Topic: What TV shows are you watching?

[IsmiLiora]

Since there is a movie thread, and I kind of feel like I'm cheating by posting TV shows in the movie thread, I thought I would start a TV thread. Pretty much 99% of what I watch are all TV shows.

Mods, if you want to combine this with the movie one, go right ahead. I thought I would see how posting this goes.


Last night it was Jericho. Mr. Ismi has been telling me all about it, and we actually found it on Netflix.

Actually liking it so far. Seems to be like your typical disaster TV show, but I am quite intrigued by the characters.

Otherwise we have been re-watching Reno 911 and laughing like crazy. The humor is typically too vulgar for my taste, but I've been watching ever since Season 1 aired and I'm impressed with the stuff that the actors pull out of their pockets.

[Iconodule]

Currently watching Farscape on Netflix. Probably my favorite recent scifi show.

Generally speaking, my favorite shows are:

Doctor Who (most of the stuff before the 1980's, after that it goes way downhill and never recovers)

Patrick McGoohan's Danger Man AKA Secret Agent, and its "sequel", The Prisoner

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett

Twin Peaks

Blake's 7 (haven't watched it since my teens, might have a different opinion now)

The original Star Trek

The Wire

The new Battlestar Galactica

Fraggle Rock

[PrincessMommy]

Current shows:

Project Runway - most of the family watches this together.   

also with the family: Doctor Who - I'm still not sure I like this new series and the new companions.

Masterpiece Theater productions as well as Mystery! when they start up this fall.  The newer one that takes place in Rome with Rufus Sewell was a bit of a dud. 

Auction Kings

Older shows:

We're watching "Masterpiece Theater's Little Dorrit" currently.  I think it's taken us nearly 3 months to finish it.

Just finished a 2pt. Inspector Morse.  I loved that show and miss John Thaw.

I also like watching the old Doctor Who when I have some time during the day.  Enjoying the ones with Pertwee lately. 

Man, it looks like I watch a lot of tv. 

[IsmiLiora]

Well, if we are listing multiple series , I'm now working on Big Love Season 4 (Actually a re-watch, yikes, what an awful turn for the series, such a train wreck), The Good Wife, and Scrubs Seasons 1 through 3. That'll keep me busy for months, since I don't have time for more than an hour a day.

I'm liking the earlier seasons of Scrubs -- the show really went off the rails with its silliness in the final seasons. It was still funny, but I like the more introspective bent of the earlier seasons. Still, it's pretty silly regardless, so why am I analyzing it?

Also catching up on missed episodes of Deadliest Warrior. Just watched the IRA vs. the Taliban episode.

I haven't watched NCIS since the Season 7 DVD came out, so I am DYING to find out what happened in Season 8 -- will probably get the DVD sometime this week. I know I could have seen it online, but I decided to wait until the DVD was released. Why don't I have this patience with other things (or people?) 

[orthonorm]

As everyone knows I am correct about 96.7856% of the time. When it comes to movies and TV, especially long format serial TV, I am 100%.

As not to end the thread with a single post, I will allow others to add the to noise to signal ratio.

First TV series, ground breaking, and probably the only series with has an annual academic symposium dedicated to it even after its being off air for more than a few years, and was TV series based on a horrible film.

Before Twilight and that dumb garbage thing on HBO:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Has one of the greatest TV musicals of all time as well. Gotta get 5 1/2 seasons of context to fully appreciate its brilliance.

If you can get to season three you will be locked in. Most folks by the middle season two. Started as mid season toss-away experiment on a new network, that redefined TV.

None of the above is hyperbole.

[orthonorm]

BTW, good thread. Will last forever.

[Iconodule]

As everyone knows I am correct about 96.7856% of the time. When it comes to movies and TV, especially long format serial TV, I am 100%.

As not to end the thread with a single post, I will allow others to add the to noise to signal ratio.

First TV series, ground breaking, and probably the only series with has an annual academic symposium dedicated to it even after its being off air for more than a few years, and was TV series based on a horrible film.

