Subject: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 02 Jul 09 - 04:47 PM TV as a media has been getting some poor reviews as of late here in the Mudcat. So ... let's try listing some of what you feel has been the best in TV. Here's some TV programming I can recall from the past that I think is a positive representation of that media. This Hour has Seven days (CBC) The Naked City Quest (CBC) CBS news with Walter Cronkite The Jack Parr Show Car 54 Where are you well ... that's a start ... my 2 cent list of some of what I feel has been the best in TV. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Wesley S Date: 02 Jul 09 - 04:51 PM The West Wing The Sopranos. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: robomatic Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:18 PM In the US On Cable: The Wire (5 Seasons ending about two years ago, rent it and watch it!) Dead Like Me (2 Seasons about 4 years ago, rent it and watch it!) These two are at LEAST as good as Sopranos, and the Sopranos was very very good. On Broadcast TV: House Nova Charlie Rose CSI (The 'original' one set in Las Vegas) On Radio: Fresh Air with Terry Gross On The Media Prairie Home Companion Wait Wait Don't Tell Me |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: gnu Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:19 PM Wingfield. Now on Bravo. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Riginslinger Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:29 PM There was a show with Jack Warden called "Crazy Like a Fox," but they only made a few episodes. It was the funniest thing I'd ever seen on television. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Richard Bridge Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:35 PM There is no news to match BBC News, and no current affairs program to match Panorama. Dr Who was excellent for decades. Monty Python was good for about 10 episodes. The first few episodes of "East Enders" were groundbreaking. NYPD Blue was good for a while too. Oh, and Cracker (the UK version before the US emasculated a cloned version) Open all Hours was excellent - as was "Porridge". TW3 was also good. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:36 PM How about .. The Prisoner The Nature of Things ... Dr. David Susuki |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: jeddy Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:41 PM waking the dead and bone kickers does it for me. most haunted is usually rather good and charmed. jade x |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: olddude Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:43 PM bill don't forget wagon train and gunsmoke yup its on ... love em |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 02 Jul 09 - 05:49 PM Wagon Train most certainly |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: robomatic Date: 02 Jul 09 - 06:17 PM To which I must add: Maverick (mainly the episodes with Bret Maverick played by James Garner and the other James Garner opus: The Rockford Files |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: bobad Date: 02 Jul 09 - 06:44 PM Kung Fu was pretty cool for it's time. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Bill D Date: 02 Jul 09 - 06:44 PM Comedy: Ernie Kovacs Red Skelton Red Green (which they took away from me last year) Sid Caesar & company Night Court -(pure genius, at times) TW3-(That Was the Week That Was)(long time ago) "Barney Miller"..strange cop sit-com with good writing & characters. M*A*S*H ...some of it Drama: St. Elsewhere Hill Street Blues West Wing News/Talk: Charlie Rose- (if you live where you can watch this...DO IT! Nightline...before losing Ted Koppel ....and now, Rachael Maddow! Documentaries: "Connections" -(I still have taped episodes) Nova - at times (whatever that Australian show was, with the older guy who went barefoot everywhere and knew more than Steve Irwin ever dreamed of) Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" !!! there are more... |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: michaelr Date: 02 Jul 09 - 07:04 PM Recent stuff: The Riches Weeds Nurse Jackie |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: frogprince Date: 02 Jul 09 - 08:36 PM Am I the only one who thinks Gunsmoke belongs on the list? Mash Without a Trace Monk |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Bill D Date: 02 Jul 09 - 09:30 PM I guess so... Gunsmoke was pop-Pablum, not 'excellent drama'. It was like....ummm.... like....well.... Michael Jackson... (dodging behind the stage to avoid improvised projectiles) Monk was just a very clever treatment of a silly hypothetical concept... a detective with all those tics and phobias? *tsk* |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Riginslinger Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:02 AM Yeah - I agree with robo. Maverick was a really good show. The plots were well constructed. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Jim Dixon Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:07 AM Lately I have greatly enjoyed the drama series "Breaking Bad" on the cable channel AMC. "Malcolm in the Middle" was my favorite recent comedy, which can now be seen in reruns on a couple of cable channels. On PBS, everything I've seen in the "American Masters" series has been worthwhile. (But, looking at their web site, I just realized there are an awful lot I missed.) |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: GUEST,Helen, cookieless Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:14 AM BillD, do you mean The Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddins? My favourite current tv show is Spooks. BBC drama about MI5 - spies etc Red Green Show is funny. My hubby has them on DVD. Helen |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Little Hawk Date: 03 Jul 09 - 12:35 AM Fawlty Towers Mary Tyler Moore Wagon Train Monty Python's Flying Circus SCTV (Canadian show) The Sopranos Rome Trailer Park Boys Paladin The Smothers Brothers |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Gervase Date: 03 Jul 09 - 03:45 AM In no particular order (on UK television) Boys from the Blackstuff Fawlty Towers Dad's Army Any Steven Poliakoff play Defence of the Realm Edge of Darkness Jackanory Bagpuss Yes Minister Blackadder The Singing Detective All Our Yesterdays The World at War Blue Remembered Hills Nuts in May Abigail's Party Green Wing Father Ted A Very Peculiar Practice. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Richard Bridge Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:02 AM Auf Wiedersehen Pet |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: fat B****rd Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:05 AM The Wire CSI -usually Big Jim and the Figaro Club Ready Steady Go -sometimes The Emma Peel Avengers Poirot |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:07 AM Cheerio Richard, where you bound to hinny? Al |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:08 AM or rather, 'marra'. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Dave the Gnome Date: 03 Jul 09 - 04:40 AM UK - The Bill. Best long running soap/drama by far. US - Firefly. So good they had to cancel it in case it showed up the rest:-) DeG |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: bubblyrat Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:06 AM UK.... Para Handy ( the Duncan McRae / Roddy MacMillan version) Fawlty Towers Dad's Army Blake's Seven Doomwatch Time Team Quatermass And The Pit .....and from the US; Boots And Saddles Gunsmoke The Beverly Hillbillies Cade's County ( I THINK it was called that,but anyway it starred Glen Ford as a County Sheriff,and I liked him !!!). |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: alanabit Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:28 AM UK TV: World in Action Panorama BBC News The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Not Only But Also (Peter Cook And Dudley Moore) The World At War All Our Yesterdays The David Attenborough Documentaries - Life on Earth etc The Professionals (hokum but fun!) The Avengers (see above) The Old Grey Whistle Test In Concert As a kid I loved all the US import Western Series: Wagon Train, Maverick, Tenderfoot, The Virginian, The Big Country, Bonanza, Rawhide etc along with all the Gerry Anderson pupper shows - Supercar, Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds etc. "I am David", read by David Kossoff on Sunday evenings was also unforgettable. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: John Hardly Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:44 AM The Simpsons. Funniest, smartest TV ever. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 03 Jul 09 - 06:14 AM As Time Goes By, One Foot In the Grave, Ab Fab,Fawlty Towers, Doc Martin, Panorama, all BBC. The Nature of Things CBC, W5 CTV. This Hour Has 22 Minutes(The first three seasons) CBC. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 03 Jul 09 - 07:55 AM TV ... much like the movies, books or even newspapers ... some of it is good, and some of it is just horrible. and some more of my choices ... Heimat Band of Brothers Curb your Enthusiasm .. was never a fan of Seinfield, but this comedy series IMHO is one of the funniest TV programs ever. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Ron Davies Date: 03 Jul 09 - 08:10 AM Singing Detective Secret Agent Man--for my money Patrick McGoohan was the best spy ever--and the show reflected real espionage--especially when he spent several shows chasing a villain, several people were killed--and he was chasing the wrong person. Music was great too. I agree with Robo about James Garner. His dry wit (obviously partly due to the script) was priceless-especially in Maverick. 