Lets discuss telly [Archive] - Literature Network Forums

Bysshe

06-27-2006, 04:08 PM

I know it's predictable, but I really love 'The Simpsons'. It's so clever, and I think it's brilliant the way that both adults and kids can appreciate it on different levels. It's great how there are all these little references to things - some of them I get, others I don't. It's intelligent /and/ funny.

The TV series I can re-watch again and again and again until I know exactly what's coming next is 'The Young Ones' (yes, I'm living in the past...).

I don't watch much TV. I like watching films, but there are hardly any TV shows that interest me. At the moment, the only programmes that seem to be on TV are 'Lost', and 'Big Brother'...and I can't bring myself to watch either of them.

crisaor

06-27-2006, 04:41 PM

1. The Simpsons (up to and including the 9th season)
2. The Critic
3. Seinfeld

If you're curious, go here (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13670) for a similar topic.

Idril

06-27-2006, 04:57 PM

The TV series I can re-watch again and again and again until I know exactly what's coming next is 'The Young Ones' (yes, I'm living in the past...).

I haven't seen that show for years, I would love to see it again! I loved that show although I couldn't watch it when my mother was around, it was a little much for her. ;)

I don't watch a lot of tv, but when I do, I usually watch either BBC America or History International and as for network tv, I watch Lost and yes, I admit it's frustrating and predictable...at times...and far fetched but I love it nontheless and I also try to make sure to catch Ny Name is Earl and The Office when I think of it.

I know it's predictable, but I really love 'The Simpsons'. It's so clever, and I think it's brilliant the way that both adults and kids can appreciate it on different levels. It's great how there are all these little references to things - some of them I get, others I don't. It's intelligent /and/ funny.

We have every season on dvd that is available and my kids watch at least 3 or 4 episodes every day. It really is a brilliant show on so many levels.

AimusSage

06-27-2006, 05:04 PM

current top 3:

Stargate SG-1 (never saw atlantis, doesn't air here yet, and I'm too lazy to look up episodes.)
Lost
The Shield

I can't really say they are my all time top 3, which consist probably of Stargate, Babylon 5, and ST-Next Gen.
Then again, even that isn't set in stone, but I like science fiction, so that always is a bonus.
Or whatever, I always dislike setting favourites of anything, I barely ever am satisfied with what I put at the top.

kathycf

06-27-2006, 07:22 PM

Oh, you guys have mentioned several of the shows that I like.
I enjoy Stargate SG1 (/me wuvs Daniel Jackson), and the Simpsons as well. Even if the occasional episode gets stale after so long on the air, I know I will laugh at least once or twice. Seinfeld was one of my favorites when it was on the air. I also liked Buffy,as well as Angel, and occasionally watch Lost. Wow, it is hard to settle on just 3.

I also like shows on PBS such as some of the BBC shows (As Time goes by) as well as Nova and Mystery.

Well....I guess it is these:
Simpsons
Star Trek TNG
StarGate

Idril

06-27-2006, 09:28 PM

Pensive

06-28-2006, 01:27 AM

All these science fiction series reminded me of a couple series that are no longer on the air but I still love and that would be the Original Star Trek and Firefly. I didn't discover Firefly until the movie, Serenity came out but I absolutely loved the movie so I went out and bought the series dvd and have watched every episode several times...oh! And Freaks and Geeks, man that was an amazing show! I still mourn the premature ending of that series.
Oh, I remember that I liked Serenity a lot when I watched this movie.

We have every season on dvd that is available and my kids watch at least 3 or 4 episodes every day. It really is a brilliant show on so many levels
I have watched all the English dramas and movies by DVD because I have not got cable at home. And oh yeah, I loved Dawson Creek, I found it very touching.

mono

06-28-2006, 02:04 AM

Primarily the only television show I regularly watch and enjoy: Jeopardy.
Now and then, I will watch The Simpsons, but get a little burnt out. Matt Groening originated from my city, and, needless to say, he seems very famous and popular here.
Other things I may watch, depending on what shows: Discovery Channel, History Channel, and World News.

formality hater

06-28-2006, 03:38 AM

So this topic is not a new one,uh.
I myself don't like watching TV shows as some of them are either completely pointless or are based on similar stories.