Before Twilight and that dumb garbage thing on HBO:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Has one of the greatest TV musicals of all time as well. Gotta get 5 1/2 seasons of context to fully appreciate its brilliance.

If you can get to season three you will be locked in. Most folks by the middle season two. Started as mid season toss-away experiment on a new network, that redefined TV.

None of the above is hyperbole.

I really, really like Buffy (and Angel too). Joss Whedon and co. definitely can write beautiful dialogue and characters and generally find the funniest pop culture references to include in a Vampire show. Spike's line about the Crucifixion and Woodstock is one of my favorites.

My problem with Whedon is that the shows would have been a lot better if he actually knew something about mythology, religion, etc. instead of either a) making stuff up or b) treating things very superficially. He loses big points for treating Wicca as the real "old religion". I mean, really? If you're going to have pagan sorcerers in the show there are so many more interesting  traditions and myths you could draw on. But that requires reading stuff, research, etc.

Some defenders of Buffy will say, "well, it's primarily about social commentary, American teenagers, yada yada" (academics love it) but let's face it, it's a monster/ fantasy show and the mythos is very important.

His most successful show in terms of world-building was probably Dollhouse because it pretty much sticks to what he knows- modern LA- with a fairly subdued scifi element. 

[IsmiLiora]

Dollhouse was such a good ALMOST. Almost there. But it was still pretty good.

[Iconodule]

Dollhouse was such a good ALMOST. Almost there. But it was still pretty good.

I feel that way about Firefly (cue lynch mob).

[Mivac]

I was watching Falling Skies but on a very sad note, I also have found myself watching America's Got Talent 

[IsmiLiora]

Dollhouse was such a good ALMOST. Almost there. But it was still pretty good.

I feel that way about Firefly (cue lynch mob).

HAH! Me too, actually.

I think I feel that all of the Whedon stuff I saw is just an almost. I didn't like Buffy when I was 13 (I know, I am just handing orthonorm another excuse to hate me ) and haven't watched it since, so I can't say anything about that. But Firefly was so close, too. I think I felt like the characters are not developed well enough and are kind of one-dimensional. He creates these grandiose plotlines but the characters fall short. That's how I felt with Firefly and Dollhouse, anyway.

[IsmiLiora]

As everyone knows I am correct about 96.7856% of the time. When it comes to movies and TV, especially long format serial TV, I am 100%.

Are you consulting Pasadi for your statistics now?

[orthonorm]

I didn't like Buffy when I was 13 (I know, I am just handing orthonorm another excuse to hate me )y.

Maybe TMI, but I have heard this from women before. Under my tutelage, they became fans. A show for 13 year old girls that wasn't.

They need to live another decade give or take a few years and re-watch it with a man who was at least 13 before they were born.

[orthonorm]

As everyone knows I am correct about 96.7856% of the time. When it comes to movies and TV, especially long format serial TV, I am 100%.

Are you consulting Pasadi for your statistics now?

So you are saying it is true, as pasadi is the only person more correcter on this board than me.

[Schultz]

On a whim, my wife and I watched the first three episodes of Cheers via Netflix streaming last night.

Almost 30 years later, that show is still one of the funniest I've ever seen. 

[Schultz]

As everyone knows I am correct about 96.7856% of the time. When it comes to movies and TV, especially long format serial TV, I am 100%.

As not to end the thread with a single post, I will allow others to add the to noise to signal ratio.

First TV series, ground breaking, and probably the only series with has an annual academic symposium dedicated to it even after its being off air for more than a few years, and was TV series based on a horrible film.

Before Twilight and that dumb garbage thing on HBO:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Has one of the greatest TV musicals of all time as well. Gotta get 5 1/2 seasons of context to fully appreciate its brilliance.

If you can get to season three you will be locked in. Most folks by the middle season two. Started as mid season toss-away experiment on a new network, that redefined TV.

