucet he couldn't), to Don's unwanted birthday party, to Trudy tricking Don into coming to the party, to Roger and Sally Draper hanging out, to Paul Kinsey's return, to Ginsberg going sci-fi, to Don and Joan at the bar, etc. Just a stunningly beautiful 13 episodes. So many great little moments too. Loved when everyone was sitting around the table at the Codfish Ball with the blank, horrified expressions. Loved the Jaguar not starting when Lane tried to kill himself. Loved Peggy's smile when she got on the elevator to leave. Loved Harry Crane and Don at the Rolling Stones concert. Crazy that a show where so little actually happens can be so densely populated with greatness. If you haven't given Mad Men a chance yet, there literally are not enough superlatives in the English language to accurately convey how incredible this show is. I think the first four seasons are actually on Netflix too.
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:49:49 PM
I don't know if you can say easily the best Ben. Maybe it's just because I finished The Wire a few years ago, but I think there is a strong case that Breaking Bad is as good or maybe even better. If Season 5 of Breaking Bad is as good as Season 4 was, I think a lot of people will consider it the best show ever (a lot already do)
I admit, Breaking Bad is damn good. Like really, really good. That being said, to me, Breaking Bad was nothing but entertainment, while The Wire was entertainment plus a hell of a lot of real world style nonfiction learning & education. You can LEARN something about the world watching The Wire (while being entertained), while BB is unadulterated fun/entertainment, and you learn very little.
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Agree...Dexter comes to mind, as well. Used to love Dexter, but season after season, it just became TOO unbelievable. The second he started having sex w/ that girl in season 2, I kept thinking "this is out of character!!"
Quote from: ben says on June 27, 2012, 02:02:54 PM
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Agree...Dexter comes to mind, as well. Used to love Dexter, but season after season, it just became TOO unbelievable. The second he started having sex w/ that girl in season 2, I kept thinking "this is out of character!!"
I've thought about watching Dexter, but six or seven seasons is a lot to take on.
You think it's worth it?
Quote from: KenFSU on June 27, 2012, 03:09:21 PM
Quote from: ben says on June 27, 2012, 02:02:54 PM
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Agree...Dexter comes to mind, as well. Used to love Dexter, but season after season, it just became TOO unbelievable. The second he started having sex w/ that girl in season 2, I kept thinking "this is out of character!!"
I've thought about watching Dexter, but six or seven seasons is a lot to take on.
You think it's worth it?
Season 1 was great (if you're into sociopathy dramas and dark comedies). Season 2 was doable. Season 3 was pushing it. Everything else, to me, was a HUGE letdown.
So, if you wanna ride out the first season or two and go from there, yes, it's worth it...just beware: you may get attached and at a later date become sorely disappointed.*
*I know a half dozen people who still watch Dexter and love it just as much as Season 1 Episode 1....I'm just not one of those people--I'll stop watching something, no matter how attached I once was, if it starts to suck.
Quote from: KenFSU on June 27, 2012, 03:09:21 PM
Quote from: ben says on June 27, 2012, 02:02:54 PM
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Agree...Dexter comes to mind, as well. Used to love Dexter, but season after season, it just became TOO unbelievable. The second he started having sex w/ that girl in season 2, I kept thinking "this is out of character!!"
I've thought about watching Dexter, but six or seven seasons is a lot to take on.
You think it's worth it?
Absolutely worth watching. Season 1 of Dexter is probably one of the best seasons of any show. Season 2 is good, 3 so so, 4 very good. 5 so so. At minimum watch Season 1. Dexter probably isn't as fresh as it was when it first came out since it has influenced the style and visuals of many other shows. Still has to be considered one of the 5 or at worst 10 best shows in recent history.
Ben did you watch season 4? A lot of people think its almost as good as 1
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 03:24:21 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on June 27, 2012, 03:09:21 PM
Quote from: ben says on June 27, 2012, 02:02:54 PM
Quote from: CityLife on June 27, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
Homeland season 1 was stellar, but I think it will drop off a lot. Most showtime shows drop off considerably after season 1.
Agree...Dexter comes to mind, as well. Used to love Dexter, but season after season, it just became TOO unbelievable. The second he started having sex w/ that girl in season 2, I kept thinking "this is out of character!!"
I've thought about watching Dexter, but six or seven seasons is a lot to take on.
You think it's worth it?
Absolutely worth watching. Season 1 of Dexter is probably one of the best seasons of any show. Season 2 is good, 3 so so, 4 very good. 5 so so. At minimum watch Season 1. Dexter probably isn't as fresh as it was when it first came out since it has influenced the style and visuals of many other shows. Still has to be considered one of the 5 or at worst 10 best shows in recent history.
Ben did you watch season 4? A lot of people think its almost as good as 1
If Season 4 is the one w/ John Lithgow as the 'bad guy'--yes, I saw it, and yes, it was pretty good. I wouldn't compare anything to season 1, as season 1 blew me away, but yeah, it was pretty close. Probably the next best season (better than 2 and 3).