SleepyWitch

06-28-2006, 04:12 AM

*Star Trek TNG
*Star Trek DS9

um, I don't ever watch telly to be honest.... apart from Star Trek, I like
X Files,
Desparate Housewives,
The Wonder Years,
Simpsons,
CSI (original), though....

formality hater

06-28-2006, 11:31 AM

So Simpsons is by far the most popular.It sure is good but sadly I cannot watch it regularly as its time clashes with my study hours.

Kelly_Sprout

06-28-2006, 11:59 AM

There has been quite a bit of Science Fiction mentioned, so I'll start with that. I consider SciFi to be a niche of its own though, sort of like cinema, so I don't count these as part of my generic top three.

SG-1, especially the first seven seasons when Richard Dean Anderson was a central part of it.
Quantum Leap, although I hatedHatedHATED the final episode.
ST Next Generation. This one grew on me. I resented it when it began to air. I felt like it was intruding on holy ground! But as the series went on, I began to really appreciate Jean Luc's diplomacy and the variety of themes in the story arc.

As for my top three shows that qualify as generic television, I look for intellegence and thoughtfulness. Those are hard qualities to find in 30-minute shows and two-dimensional characters, so I generally don't watch comedies or sit-coms. Here, then, are my (current) top three:

CSI, in any of its incarnations.
24. OK, it isn't so intellegent but it makes up for it in adrinaline.
Ghost Whisperer. A great approach and treatment to the subject -- not your typical scary ghost stories.

SleepyWitch

06-28-2006, 12:11 PM

ST Next Generation. This one grew on me. I resented it when it began to air. I felt like it was intruding on holy ground! But as the series went on, I began to really appreciate Jean Luc's diplomacy and the variety of themes in the story arc.

so are you a fan of TOS? i like that one too :) it's a classic :)
how do you like DS9?

Bysshe

06-28-2006, 01:18 PM

I haven't seen that show for years, I would love to see it again! I loved that show although I couldn't watch it when my mother was around, it was a little much for her.

Ha, my mum introduced it to me and I've been addicted to it ever since. I bought both series on DVD so I could keep re-watching it.

kathycf

06-28-2006, 04:58 PM

so are you a fan of TOS? i like that one too :) it's a classic :)
how do you like DS9?

I know the question wasn't for me, but I like watching DS9 as well. I know this will sound extremely like heresy to hardcore Sci/fi fans but I always liked Star Trek TNG and DS9 much better than the original.

Firefly was a pretty good show too, I think they cancel shows too quickly nowadays. There was a show in the early '90's called "Homefront" (set in the WWII era) that was really good, but never given a chance to thrive. When they change the days and times a show is on, I think viewers get frustrated.

Kelly_Sprout

06-28-2006, 05:09 PM

so are you a fan of TOS? i like that one too :) it's a classic :)
how do you like DS9?
DS9 never really moved me either way, although I did like Quark in a quirky sort of way, and the idea of the shape-shifter not having much of anything to call facial features was a nice touch.

As far as the entire Star Trek universe, yes, I am a fan of TOS. Watching those episodes today, I can see that they look phony and the acting was often terrible, but when you consider them in the context of their cultural nursery, they are still truly amazing. Consider, for example, that the cell phone you wear in a holster on your hip probably wouldn't exist today if it weren't for TOS. Oh, I suppose the technology of telephone service carried on radio waves would have been explored, but it was "flip phone" concept of Star Trek communicators that made cell phones catch on and become popular. Another example is Detante. Star Trek aired in the cultural climate of fear and distrust of Kruschev, nuclear anhilialation, a pretty widely accepted tolerance for ethnic hatred, and a strong, fresh memory of the Cuban Missle Crisis, and a brewing conflict in a little-known asian country called Vietnam, but yet Star Trek envisioned a different kind of universe with a Russian navigator, a universal communicator, and a mission to seek out new diversity.