77 Sunset Strip Fawlty Towers Car 54 And Beverly Hillbillies. As I said on the other TV thread: great escapism ridiculing the rich, far more than the hillbillies--as a continuing theme wonderful music--Flatt and Scruggs. Obviously if you hate all bluegrass, this is not a selling point--but for many, it was their introduction to bluegrass. one of the best theme songs ever And great scenery--(Ellie Mae) |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Dave the Gnome Date: 03 Jul 09 - 08:47 AM Did you know that Elly May was a singer as well and has now returned to gospel singing? DeG |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: gnu Date: 03 Jul 09 - 08:54 AM Wingfield. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Ron Davies Date: 03 Jul 09 - 09:41 AM No, didn't know that about Ellie Mae (Donna Douglas?). But not surprising, I think Donna Summer also turned to gospel, if I remember correctly (maybe I don't). |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 03 Jul 09 - 09:50 AM Elly Mae Donna Summer Geeeezuz ! and now back to "Some of the Best TV ever" I should mention this one ... since this is the Mudcat and it this program does deserve some accolades "Lets Sing out" with Oscar Brandt. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Ron Davies Date: 03 Jul 09 - 09:54 AM Oscar Brandt? When was that? Missed it entirely. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 03 Jul 09 - 10:06 AM Hey Ron ... It was a weekly TV series on the CBC (Canada) from 1963 to 1965. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Stu Date: 03 Jul 09 - 10:07 AM Twin Peaks The Office (UK Version) The X Files Anything from the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol voiced by David Attenborough. Northern Exposure Band of Brothers Simon Schama's Power of Art, esp. the Van Gogh and Rothko episodes. Channel 4 News Arrested Development Tiswas |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 03 Jul 09 - 10:20 AM Twin Peaks ! Most certainly. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: alanabit Date: 03 Jul 09 - 10:41 AM Band of Brothers and Heimat are two series which I should have mentioned. Excellent, both of them. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Bill D Date: 03 Jul 09 - 11:15 AM "The Bush Tucker Man, Les Hiddins?" No... the one I saw was an older, squat fellow....used to go chat with the Aborigines. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Bill D Date: 03 Jul 09 - 11:21 AM got it! A clever Google search yields all! Rob Bredl |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Bill D Date: 03 Jul 09 - 11:25 AM http://www.barefootbushman.com.au/ Program I watched was the "Killer Instinct" series. (Why they called it that, I have no idea) |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: Ed T Date: 03 Jul 09 - 01:17 PM I liked this news piece> It shows just how bad the newsroom cutcs are. http://dogandponyshowwebsite.com/be-afraid-of-the-cardboard-bear |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: kendall Date: 03 Jul 09 - 01:57 PM Barney Miller. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: BK Lick Date: 03 Jul 09 - 03:45 PM Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox and Tony Randall first episode on YouTube The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd with Blair Brown and Jay Tarses intro segment on YouTube -- is that Stephane Grappelli? |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: GUEST Date: 03 Jul 09 - 03:54 PM Green Acres - Dadaism in a box Johnny Carson _ Cavett was good too Mash - Especially the original cast Barney Miller - Best ensemble comedy ever WKRP - Big Guy: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Taxi - The funniest scene on any show ever - Louie and the Girl Scout Soap - If you hated soap operas you loved Soap & rightwingers hated it Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Like Soap but more working class Pushing Daisies - literate quirky comedy, victim of writer's strike Twilight Zone - Very imaginitive Maverick - Garner was just cool Rockford Files - Ditto Monk - Tony Shalhoub is funny but premise starting to wear thin House - Currently the best show on Network TV Lot's of good stuff on PBS: Antiques Roadshow, American Masters (really good one about Garrison Keillor recently), BBC Mysteries (Inspector Morse was my all time favorite and the recent ones with Kenneth Brannagh playing a Swedish detective were quite good). Which brings me to the absolutely greatest thing I've ever scene on Television, also on PBS: the 22 hour 8 night long Civil War documentary by Ken Burns. Just incredible. |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: number 6 Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:09 PM Ken Burn's documentary on the Civil War ... how could I forget that. biLL |
Subject: RE: BS: Some of the best TV ever From: BK Lick Date: 03 Jul 09 - 05:38 PM Non-canadians may not have heard of number 6's first cited program. This Hour Has Seven Days was a CBC Television newsmagazine inspired by the British satire series That Was The Week That Was.The quote is from The Leonard Cohen CBC Interviews, a blog page with some videos LC fans will enjoy. —BK |