None of the above is hyperbole.

I really, really like Buffy (and Angel too). Joss Whedon and co. definitely can write beautiful dialogue and characters and generally find the funniest pop culture references to include in a Vampire show. Spike's line about the Crucifixion and Woodstock is one of my favorites.

My problem with Whedon is that the shows would have been a lot better if he actually knew something about mythology, religion, etc. instead of either a) making stuff up or b) treating things very superficially. He loses big points for treating Wicca as the real "old religion". I mean, really? If you're going to have pagan sorcerers in the show there are so many more interesting  traditions and myths you could draw on. But that requires reading stuff, research, etc.

Some defenders of Buffy will say, "well, it's primarily about social commentary, American teenagers, yada yada" (academics love it) but let's face it, it's a monster/ fantasy show and the mythos is very important.

His most successful show in terms of world-building was probably Dollhouse because it pretty much sticks to what he knows- modern LA- with a fairly subdued scifi element. 

My wife is a big fan and made me watch all the Buffys with her...up until she got utterly sick of my pointing out the holes in the show's own mythos, especially the Invitation Rule.  The violation of that drove me insane.

[IsmiLiora]

I didn't like Buffy when I was 13 (I know, I am just handing orthonorm another excuse to hate me )y.

Maybe TMI, but I have heard this from women before. Under my tutelage, they became fans. A show for 13 year old girls that wasn't.

They need to live another decade give or take a few years and re-watch it with a man who was at least 13 before they were born.

This post kind of creeps me out, LOL.

Mr. Ismi loves him some Buffy, but after watching Charmed with him, I'm starting to see a pattern of why he likes the TV that he does....

And Schultz, Cheers IS hilarious. Glad it's on Netflix. Will be watching that sometime. I used to watch it on Nick-at-Nite growing up (yes, blah I'm so young, I watched re-runs ).

People have been recommending Veronica Mars, but I heard that it's not on Netflix anymore. Boo. Am trying to keep my DVD purchasing to a minimum, so will probably find a way to watch it online. Any reviews on that show?

[orthonorm]

especially the Invitation Rule.  The violation of that drove me insane.

Bet it happened less than you thought. I ain't no geek on the continuity thing from the beginning, since the show became something different around season three, but the invitation continuity was rarely violated. (The first season barely had a show runner, and the show runners quickly changed each season until fourish.)

This is will be the only element of the series I will comment on for the next 24 hours.

Happened to stumble, literally, into a Buffy Trivia contest idiocy at a bar in Chicago once. The table of nerdy girls I slid up to were amazed that someone so charming and handsome knew nearly every answer. We won hands down.

I won (insert obvious punchline).

Again no big geek on the show, probably have seen the series twice maybe in syndication. But some of the season finale arcs a few times, and the "special" episodes: Hush, The Body, Once More with Feeling! etc. many. Especially the latter.

When it comes to TV / Film I like, it etches permanently on my brain.

[Schultz]

I have a list at home that I compiled.  It happened more than it should have, especially AFTER Season Three. 

My wife is also a fan of True Blood and I was very pleased to note that in the three seasons she has made me watch it, this rule was not violated once to my knowledge.  I was also very impressed with the fact that one did not have to go through some ridiculous ritual to dis-invite someone, but merely had to say, "GET. OUT!" and woooosh!  There goes Bill out the door.

Granted, I wish the writers would say it to Bill entirely, but that may be too much of a favor to ask.

[orthonorm]

I have a list at home that I compiled.  It happened more than it should have, especially AFTER Season Three. 

lulz @ you. I gotta see that list. I mean the handwritten angry scrawl at a TV show about coming of age and vampires.

I couldn't get through 3.24 episodes of True Blood. Absurd and gratuitous.

[Schultz]

I have a list at home that I compiled.  It happened more than it should have, especially AFTER Season Three. 

lulz @ you. I gotta see that list. I mean the handwritten angry scrawl at a TV show about coming of age and vampires.