It was also pretty good science fiction! By the way, did you know that several episodes were written by acclaimed science fiction writers? City on the Edge of Forever, for example, was based on an original screenplay by Harlan Ellison and that it won a Hugo award in 1967?

Yes, ST TOS holds a special place in my lists of favorites!

Idril

06-28-2006, 10:10 PM

The thing I love so much about TOS that I don't think was ever matched in the other incarnations of Star Trek is how well the relationships between the characters were built, especially between the big 3, Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Those relationships deepened with every episode and every movie. Star Trek 3 isn't a particularly exciting movie but as far as the relationships between those 3 go, I find it postively fascinating, all the episodes and movies led up to that point for those characters and I just love watching them relate to each other and the warmth and comfort they have.

The series, while certainly cheesy by our standards handled such cutting edge social issues of the time, issues of war and race, Kirk and Uhura was the first interracial kiss on tv, sure, they were forced into it by some weird guy with a Greek fixation but still, it was groundbreaking for it's time. And you gotta love a Captain that gets as much action as Kirk, Picard can't say that. ;) :p :lol:

Manfred

06-29-2006, 07:00 AM

Any of you sci-fi addicts get into "Farscape?" I thought that was very underrated, very cool. I don't get to see much TV, outside reality shows, since thats what my GF likes--must preserve the domestic bliss!

SleepyWitch

06-29-2006, 10:27 AM

As far as the entire Star Trek universe, yes, I am a fan of TOS. Watching those episodes today, I can see that they look phony and the acting was often terrible,
erhem, William Shattner comes to mind there :sick:

but when you consider them in the context of their cultural nursery, they are still truly amazing. Consider, for example, that the cell phone you wear in a holster on your hip probably wouldn't exist today if it weren't for TOS. Oh, I suppose the technology of telephone service carried on radio waves would have been explored, but it was "flip phone" concept of Star Trek communicators that made cell phones catch on and become popular. Another example is Detante.
i think there's an essay about that by Isaac Asimov on the occassion of the 30rth anniversary (was he still alive at that time??). don't remember the title though...

Star Trek aired in the cultural climate of fear and distrust of Kruschev, nuclear anhilialation, a pretty widely accepted tolerance for ethnic hatred, and a strong, fresh memory of the Cuban Missle Crisis, and a brewing conflict in a little-known asian country called Vietnam, but yet Star Trek envisioned a different kind of universe with a Russian navigator, a universal communicator, and a mission to seek out new diversity.

yep, I like it for the same reasons, too... in this respect, TNG and DS9 are a lot more tame if you compare the issues they bring up compared to the freedom there is now... well, there are a few 'radical' episodes

The thing I love so much about TOS that I don't think was ever matched in the other incarnations of Star Trek is how well the relationships between the characters were built, especially between the big 3, Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Those relationships deepened with every episode and every movie yep, gotta love them :)

what i like about DS9 is the story arcs (or are they arches? dictionary won't tell me).. in TOS and TNG you get a lot of random, nonsense episodes that are totally unrelated... i mean, lots of them are very good and have a message in themselves but it's like zigzag around the galaxy just to run into silly children and monsters every other day...

formality hater

07-12-2006, 07:48 AM

An Announcement!!!!!!!!!!
I Hate Malcolm In The Middle.

smoothherb

07-13-2006, 04:40 PM

hockey night in canada
seinfeld
las vegas

cruciverbalist

07-14-2006, 12:36 AM

The Simpsons
Gilmore Girls
Lost
:nod:

alejandra

07-15-2006, 04:19 PM

LEt's see..... I do watch a lot of tv shows.... don't know why but I watch almost every show, good and bad. It has something to do with me wanting to be a screen-writer.... anyway.... it's hard to pick 3 'cause most of the shows are stupid

My favorite 3 right now are
Prision Break--> Maybe it has something to do with the hot guys.... no, but aside from that I find it very interesting.
Dr.House--> Great character, I'd like to be mean like that sometimes.
Grey's Anatomy--> I find it to be an original doctor's show.