The Dexter seasons I can't watch are the last 2...I saw a few and just couldn't get into it. At that point, even I wanted Dexter to get caught!
I agree that after season 1, Dexter got a bit ...old? In any case, as one who has given up cable. dish, etc, and gone totally internet, several of my favorite shows you may not have heard of nor remember. Most recently, The Border, a Canadian show. How about Detroit 187? On a couple of years then gone. Same with Life and Jericho. I still watch Miami Vice, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight and NCIS (Sorry). However, of current shows, Justified is at the top of my list. Still intend to check out Breaking Bad. I believe TV or movies should do nothing but entertain, no matter if believable or not, so as long as I smile or laugh or even feel a bit of suspense, I'm good. Get too serious or real and I have a tendency to go the other way. Get enough serious in real life.
I have to say I'm really surprised to be enjoying the new Dallas, (Weds 9 pm TNT). Same theme music, same ranch, some of the same (a little older!) actors...and JR's still got his Evil on!
The Killing on AMC is a pretty good show.
Quote from: copperfiend on June 27, 2012, 12:29:33 PM
Louie is the best thing on TV right now.
I watched Girls and thought it was decent. Could get better in it's second season.
Watched the first two seasons in the last week or two.
SUCH a fantastic show.
So different from anything else on TV these days.
The suicide episode and the two-episode arc in Afghanistan were amongst the best television I've seen in ages.
Also:
1) Hate to say it, but a bit underwhelmed by the first two episodes of the new season of Breaking Bad.
2) SEVENTEEN Emmy nominations for American Horror Story?!??!? Seriously?!?!?
I enjoy Lizard Lick Towing and Pawn Stars, both on TruTV. Reality TV is so staged because filming costs money and time, but still, it is fun to see what people will do in front of a camera.
I agree with other sentiments around here that Breaking Bad is one of the best shows ever. I'm watching it straight from the beginning on NetFlix and can't stop. The characters and story line are brilliant and unlike anything I've ever watched on TV.
Melrose place!
Check out Booth and the End on Hulu.
I must say, with only two episodes left for the year, this season of Breaking Bad has been pretty underwhelming.
Still better than almost anything else on television, and the intro to Sundays episode was just incredible, but I don't know, that tension just hasn't been there like in the past.
Maybe the Gus Fring arc was meant to be the climax of the series, maybe their hands are tied with the shortened 8-episode seasons, who knows.
***
The Homeland: Season 2 trailer is just fantastic.
***
Catching up on last season of 30 Rock.
Still one of the best comedies on TV.
Mike and Molly is great. Good, clean humor, that is well written, not reality. The characters development over the seasons has been great.
It looks like there will be more sit coms this fall, hopefully some good ones.
INCREDIBLE fan-made Breaking Bad tribute, recapping the entire series up to this point in just a couple of minutes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djaLf6bgFuU&feature=youtu.be
It's going to be a long year waiting for those last 8 episodes.
The Middle, Modern Family, NCIS, Amazing Race, Saving Hope, Family Guy, American Picker.
Another Breaking Bad fan here... oh man that show is electric!
I hate to admit this: I've been watching Storage Wars. Even though I think it's faked (inasmuch as they probably plant rare items in otherwise worthless storage lockers).
I am not ashamed of the television I watch, usually, but I feel somehow wrong or dirty watching that stupid show. Or, more accurately, enjoying it!
NCIS, Saving Hope although I don't know how long they can keep Charlie in a coma and keep it interesting. White Collar was good but I just can't seem to get into it. Deleted the episodes because I wasn't watching them.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on September 08, 2012, 11:27:06 AM
NCIS, Saving Hope although I don't know how long they can keep Charlie in a coma and keep it interesting. White Collar was good but I just can't seem to get into it. Deleted the episodes because I wasn't watching them.
Debbie this is a very good point "how long they can keep Charlie in a coma and keep it interesting" maybe they need to have him come out of it for a bit? But then have setbacks or maybe these writers have a lot of good episodes left for us to watch. :)
Have been an avid Criminal Minds junkie for a few years now. NCIS is good. Back when I had cable I got in to the True Blood series but I haven't had cable now in about 3 years. Comedies, I love Big Bang Theory.
I have been watching Hell on Wheels on AMC. It is a period piece based on the construction of the Trans Continental railroad. Reminds me a bit of the HBO hit Deadwood.
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels
Another period piece I have been watching is Copper on BBC America. The story is located in the 5 Points area of New York city during the civil war. Main character is a police detective (or Copper). This one reminds me a bit of the movie Gangs of New York.
http://www.bbcamerica.com/copper/#
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 17, 2012, 12:46:43 PM
I have been watching Hell on Wheels on AMC. It is a period piece based on the construction of the Trans Continental railroad. Reminds me a bit of the HBO hit Deadwood.
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels
How is this one?
Also, anyone see the season premiere for Boardwalk Empire?
Quote from: ben says on September 17, 2012, 04:26:33 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on September 17, 2012, 12:46:43 PM
I have been watching Hell on Wheels on AMC. It is a period piece based on the construction of the Trans Continental railroad. Reminds me a bit of the HBO hit Deadwood.
http://www.amctv.com/shows/hell-on-wheels
How is this one?