I couldn't get through 3.24 episodes of True Blood. Absurd and gratuitous.

Lulz @ you.  I typed it out and laminated it to go in the box with all her dvds of the show

And while TrueBlood is absurd and gratuitous, at least it's internally consistent.

[orthonorm]

I have a list at home that I compiled.  It happened more than it should have, especially AFTER Season Three. 

lulz @ you. I gotta see that list. I mean the handwritten angry scrawl at a TV show about coming of age and vampires.

I couldn't get through 3.24 episodes of True Blood. Absurd and gratuitous.

Lulz @ you.  I typed it out and laminated it to go in the box with all her dvds of the show

And while TrueBlood is absurd and gratuitous, at least it's internally consistent.

Wow, how did you avoid NOT being the most annoying Mod of all time?

[Schultz]

I have a list at home that I compiled.  It happened more than it should have, especially AFTER Season Three. 

lulz @ you. I gotta see that list. I mean the handwritten angry scrawl at a TV show about coming of age and vampires.

I couldn't get through 3.24 episodes of True Blood. Absurd and gratuitous.

Lulz @ you.  I typed it out and laminated it to go in the box with all her dvds of the show

And while TrueBlood is absurd and gratuitous, at least it's internally consistent.

Wow, how did you avoid NOT being the most annoying Mod of all time?

I had to take the reputation of others into account when I had the power.  Now I just have my own reputation to soil with my passive-aggressiveness and nitpicking.

[Justin Kissel]

Currently watching: Top Chef Just Desserts, Hell's Kitchen, Chopped Champions, Great Food Truck Race, Burn Notice (Season 5)

Favorites from the past: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Salute Your Shorts, Newsradio, Remember Wenn, Seinfeld, X-Files, Top Chef, Star Trek: The Next Generation

Just bought the 1st Season of Burn Notice today, hope to start watching it this weekend.

[Ioannis Climacus]

I watch very little television - mostly because the stuff I find entertaining either fails financially or gets horrible ratings.

Currently, I am re-watching Arrested Development for the umpteenth time. Original, clever, and hilarious (not to mention one of the few shows that never jumped the shark before it was cancelled).

[McB]

Currently watching: Top Chef Just Desserts, Hell's Kitchen, Chopped Champions, Great Food Truck Race, Burn Notice (Season 5)

Favorites from the past: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Salute Your Shorts, Newsradio, Remember Wenn, Seinfeld, X-Files, Top Chef, Star Trek: The Next Generation

Just bought the 1st Season of Burn Notice today, hope to start watching it this weekend.

Remember WENN was a remarkably good show.  So good that I will forgive you the fact that the theme music is now going to be stuck in my head for the next two days.

Oh, how I wish for a DVD set!

[IsmiLiora]

Asteriktos, I'm sensing a pattern in your shows. And I likes it! I could watch food on TV all day. The ascetics somewhere are shaking their heads.

[biro]

I watch a lot of Fox Soccer Channel. They repeat everything, but it's pretty good. Hockey season starts next month, so I guess that'll be on ESPN2 and Sun Network (the Lightning).

[Justin Kissel]

Just watched the Burn Notice episode from last Thursday. Pure awesomeness. That is the kind of episode I was hoping for when I first started watching the series.

[vamrat]

I don't watch TV shows on TV.  Commercials make me dwell on acts of violence that are unChristian to think about unless you are reading about them in Lives of the Saints.

But I have watched a couple in my time, generally on Netflix.  IDK if HBO counts as TV shows or as Serial Epics, but I liked Rome and loved Deadwood.

I watched all of Lost on Netflix.  Not bad.

I watch Family Guy and Futurama whenever someone else at the house is.  My brother is obsessed with Dr. House.  It gave him quite a shock to see Black Adder Goes Fourth where Hugh Laurie is not only a moron but [gasp] British.

EDIT - I have seen bits and pieces of True Blood when I am subjected to it by my buddy's girlfriend.  Usually I put on my headset and turn up the volume on World of Tanks when she does that.