I also watch LOST, but it didn't make the cut.
But my 3 all time favorites are:

Dark Angel--> I just loved the premise, it was really interesting. If they hadn't ruined it on the second season it could have been a great show.
Felicity--> I know it was sappy and corny and all that, but it was well-written in the sense that I could relate to a great amount of things that happened on that show. I think it reflected very well the college life, and it was better than any other teen show.
ALIAS--> I just loved that show.....

Lycosparks

07-15-2006, 06:19 PM

1. I Love Lucy
2. Big Brother
3. Survivor

definately in that order...

Shalot

10-05-2006, 10:00 PM

An Announcement!!!!!!!!!!
I Hate Malcolm In The Middle.

Thank you so much. I can't stand it. I am going through the old posts and I don't know if you even come to LitNet anymore but Malcolm in the Middle is horrible. It's just so BAD. Who names their child Dewy?

Bad Bad show. I think it's been cancelled but the re-runs are on when I get home from work. IT SUCKS!

Annabel Lee

07-27-2007, 12:11 AM

I don't watch very much tv but when I do, I watch either:

1 Gilmore Girls,
2 Full House,
or 3 Growing Pains
When I was younger I watched ER regularly, but then George Clooney left:bawling:.

But lately whenever I have a chance to watch tv I watch "English Premier League" on FSC:) .

Moira

07-27-2007, 12:19 AM

Studio 60 - love it

Huff

Gray's Anatomy - I watch it from time to time

Granny5

07-27-2007, 12:33 AM

Monk
any Law and Order
Myth Busters

motherhubbard

07-27-2007, 12:41 AM

In case anyone wondered if I was a dork here is my list

Antiques Road Show, PBS
Masterpiece Theater (unless it’s mystery), PBS
Arthur, Fetch with Rough Roughman, Cyber Space, all kid shows on PBS
Democracy Now, FSTV
Mental Engineering, LINK

kiobe

07-27-2007, 10:53 PM

1. Seinfeld
2. Bill Moyers Journal
3. Entourage

Shalot

07-27-2007, 11:00 PM

Two and a Half Men

According to Jim

Real Estate Pros

(I really prefer movies I think)

kiobe

07-27-2007, 11:29 PM

(I really prefer movies I think)

Me too, or at least HBO.

EAP

07-28-2007, 09:16 PM

Fawlty Towers (the pinnacle of entertainment)
Carnivale
Yes Minister!

kiobe

07-28-2007, 10:11 PM

1. I Love Lucy
2. Big Brother
3. Survivor

definately in that order...

Holy moley, I Love Lucy?
That show makes me want to blow my brains out. Every show is the same. Lucy does something, tries to hide it from Ricky, usually with the help of the Mertzs', gets caught and crys that stupid WAHHHHHHHH, RICKYYYYYYY!!:bawling: Is that show a chick thing like the Honeymooners was a guy thing?

kiobe

07-28-2007, 10:14 PM

Fawlty Towers (the pinnacle of entertainment)
Carnivale
Yes Minister!

Remember all the sign changes at the start of Fawlty Towers show? One comes to mind...........probobly shouldn't put it here.:brow:

Idril

07-28-2007, 11:56 PM

I love Fawlty Towers! I haven't seen it for ages now but my parents have the complete series on video. I'll have to watch a few episodes next time I visit.

Pensive

07-29-2007, 08:39 AM

Fawlty Towers (the pinnacle of entertainment)

It was really funny! Whenever I see its name anywhere, Basil just comes in my mind and that try to peer into the hotel room and falling down! :p And much more!

Edit to add: I just remember a comedy Urdu drama called Family Front! It was just amazing, I used to watch it very much as a little girl. It's such a pity dramas like this don't come on telivision now and I have stopped watching television except for some songs they show on it.

papayahed

07-29-2007, 08:52 AM

Holy moley, I Love Lucy?
That show makes me want to blow my brains out. Every show is the same. Lucy does something, tries to hide it from Ricky, usually with the help of the Mertzs', gets caught and crys that stupid WAHHHHHHHH, RICKYYYYYYY!!:bawling: Is that show a chick thing like the Honeymooners was a guy thing?

