Meme Time! TVGuides "30 Best"

[liz_marcs]

Let me just say that I'm shocked that no one has done this one yet. So I guess I'll be the first in line.

• 
  
• Bold those shows where you've seen every episode.
  
• Italics for those shows where you've seen episodes, and are kind of *meh* about what you saw.
  
• Underlined Italics if you only saw a few episodes and liked what you saw.
  
• Strikeout those shows where you've seen episodes, but didn't like it.
  
• Leave the text as is for shows you haven't seen.
  

Bonus round: List 5 shows you think should've been on the list, but weren't.




30) Strangers with Candy
29) Absolutely Fabulous
28) Stargate SG-1
27) H.R. Pufnstuf
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
25) Firefly
24) Twin Peaks
23) Dark Shadows (original)
22) Doctor Who
21) Freaks and Geeks
20) The Avengers
19) Quantum Leap
18) Veronica Mars
17) Beauty and the Beast
16) Babylon 5
15) Family Guy
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003)
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse
11) Jericho
10) Xena: Warrior Princess
9) Twilight Zone
8) The Simpsons
7) The Prisoner
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus
5) Lost
4) Farscape
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2) The X-Files
1) Star Trek


My 5 Shows that Should've Been on the List:

1) Red Dwarf
2) Blackadder
3) Futurama
4) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
5) The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.


I don't agree with a few of TV Guide's choices (I mean, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman? Really?), but I'm not sure what surprises me more. The fact that I've at least seen most of the shows listed, or the fact that I haven't seen them all.

Right. Now back to writing after acting like a slug all day. Hey! It was nice out, there was sunshine, I had a book, and there was a river in walking distance. I'm gonna enjoy it before New England's traditional two-week summer arrives and fries us all.

Comments

[mzlizzy.livejournal.com]

I would have to argue that Red Dwarf and Blackadder were no widely distributed in the US, having only appeared on a few cable and PBS stations, mostly on the coast. That was the problem with them being in the TV Guide list.

I think they listed 'Star Trek' only once, since without the first one the successive shows would not have happened.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Actually, Blackadder was shown on a national cable network (A&E) for several years during the 1990s, so it easily had as broad a reach in the U.S. as AbFab did (AbFab was shown on Comedy Central). Although, the Blackadder syndication did happen before AbFab's did, so I can sort of see your point.

Also, I don't think Monty Python's Flying Circus was shown anywhere outside the PBS network (I could be wrong), which is the same deal as Red Dwarf. Although, arguably, Pythoners made movies, so there was definitely more awareness about the show itself as a result. So, yeah, you probably have a point on that as well.

As for the Star Treks, that's a harder point to make. They have the 2003 Battlestar Galactica on the list, which definitely would not have existed without the 1978 Battlestar Galactica. I guess my argument is that what's good for Battlestar Galactica should also be good for Star Trek. I'm not saying remove the original Star Trek from the list, but I'd definitely remove something like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman to make room for it. *shrug*

[theantijoss.livejournal.com]

I'd also add Forever Knight and Beauty & the Beast, but that might just be me. *G*

I'm with you on Red Dwarf, Black Adder and Brisco County!

30) Strangers with Candy
29) Absolutely Fabulous
28) Stargate SG-1
27) H.R. Pufnstuf (Seen more than a few, but not all)
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
25) Firefly
24) Twin Peaks
23) Dark Shadows (original) More than a few, but has anybody seen them all? I mean, that's like four billion episodes!
22) Doctor Who* This is a special instance. I've seen a lot of some doctors, and none of others.
21) Freaks and Geeks
20) The Avengers
19) Quantum Leap OMG I was INSANE for this show first run.
18) Veronica Mars
17) Beauty and the Beast
16) Babylon 5
15) Family Guy HATE. HATEHATEHATEHATEHATE. Worst Simpsons ripoff EVER. That it got brought back baffles me.
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003) I've seen 1.5 seasons, and am DYING to see more.
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000 One of my all time favorites.
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse Depends on how stoned I was. *G*
11) Jericho
10) Xena: Warrior Princess 9) Twilight Zone
8) The Simpsons
7) The Prisoner
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus My first TV love. *sigh*
5) Lost I loved the first season, but lost interest a couple of eps into season 2.
4) Farscape LOVE
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer My Great Love
2) The X-Files I didn't watch the last couple of seasons
1) Star Trek Original & TNG

Heh. I'm a huge TV Geek. *G*

Thanks for sharing this!

[nidoking.livejournal.com]

Um... Beauty and the Beast IS on the list. Or was there one with "and" and one with an ampersand?

[theantijoss.livejournal.com]

LOL! No, I'm just a big idiot who doesn't read carefully. *G*

[nidoking.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Arrested Development certainly needs to be on the list. I'd argue for House, M.D., Monk, and Avatar: The Last Airbender as well. As for a fifth? Wonderfalls, maybe.

[theantijoss.livejournal.com]

I don't know about House -- it's much more mainstream than cult...

Wonderfalls is an excellent addition.

[nidoking.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware that the list was supposed to be cult. I wouldn't call Lost cult. Quantum Leap and The Simpsons DEFINITELY aren't cult.

[theantijoss.livejournal.com]

I'm curious what their definition of "cult" is. I think it's any show/music/movie/book that has a tight, fanatically devoted calling.

