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anon_6hv78pr714xta
Guest
I've never seen The Americans or (hangs head in shame) Sopranos.
Movies, books, tv
- Thread starter zeke4ahs
- Start date
Lindelof did Lost and The Leftovers. The Leftovers is all the best parts of Lost with very little of the bad and only 28 episodes. Gets to the story quick but still develops the characters (b/c of the very limited number of true main characters).
The Leftovers did leave some things undone, many in fact. Part of those were completely intentional but some weren't which is the only reason I'm not putting it into the top 5 right off the bat.
Disagree on the Wire. I'm a huge fan of showrunners creating a "world" to inhabit. The Wire does that effortlessly. The Leftovers also does it masterfully. With both we are forced to believe what we're seeing and we do even if it makes no sense. With The Wire it's b/c I have little to zero experience being a young black man in an inner city and the pressures and obstacles present. Wtih the Leftovers you must suspend some disbelief but the initial departure scenes and aftermath make this possible. Just excellently done.
I would really consider replacing Lost on your list with The Leftovers. It's the far superior Lindelof work. And the ending of Leftovers rivals BB and BCS but with a some Sopranos mixed in and just a hint of Inception. It could be the best ending possible. The whole final season was like watching somebody barely hold it together on the balance beam, not falling but coming close, and then absolutely landing the 540, triple twist, double whatever landing.
The ending really is that good.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
Guest
OK, you've convinced me. I'll watch it.
By the way, for discussion purposes:
The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
The definitive ranking of the 100 best shows in TV history, as determined by a poll of actors, producers, showrunners, critics, and the staff of Rolling Stone.
www.rollingstone.com
I somehow forget Deadwood. I know the ending is odd with the show not being picked up again, but damn was McShane incredible.
I would call that list controversial if you have BOB at 80. But it's Sepinwall. He hates war series (note MASH at only 25). Eye rolling bias but the rest of the list is decent. Don't know about Sorpanos at 1 but meh who really cares when you're in the top 20. Note The Leftovers is about 20 spots higher than Lost. That little write up is spot on but doesn't do the ridiculousness any justice. Just wait for the Hotel scenes. Tell me where THAT is (you'll get it when you watch it).OK, you've convinced me. I'll watch it.
By the way, for discussion purposes:
The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
The definitive ranking of the 100 best shows in TV history, as determined by a poll of actors, producers, showrunners, critics, and the staff of Rolling Stone.
I agree there is no way is BoB or MASH is that low. But I will say about MASH that it is dated by today's standards. A lot of people have asked how I could like something so misogynistic.
I never thought Wire dragged. I watched it for the first time late , maybe 7 years ago. I’ve since watched it two more times. I watched 7 episodes in a day a couple times. Only series I’ve watched more than once. I fell in love with the characters. My top 5.
The Wire
Sopranos
Breaking Bad
Friday Night Lights
Sex and The City
GOT
Don’t know why comedies are never there but I consider them a different category.
The Office
Seinfeld
Friends
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Cheers
Other than your top 5 having 6 (IU math strikes again!) I can agree with everything but SATC. Probably a gender thing.
I do need to watch FNL. Someday
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
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I wish everyone would see The Wire. Teaching inner city I so related to Season 4, even though my kids weren’t for the most part, close to that situation. But seeing the things that happened to those boys when they were just trying to be kids broke me. Season 2 was a shocking change at first, but then it explained to me better than anything I have read what has happened to many industries today. Where generations were guaranteed a good paying job and everyone worked in the same industry. I’m always amazed how well that show has held up over time, except for some of the technology. And Michael B Jordan!!!
Yeah SATC is definitely a girls’ thing. Don’t like the reboot or the movies. But the original was smart, funny, and more about friendship than sex. Some iconic scenes and sayings came from it.
I know. I went back and added GOT cause I couldn’t leave it off!! I love FNL and they landed the finale. Coach and Mrs. Coach had one of the most realistic depictions of a healthy marriage I’ve seen on TV. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton were fabulous, but lots of good young talent in it too. Season 2 had a funky out of nowhere story line. But still a great show.
I have a difficult time doing top lists, my moods change. But generally I would rather laugh than anything, so comedies tend to be toward the top.
In no particular order shows I would have toward the top:
MASH
Barney Miller
Night Court (original)
Band of Brothers
Big Bang
West Wing
I really hate to leave off All in the Family, Carol Burnett, Dick van Dyke, Blackadder, Top Gear, and Ted Lasso (and some others). Those would be the next grouping. Lasso could move up with a strong 3rd (and final season).
In no particular order shows I would have toward the top:
MASH
Barney Miller
Night Court (original)
Band of Brothers
Big Bang
West Wing
I really hate to leave off All in the Family, Carol Burnett, Dick van Dyke, Blackadder, Top Gear, and Ted Lasso (and some others). Those would be the next grouping. Lasso could move up with a strong 3rd (and final season).
LOL stupid. Waste of time. HBO crap. Here ya go. Use your time better friend
Breaking bad
Sopranos
Mad men
Got
Better call Saul
Never saw the wire.
Mash would be also getting votes
Sopranos
Mad men
Got
Better call Saul
Never saw the wire.
Mash would be also getting votes
Ummmm. Whatever you’re streaming in your free time…stop and start watching The Wire. Yes it’s ponderous at the beginning. Yes the second season seems misplaced. Don’t worry it pays off.
And Omar.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
Guest
I still can't believe he's avoiding watching Godfather and Godfather II.
We’ll the show is named after tapping pay phones. But actually yeah. It’s fantastic.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
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No. Still highly relevant. Shows you all the corrupt underbelly of a modern major city.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
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Shows cops. Shows DA, Mayor, city council, schools, newspapers, unions, drug dealers, ghetto. It's awesome.
Edit: I have a friend who was in the Cook County State's Atty's office for 25 years. His dad was a CPD detective for 20+. The Wire is his favorite show of all time and he insists the writer must have stolen some of it from his office it was so accurate.
You love bob newhart too
Dang, that is the other problem, forgetting some of the 1 million shows that have aired.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
Guest
I think with this poll, having a recency bias makes sense.
TV today--when you include HBO, cable, and streaming--is just so much better. The writing is better--more complex topics, more moral ambiguity, less spoon-feeding; the acting is better; and production values are better. It's the opposite of movies w/r/t the first category, where big-budget spectacles and franchise IP have squeezed out the mid-level drama and artistic endeavors.
The medium of streaming services has likely been a boon for actors/production crew all over. And somehow it's still cheaper than cable. FU Comcast (that's for IGW).
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
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A pod I listen to about movies is predicting we've peaked on this.
Apparently, these companies--Disney is the most open about it right now--have figured out they are spending too much on content with not enough return. So the prediction is that they will cut back on the # of shows being developed. Once you do that, you might run into the same problems with streaming that you do with TV. We will see.
Just look at the Marvel phases. Phase 1 had like 5 movies. Phase 4 had 31!!! Movies and tv shows.
I’ll never understand the Netflix business model regarding content. They just throw up movies and shows in mass. Most I’ve never heard of and will never watch. It’s to the point where the app in unmanageable.
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anon_6hv78pr714xta
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More importantly, most of Netflix is crap. Some great stuff, to be sure (Love Death+Robots needs more episodes!) , but they have to have the lowest ratio of good to bad among all content providers (unless we are counting OAN or Lifetime).
But they also have the most broad “genre” coverage. One stop shop, & a lot of folks are just looking for throw away second screen content these days…
That’s kinda my point. If it’s movie night and you are searching Netflix, you will burn at least an hour trying to find a damn movie worth watching. Plus the auto start trailers are insanely annoying.
Oh my God.
I hate them. Stop it. I have to mute the TV just to look through their shit.
You might try the tv guide website which has monthly listings for several streaming sites. Rotten tomatoes does also but I almost always go with the audience ratings ( more of them )
I watched Tar last night. I thought Cate Blanchet was fantastic and see why she’s the Oscar favorite. I thought the movie was too long at 2:37. I’m still processing if I actually enjoyed the movie.