Also, anyone see the season premiere for Boardwalk Empire?
I enjoy it... portrays the gritty grimey side of life in the west... including race relations, post civil war...
Beyond Scared Straight on A&E is really good. The first episode this season is here in Jax right there at the Duval County Jail. At can currently be seen on 'On Demand'.
Quote from: I-10east on September 20, 2012, 09:21:44 AM
Beyond Scared Straight on A&E is really good. The first episode this season is here in Jax right there at the Duval County Jail. At can currently be seen on 'On Demand'.
The original series was pretty terrifying as a kid.
Will have to check it out.
***
Quite enjoyed the premier of SNL on Saturday Night.
The puppet sketch was one of the funnier things they've done in quite a while.
***
Also, as a heads up, the ESPN 30 for 30 series is now available on Netflix.
Some really, really great stuff in that series.
The "Band Plays On" episode dealing with Robert Irsay moving the Colts from Baltimore to Indy is particularly interesting from a local perspective.
Any thoughts on the Emmys last night?
A few quick thoughts from me:
- I loved the first season of Homeland, especially the pilot, but Mad Men and Breaking Bad are both once-in-a-lifetime tv shows coming off of incredible seasons. Not sure how best drama goes to Homeland.
- Good for Claire Daines. She totally deserved Best Lead in a drama.
- Same thing with Damien Lewis though. As great as he was, Bryan Cranston put on an all-time great performance last season (especially in Crawlspace, the episode submitted), and it's an incredible travesty that Don Draper has never won best lead.
- Good for Aaron Paul, winning best supporting actor for his Jessie in Breaking Bad, but I don't know, seems like he should be in the lead actor category, especially for last season. Giancarlo Esposito was quite graceful in defeat.
- Glad American Horror Story wasn't awarded *too* much for going the cheap route and submitting as a miniseries.
- Julia Louis-Dreyfun is great and all, but Amy Poehler KILLED it on Parks and Rec last season.
- Simply do not understand the Modern Family love. It's a fun enough show, but come on. Better than Curb Your Enthusiasm, Girls, 30 Rock, and the criminally un-nominated Louie and Parks and Rec, no way.
- Glad that Kristen Wiig didn't get best support actress as a cumulative thing for her time on SNL, as she hasn't really been that good on the show for a couple of years. Would have loved to have seen Mayim Bialik win it though. The tiara scene on Big Bang Theory was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
Man, Homeland has come dangerously close to jumping the shark in these last two episodes.
The Brody/Jess stuff near the end of last night's episode was one of the best scenes of the entire series, but man, Abu Nazir sneaking into the country, kidnapping Carrie, holing up in an abandoned mill, and creeping around the catacombs like he's Jason from Friday the 13th was just groan-inducing. Wheels have totaly come off with the attention to detail/plausability too.
Agreed Ken. The show is beginning to breach realism just to make the story go on in an interesting way.
Best part yesterday is how the tactical team left Carry and the other team member yesterday just when they find Abu Nazir.
Also Carrie always has the answers, but the CIA just treats her as a crazy person and the issue wth Saul just doesn's jive with me.
I think they would be better to try and end the show in a plausible way than have it turn into an international Borne Identity type series.
Did anyone seen that "Robot Combat League" yet on Syfy Channel (Tues at 10pm)? OMG, it's awesome! 1/2 ton, 8-9 foot tall customized robots inflicting harm on one another, it's must see TV. :)
www.syfy.com/robotcombatleague/
SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-renews-community-fifth-season-520816
On HBO Friday at 11:00pm after Real Time with Bill Maher 'Vice' a documentary series is REALLY good.
End of a really great era tonight on SNL.
Final episode for Seth Myers, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Jason Sudeikis.
As long as Lorne Michaels is running the show, there's not a whole lot to worry about, but all four will be sorely missed.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/CRITICAL%20Cartoons%20and%20Fun%20Stuff/ScreenShot2013-05-19at60539PM_zps535d5cd2.png)
Just a shot (pun intended) of my favorite amazing, mind blowing, multi-talented, incredible television.
After Mr. TV got over the bullet wound, he started displaying an amazing talent, you can set it to any channel, and it just stays that way... FOREVER!
From 1979 until 1995 +/- I never turned on my television... I've mellowed a bit on the subject, however all of my kids know, if mom dies before me, they've got about 24 hours to rush in and claim their favorite set; before every TV in the house hits the pile at the curb.
Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead. And I may still watch pro wrestling.
INCREDIBLE episode of Mad Men tonight.
Season hasn't really hit me like last season did, but tonight's episode was an all time great.
Been really enjoying Bates Motel and Orphan Black as of late as well.
RE: Tonight's Breaking Bad.
HOLY CRAP.
Community was canceled today by NBC :(
Desperately hoping that Hulu/Netflix/Amazon/Comedy Central/TBS picks it up for a sixth season (and a movie).