Top 50 TV (31-40)
40. NFL PrimeTime
Nothing caps off a good day of football like watching the recaps and highlights of the games. Chris Berman is a treasure ("it's a fum-ble", "rumbling, bumbling, stumbling", "he could .. go .. all .. the .. way!")
39. 24
I missed this when it first aired, and rented it on a whim at the video store one day. I remember tearing through the first four episodes and then rushing back up to the video store before they closed to rent the next set. Subsequent seasons haven't kept me as spellbound, but that first season defines "edge-of-your-seat" television viewing.
38. Saturday Night Live
To be clear, I am specifically referring to the first cast only (including Bill Murray who joined a little later). John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garret Morris, Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman... am I forgetting anyone? To me, that was Saturday Night Live and I haven't watched a complete episode since that cast took their final bows. There's just no comparison.
37. American Justice
Bill Curtis is the only man who can smile and frown at the same time. He's the host of A&E's American Justice, an hour long documentary series featuring various crime investigations. I'm not sure if this series is currently in production. Seems like I only catch reruns when I tune in ("I've already seen this brutal murder!")
36. Heroes
Some geek buddies might consider it blasphemy that I'm putting this fantastic new series this low on the list. Hey, I like it, but I have to put things in perspective. The first season's not even over yet. If the writers and producers can keep the momentum going and sustain my interest over the long haul, it might move up on the list. Unlike Lost, which is quickly running out of interesting story, Heroes has the potential for substantial longevity once the initial story runs its course. I'm excited about the possibilities.
35. The Wonder Years
A nice, simple drama about a baby boomer growing up in the 60s. A show that never had to rely on hooks to pull its audience in. The main protagonist was the chasm that existed between the old-school, conservative father and the hippie generation that was reaching out for his children. Plus there was the pubescent tension between Kevin and Winnie. Tell me, what kid wouldn't have fallen head over heels for Winnie?
34. Howard Stern - The E! Show
You either get Howard Stern and he doubles you over with laughter on a consistent basis, or you don't, and he ... doesn't. My only problem with the E! show (which is, basically, the radio show) was that they typically aired the most uninteresting parts. Usually Howard talking to strippers or some wacky stunt. To me, Howard is at his funniest when he's just yapping about current events. I guess that doesn't play so well on a television program, which is all about the eye candy. *sigh*
33. Not Necessarily The News
Do you remember this comedy series that aired years ago on HBO? It had elements of a skit show (a la Saturday Night Live) but it also heavily featured current event news footage with hilarious audio overdubs or clever editing. I think my favorite was when they showed the funeral parade of Anwar Sadat with a giant Bullwinkle balloon flying overhead. Er, you had to be there.
32. The Colbert Report
[pronounced Colber' Repor']
Stephen Colbert's hilarious take on The Bill O'Reilly Show where he lampoons all things conservative. I've never seen The Daily Show, so I wasn't aware of the existence of Colbert until I caught him channel surfing (I was channel surfing, not him).A highly energetic show that's quick on its feet.
31. Late Night With David Letterman (NBC)
Please note the title. This is not The Late Show with David Letterman. Mr. Letterman is a funny guy no matter what network he's on, but his days at NBC were his best. That's when he was a real rebellious scoundrel. I wouldn't say he's gone entirely mainstream since he arrived at CBS. This is even more evident when you compare him to the milktoast "comedy" provided by his main competition, Jay Leno. Letterman is still irreverant, but age and money have cooled his heels a bit.
(Coming up next: the first gay sitcom character, the first lesbian kiss, and the first immigrant mechanic from ... well, we're not really sure where he's from)
Nothing caps off a good day of football like watching the recaps and highlights of the games. Chris Berman is a treasure ("it's a fum-ble", "rumbling, bumbling, stumbling", "he could .. go .. all .. the .. way!")
39. 24
I missed this when it first aired, and rented it on a whim at the video store one day. I remember tearing through the first four episodes and then rushing back up to the video store before they closed to rent the next set. Subsequent seasons haven't kept me as spellbound, but that first season defines "edge-of-your-seat" television viewing.
38. Saturday Night Live
To be clear, I am specifically referring to the first cast only (including Bill Murray who joined a little later). John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garret Morris, Jane Curtain, Lorraine Newman... am I forgetting anyone? To me, that was Saturday Night Live and I haven't watched a complete episode since that cast took their final bows. There's just no comparison.
37. American Justice
Bill Curtis is the only man who can smile and frown at the same time. He's the host of A&E's American Justice, an hour long documentary series featuring various crime investigations. I'm not sure if this series is currently in production. Seems like I only catch reruns when I tune in ("I've already seen this brutal murder!")
36. Heroes
Some geek buddies might consider it blasphemy that I'm putting this fantastic new series this low on the list. Hey, I like it, but I have to put things in perspective. The first season's not even over yet. If the writers and producers can keep the momentum going and sustain my interest over the long haul, it might move up on the list. Unlike Lost, which is quickly running out of interesting story, Heroes has the potential for substantial longevity once the initial story runs its course. I'm excited about the possibilities.
35. The Wonder Years
A nice, simple drama about a baby boomer growing up in the 60s. A show that never had to rely on hooks to pull its audience in. The main protagonist was the chasm that existed between the old-school, conservative father and the hippie generation that was reaching out for his children. Plus there was the pubescent tension between Kevin and Winnie. Tell me, what kid wouldn't have fallen head over heels for Winnie?
34. Howard Stern - The E! Show
You either get Howard Stern and he doubles you over with laughter on a consistent basis, or you don't, and he ... doesn't. My only problem with the E! show (which is, basically, the radio show) was that they typically aired the most uninteresting parts. Usually Howard talking to strippers or some wacky stunt. To me, Howard is at his funniest when he's just yapping about current events. I guess that doesn't play so well on a television program, which is all about the eye candy. *sigh*
33. Not Necessarily The News
Do you remember this comedy series that aired years ago on HBO? It had elements of a skit show (a la Saturday Night Live) but it also heavily featured current event news footage with hilarious audio overdubs or clever editing. I think my favorite was when they showed the funeral parade of Anwar Sadat with a giant Bullwinkle balloon flying overhead. Er, you had to be there.
32. The Colbert Report
[pronounced Colber' Repor']
Stephen Colbert's hilarious take on The Bill O'Reilly Show where he lampoons all things conservative. I've never seen The Daily Show, so I wasn't aware of the existence of Colbert until I caught him channel surfing (I was channel surfing, not him).A highly energetic show that's quick on its feet.
31. Late Night With David Letterman (NBC)
Please note the title. This is not The Late Show with David Letterman. Mr. Letterman is a funny guy no matter what network he's on, but his days at NBC were his best. That's when he was a real rebellious scoundrel. I wouldn't say he's gone entirely mainstream since he arrived at CBS. This is even more evident when you compare him to the milktoast "comedy" provided by his main competition, Jay Leno. Letterman is still irreverant, but age and money have cooled his heels a bit.
(Coming up next: the first gay sitcom character, the first lesbian kiss, and the first immigrant mechanic from ... well, we're not really sure where he's from)
posted by Stephen at 9:47 AM
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