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Post Your All-Time Top 10 Television Shows

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  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    @0BradyM0Bondfanatic7
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    edited May 2022 Posts: 2,161
    Not to mention that the female lead ran a whorehouse. In 1955!
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    @Birdleson, that's a great scene. Arness was an absolute giant, and you can feel the fear in that room. On top of that, not many men could say that they got the better of Charles Bronson, but he sure could. Great stuff, and I thank you for sharing.

    I definitely must be watching either the more light episodes, or those that are from a period where the show was moving away from the radio tone. I don't know, but I definitely need to check more of the show out to get a wider taste of it, particularly the first seasons as I hear those take quite liberally from the radio dramas. If there's more of the above in there, I'm all for it. The trouble is trying to find ways to watch a good chunk of the series. Some resources only have a couple seasons, and none have all of them. I guess if I find a lot to like in the early seasons, I'll have to see what's on offer on disc.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    I’ve been recording them off of INSP. That’s in the US. They run them constantly. You only have to wait a couple of weeks and whatever episode you want will probably show up.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    @Birdleson, I've watched the majority of the Gunsmoke I've seen off INSP, which is probably one of the only channels I ever actually watch these days, the rare times I do turn on a TV. But I think that's part of why my view of the show is a little warped, as I have only been able to see what's been broadcast, which hasn't been as great as the clip you shared above.
  • Agent_Zero_OneAgent_Zero_One Ireland
    edited May 2022 Posts: 554
    1. The Sopranos (1999 - 2007)
    2. Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
    3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2003)
    4. The Wire (2002 - 2008)
    5. Angel (1999 - 2004)
    6. Dark (2019 - 2021)
    7. Inspector Morse (1987 - 2000)
    8. Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995 - 1996)
    9. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 - 2021)
    10. Steins;Gate (2011)
    Honorable Mentions:
    Doctor Who (1963/2005 - Present)
    Father Ted (1995 - 1998)
    The Thick of It (2005 - 2012)
    Monster (2003 - 2004)
    Cowboy Bebop (1998 - 1999)
  • ringfire211ringfire211
    Posts: 654
    0BradyM0Bondfanatic7 wrote: »
    @Birdleson, I definitely need to get more into Gunsmoke, as that's one that just didn't register with me. Maybe I just haven't seen the best episodes to gauge it, but the show just felt a bit too clean and simplistic (tone and story wise) compared to the two I discussed above. I certainly respect the show for the massive and unmatched cultural impact it had, but just feel it lacks the teeth of other westerns I like more. But that's also just my preference: give me a more rugged and harsh Clint Eastwood western than one of John Wayne's more simplistic and sunnier flicks any day.

    It does still blow me away just how many episodes Arness was in (I think it went into the 600s!). That kind of thing is so crazy and special to me, because it can never happen again given how different our TV climate is. A show is lucky to have 60 to a 100 episodes, these days, and that number gets smaller and smaller as time goes on.
    Yeah you definitely need to check out some more GUNSMOKE. Check out season 3’s “The Cabin” (with Claude Akins as a particularly vicious animal) - that one is extremely bleak and troubling. You’ll never see anything like that on THE RIFLEMAN or WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, which are great shows by the way. There are 2 later ones (in color) with Steve Forrest which I have yet to see which are supposed to be pretty disturbing too. Also a season 1 episode with Aaron Spelling called “The Guitar” or another one from season 1 called “The Killer” with Charles Bronson. You’ll want to check those out too! Very mature themes there. Keep in mind that GUNSMOKE was the first adult western and has a reputation for being edgy so it’s kinda odd that you found it a “squeaky clean” western. Maybe you just saw the wrong episodes. It’s constantly held up against the likes of BONANZA as the more mature and grown up western. Truth be told, however, BONANZA is my favorite TV western! I love the mix of the serious and the comical on that show. Gave it a nice balance. I don’t need every episode to be depressing.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    edited May 2022 Posts: 2,161
    I also doubt whether THE RIFLEMAN and the like ever impaled somebody with a pitchfork in shadow silhouette. Matt Dillon did.
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    And a fun compilation to cap the thought!
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Great video. He has a very distinct punching style. Arness played two iconic western characters in two great western shows. He wasn t just Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke, but also Zeb Macahan in How the West Was Won.
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    I can't rank them, just coming up with the ten was hard enough, but here's my list:

    Doctor Who (1963-)
    Better Call Saul (2014-2022)
    The Simpsons (1989-1998-ish)
    Mad Men (2007-2015)
    It's A Sin (2021)
    Taskmaster (2015-)
    Community (2009-2015)
    Derry Girls (2018-2022)
    Chernobyl (2019)
    Dickinson (2019-2021)
  • Agent_Zero_OneAgent_Zero_One Ireland
    Posts: 554
    CharmianBond wrote: »
    I can't rank them, just coming up with the ten was hard enough, but here's my list:

    Doctor Who (1963-)
    Better Call Saul (2014-2022)
    The Simpsons (1989-1998-ish)
    Mad Men (2007-2015)
    It's A Sin (2021)
    Taskmaster (2015-)
    Community (2009-2015)
    Derry Girls (2018-2022)
    Chernobyl (2019)
    Dickinson (2019-2021)
    Derry Girls is great.
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    Right? I'm so not emotionally prepared for the finale tonight.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Yeah, some very good picks there @CharmianBond. My favourite of those is probably Better Call Saul (although It’s a Sin and Chernobyl would give it a good run for its money), it’s just been ridiculously bloody good, and it’ll be so sad to finally say goodbye to that world for good when it finishes. Can’t really imagine them doing any further spinoffs or follow ups. I might have to jump straight into a Breaking Bad rewatch afterwards to ease the pain.

    I hope we see some of those actors get more work off the back of it too. Okendirk seems to be getting a similar career boost to the one Cranston had, which is great, but I think Rhea Seehorn, Micheal Mando and Tony Dalton also deserve to go onto some big things.
  • zebrafishzebrafish <°)))< in Octopussy's garden in the shade
    Posts: 4,341
    Agent_Zero_One wrote: »
    1.
    Honorable Mentions:

    Father Ted (1995 - 1998)

    How did I miss mentioning Father Ted? That show is hilarious and absolutely worth a rewatch. I have it on VHS, bt the player is in the cellar. Does it even plug into my TV nowadays?
  • CharmianBondCharmianBond Pett Bottom, Kent
    Posts: 557
    Totally agree, @thelivingroyale. I think El Camino was a little bit of a misstep but Saul builds on an already brilliant foundation with Breaking Bad and I think after that they should call it quits and leave its remarkable legacy intact.
  • Agent_Zero_OneAgent_Zero_One Ireland
    Posts: 554
    I liked El Camino. Was it necessary? No, but I appreciated it as an epilogue.
  • ProfJoeButcherProfJoeButcher Bless your heart
    Posts: 1,711
    thelivingroyale wrote: »
    Yeah, some very good picks there @CharmianBond. My favourite of those is probably Better Call Saul (although It’s a Sin and Chernobyl would give it a good run for its money), it’s just been ridiculously bloody good, and it’ll be so sad to finally say goodbye to that world for good when it finishes. Can’t really imagine them doing any further spinoffs or follow ups. I might have to jump straight into a Breaking Bad rewatch afterwards to ease the pain.

    I hope we see some of those actors get more work off the back of it too. Okendirk seems to be getting a similar career boost to the one Cranston had, which is great, but I think Rhea Seehorn, Micheal Mando and Tony Dalton also deserve to go onto some big things.

    And Michael McKean! He's always been incredible.
  • StirredNotShakenStirredNotShaken Toronto
    Posts: 2,402
    Agent_Zero_One wrote: »
    I liked El Camino. Was it necessary? No, but I appreciated it as an epilogue.

    I think they did the right thing in giving us a clear answer about Jesse's fate, and I thought it was a great movie to boot.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,154
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO
  • BirdlesonBirdleson
    Posts: 2,161
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO

    We only have COLUMBO in common, but BEAVER was a contender for mine.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,154
    Birdleson wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO

    We only have COLUMBO in common, but BEAVER was a contender for mine.

    Love your list, @Birdleson. TWILIGHT ZONE, GUNSMOKE, STAR TREK, are all also contenders for me. There's a ton of shows in the classic TV era I can't get enough of, and never tire of.
  • ringfire211ringfire211
    Posts: 654
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO
    I like Leave it to Beaver just fine (even Diffrent Strokes) but are those really your 2 favorite sitcoms of all time?? Looking at the 50s alone I’d take I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners over Beaver in a heartbeat. And then there’s The Andy Griffith Show which is pretty much #1 in my book! And what about All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Three’s Company, Happy Days, etc?
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,154
    ringfire211 wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO
    I like Leave it to Beaver just fine (even Diffrent Strokes) but are those really your 2 favorite sitcoms of all time?? Looking at the 50s alone I’d take I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners over Beaver in a heartbeat. And then there’s The Andy Griffith Show which is pretty much #1 in my book! And what about All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Three’s Company, Happy Days, etc?

    I'd throw in HAPPY DAYS, ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and THREE'S COMPANY as well. Lately though I've been watching more of the Beav and DIFF'RENT STROKES. It's really a tough call. one almost needs to do a top 10 TV list by genre.
  • ringfire211ringfire211
    Posts: 654
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    ringfire211 wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO
    I like Leave it to Beaver just fine (even Diffrent Strokes) but are those really your 2 favorite sitcoms of all time?? Looking at the 50s alone I’d take I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners over Beaver in a heartbeat. And then there’s The Andy Griffith Show which is pretty much #1 in my book! And what about All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Three’s Company, Happy Days, etc?

