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dxboon
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What's on the TV?

Andrew started a great thread about B-movies the other day, and then made a comment to me that we ought to talk about TV shows on TimeOut at some point.  I couldn't agree more!  There is a wide variety of programming on TV currently, from reality-based shows, to single-camera half-hour comedies, to hour-long dramas of every genre.  What do you think:

1) Is the quality and/or variety of TV shows better now in your opinion, or are you nostalgic for shows from the past?

2) What are your favorite TV shows currently and/or favorite shows of all time (including those that are no longer running)?

I personally have a hard time answering question #1 because I'm very nostalgic for TV (specifically cartoons) from the 80s, but I do feel the production value and general variety of stories we see on TV today (particularly on pay cable like HBO and Showtime in the US) far exceeds what I could see on TV during the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

My current favorite TV shows are: 24, Lost, Dexter, and Gray's Anatomy.

My all-time favorite TV shows are (in this order):

1. Charlie's Angels -- when I was a little girl I wanted to be Jaclyn Smith.  Of all the "Angels" her character, Kelly Garrett, was the best of both worlds -- brainy and beautiful!  Farrah was the bombshell -- all looks, no smarts; Kate Jackson was the brainiac with the terrible haircut.  Jaclyn's character was the kind of girl I wanted to grow up to be!  Unfortunately, in real life I'm more the Kate Jackson type! 

2. Alias (seasons 1 & 2) -- I watched all five seasons, but the show's quality really went downhill at some point during season 3.  However, the first two seasons were gripping television.  To this day, I have not seen an episode of television (and frankly few feature films) that can eclipse the pilot episode of this series.  Not to mention that it starred Michael Vartan, my longtime "TV boyfriend."    For the fellas reading this, you might want to pick up the season 2 DVD and fast forward straight to the episode called "Phase One."  This episode originally came on after the Superbowl one year, and the opening scene started thusly:

Cue AC/DC's "Back In Black"
Door opens, and Jennifer Garner walks through in slo-mo in nothing but black lingerie complete with garter belts and, er, a riding crop. 

You can thank me later. 

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer -- High school is hell.  Every kid thinks that at some point, but unfortunately for Buffy Summers and the other residents of Sunnydale High it's the literal truth.  Yep, the entire town of Sunnydale is located on the "Hellmouth."  In case you were wondering...that's not a good thing!    Buffy was one of the sharpest, most poignant, well-written shows in history.  Beneath the fantastical candy-coated surface of vampire-slaying cheerleaders, creator Joss Whedon, was addressing major social and philosophical issues during the show's 144 episodes.  It's been years since this show was canceled, but I still enjoy watching the episodes as much today as I ever did.  I often listen to the soundtrack to the musical episode "Once More With Feeling" from season six, and sing along with the Scoobies (as Buffy's gang was called).

Ok, that's enough from me.  What about all of you?  Any TV watchers out there?

Cheers,
Daos
This message has been edited by dxboon on 2009-05-23 01:38:26