:eek: What??? I just caught a couple of episodes yesterday of I Love Lucy and thinking how funny they still were...

mtpspur

07-29-2007, 09:06 AM

Current favorites:

House M.D. -- I don't care what the creator says House oes have a heart--it's fascinating to see him operate around it

Scrubs -- Unlike any other comedy this one I can watch ove and over and not get bored

24 -- The days just aren't long enough for the politest hard luck agent ever

Past favorites:

The Wild, Wild West --- especially the 1st season
Secret Agent - Patrick McGoohan is just a joy to watch
Rockford Files -- a show that raely had a dud episode--James Gardner can read phone bills and be iteresting to watch

alejandra

07-29-2007, 10:35 AM

I share the feeling about george clooney leaving ER., or leaving anything for that matter....
I also love Studio 60, does anyone know if it will have a second season?

mtpspur

07-31-2007, 02:10 PM

Last I read Studio 60 is a goner--sorry. Never watched but every TV show has fans so any cancellation is a loss.

alejandra

07-31-2007, 08:23 PM

oh too bad about Studio 60, I wasn't exactly a fan but it was a good show

plainjane

07-31-2007, 11:11 PM

Star Trek, Original Series
Law & Order..any incarnation, but especially Criminal Intent
As Time Goes By

ST/TOS, as was pointed out in a long ago post was ground breaking and developed the characters and their relationships far more deeply than the later versions IMO. Kirk, Spock and McCoy were Star Trek.

I really like any of the L&O but CI has Onofrio as Bobby, and a better, quirkier detective I have not seen. The last couple of seasons have really developed his character, and the series of shows that portrayed the Nichole character were some of the best I have ever seen.
I just loved that they hired Rita Moreno as his mother! Fabulous! :D

As far as As Time Goes By, all I need to say is Dame Judi Dench. :D

Fen

08-02-2007, 02:19 PM

ST/TOS, as was pointed out in a long ago post was ground breaking and developed the characters and their relationships far more deeply than the later versions IMO. Kirk, Spock and McCoy were Star Trek.

Admittedly I have only seen a few episodes of the original ST but I found it kind of slow I preferred the later shows like voyager.

My favourite shows on the box at the mo are:

Mock the week
Bones
Shark(Bad but in an enjoyable way)

Shalot

08-02-2007, 09:28 PM

I am watching the Office right now. I am guessing it's a re-run. It's the funniest thing though. Steve Carroll is cracking me up. It took me a while to warm up to him because he is kind of creepy at first. But now I realize that he is funny.

And this show is extremely funny. there is a bat loose in the office and the blonde is wearing a rain hat like grandma would have worn because it's raining poop in the office and they're all running around like fools. If only real life were like that. Work might actually be fun.

BlueSkyGB

08-02-2007, 09:38 PM

@ Shalot

Only 364 more days till Pretzel Day....:lol: :D :lol:

papayahed

08-02-2007, 09:55 PM

Have we talked about Eureka yet? I think we have. Any who, the new season just started and I'm diggin' it.

Anybody watch Good Eats? I love me some Alton Brown.

BlueSkyGB

08-02-2007, 10:11 PM

Hmmm Good Eats..... pretty good..
but whatever happened to my favorite TV show of all time

The Iron Chef,...the original..

Had every element of TV, one could ask for....competition, food, fireworks, trash talking, dubbed English...outrageous costumes...exotic foods..
usually judged by a psychic, TV star, food critic.....:lol:

I would usually be rolling in the floor laughing after just 10 minutes of it.:D

good link about it in Wiki....Iron Chef, Japan

SleepyWitch

10-08-2007, 04:14 PM

did anyone watch the Czech children's sci-fi series Návštevníci as a kid (German title: Die Besucher; English translation: the visitors; dunno if there's an English title)?
it was one of my fave series and I'd love to watch it again! but it's not available on DVD :( can you buy it on VHS in Czech Rep or Slovakia? of course I wouldn't understand a single word in the original version, but it would be fun anyway