    I'd throw in HAPPY DAYS, ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and THREE'S COMPANY as well. Lately though I've been watching more of the Beav and DIFF'RENT STROKES. It's really a tough call. one almost needs to do a top 10 TV list by genre.
    I see. So it’s just a current thing you’re going through. Current mood/preference.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    Posts: 16,154
    ringfire211 wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    ringfire211 wrote: »
    ToTheRight wrote: »
    Slightly different version of this list:

    1. DRAGNET
    2. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    3. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    4. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    5. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    6. MAVERICK
    7. THE SAINT
    8. DIFF'RENT STROKES
    9. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    10. COLUMBO
    I like Leave it to Beaver just fine (even Diffrent Strokes) but are those really your 2 favorite sitcoms of all time?? Looking at the 50s alone I’d take I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners over Beaver in a heartbeat. And then there’s The Andy Griffith Show which is pretty much #1 in my book! And what about All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Three’s Company, Happy Days, etc?

    I'd throw in HAPPY DAYS, ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and THREE'S COMPANY as well. Lately though I've been watching more of the Beav and DIFF'RENT STROKES. It's really a tough call. one almost needs to do a top 10 TV list by genre.
    I see. So it’s just a current thing you’re going through. Current mood/preference.

    Yeah, I'd really need a top 20 or 25 shows of all time.
  • hoppimikehoppimike Kent, UK
    Posts: 290
    1. Red Dwarf
    2. Inside No. 9
    3. Seinfeld

    I don't know about a whole 10 but others I really like are Peep Show, The Simpsons ('90s, mostly), The Twilight Zone and Breaking Bad.
  • ringfire211ringfire211
    edited May 2022 Posts: 654
    I think for me to it would be easier to do a top 5 by decade.

    1950s
    1. I Love Lucy
    2. The Honeymooners
    3. Leave it to Beaver
    4. Gunsmoke
    5. Have Gun, Will Travel

    1960s
    1. Bonanza
    2. Mission: Impossible
    3. The Andy Griffith Show
    4. The Big Valley
    5. Gilligan’s Island

    1970s
    1. Hawaii Five-O (I know it started in 1968 but most of its run was in the 70s)
    2. The Streets of San Francisco
    3. Columbo
    4. The Rockford Files
    5. Three’s Company

    1980s
    1. Knight Rider (guilty pleasure from my childhood)
    2. The A-Team
    3. MacGyver
    4. Matlock
    5. The Wonder Years / Magnum, PI

    1990s
    1. Walker Texas Ranger (another guilty pleasure)
    2. Batman: The Animated Series
    3. Cobra
    4. The Sentinel
    5. Family Matters

    2000s
    1. 24
    2. Prison Break
    3. Alias
    4. The King of Queens
    5. Everybody Loves Raymond

    2010s
    1. Person of Interest
    2. Outsourced
    3. Breaking Bad
    …. drawing blanks here. As you can see I’m not much for modern TV. I prefer the classics of yesteryear.
  • ToTheRightToTheRight
    edited May 2022 Posts: 16,154
    Good idea, @ringfire211! I'll try that, too.....................


    1950s
    1. ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN
    2. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
    3. HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL
    4. THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET
    5. DRAGNET 1st series

    1960s
    1. THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW
    2. DRAGNET color series
    3. DENNIS THE MENACE
    4. STAR TREK
    5. PERRY MASON

    1970s
    1. THE ROCKFORD FILES
    2. THREE'S COMPANY
    3. THE INCREDIBLE HULK
    4. WKRP IN CINCINATTI
    5. COLUMBO

    1980S
    1. MacGYVER
    2. MICKEY SPILLANES MIKE HAMMER
    3. SPENSER FOR HIRE
    4. MAGNUM P.I.
    5. DIFF'RENT STROKES

    1990s
    1. ZORRO
    2. SEINFELD
    3. MIKE HAMMER PRIVATE EYE (I'm running out of ideas here............)
    4. COLUMBO 80's/90's version
    5. ..................................

    2000s
    1. MY NAME IS EARL
    2. HOT IN CLEVELAND
    3. CHUCK (the Timothy Dalton episodes)
    4. the JESSE STONE television movies (cheating here)


    2010s
    1. BLUE BLOODS
    2. MacGYVER (cheating as I've only seen a few episodes)
    3. MAGNUM P.I. (cheating again as I've never seen it but I'll throw it in anyway)
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,620
    I’m happy and surprised at how much Batman TAS is truly loved! For years (before I invested into the internet) I thought everyone forgot it. Now I still get surprised that it’s still loved 30 years later. I don’t think that Batman on TV will ever be that great again. As for one thing that surprises me about the lists I’ve seen, I’m surprised that no one has mentioned any Chuck Lorre sitcoms (Two and a half men, The Big Bang Theory, Mom etc). I’m happy about that because he is kind of a low point for American sitcoms. It’s always the same with Chuck Lorre. It’s going to be hard to rank my top 10 favorite shows, it may be a while for me.
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