[orthonorm]

EDIT - I have seen bits and pieces of True Blood when I am subjected to it by my buddy's girlfriend.  Usually I put on my headset and turn up the volume on World of Tanks when she does that.

[vamrat]

EDIT - I have seen bits and pieces of True Blood when I am subjected to it by my buddy's girlfriend.  Usually I put on my headset and turn up the volume on World of Tanks when she does that.

Thanks, I needed the hug.  I have mostly been suppressing my emotions over True Blood but it would only be a matter of time before the show drove me to suicide.  I think I'm going to be alright.

[brandb]

The Mentalist, anyone??

There's also Southland, Family Guy/Cleveland Show, Spartacus, and more recently Wilfred. I also love a few random animes.
If we're talking about the past, I'm with Vamrat on Rome. Star Trek: TNG, The Guardian, Daria, and Home Movies are also favs.

[CoptoGeek]

Am I the only one watching Breaking Bad? one awesome show...at least until Dexter is back on in Oct.

[IsmiLiora]

I just purchased NCIS Season 8 on DVD. I refused to go on IMDB or read any spoilers, so I have no idea what happened at the end of Season 7. The description on the back of the case is so cliche and sounds like it describes every season. :-/ Is the drug-cartel/Gibbs angle going anywhere or are they going to deal with it and finish it in the first episode? Because that would stink.

I don't know when I'll even have time to watch it, but I hope to watch an episode sometime tomorrow.

While doing chores I decided to watch Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation on Netflix. I mean, they're kinda funny, but it still didn't make me laugh out loud too much. Actually, I would have to say that Arrested Development was the funnier of the two, but I feel that's a show I would be embarrassed to recommend to anyone else. LOL.

[Justin Kissel]

Every time someone mentions Arrested Development I think of these guys. Why can't we all just be more like Mr. Wendall?

[CoptoGeek]

Dollhouse was such a good ALMOST. Almost there. But it was still pretty good.

I feel that way about Firefly (cue lynch mob).

what, what, what! Firefly was pure gold. I still curse those fox execs for cancelling it. Dollhouse was a bit of a disappointment at first, by the time the it started getting good it'd already lost most of its audience.

[celticfan1888]

Housewives of something or the other. My mother is staying over and loves that show.

[Shlomlokh]

3rd Rock from the Sun. 'Nuff said.

[Riddikulus]

True Blood (I like gratuitous and absurd, so shoot me!) 

Haven

Australian X Factor. I don't normally watch this kind of show, and I'm not sure how I got hooked into watching it most nights it's on.

 

[IsmiLiora]

True Blood (I like gratuitous and absurd, so shoot me!) 

Big Love is my "gratuitous and absurd" show. I keep my Mad Men DVDs out and scoot the Big Love DVDs to the back. The ending to Season 4 was so awful that I had my eyes closed during parts of it. AWFUL. I heard that the show redeems itself in Season 5, and I want to see the story line play out, so I'm getting the DVD anyway.

But yes, I get a lot of  when Mr. Ismi rats me out and tells everyone that I can watch Big Love for hours. They all think I'm obsessed with polygamy. LOL. (Obv, as a naturally jealous person as well as a Christian, I'm not.)

[Heorhij]

My wife and I do not watch TV shows. We just never developed this habit. We love movies, and sometimes (not very often) watch movies on TV, but never TV sitcoms. We mostly use our TV as a screen for DVDs that we order from Netflix.

As exceptions, not very often, we might watch "Daily Show with Jon Stuart" or "The Colbert Report," or an episode of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (not for plot, but because of the great acting by Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay and others).

[Gamliel]

West Wing   (netflix)

[Iconodule]

"Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" (not for plot, but because of the great acting by Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay and others).

No, no, no...

If you want to see a cop show with good acting AND a great plot check out the Wire.

[Schultz]

bugger, wrong thread.  don't mind me.