Which definitely makes Lost cult, as well as Quantum Leap and Simpsons. Actually, with my own definition, House is cult too. Hm. Thought provoking.

[iyalode.livejournal.com]

H.R. Pufnstuf Pure crack, I can still sing the theme song without missing a word. Cigar smoking mushrooms, a talking flute. What's not to love.

Must get my hands on a copy, for the boys - because education of the young is important y'know.

[lillian13.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna enjoy it before New England's traditional two-week summer arrives and fries us all.

(Hates you from South Texas, where if we aren't drowning--the news called it a "rain bomb", we're dealing with 95F. Probably until October.)

[nocturnalista.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to argue in favor of Mary Hartman. That show was pretty cutting edge for it's time, and had a rabid following for awhile. I think it would qualify.

A couple of the shows (like Lost or Jericho) I would argue against, but maybe that's because they seem like network reworking of other ideas.

This sort of list just makes me shrug. No "Top" list ever really makes it past the personal opinion stage, as far as I'm concerned.

I'd have added Kids in the Hall, but that's just me. And Puffenstuff. Oh, yeah. There was this one episode, where Freddie the Flute was turning into a mushroom. Don't tell my Sid and Marty Croft weren't on drugs.

[alicettlg.livejournal.com]

This has got to be the most bizarre list ever! They listed Xena and Beauty and the Beast and Pee-Wee??? but not Hill Street Blues and All in the Family??? Both were critically acclaimed (and ratings winners too) and groundbreaking for their times too. HSB was the first must watch TV, first time me and people I knew actually made a point to stay home to see it every week. And All in the Family, not only brilliant comedy, brilliant performances but it talked about issues on TV that were considered off-limits before.

I was thinking perhaps they were only listing shows from the 90s on or something but the original Dark Shadows aired in the 70s (and 60s?) and Mary Hartman was 70s I think...

[alicettlg.livejournal.com]

And Family Guy???? They listed Family Guy??? But not Mary Tyler Moore??? or gah, any number of excellent shows that have aired in the last 30 years....

*walks off mumbling about tv critics*

[fangirlsays.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute...we have 'Jericho' and 'Mary Hartman', but no 'Supernatural'?

*disgruntled!*

This may take a few paste-post-delete cycles to get the tags right...

[arkaycee.livejournal.com]

30) Strangers with Candy
29) Absolutely Fabulous
28) Stargate SG-1
27) H.R. Pufnstuf (though probably not since I was 12)
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
25) Firefly
24) Twin Peaks
23) Dark Shadows (original)
22) Doctor Who
21) Freaks and Geeks
20) The Avengers
19) Quantum Leap
18) Veronica Mars
17) Beauty and the Beast
16) Babylon 5
15) Family Guy
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003)
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse
11) Jericho
10) Xena: Warrior Princess
9) Twilight Zone
8) The Simpsons
7) The Prisoner
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus
5) Lost
4) Farscape
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2) The X-Files
1) Star Trek


My 5 Shows that Should've Been on the List:

1) Red Dwarf
2) Black Adder
3) The Invaders (Gawd I wish someone would re-run it, I wonder if my memories from childhood would be half as good as a grown-up)
4) Brisco County
5) Almost Live (best sketch comedy evar, was a local show in Seattle for something like 25 years and shown nationally on Comedy Central in mid-1980s for 1-2 years).

[h4nselel.livejournal.com]

30) Strangers with Candy
29) Absolutely Fabulous
28) Stargate SG-1
27) H.R. Pufnstuf
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
25) Firefly
24) Twin Peaks
23) Dark Shadows (original)
22) Doctor Who (wanna see it)
21) Freaks and Geeks
20) The Avengers
19) Quantum Leap
18) Veronica Mars
17) Beauty and the Beast
16) Babylon 5
15) Family Guy
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003)
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse
11) Jericho
10) Xena: Warrior Princess
9) Twilight Zone
8) The Simpsons
7) The Prisoner
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus
5) Lost
4) Farscape
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2) The X-Files
1) Star Trek

My Top 5 that are not on the list:

1) Gilmore Girls
2) Alias
3) Futurama
4) Scrubs
5) Angel

But one of my absolute favourite TV Series is Densha Otoko/Train Man from Japan. I haven't laughed that much in ages.

[shinwillow.livejournal.com]

30) Strangers with Candy
29) Absolutely Fabulous
28) Stargate SG-1 (I used to be such a Stargate SG-1 whore. It was the first TV show I ever rented)
27) H.R. Pufnstuf
26) Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
25) Firefly (Joss made me a liar with this one. I swore except for Angel, I'd never watch another show of his)
24) Twin Peaks (I was too young and vanilla to get it)
23) Dark Shadows (original)
22) Doctor Who (Tom Baker is the motherfuckin' man!)
21) Freaks and Geeks (Spoke to me on so many levels)
20) The Avengers
19) Quantum Leap
18) Veronica Mars
17) Beauty and the Beast
16) Babylon 5 (The story and characters only got deeper and more interesting unlike so many other TV shows)
15) Family Guy (I love South Park, get me? But after Cartoon Wars I wanted to suck Trey and Matt's dicks. Family Guy is.not.funny. Hate. Hate)
14) Battlestar Galactica (2003)
13) