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Other Discussions => Entertainment => Off Topic => Television => Topic started by: Redz on August 02, 2015, 03:47:16 PM

Title: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on August 02, 2015, 03:47:16 PM
If you haven't seen Deadwood you're missing out on on his portrayal of the best antagonists in modern American television, period. Antiheros are blown out at this point but Swearengen is forever.

A crying shame that show spun out of budgetary/directorial control...I would have loved to have seen where it went

This deserves it's own thread, but I'll ask here.  What are the best shows ever, assuming most are in recent years and mostly on Cable.  For various reasons, I never watched shows until the last couple of years.   GOT is a amazing, the Sopranos was great too.   I know Madmen was great, but
I have never seen an episode.  What are the best shows?

yeh

I'll branch it off to another thread...That's a pretty huge topic!
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 02, 2015, 03:56:31 PM
Wait. Does it have to be something that was on a cable station?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: knuckleballer on August 02, 2015, 03:57:55 PM
TP, awesome, thanks.  I'll start it off,  :)

1.  GOT
2.  Sopranos
.
.
.

Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 02, 2015, 04:00:28 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Yoki_IsTheName on August 02, 2015, 04:04:48 PM
Breaking Bad has to be in the top 5.

Has to be.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 04:05:09 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Oh you mean the female version of "Entourage"?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 04:05:53 PM
A lot of people say that "The Wire" is the greatest television drama of all time and they have some valid points.    It's definitely in the top 5. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Csfan1984 on August 02, 2015, 04:08:18 PM
I think this topic still may need more trimming like best scifi, anime, drama, reality, comedy ect series.

I am a big sci-fi fan so for sci-fi I like
1.Quantum Leap
2. Babylon 5, seasons 1-4,
3. X-Files/Fringe it's a tie for 3rd
5. Farscape
6. Sliders
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on August 02, 2015, 04:08:41 PM
Wait. Does it have to be something that was on a cable station?

I dunno

you guys can make up the rules!

I just split it off so it didn't consume the Game of Thrones Thread
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: slamtheking on August 02, 2015, 04:11:03 PM
a number of good mentions so far.  I'll throw out 2 of my personal favorites:  The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy.  Liking the Strain so far as well.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 04:11:22 PM
In some order, I'd have to say the top shows of the modern era are probably

The Wire, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Sopranos, Mad Men. 

This is from Chuck Klosterman in 2011:

http://grantland.com/features/bad-decisions/

Quote
Though some may disagree (and I?m sure some will, because some always do), there doesn?t seem to be much debate over what have been the four best television shows of the past 10 years. It seems like an easy question to answer, particularly since it?s become increasingly difficult to write about the state of TV (or even the state of popular culture) without tangentially mentioning one of the following four programs ? The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, and/or Breaking Bad.

He goes on the describe why he is going against popular opinion and putting Breaking Bad ahead of "The Wire" as the G.O.A.T.  This was in 2011 when Breaking Bad hadn't yet gathered the widespread fanbase that it has today.  By the time that show was over, I think several more folks had joined Klosterman in calling Breaking Bad the "best show ever". 

Since 2011, I think Game of Thrones has inched it's way into the conversation as the 5th great show.  Nothing else has really comes close to those shows, IMO.    That's not to say that shows like "Lost" or "Sons of Anarchy" or "Dexter" or "Walking Dead" aren't popular... they just in no way received the same amount of unanimous critical praise as the 5 shows I listed.  Nothing else is in that conversation.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on August 02, 2015, 04:14:43 PM
HBO making the leap from a movie channel to its own production company really upped the bar.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Csfan1984 on August 02, 2015, 04:18:59 PM
Action Drama series (Heavy life and death consequences) I like
1. TWD
2. GOT
3. Sopranos
4. The Shield
5. Breaking Bad
6. The Wire
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Celts Fan 508 on August 02, 2015, 04:26:56 PM
HBO making the leap from a movie channel to its own production company really upped the bar.

YEP.

Game of Thrones
Silicon Valley
Ballers
The Brink

are all great shows, True Detective too except this season hasn't been great
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 04:29:19 PM
Action Drama series (Heavy life and death consequences) I like
1. TWD
2. GOT
3. Sopranos
4. The Shield
5. Breaking Bad
6. The Wire
This is where it should be clarified if we're just listing our FAVORITE shows or the ones we think are the "Best of the Cable Era". 

I've never watched "The Walking Dead", but it seems to be a polarizing show where opinions fall into two camps.  #1 - "It's a great show.  I love it."    #2 - "I guess the first season was well done, but the rest of the series kind of crap."

I do see that consensus critical rating has hovered between 75-82 on Metacritic which is pretty good... But I don't think it would be labelled as one of the greatest shows of this era.  Kind of like... I enjoy the shows "Shameless", "Girls" and "Silicon Valley" for what they are, but I would never consider either one of the best shows of the modern era.

Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Wire, Mad Men and Sopranos consistently scored in the 90s.   "Breaking Bad Season 5", for instance, scored a 99/100 on Metacritic which is the highest score a show has received. 

A couple more shows that have scored in the 90s.

"The Americans" - I've never seen it (it doesn't get many viewers), but I hear it's really great. 
"Louie"  - I enjoy it, but wouldn't call it a "comedy" at this point. 
"Sherlock" (BBC) - Extremely well done, but it's kind of like a movie series and less of a show since each season only has a few episodes.
"Deadwood"  - Perhaps the first to kick off this television golden age?  EDIT:  Season 1 got an 80 and season 3 got a 85, so perhaps it shouldn't be included in the conversation.  I feel like it puttered out a bit.

As far as I can tell, nothing else got consistently high critical praise.

Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 02, 2015, 04:34:54 PM
I wish HBO would throw a TON of money at JK Rowling in order to make Hogwarts: The Prequels.  Or the Sequels. Or both. Just give me give me give me.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: 33_Larry Legend_33 on August 02, 2015, 04:35:23 PM
Seinfeld...

It still shows up on TBS as re-runs, and since we make up our own rules here, I'll call that 'modern cable era." :)

I got into Six Feet Under.

If I continue, it becomes clear that I don't watch much anything on my tv these days except sports and movies I've already watched a thousand times...
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Csfan1984 on August 02, 2015, 04:37:32 PM
I have best Anime series as
1. Cowboy Beebop
2. Macross Robotech
3. Yu Yu Hakusho
4. Naruto
5. DBZ /Berserk
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Csfan1984 on August 02, 2015, 04:57:23 PM
Action Drama series (Heavy life and death consequences) I like
1. TWD
2. GOT
3. Sopranos
4. The Shield
5. Breaking Bad
6. The Wire
This is where it should be clarified if we're just listing our FAVORITE shows or the ones we think are the "Best of the Cable Era". 

I've never watched "The Walking Dead", but it seems to be a polarizing show where opinions fall into two camps.  #1 - "It's a great show.  I love it."    #2 - "I guess the first season was well done, but the rest of the series kind of crap."

I do see that consensus critical rating has hovered between 75-82 on Metacritic which is pretty good... But I don't think it would be labelled as one of the greatest shows of this era.  Kind of like... I enjoy the shows "Shameless", "Girls" and "Silicon Valley" for what they are, but I would never consider either one of the best shows of the modern era.

Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Wire, Mad Men and Sopranos consistently scored in the 90s.   "Breaking Bad Season 5", for instance, scored a 99/100 on Metacritic which is the highest score a show has received. 

A couple more shows that have scored in the 90s.

"The Americans" - I've never seen it (it doesn't get many viewers), but I hear it's really great. 
"Louie"  - I enjoy it, but wouldn't call it a "comedy" at this point. 
"Sherlock" (BBC) - Extremely well done, but it's kind of like a movie series and less of a show since each season only has a few episodes.
"Deadwood"  - Perhaps the first to kick off this television golden age?  EDIT:  Season 1 got an 80 and season 3 got a 85, so perhaps it shouldn't be included in the conversation.  I feel like it puttered out a bit.

As far as I can tell, nothing else got consistently high critical praise.
Thing is there are plenty of episodes that are not rated highly by myself personally for every show I have watched including every show that I listed, none are flawless. The the big pay out scenes and acting that some shows have clearly make up for the bad episodes like TWD. The payoff scenes are epic in TWD beyond that of GOT, Breaking bad and others. TWD's many gung-ho episodes are what turn off many critics and can be over the top to many except Zombie fans. But Zombie fans are their primary auidence so give them some fun. Despite this the acting is superb all the time. Same can be said for each great show. None are perfect but great acting.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: 86MaxwellSmart on August 02, 2015, 05:06:43 PM
The Larry Sanders Show
Ray Donovan
Dexter
True Detective
Boardwalk Empire
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dream On

to name a few Cable shows.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Mencius on August 02, 2015, 05:36:25 PM
Hmmm.  Good topic.

I'm going to say my top picks for drama are Sopranos, Homeland, Breaking Bad, and Dexter. No particular order on the top 3, but Dexter would probably be 4th. Well, okay, if I absolutely must choose I'll probably have Sopranos/Homeland at the top. There've been others I've enjoyed too, but those are my faves.  I almost never remember an episode number, but for some reason I remember S4E09 of Homeland as being the finest television I've ever seen.

The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy are kind of guilty pleasures, because they're fairly stupid sometimes, but entertaining, and of the two, I liked Sons a lot better.

There were other HBO and Showtime series that I liked and pretty much watched every Sunday, some of which received a lot of critical acclaim, but just didn't like quite as much as the ones mentioned above.

As far as comedies go, Curb Your Enthusiasm was easily my favorite.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Celtics18 on August 02, 2015, 05:43:31 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Oh you mean the female version of "Entourage"?

Sorry.  "Entourage" is the male version of "Sex and the City."
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Celtics18 on August 02, 2015, 05:45:32 PM
Throwing a shoutout to the Danish/Swedish cop drama, "The Bridge."

There's an American version, but it truly pales in comparison. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Birdman on August 02, 2015, 05:50:56 PM
1. The Strain
2. Six Feet Under
3. Shield
4. The new Dallas
5. America Horror Story
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jpotter33 on August 02, 2015, 06:02:33 PM
My personal faves:

Drama -
1) GoT
2) Breaking Bad
3) TWD
4) NCIS
5) House

Comedy -
1) Archer
2) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
3) Workaholics
4) South Park
5) Arrested Development
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 02, 2015, 06:15:59 PM
Is Newhart is the cable era?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: 2short on August 02, 2015, 06:53:24 PM
No order but random off the top of my head
Sopranos
Six feet under

Two best shows in my book

Breaking bad
Oz
Dexter
Orange is the new black
Larry sanders
Ray Donovan
Arrested development
Always sunny in Philadelphia
Deadwood
True detective season one
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Beat LA on August 02, 2015, 07:25:40 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City

Two things on this -

1). Are you talking about all of the episodes, or the same 20-25 that are constantly replayed on E!, which edits a lot of the stuff out (or so I've been told) to the point that they're pretty watered down when compared to the originals?

2). Are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, or perhaps even Stanford Blatch, does Carrie ever answer any of her own stupid questions, and who was the true love of her life - Aidan or Mr. Big?  I need deets and I need them NOW (sarcasm)! ;D
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: D.o.s. on August 02, 2015, 07:27:24 PM
"Deadwood"  - Perhaps the first to kick off this television golden age?  EDIT:  Season 1 got an 80 and season 3 got a 85, so perhaps it shouldn't be included in the conversation.  I feel like it puttered out a bit.

This is because you haven't watched it. The Disintegration Loops were the best album of the 2000's, but everyone will be too busy recognizing Radiohead records or U2 or whatever to properly accolade it as such, even though it's impossible to argue with.

Deadwood was ahead of its time and ahead of its viewership. Still is, clearly.

Besides, the show that kicked off the "golden age of TV" was NYPD Blue -- a David Milch product, who was the first of the three Davids to define the era; the other two being David Chase and David Simon.

According to the opinions I trust on the matter The Shield is supposed to be incredibly underrated, but I can't comment because I haven't watched it. The rest of the usual suspects are well accounted for.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 07:35:01 PM
"Deadwood"  - Perhaps the first to kick off this television golden age?  EDIT:  Season 1 got an 80 and season 3 got a 85, so perhaps it shouldn't be included in the conversation.  I feel like it puttered out a bit.

This is because you haven't watched it.
I watched it.  I got really into it for a season and a half and for some reason just lost interest at some point.  I never finished it.  It was really well done, though.  Fair to put it in the discussion. I should go back and re-watch it.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 07:35:51 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Oh you mean the female version of "Entourage"?

Sorry.  "Entourage" is the male version of "Sex and the City."
I thought "Entourage" was the straight version of "Queer as Folk".
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Beat LA on August 02, 2015, 07:47:47 PM
I enjoy the shows "Shameless", "Girls" and "Silicon Valley" for what they are, but I would never consider either one of the best shows of the modern era.

I'm giving you a TP for putting 'Shameless' next to 'Girls' ;D, because I think that describes the latter perfectly.  I watched a season+ of that show just to see why it was so critically acclaimed and I still don't understand what it's about, why it's on TV, or why Lena Dunham is at all praised for her 'work.'  It's nothing but complete and utter tripe, imo, and the worst part is that it's supposed to be funny, right?  Really? ::) The funniest thing about the whole 'show' is how it continues on despite not having any semblance of a plot.  I kept waiting for something - anything - to happen, and all I got was that classy scene (sarcasm) of Allison Williams getting her ass motor-boated (or whatever the term is) by that guy with whom she's cheating.  IN THE KITCHEN! :o I don't care if it's hbo - that sh!t doesn't belong anywhere on television.  If you want to do that type of stuff, go into the adult industry or make a music video with Beyonce, Rihanna, or Nicki Minaj.  Besides, if the producers/hbo were honest, they'd rename the whole thing 'Nepotism - starring girls' ;) ;D.

That is all ;D.

(http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Allison-Williams-e1421090206385-665x385.jpg)
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on August 02, 2015, 08:00:08 PM
I enjoy the shows "Shameless", "Girls" and "Silicon Valley" for what they are, but I would never consider either one of the best shows of the modern era.

I'm giving you a TP for putting 'Shameless' next to 'Girls' ;D, because I think that describes the latter perfectly.  I watched a season+ of that show just to see why it was so critically acclaimed and I still don't understand what it's about, why it's on TV, or why Lena Dunham is at all praised for her 'work.'  It's nothing but complete and utter tripe, imo, and the worst part is that it's supposed to be funny, right?  Really? ::) The funniest thing about the whole 'show' is how it continues on despite not having any semblance of a plot.  I kept waiting for something - anything - to happen, and all I got was that classy scene (sarcasm) of Allison Williams getting her ass motor-boated (or whatever the term is) by that guy with whom she's cheating.  IN THE KITCHEN! :o I don't care if it's hbo - that sh!t doesn't belong anywhere on television.  If you want to do that type of stuff, go into the adult industry or make a music video with Beyonce, Rihanna, or Nicki Minaj.  Besides, if the producers/hbo were honest, they'd rename the whole thing 'Nepotism - starring girls' ;) ;D.

That is all ;D.

(http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Allison-Williams-e1421090206385-665x385.jpg)
Lol.  I have more opinions about the show "Girls" than I think I'd like to admit, but it doesn't really seem relevant for a conversation about "The Best TV Show in the Cable Era"... when "Girls" clearly is NOT one of them.

But in short, I'll say that I think they captured something really great in the first season of the show.  It was about young people struggling to make it in New York.  The relationships seemed genuine and fresh.  I know so many people like those characters.  I thought it did a great job at capturing a certain sect of modern dating... her relationship with Adam Driver's character was completely relatable for some of the folks I know (myself included) and I think it was worthy of some praise.  It wasn't great, but it was really interesting.     I'll say that the show has devolved considerably since the first season and I think part of it is because Lena Dunham is still in her 20s and I think she's lost touch with what the show was about.  She's rich, famous, and has a rock star boyfriend.  Her success reflects on the show in a bad way.   A lot of the criticism surrounding the first season (aside from the overblown nepotism thing) was that it was impossible for a girl in her mid 20s to write about life experiences when she herself has not yet had time to process those life experiences.  I think it was a fair point and it's kind of unfortunate that her success came so soon.  I do think she has a unique voice.  Had she written this show in her 40s and had someone younger playing the character, it probably would have been a more focused show and she would have understood her characters more.  Consider the show "Louie", for instance.  Louis CK can write that show, because success came relatively late for him and he doesn't have to focus every episode on buckets of money falling into his lap.  He actually had time to process what it's like to be an individual with real struggles.  Unfortunately, Lena Dunham I think no longer understands the struggle of young people in New York and their relationships, so her show no longer works as it seems it was conceived.   Now it's just a wannabee "Curb your Enthusiasm" where success falls into the lap of every character and the writers go out of their way to make every female on the show unlikeable.    I don't imagine the show will last much longer.    Adam Driver's a superstar in the making, though.  That dude is a real talent.     
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: SCeltic34 on August 02, 2015, 08:06:25 PM
I'm appalled that The Simpsons (specifically the earlier seasons) and Married with Children hasn't been mentioned yet.

Don't watch many shows, but definitely agree with GOT, Breaking Bad, The Wire, X-Files, and others.  The debate should be broken down into genre, top 3 for each genre maybe?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jpotter33 on August 02, 2015, 08:13:55 PM
I'm appalled that The Simpsons (specifically the earlier seasons) and Married with Children hasn't been mentioned yet.

Don't watch many shows, but definitely agree with GOT, Breaking Bad, The Wire, X-Files, and others.  The debate should be broken down into genre, top 3 for each genre maybe?

I was close to putting The Simpsons into my comedy category, but I went with South Park and Archer for my animated series instead, purely because I like them a bit better than The Simpsons.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: feckless on August 02, 2015, 08:15:24 PM
The Wire by a wide margin!    Nothing else even close for me.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: MasterEmile on August 02, 2015, 08:16:48 PM
I'm really surprised that no one even mentioned Lost.
Exellent series that was considered GOT material for sometime.

You can also add Prison Break (the first season is just too awesome).

I also really liked The mentalist,  good show with a solid cast, and a really good murder mystery plot.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TheTruthFot18 on August 02, 2015, 08:22:05 PM
Action Drama series (Heavy life and death consequences) I like
1. TWD
2. GOT
3. Sopranos
4. The Shield
5. Breaking Bad
6. The Wire

Walking dead gets very cheesy often. I stopped after season 4. Same goes with the Wire. The first season was Awesome but the 2nd fell off IMO.

Sopranos and Breaking bad were fun to watch, every season.

I don't have HBO anymore so I need to catch up on GOT.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Beat LA on August 02, 2015, 08:29:26 PM
I enjoy the shows "Shameless", "Girls" and "Silicon Valley" for what they are, but I would never consider either one of the best shows of the modern era.

I'm giving you a TP for putting 'Shameless' next to 'Girls' ;D, because I think that describes the latter perfectly.  I watched a season+ of that show just to see why it was so critically acclaimed and I still don't understand what it's about, why it's on TV, or why Lena Dunham is at all praised for her 'work.'  It's nothing but complete and utter tripe, imo, and the worst part is that it's supposed to be funny, right?  Really? ::) The funniest thing about the whole 'show' is how it continues on despite not having any semblance of a plot.  I kept waiting for something - anything - to happen, and all I got was that classy scene (sarcasm) of Allison Williams getting her ass motor-boated (or whatever the term is) by that guy with whom she's cheating.  IN THE KITCHEN! :o I don't care if it's hbo - that sh!t doesn't belong anywhere on television.  If you want to do that type of stuff, go into the adult industry or make a music video with Beyonce, Rihanna, or Nicki Minaj.  Besides, if the producers/hbo were honest, they'd rename the whole thing 'Nepotism - starring girls' ;) ;D.

That is all ;D.

(http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Allison-Williams-e1421090206385-665x385.jpg)
Lol.  I have more opinions about the show "Girls" than I think I'd like to admit, but it doesn't really seem relevant for a conversation about "The Best TV Show in the Cable Era"... when "Girls" clearly is NOT one of them.

But in short, I'll say that I think they captured something really great in the first season of the show.  It was about young people struggling to make it in New York.  The relationships seemed genuine and fresh.  I know so many people like those characters.  I thought it did a great job at capturing a certain sect of modern dating... her relationship with Adam Driver's character was completely relatable for some of the folks I know (myself included) and I think it was worthy of some praise.  It wasn't great, but it was really interesting.     I'll say that the show has devolved considerably since the first season and I think part of it is because Lena Dunham is still in her 20s and I think she's lost touch with what the show was about.  She's rich, famous, and has a rock star boyfriend.  Her success reflects on the show in a bad way.   A lot of the criticism surrounding the first season (aside from the overblown nepotism thing) was that it was impossible for a girl in her mid 20s to write about life experiences when she herself has yet had time to process those life experiences.  I think it was a fair point and it's kind of unfortunate that her success came so soon.  I do think she has a unique voice.  Had she written this show in her 40s and had someone younger playing the character, it probably would have been a more focused show and she would have understood her characters more.  Consider the show "Louie", for instance.  Louis CK can write that show, because success came relatively late for him and he doesn't have to focus every episode on buckets of money falling into his lap.  He actually had time to process what it's like to be an individual with real struggles.  Unfortunately, Lena Dunham I think no longer understands the struggle of young people in New York and their relationships, so her show no longer works as it seems it was conceived.   Now it's just a wannabee "Curb your Enthusiasm" where success falls into the lap of every character and the writers go out of their way to make every female on the show unlikeable.    I don't imagine the show will last much longer.    Adam Driver's a superstar in the making, though.  That dude is a real talent.   

Shh!  Don't let your friends hear that ;) ;D. I knew that it was about a group of 20 something girls trying to make it in New York, but the only thing I saw was how stupid all of them were, particularly when it comes to relationships, and I'd say exactly the same thing if the show was about similar experiences of the opposite sex. 

That aside, I'm sorry that you, and a number of people you know, identify with Hannah's relationship with Adam.  Really.  I'm not mocking or belittling any of you, here, and I hope that you're in a better place now :). I can only hope that this show doesn't last much longer.  In the meantime, if this is what modern dating is like (I know you said sect, but still), I think I'll go back to living under a rock (sarcasm).  It's cooler in the summer, anyway, lol ;D.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 02, 2015, 08:46:37 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City

Two things on this -

1). Are you talking about all of the episodes, or the same 20-25 that are constantly replayed on E!, which edits a lot of the stuff out (or so I've been told) to the point that they're pretty watered down when compared to the originals?

2). Are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, or perhaps even Stanford Blatch, does Carrie ever answer any of her own stupid questions, and who was the true love of her life - Aidan or Mr. Big?  I need deets and I need them NOW (sarcasm)! ;D

1. All of them although the show evolved and season one was worst, with season 3 probably being best before you came to the conclusion in season 4 "Wow. All of them are horrible people"

2. Probably a Charlotte. Yes, but rarely. If you have to ask that you didn't pay attention to the show...her first love was shoes.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Neurotic Guy on August 02, 2015, 09:55:14 PM
If you're going back to what really kicked off the modern era of ensemble cast dramas, you have to start with Hill Street Blues, St Elsewhere and LA Law.  They were groundbreaking and great but don't hold up to the evolved Breaking Bad, Wire or Shield (I don't think Wire was any better than Shield), and GOT.  I think Sopranos gets a top 10 nod as should Lost and West Wing-- these shows all kicked their genres up a notch..  I am also partial to Treme, Rectify, Newsroom, Deadwood, and House of Cards

Son of A got old for me after 2 seasons and also included what I considered the worst acting performance in any of the dramas named on this thread (Kate Segal -- repulsive character poorly played).  Mad Men was well-written and well acted but did not have a single character that I found likeable (or even one i loved to hate).

Seinfeld, Curb, and Arrested Development top my Cable era comedies. I love Louis  and it gets better with each season.
   
 BTW, I know many will disagree but I thought Married with Children was just awful.  I put it in the same category as Three's company, Two1/2 Men, Alice --- long-running shows that lived off the same jokes and basic plot lines for years  relying almost exclusively on sex humor, toilet humor and ever-repeating catch-phrases.  Fonzi's "hey" was humorous once or twice -- by episode 50 the writers were not earning their salaries. But at least Happy Days had 1 good season.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: BUTerrier on August 02, 2015, 10:00:41 PM
I know Aaron Sorkin gets mocked a lot, but I'd stack The West Wing -- where he took the ideas he started building in The American President and Sports Night and really committed to them -- against a lot of other shows of equal length on TV. People forget it now, but Bradley Whitford, Richard Schiff, Allison Janney, Dule Hill . .  they really weren't stars before then. Even John Spencer's limelight had dimmed a bit since LA Law (though he seems to be in every other move in the 90s). Whenever reruns are on I stop what I'm doing and watch, even the later episodes with Jimmy Smits and Alan Alda.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: viulo on August 02, 2015, 10:44:27 PM
I know Aaron Sorkin gets mocked a lot, but I'd stack The West Wing -- where he took the ideas he started building in The American President and Sports Night and really committed to them -- against a lot of other shows of equal length on TV.

You beat me to it. There are some recent ones I haven't watched, including GOT, but if The Wire is probably my 2nd favourite of all time, the first will be The West Wing.


Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: freshinthehouse on August 02, 2015, 11:38:03 PM
I know I'm echoing a lot of others, but my favorite modern dramas, in order, would be:

1) The Sopranos
2) The Wire
3) Breaking Bad

All three are incredible works of art.

I would put Deadwood just after.  It had a couple minor flaws, but other than that it was outstanding.

For current dramas I love The Americans (though i havent seen season 3 yet) and Rectify.  If you love subtle character-driven dramas, watch Rectify.  Best show on TV IMO.  It's on netflix streaming right now.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Hemingway on August 03, 2015, 12:00:06 AM
I just watched 3 seasons of, "Orange is the New Black" this week. Great show. It's like a it takes some of the funniness of weeds the character development of Lost but set in a more realistic world. It's not as good as Game of Throwns or Sopranos I guess, but it is [dang] good. Maybe I'm over rating it because I just watched it, but I'd really recommend it.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Nikki8 on August 03, 2015, 12:24:08 AM
There is no wrong answer as everybody's tastes are different but my favorites are

1.. Deadwood
2. The Sopranos
3. SOA
4. The Wire
5. East Bound and Down
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Beat LA on August 03, 2015, 12:45:13 AM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City

Two things on this -

1). Are you talking about all of the episodes, or the same 20-25 that are constantly replayed on E!, which edits a lot of the stuff out (or so I've been told) to the point that they're pretty watered down when compared to the originals?

2). Are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, or perhaps even Stanford Blatch, does Carrie ever answer any of her own stupid questions, and who was the true love of her life - Aidan or Mr. Big?  I need deets and I need them NOW (sarcasm)! ;D

1. All of them although the show evolved and season one was worst, with season 3 probably being best before you came to the conclusion in season 4 "Wow. All of them are horrible people"

2. Probably a Charlotte. Yes, but rarely. If you have to ask that you didn't pay attention to the show...her first love was shoes.

Lol, I don't even know what 'being a Charlotte' means ;D.  I know that people associate themselves with these characters due to personality, it's just that I never really looked into it because quite honestly, I don't care, and I've seen too much.  Ugh.  If I had to guess, though, I'd say that a Charlotte is someone who is more reserved and quiet - at least, out in public ;) ;D, or am I way off base, here?  If that's true, then she would seem to embody the Ludacris line in 'yeah' with Usher.  Regardless, this is important information (sarcasm)! ;D I'm glad that I haven't paid too much attention to the show regarding shoes, but I'd argue that Carrie's true love, and perhaps her first, ever, was cigarettes - yuck.

Btw, I have a friend who is dating a girl named Kerri (I can't remember how to spell her name right now other than the fact that it starts with a k) Bradshaw, lol ;D. I asked as to when we would get to meet Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha ;), but I didn't even get one response.  Sheesh - some people (sarcasm) ;D. Have you seen the movies? 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Beat LA on August 03, 2015, 12:51:18 AM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Oh you mean the female version of "Entourage"?

Sorry.  "Entourage" is the male version of "Sex and the City."
I thought "Entourage" was the straight version of "Queer as Folk".

As someone who never watched entourage, what the hell was it about?  I just never got the sense that it had a plot, but hey, at least the lead played Anne Hathaway's chef boyfriend, Nate, in the devil wears prada (which I have seen way too many times.  Ugh) - he's dreamy (sarcasm) ahaha ;D. 

Btw, no votes for project runway, say yes to the dress, dance moms, chopped, what not to wear, gilmore girls, frazier, friends, or charmed (to name a few)?  What is the matter with you people (sarcasm)? ;D Technically, the cosby show should be in the discussion, but after all that's come out, it has to be at least a little tarnished by now, in terms of reputation.  What about Becker, Cheers (I never watched it, but it was on for a long time so I thought that I'd throw it out there), or Home Improvement?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Blaze4G on August 03, 2015, 01:56:37 AM
GOT
Breaking Bad
Spartacus
Modern Family and Suits (two of my favourites, wouldn't call it a GOAT because of what the story lines are based off of but I really enjoy them).
Fresh Prince of Bel Air  8) 8) 8)


In no way I am discounting persons who consider the shows below greatest but this is my opinion.

Walking Dead - way too inconsistent and literally gets boring for a few episodes in a row
Dexter - Watched first season and did not keep me entertained
Lost - I "Lost" interest after a couple seasons
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Hemingway on August 03, 2015, 03:56:52 AM
Lost was about the worst show I've ever watched. Not because it was bad, it was actually pretty good for the first few seasons but th writers said over and over they had a real plan and a real ending. I wish I could have the time I spent watching Lost back. Fu@k you John Locke
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: GC003332 on August 03, 2015, 07:08:53 AM
A couple of top quality British crime shows Wire in the Blood and Luther are worth a watch.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on August 03, 2015, 08:12:13 AM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City

Two things on this -

1). Are you talking about all of the episodes, or the same 20-25 that are constantly replayed on E!, which edits a lot of the stuff out (or so I've been told) to the point that they're pretty watered down when compared to the originals?

2). Are you a Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, or perhaps even Stanford Blatch, does Carrie ever answer any of her own stupid questions, and who was the true love of her life - Aidan or Mr. Big?  I need deets and I need them NOW (sarcasm)! ;D

1. All of them although the show evolved and season one was worst, with season 3 probably being best before you came to the conclusion in season 4 "Wow. All of them are horrible people"

2. Probably a Charlotte. Yes, but rarely. If you have to ask that you didn't pay attention to the show...her first love was shoes.

Lol, I don't even know what 'being a Charlotte' means ;D.  I know that people associate themselves with these characters due to personality, it's just that I never really looked into it because quite honestly, I don't care, and I've seen too much.  Ugh.  If I had to guess, though, I'd say that a Charlotte is someone who is more reserved and quiet - at least, out in public ;) ;D, or am I way off base, here?  If that's true, then she would seem to embody the Ludacris line in 'yeah' with Usher.  Regardless, this is important information (sarcasm)! ;D I'm glad that I haven't paid too much attention to the show regarding shoes, but I'd argue that Carrie's true love, and perhaps her first, ever, was cigarettes - yuck.

Btw, I have a friend who is dating a girl named Kerri (I can't remember how to spell her name right now other than the fact that it starts with a k) Bradshaw, lol ;D. I asked as to when we would get to meet Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha ;), but I didn't even get one response.  Sheesh - some people (sarcasm) ;D. Have you seen the movies?
Yes I have seen both movies. I follow the general consensus that 1 was pretty good and 2 was horrific.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: chambers on August 03, 2015, 08:47:42 AM
My fave shows...although I'll have to think about it a bit longer because their's surely some I've forgotten.

The Wire
Sopranos
Band of Brothers
Breaking Bad
GOT
Ray Donovan
Weeds
Walking Dead
Homeland
True Blood
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: ederson on August 03, 2015, 08:59:08 AM
I`ll split my 10 picks .. The 5 favourite and the 5 best all around (production, script etc)


So in no particular order
5 favs:
Back Adder , Breaking Bad, Boss,Arrested Development,House of cards


5 best
GoT,Band of brothers,  Mad Men,Rome,The Wire

There are some cases like Prison Break. The first season was possibly the best i`ve seen but the rest wasn`t so good so it`s off the list
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: kne on August 03, 2015, 09:08:26 AM
So in no particular order
5 favs:
Back Adder , Breaking Bad, Boss,Arrested Development,House of cards

I hope you mean Blackadder :) - If you do: I agree, never seen anything funnier except perhaps "A bit of Fry and Laurie".
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on August 03, 2015, 09:22:30 AM
Interesting that there has been no love for the HBO show that really started it all.  The Larry Sanders Show.  Excellent show (which btw on metacritic rates off the charts.  First two seasons were 91, then a 93, and then closed with a 99, 97, and a 99).   

That was soon followed by Oz, which really set the network on the great TV show path. 

The Wire and Six Feet Under are my favorite cable shows of all time.  Both are excellent.

I'm also a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  As network shows go you won't find many better.  It really was an excellent show that many people missed.  Worth checking out.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: SHAQATTACK on August 03, 2015, 10:24:49 AM
I like South Park
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: celticslove on August 03, 2015, 10:33:41 AM
In no particular order

Breaking bad
Game of thrones
Daredevil
Greys anatomy (girlfriend influence me to it)
The wire
Californication
Ballers (the new entourage.lol same producer so yeah)
Mr. Robot
How to get away with murder
24
Band of brothers
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: ederson on August 03, 2015, 11:37:37 AM
In no particular order

Breaking bad
Game of thrones
Daredevil
Greys anatomy (girlfriend influence me to it)
The wire
Californication
Ballers (the new entourage.lol same producer so yeah)
Mr. Robot
How to get away with murder
24
Band of brothers


I really liked the first seasons of Greys.... But know it has turned into a boring "the bold and the beautiful" kind of soap

I`d hold my judgement for Mr Robot. So far i like it though
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: celts55 on August 03, 2015, 11:38:10 AM
I won't repeat the bunch already here that I like, but for comedy I really like:
The League
Maron
Nurse Jackie (hate the name)
Monk
Californication
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jpotter33 on August 03, 2015, 11:55:48 AM
I won't repeat the bunch already here that I like, but for comedy I really like:
The League
Maron
Nurse Jackie (hate the name)
Monk
Californication

Oh man, I forgot about "The League." TP. Rafi is seriously one of the funniest characters ever. He's so random and out there.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: PhoSita on August 03, 2015, 12:04:46 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on August 03, 2015, 12:06:19 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: MrMorrill on August 03, 2015, 12:53:12 PM
For me... (in no order)

Friends (I've got my flame suit on)
X-Files
Scrubs
Freaks and Geeks (Prob my number 1)
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Emmette Bryant on August 03, 2015, 01:10:28 PM
Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Justified
X Files

I also liked Fargo quite a bit.  It's only been on for 1 season though so let's see how the next season  goes.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: PhoSita on August 03, 2015, 01:11:27 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on August 03, 2015, 01:43:04 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Emmette Bryant on August 03, 2015, 01:51:03 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

I think that HUSH was the scariest thing that was ever on tv.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Jesus Shuttlesworth #20 on August 03, 2015, 02:22:09 PM
There is only one possible answer, Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

You should start a thread for the 2nd Best TV show to have this debate.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Hemingway on August 03, 2015, 02:22:29 PM
How about "Under the Dome" ok, this show is really bad, but if you know that going in, and are really high, it's hilarious. Each episode gets crazier and crazier. Plot holes? Yeah, they got em. Most shows get to caught up in the characters and making sure they all have motivations for the things they do so it seems realistic. Under the Dome does not worry about this. It asks a simple question: What would happen if a dome came up around some town and then a bunch of other weird stuff happened?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: PhoSita on August 03, 2015, 02:31:10 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

I mostly remember "Hush" as when Willow and Tara first started getting to know one another.  Good episode though.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: D.o.s. on August 03, 2015, 02:34:40 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

Assuming you ignore the entire silent film era, sure.  :P
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TA9 on August 03, 2015, 02:58:19 PM
My favorite is without a doubt Prison Break ;D! (But then again I don't watch that many series on TV any more ::))
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on August 03, 2015, 03:33:08 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

Assuming you ignore the entire silent film era, sure.  :P
since when does film=tv show
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: D.o.s. on August 03, 2015, 04:04:38 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

Assuming you ignore the entire silent film era, sure.  :P
since when does film=tv show

Hence the smiley.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TheLegendaryClub on August 03, 2015, 04:37:22 PM
Battlestar Galactica (the reboot) is up there for me. Gets written off because it was on Syfy which is pretty uniformly awful, but BSG was a top-notch show. It was like Lost + The West Wing + iRobot, in space. It was made at the perfect moment, encapsulating so many of the post-9/11 fears about security, politics, religion. They did a lot with a very low budget, and should be commended for it.

Lost, despite being a network show, was really engrossing and inventive and influenced a lot of cable shows that came after it, so I have to give it a nod even if it was ultimately a bit unsatisfying.

The first three seasons of Downton Abbey were quite good.

Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Orange is the New Black.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: slamtheking on August 07, 2015, 02:43:20 PM
For me... (in no order)

Friends (I've got my flame suit on)
X-Files
Scrubs
Freaks and Geeks (Prob my number 1)


2 incredibly underrated series.  loved F&G - shame it was cancelled so soon.  Scrubs was awesome until they brought in the new interns.  after that when the cast had its shakeup it became unwatchable because it was sad seeing greatness decline into awfulness. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Dedalus on August 07, 2015, 03:51:57 PM
The Wire
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: kraidstar on August 07, 2015, 03:52:49 PM
There is only one possible answer, Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

You should start a thread for the 2nd Best TV show to have this debate.
lol TP.

no love on this thread for farscape or firefly?
and anyone remember lexx?  ;)
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 13, 2016, 04:08:04 PM
Battlestar Gallactica reboot is my personal fave.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jpotter33 on September 13, 2016, 04:37:53 PM
So, I just started watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I've got to say that I think it deserves a mention.

It does have some issues. For example, there are times when the acting is just so bad that it's comical. However, the narratives that they develop and come up with are just so ridiculously intricate abd interesting that you can't help but power through the acting to finish the story. It's also a highly philosophical series that tackles a lot of social issues, which I find stimulating.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jpotter33 on September 13, 2016, 04:39:31 PM
Oh, and I didn't see The Chappelle Show mentioned anywhere on here either, which is crazy! Those sketches were the greatest things ever, especially the Rick James and Prince true Hollywood stories lol

EDIT: Tosh.0 has to be on there, too. I just love Daniel's offensive style of comedy.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Quetzalcoatl on September 13, 2016, 04:47:43 PM
My list is probably:

1.) Game of Thrones
2.) Breaking Bad
3.) Sopranos
4.) Seinfeld
5.) X-Files
6.) The Wire
7.) Twin Peaks
8.) Arrested Development
9.) Chappelle Show
10.) The Simpsons - later seasons just killed its ranking
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 13, 2016, 05:12:36 PM
I'm completely hooked on Bloodline. A lot has to do with growing up with someone close that had such a toxic effect on the atmisphere wherever he went. If was very familiar. I liked season 1 more but season 2 I thought was still pretty tense.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: moiso on September 13, 2016, 05:15:28 PM
To me it's Breaking Bad and it's not close.   Last night I just finished watching the whole series again with a friend who had never seen it. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on September 13, 2016, 05:57:24 PM
The show that I really have been liking lately is The 100.  Very atypical CW show in that it is very dark, but it really is a very good show on the whole.  That is the one show I suggest that people check out that is still on the air (frankly because most people have no idea what it is). 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 13, 2016, 06:00:31 PM
I wish someone else would take a crack at what they were doing with" Dominion". Great idea with cruddy writing. Anyone ever see it on Syfy?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Celtics4ever on September 13, 2016, 06:47:23 PM
I liked Deadwood.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: SHAQATTACK on September 13, 2016, 07:00:45 PM
X Flys
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: feckless on September 13, 2016, 08:24:02 PM
The Wire.


Rectify           ....a distant 2nd.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on September 13, 2016, 09:16:53 PM
I feel like we're past the cable era now. We're in the internet/Netflix era.

So I would roughly declare the cable era to be....1992 till 2014.

But most of the best shows during that time were on network TV.

I have to shout out to the Simpsons that has gone for 28 seasons and South Park that has gone for 20.

King of the Hill went for 13 and was underrated the whole time.

Big Bang Theory is up to 9

So basically....someone says to me....You are gonna be on a deserted island alone for 15 years and you can only have a handful of shows that are largely contained in the cable era...gimmie...in some order close to this...

1 GOT
2 Gilmore Girls
3 Big Bang Theory
4 South Park
5 King of the Hill
6 Firefly
7 Modern Family
8 Parks and Rec
9 The Chapele Show
10 The Middle
11 The Office
12 Seinfeld
13 30 Rock
14 Lost ..sight unseen
15 Downton Abbey sight unseen
16 Sopranos sight unseen
17 Two and a Half Men
18 Frasier
19 Aqua Teen Hunger Force
20 How I Met your Mother sight unseen
21 X Files sight unseen
22 Will and Grace
23 Wings
24 Melrose Place.....hey....I'm gonna be stuck on an island
25 Malcolm in the Middle
26 Mad about You....ok now I'm getting indifferent


WOW....According to Jim ran 8 seasons and I hardly knew it existed

Empty Nest went 7 seasons?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Yoki_IsTheName on September 13, 2016, 10:46:54 PM
The Wire.

This to me tops my list. Just nothing short of a masterpiece.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: chambers on September 13, 2016, 11:30:52 PM
Sopranos
Breaking Bad
The Wire
Game of Thrones
South Park
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on September 14, 2016, 08:00:01 AM
I feel like we're past the cable era now. We're in the internet/Netflix era.

So I would roughly declare the cable era to be....1992 till 2014.

But most of the best shows during that time were on network TV.

I have to shout out to the Simpsons that has gone for 28 seasons and South Park that has gone for 20.

King of the Hill went for 13 and was underrated the whole time.

Big Bang Theory is up to 9

So basically....someone says to me....You are gonna be on a deserted island alone for 15 years and you can only have a handful of shows that are largely contained in the cable era...gimmie...in some order close to this...

1 GOT
2 Gilmore Girls
3 Big Bang Theory
4 South Park
5 King of the Hill
6 Firefly
7 Modern Family
8 Parks and Rec
9 The Chapele Show
10 The Middle
11 The Office
12 Seinfeld
13 30 Rock
14 Lost ..sight unseen
15 Downton Abbey sight unseen
16 Sopranos sight unseen
17 Two and a Half Men
18 Frasier
19 Aqua Teen Hunger Force
20 How I Met your Mother sight unseen
21 X Files sight unseen
22 Will and Grace
23 Wings
24 Melrose Place.....hey....I'm gonna be stuck on an island
25 Malcolm in the Middle
26 Mad about You....ok now I'm getting indifferent


WOW....According to Jim ran 8 seasons and I hardly knew it existed

Empty Nest went 7 seasons?

Gotta question Lost for deserted island viewing.  If I'm stuck on an island and somehow have been given the distraction of tv to keep my every waking thought from my inevitable demise, this might make things worse.  At least go for Gilligan's Island if you've got to watch people in a similar predicament to yourself (TV Land counts for the cable era, right?).
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: gift on September 14, 2016, 09:30:13 AM
Separate categories for more typically half hour-ish comedies and hour-ish dramas. I just can't compare between the two. Off the top of my head these are definitely on the list. Someday I should really create my own rankings though:

The Wire
Breaking Bad
The Sopranos
Friday Night Lights
The West Wing

curb your enthusiasm
The League
The Office
Seinfeld
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Roy H. on September 14, 2016, 10:29:54 AM
A couple of under appreciated shows:

Bloodline (Netflix)
Rectify (Sundance)

I just finished Penny Dreadful. It was solid, but I thought it didn't fully live up to its potential.



Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: gift on September 14, 2016, 11:49:12 AM
A couple of under appreciated shows:

Bloodline (Netflix)
Rectify (Sundance)

I just finished Penny Dreadful. It was solid, but I thought it didn't fully live up to its potential.

Both Bloodline and Rectify are really good shows and are certainly underappreciated. I'm getting the sense that Bloodline will never, and can never really, get anywhere in the story though. The plot will just run around in circles (see Damages by the same creators). Though Bloodline is better than Damages.

Rectify is a little bit of the same. The drama between characters has not really changed that much (especially in the third season) and the plot crawls along at a very slow pace. Is Rectify doing a fourth season? The end of the third seemed very much like they were unsure and wanted to add in a little bit of resolution just in case.

If you like Rectify, I'd recommend watching The Red Road (also on Sundance and Netflix)
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: celts55 on September 14, 2016, 11:52:23 AM
Rectify is doing a forth season. It will be the last. I believe it's scheduled for mid-end October.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: celts55 on September 14, 2016, 12:00:51 PM
So maybe I missed it in the 7 pages, but I love Ray Donovan. Still great.
Last Week Tonight I find to be very funny and informative.
Now a really weird show I've recently become hooked on, Bates Motel. Watching it on Nexflix. Don't know where it aired, but there are 30 episodes and 3 seasons, so somewhere someone must have been watching it.
 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: boscel33 on September 14, 2016, 12:29:50 PM
As much as I don't necessarily like to admit it here I gotta give a shout out on Sex in the City
Oh you mean the female version of "Entourage"?

Since Sex in the City came first, shouldn't it be that Entourage is the male version of it?   ;D
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: mef730 on September 14, 2016, 01:39:11 PM
The Wire, Breaking Bad, Battlestar, Dr. Who, Game of Thrones, The West Wing, Lost, Buffy
another Buffy.  Nice.  Really is a great show.  Thought the interaction among the characters felt the most real of any teenage centric show ever.  They really did a good job capturing the high school aged human emotion and interaction.

Buffy was a show that didn't take itself too seriously and had fun within the genre.  A sci-fi fantasy / teen show that was made by people who actually know and like those genres.  Talented cast, well written. 

Hard to have more fun watching a show like that over the course of seven full seasons.

"The Body" and "Once More With Feeling" are two classic episodes.  Great TV.
Can't forget "Hush" where there was no talking for almost the entire episode.  Might have been the best episode of any tv show I've ever seen.  Just so unique in the premise.

I mostly remember "Hush" as when Willow and Tara first started getting to know one another.  Good episode though.

I'm glad somebody brought up Buffy and, in particular, the episode "Hush." That was also my favorite. Many diehard fans would say "Once More, With Feeling." That one, and the other fashionable one "The Body," just never did it for me, although Anya's breakdown in the latter was incredible acting.

My faves:

1) Picket Fences (Seasons 1 & 2)
2) Buffy (although I could drop 5 & 6)
3) Veronica Mars - If you liked Buffy, you'll like this one. Bonus points because the VM movie had tons of easter eggs and shout-outs to fans
4) The West Wing

Other shows of importance:

1) Simpsons: redefined the sitcom and animated genres
2) Cheers: One of the first, if not the first, 30 minute comedy that didn't have to have a happy ending each episode
3) Seinfeld: Because it's Seinfeld

Shows people tell me I would love but that I can't get into:

1) The Wire
2) Battlestar Gallactica
3) Mr Robot

Current shows that have a chance of someday being among the five greatest:

1) Stranger Things (greatest #11 since Edelman)

Shows that I should have watched back then but am getting into now:

1) Freaks and Geeks

Mike
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TheBigTicket23 on September 14, 2016, 02:23:05 PM
1) The Wire

2) The Sopranos
3) Entourage

Narcos is pretty cool now,
Power is amazing too, yes the 50 cent show, but man its good, so exciting. Also love Ballers, the NFL version of Entourage.

About to start The night of, anyone experience?
Still havent seen Suits either, gonna start that one as well.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Timdawgg on September 14, 2016, 03:32:01 PM
No Dexter love in here???...Not my number 1 but up there.

TOP 5 for me

Band of Brothers
Breaking Bad
Sons of Anarchy
6 Feet Under
Walking dead



Stranger Things is creeping up there fast after one year for me. Game of Thrones, The Strain are notable too.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 14, 2016, 05:21:32 PM
No Dexter love in here???...Not my number 1 but up there.

TOP 5 for me

Band of Brothers
Breaking Bad
Sons of Anarchy
6 Feet Under
Walking dead



Stranger Things is creeping up there fast after one year for me. Game of Thrones, The Strain are notable too.

I loved Dexter but I was really dissapointed in the ending. Nowhere near a " Lost" debacle but I was bummed out.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 14, 2016, 05:22:37 PM
I'm gonna have to check out " The Strain".
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on September 14, 2016, 05:28:18 PM
No Dexter love in here???...Not my number 1 but up there.

TOP 5 for me

Band of Brothers
Breaking Bad
Sons of Anarchy
6 Feet Under
Walking dead



Stranger Things is creeping up there fast after one year for me. Game of Thrones, The Strain are notable too.

I loved Dexter but I was really dissapointed in the ending. Nowhere near a " Lost" debacle but I was bummed out.

I just started rewatching Dexter.  Season 1 was pretty great.  I forget which season John Lithgow came along, but that was pretty awesome too.  I always felt like Deb w a s little d of annoying and her character would have reacted very differently if faced with the ridiculous succession of tragedies and mind-screwings.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: BringToughnessBack on September 14, 2016, 06:48:48 PM
This is a tough list to make for sure.My cable favorites are:

1. Battlestar Galactica-reboot..best cable Sci Fi ever! Don't let the original keep you away from this amazing, dark story...so good...What Terminator should have been times a thousand
2. Game of Thrones
3.  Sopranos...this show was epic and set the bar high for all future original cable shows to come....
4. Sons of Anarchy....looking forward to prequel but the star they are casting as his father is a bit interesting if true...Brad Pitt...hmmm....
5. The Shield...if you never watched it, it will surprise you...really good
6. Breaking Bad
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm is awesome and for anyone who loved Seinfeld, you need to watch this if you somehow missed it
8. Dexter...looking forward to the return of Dexter as well
9. Rescue Me..this one surprised me as well...Dont let the main star scare you away from watching this show...very entertaining and binge worthy for sure
10. Mad Men...another one that someone forced me to watch and I was hooked from the get go...really good
11. House of Cards...I was forced to watch this one.....against my will and was also hooked from the start....another surprise
12. The Walking Dead...still pretty addicting and even the spin off is not that bad as well......
13. Dr. Who reboot is actually good as far as British Sci-Fi goes....excellent acting and good stories...

Sounds like I need to watch The Wire as well..never even tried that one....Prison Break was great the first few seasons but network and looking forward to the reboot...the trailer actually looks good...Babylon 5 was also great network Sci-Fi as well.....
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Roy H. on September 14, 2016, 07:01:04 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: LarBrd33 on September 14, 2016, 07:14:33 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.
Several episodes.  The pilot was painful. 

I honestly don't remember off the top of my head which episode I got hooked, but I know it took me a while to get into it. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Timdawgg on September 14, 2016, 07:30:52 PM
I'm gonna have to check out " The Strain".

If you like Guillermo del Toro's stuff it is pretty good. Probably one of the scariest tv shows ever.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Timdawgg on September 14, 2016, 07:32:24 PM
No Dexter love in here???...Not my number 1 but up there.

TOP 5 for me

Band of Brothers
Breaking Bad
Sons of Anarchy
6 Feet Under
Walking dead



Stranger Things is creeping up there fast after one year for me. Game of Thrones, The Strain are notable too.

I loved Dexter but I was really dissapointed in the ending. Nowhere near a " Lost" debacle but I was bummed out.

I just started rewatching Dexter.  Season 1 was pretty great.  I forget which season John Lithgow came along, but that was pretty awesome too.  I always felt like Deb w a s little d of annoying and her character would have reacted very differently if faced with the ridiculous succession of tragedies and mind-screwings.

Yeah, the Lithgow season (4th season) as the best season by far...they should of ended the show right after the season if you remember the ending...I would have ranked in my top 5 if Julia Stiles and beyond never happened.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: feckless on September 14, 2016, 07:51:25 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

I look at each season as a novel in a series, with each episode a chapter.  Some pull you along and some you have to get through, but the story develops.  Then remember it is written by a former newspaper man and a former cop based on real people and events.

And sometimes it's just the quality of the dialogue  Episode 1--"who shot Snot", " there you go givin an F when it ain't your turn to give an F".  The epigraphs are also great.

Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TheBigTicket23 on September 15, 2016, 04:05:01 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: action781 on September 15, 2016, 04:15:41 PM
Finally saw a couple The Office mentions which I thought it deserved, but I'm surprised in all of these rankings of multiple shows not a single person mentioned Friends.  10 seasons, each one after season 1 being a top 5 US show while it ran.

My #1 favorite isn't a show on cable, but is in the cable era, so I'm going with House of Cards.  Arrested Development #2, such a shame it never got the attention it deserved.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: gift on September 15, 2016, 04:20:31 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.

Wow, this was pretty close to my experience. I wondered why people thought it was so good. Stopped watching. Started again to get through most of season 1. Then like a year later picked up where I left off and now it's my #1 show of all time.

I really can't explain it. I just didn't really understand what I was watching at first, I think. It's not a fast paced show. Very subtle. Dark in an almost mundane way. It's not clear where the story line is going. You're not sure what to expect and I think the problem is that you're not sure that you should expect anything to happen that you care about. Then you just "get it" and you're hooked.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: mef730 on September 16, 2016, 09:03:01 AM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.

Wow, this was pretty close to my experience. I wondered why people thought it was so good. Stopped watching. Started again to get through most of season 1. Then like a year later picked up where I left off and now it's my #1 show of all time.

I really can't explain it. I just didn't really understand what I was watching at first, I think. It's not a fast paced show. Very subtle. Dark in an almost mundane way. It's not clear where the story line is going. You're not sure what to expect and I think the problem is that you're not sure that you should expect anything to happen that you care about. Then you just "get it" and you're hooked.

It must be that third episode, because that's when I quit, also. Maybe I'll try it again and slog through a few more episodes.

Mike
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Donoghus on September 16, 2016, 10:07:02 AM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.

Wow, this was pretty close to my experience. I wondered why people thought it was so good. Stopped watching. Started again to get through most of season 1. Then like a year later picked up where I left off and now it's my #1 show of all time.

I really can't explain it. I just didn't really understand what I was watching at first, I think. It's not a fast paced show. Very subtle. Dark in an almost mundane way. It's not clear where the story line is going. You're not sure what to expect and I think the problem is that you're not sure that you should expect anything to happen that you care about. Then you just "get it" and you're hooked.

I think you nailed it. 

I also think you need to get deeper into the show.  Season 1 is solid.  Season 2 is probably the weakest.   The final 3 seasons are excellent. Just top notch television. 

Basically, what I'm saying is, get past the dock season and you're golden. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: dannyboy35 on September 16, 2016, 10:47:24 AM
I tried watching the wire 3 times. I made it through 1 season once but I thought it was so boring because all the cop characters seem bored and have basically the same personality. This is probably more true to life but I just couldn't get through it.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on September 20, 2016, 05:26:46 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.

Wow, this was pretty close to my experience. I wondered why people thought it was so good. Stopped watching. Started again to get through most of season 1. Then like a year later picked up where I left off and now it's my #1 show of all time.

I really can't explain it. I just didn't really understand what I was watching at first, I think. It's not a fast paced show. Very subtle. Dark in an almost mundane way. It's not clear where the story line is going. You're not sure what to expect and I think the problem is that you're not sure that you should expect anything to happen that you care about. Then you just "get it" and you're hooked.

I think you nailed it. 

I also think you need to get deeper into the show.  Season 1 is solid.  Season 2 is probably the weakest.   The final 3 seasons are excellent. Just top notch television. 

Basically, what I'm saying is, get past the dock season and you're golden.

It's all about the Omar
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: bdm860 on September 20, 2016, 05:56:06 PM
It's blasphemy, but how long does it take The Wire to get good? I thought the pilot was dull.

Watched 3 episodes, I quitted, gave it another shot, watched 4 episodes, quitted.
3rd time; bingo, best ever made, best, best in the game. and it's not even close.

That acting is just great as well.

Wow, this was pretty close to my experience. I wondered why people thought it was so good. Stopped watching. Started again to get through most of season 1. Then like a year later picked up where I left off and now it's my #1 show of all time.

I really can't explain it. I just didn't really understand what I was watching at first, I think. It's not a fast paced show. Very subtle. Dark in an almost mundane way. It's not clear where the story line is going. You're not sure what to expect and I think the problem is that you're not sure that you should expect anything to happen that you care about. Then you just "get it" and you're hooked.

I think you nailed it. 

I also think you need to get deeper into the show.  Season 1 is solid.  Season 2 is probably the weakest.   The final 3 seasons are excellent. Just top notch television. 

Basically, what I'm saying is, get past the dock season and you're golden.

It's all about the Omar

This conversation inspired me to re-watch the Wire again.  I was already in the camp that thought it was the greatest show of all time, but it's always fun to re-watch something you enjoy.  Plus I wanted to pay closer attention to the little things I may have missed the first time around as well as try to see why others don't instantly like it.

I think part of people not instantly liking it is because it's such a huge ensemble cast, so it takes a while to really get to know some of the better characters.  Through the first 3 episodes, Omar has only like 2 brief scenes, Bubbles is just some junkie, and I don't even think Lester has talked yet.   But in episodes 4-6 that's when guys like Omar and Bubbles really start to shine.  Lester gets some lines, maybe Prez starts to grow on you a little, etc.  By the time the end of the first season rolls around you realize there's several minor characters (like Wee-Bey, Wallace) that you liked that didn't get a lot of air time.

Also part of the problem is it takes the first 3 episodes to really lay the foundation for the rest of the season.  It's episodes 4+ where the investigation really gets going, then they just piece a little together every episode after that and you can't wait to see how it all unravels, if it unravels at all.

At least that's how I feel about it having just re-watched all of Season 1 over the last 4 days.  Very enjoyable even for the 2nd time around.

Interested to hear if Roy or mef730 were able to get past the first few episodes and if your opinions have changed?
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: jr_3421 on September 20, 2016, 06:36:15 PM
This is such a tough question because everyone has their own preferences but I think most people include the wire and the sopranos on their lists.

I put the wire ahead of the sopranos only for the fact that after rewatching some of both, the sopranos seems incredibly dated while the wire deals with a lot of stuff going on today.

The only reason I didn't include breaking bad was because I think the degree of difficulty in creating such a huge universe was higher in a show like the wire, where breaking bad revolved around 2 main characters.

 Also I can't imagine how even bigger the sopranos would have been if there were Twitter back then. I think shows like breaking bad and game of thrones got a huge bump from social media.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on September 28, 2016, 08:47:37 PM
I declare this the era of Netflix. I am watching Cheers from the beginning and it's just off the charts good
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: fantankerous on September 28, 2016, 11:19:47 PM
I declare this the era of Netflix. I am watching Cheers from the beginning and it's just off the charts good

I've seen [dang] near every episode of Cheers and it's definitely on the charts.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: tarheelsxxiii on September 28, 2016, 11:26:07 PM
Neighbors with Benefits on A&E. While short-lived, it's hard to imagine any show having a more significant and positive effect on society.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: bdm860 on January 04, 2017, 10:15:48 AM
I know I'm a little late to the game with this one, but I just recently finished watching Breaking Bad.  Completely overrated, IMO.  Good show, no doubt, but one of the greatest ever?  Hardly. 

I don't even know if I'd rank it top 5 for shows with a corrupt protagonist.  The Wire, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield were much better.  (The Shield is completely underrated by the way), and then you have the other highly rated shows with a corrupt protagonist that I've yet to watch like Sopranos, Dexter, etc.  Wasn't even the best show on AMC (Mad Men was better, have yet to watch Walking Dead but will probably jump into that next).

For Breaking Bad, I thought there were a few too many episodes that went nowhere and did nothing for me. Episodes like the one with the fly in the lab, when Walt and Jesse are stranded in the desert when the battery on the RV dies, when Jesse tries to get money from the addicts who robbed him and ends up babysitting their kid.  Those stories seemed to take up the entire episode and didn't really advance the plot or develop the characters more, felt like nothing but filler to me.

Also not really a fan of the way the show handled flashbacks and flash-forwards.  And the whole airplane angle seemed odd and unnecessary.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: footey on January 04, 2017, 10:28:21 AM
I know I'm a little late to the game with this one, but I just recently finished watching Breaking Bad.  Completely overrated, IMO.  Good show, no doubt, but one of the greatest ever?  Hardly. 

I don't even know if I'd rank it top 5 for shows with a corrupt protagonist.  The Wire, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield were much better.  (The Shield is completely underrated by the way), and then you have the other highly rated shows with a corrupt protagonist that I've yet to watch like Sopranos, Dexter, etc.  Wasn't even the best show on AMC (Mad Men was better, have yet to watch Walking Dead but will probably jump into that next).

For Breaking Bad, I thought there were a few too many episodes that went nowhere and did nothing for me. Episodes like the one with the fly in the lab, when Walt and Jesse are stranded in the desert when the battery on the RV dies, when Jesse tries to get money from the addicts who robbed him and ends up babysitting their kid.  Those stories seemed to take up the entire episode and didn't really advance the plot or develop the characters more, felt like nothing but filler to me.

Also not really a fan of the way the show handled flashbacks and flash-forwards.  And the whole airplane angle seemed odd and unnecessary.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

I also liked Mad Men, but felt Breaking Bad was far more engaging.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: wdleehi on January 04, 2017, 10:42:42 AM
Breaking Bad was my second favorite show I watched off Netflix after Dexter. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Moranis on January 04, 2017, 11:06:25 AM
The show that I really have been liking lately is The 100.  Very atypical CW show in that it is very dark, but it really is a very good show on the whole.  That is the one show I suggest that people check out that is still on the air (frankly because most people have no idea what it is).
Season 4 coming back February 1st.  Definitely worth watching. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: JBcat on January 04, 2017, 11:33:18 AM
I declare this the era of Netflix. I am watching Cheers from the beginning and it's just off the charts good

I've seen [dang] near every episode of Cheers and it's definitely on the charts.

It's so good that's it both off and on the charts. ;D
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Tr1boy on January 04, 2017, 11:36:32 AM
Suits
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Cman on January 04, 2017, 11:41:02 AM
I need more definition around "cable era"
Did you know the first cable tv system was installed in the late 1940s? So are we talking best TV series since the 1940s?

I am guessing we are talking about best series of the last decade (so X-files and Sex in the City are out).

In no particular order: GOT, The Wire, Sopranos, Downton Abbey
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: mmmmm on January 04, 2017, 11:45:05 AM
Unfortunately, there are several shows for which the consensus is they were great shows but that I just never got the time to watch so I have to leave them off my list.   So my list can only be taken as 'great shows that I got a chance to watch a lot of'.

1. Homicide, Life on the Streets
2. Deadwood
3. Battlestar Galactica, the Sci-Fi channel reboot, esp. the first three seasons.
4. The Wire
5. Babylon 5

There were lots of other great shows during that time.  Those were ones that I liked and found time to watch a lot of though.

I went back and forth between Deadwood and Homicide and finally decided on a tie.

I know a lot of folks would rank the Wire over Homicide.   A lot of the same production crew on those two shows and a lot of similarities.  The Wire, being on cable (Homicide was on NBC) was more 'raw', gritty and R rated.  But the scripts on Homicide had some amazing dialog that was just wonderful to follow.   If you liked one of these two shows, you should like the other.

I agree with the notion put forth that we are transitioning now into the 'streaming' era of made-for-Netflix and made-for-Amazon Prime type shows.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: indeedproceed on January 04, 2017, 11:59:42 AM
My Top-5 Post-Oz TV Shows*

*I believe that Oz, on HBO, actually was the changing of the guard moment that led to a lot of these shows. Oz on HBO had the best acting of any American TV show i have ever seen. It was extremely creative with its use of space and the lack thereof to tell a story.

5. Friday Night Lights
4. Sopranos, HBO
3. Justified, FX
2. Deadwood, HBO
1. The Wire, HBO

Shows included: Drama, action, prestige, no 1/2 hr comedies

#BreakingBadDidntDoItForMe
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: apc on January 04, 2017, 12:04:51 PM
I recently watched all past seasons of Shameless- Loved it!
Funny yet sensitive. so many interesting characters.
And Fiona is great.   
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Donoghus on January 04, 2017, 12:13:46 PM
Just wrapped up 'The OA" on Netflix.   Definite traces of "Stranger Things" but more "adult-y" if that makes sense.

Not quite sure what to make of it.  Ending was...well, something. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: TheBigTicket23 on January 06, 2017, 05:42:03 PM
Just to give this topic a bit of new life and ask for advice! How good is Sons of Anarchy? I'm in need of a new serie! My top 3 still the same.

1) The Wire
Was just watching some youtube, always thought Chris Partlow looks so much like Justise Winslow, Brodie looks like Westbrook and this kidd with the dreads like Kahwi a bit ;)
2) The Sopranos
3) Entourage
However I have to put Homeland in as well, that's some serie.... Also I agree with the Dexter praised. Love that serie bigtime.
Also heard Oz was a gamechanger, agree as well... that was well acted and I think a good set up for series like Sopranos/TheWire.
Some other series I love and which are still running. Ballers, Suits and Power. Really I said it before, I recommand Power, it may be made by 50 cent but its one of my favourite. Just exciting to watch..

Anybody some other advice next to SoA? I did not like Breaking bad and I quitted GoT after 4s, too many story lines... TWD doesnt seem a serie for me.
Anybody seen The Kylling?
Anybody seen Luther? seems like I have to watch as Stringer Bell is in there.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: knuckleballer on January 06, 2017, 05:48:51 PM
Kind of nerdy, but I have to go with GOT as the best.  I'd go with the Sopranos as 2, Boardwalk Empire as 3 (I'm sure I'm in the minority here), and Breaking Bad at 4.  I'll give the Borgias a nod too as think it was very underrated.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on January 06, 2017, 05:59:18 PM
Just to give this topic a bit of new life and ask for advice! How good is Sons of Anarchy?

I watched the whole series a couple of years ago over the course of several months.  (Having a completed series at your disposal is really an amazing way to watch, though binging can be scary!). 

I really liked the series, but it was almost on a guilty pleasure level, because it got more and implausible as all of the years of built up issues began to spill over.  There was some great characters and very memorable moments though. 

---sidebar---I've been pecking away at rewatching Dexter lately.  Similar issue with the piled up years of big events.  Just hard to believe they wouldn't have had more of an effect on the people involved, but still entertaining.  John Lithgow as the Trinity killer is still the best.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on January 06, 2017, 06:05:33 PM
However I have to put Homeland in as well, that's some serie.... Also I agree with the Dexter praised.

The first couple of seasons of Homeland with Brodie were nailbiters.  He was awesome.  Actor is decent in Billionaires too, but that show is a bit much sometimes.

I've really been enjoying The Man in the High Castle on Amazon, though season 2 hasn't quite stacked up to the inaugural season from what I've seen so far.  Interesting story line and very cool visual of an alternate reality Nazi/Japan led U.S..
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: sahara on January 06, 2017, 06:15:04 PM
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I caught a glimpse of that show from season 4 and I just had to see it from the beginning.

After I watched all 8 seasons in about 2 weeks I just had to start watching it again.

Prettyyyy prettyyy prettyyy good show
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: hpantazo on January 06, 2017, 06:16:50 PM
How about Vikings on the History channel? Pretty interesting series with some underrated acting, and a legit attempt to keep it based on the little that is known historically of that era.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: hpantazo on January 06, 2017, 06:18:28 PM
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I caught a glimpse of that show from season 4 and I just had to see it from the beginning.

After I watched all 8 seasons in about 2 weeks I just had to start watching it again.

Prettyyyy prettyyy prettyyy good show

Best TV comedy ever for me. It's like an unfiltered Seinfeld. So glad Larry David is doing a new season soon!!
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on January 06, 2017, 06:23:50 PM
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I caught a glimpse of that show from season 4 and I just had to see it from the beginning.

After I watched all 8 seasons in about 2 weeks I just had to start watching it again.

Prettyyyy prettyyy prettyyy good show

Best TV comedy ever for me. It's like an unfiltered Seinfeld. So glad Larry David is doing a new season soon!!

Cool. Didn't know that!
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on January 06, 2017, 06:24:34 PM
How about Vikings on the History channel? Pretty interesting series with some underrated acting, and a legit attempt to keep it based on the little that is known historically of that era.

Vikings is great.  Though I'm a little skeptical after recent events.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: sahara on January 06, 2017, 06:37:13 PM
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I caught a glimpse of that show from season 4 and I just had to see it from the beginning.

After I watched all 8 seasons in about 2 weeks I just had to start watching it again.

Prettyyyy prettyyy prettyyy good show

Best TV comedy ever for me. It's like an unfiltered Seinfeld. So glad Larry David is doing a new season soon!!

Yup, season 9 is on the way!! Canīt wait!!
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: tazzmaniac on January 06, 2017, 10:06:37 PM
I highly recommend The Americans.  I'd also recommend Orphan Black.  The 1st 3 seasons of each are available on Amazon Prime. 

I wouldn't recommend SOA or maybe just watch the 1st season, which was pretty good, and stop there.  Tried watching it twice.  First time stopped after the 2nd season which pretty poor and had a nonsensical climax.  Second time started with the 3rd season and forced myself through midway through the 6th season.  Think my count was up to 12 shows in a row where at least one woman was killed.  Could have been good but the show needed a lot better writers. 
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on January 06, 2017, 10:47:18 PM
I highly recommend The Americans.  I'd also recommend Orphan Black.  The 1st 3 seasons of each are available on Amazon Prime. 

I wouldn't recommend SOA or maybe just watch the 1st season, which was pretty good, and stop there.  Tried watching it twice.  First time stopped after the 2nd season which pretty poor and had a nonsensical climax.  Second time started with the 3rd season and forced myself through midway through the 6th season.  Think my count was up to 12 shows in a row where at least one woman was killed.  Could have been good but the show needed a lot better writers.

Those are both good too.  I'm behind a season on the Americans.  Waiting for the
Freebies on Amazon Prime.  The house wife clone and her husband are fantastic characters on Orphan Black.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: BringToughnessBack on February 18, 2017, 03:43:40 PM
Add Wentworth on Netflix to the list. Someone forced me to watch first episode with claim it is one of the best shows ever. I was hooked from 5 minutes and just binged the first season in past 3 days. 4 seasons on Netflix with 5th arriving shortly. It is an amazing prison show in Australia and to say it is sick as in amazing sick, would be an understatement. This was after watching The Americans which is also awesome but in a different way.

Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Neurotic Guy on February 18, 2017, 03:50:08 PM
I highly recommend The Americans.  I'd also recommend Orphan Black.  The 1st 3 seasons of each are available on Amazon Prime. 

I wouldn't recommend SOA or maybe just watch the 1st season, which was pretty good, and stop there.  Tried watching it twice.  First time stopped after the 2nd season which pretty poor and had a nonsensical climax.  Second time started with the 3rd season and forced myself through midway through the 6th season.  Think my count was up to 12 shows in a row where at least one woman was killed.  Could have been good but the show needed a lot better writers.
I stuck it out with SOA a little longer but it eventually became pretty unwatchable.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Eja117 on May 01, 2017, 04:53:53 AM
Every once in a while at 4am I think of things like the fact that the kids from Beverly Hills 90210 lived right down the street from the kids on Fresh Prince of Bel Air and then I start thinking of the implications for this.  Will coulda gotten Kelly preggers and then they woulda had Fresher Prince of Beverly Hills. Uncle Phil makes way more money than the Walshes.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: feckless on May 01, 2017, 06:20:16 AM
1.  The Wire
2.  Rectify
3.  Homicide
4.  Slings and Arrows
5.  Jewel in the Crown

For something different, light, fun, great scenery, great music and just plain enjoyable-- try

Detectorists

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgN7z0SD8v8
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: ederson on May 02, 2017, 08:12:23 AM


The first couple of seasons of Homeland with Brodie were nailbiters.  He was awesome.  Actor is decent in Billionaires too, but that show is a bit much sometimes.


Homeland's first season was amazing. The rest of the story till the death of Brodie was boring and predictable. It got much better in the last two seasons imho. BTW Love Billions :D

Damian Lewis' best moments were in Band of Brothers

Not big fan of Vikings. I find the acting strange (even bad) in most cases and the story line lately looks .. well ... also strange. maybe it is may fault cause i started watching it having the impression it is was more of a documentary.

I don"t see much love for House of cards .... :(
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Granath on May 02, 2017, 09:11:15 AM
I still miss Firefly.

 :(
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: hardlyyardley on May 02, 2017, 09:54:36 AM
Boardwalk Empire
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: csfansince60s on May 02, 2017, 10:49:30 AM
4. House of Cards
3. Game of Thrones (could move up or down)
2. Sopranos
1. Californication (before this, I didn't like Duchovny much, but he was a master in this)

These are the 4 that I have enjoyed the most, personally.

I am not arguing their artistic merits (there are no Citizen Kanes here), but rather how entertaining they were (are) to me.

Whenever I need a laugh, I just go to Youtube and play a Californication clip......irreverent, brash, sensitive, sobering, occasionally dark, but eventually always uplifting. I would post the link for the opening scene of the first episode of the first season here, but this site is PG, so I will stay within the rules. But that scene in the church with the nun is hilarious and the theme (song) of the whole series, the Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want" which plays in the background and interludes throughout the series is introduced here.

Hank Moody, the Everyman of R-rated romantic comedies.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: SHAQATTACK on May 02, 2017, 11:21:30 AM
FX ....Fargo

Justified series
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: celts55 on May 02, 2017, 11:45:19 AM
Really like, Last week tonight. Funny and informative.
Probably here somewhere, but Shameless is great.
Also really liked 6 Feet Under.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: Redz on May 02, 2017, 11:57:18 AM
FX ....Fargo


I think I'm getting close to checking out Fargo.

My kids broke me down and got me to subscribe to Netflix.  Sadly, I've been bingeing on The 100.  Which is really cheesy, but I can't seem to stop myself.
Title: Re: Best TV Series in the Cable Era
Post by: liam on May 02, 2017, 12:01:33 PM
Game of Thrones

Breaking bad

River

Dexter

Sopranos

Californication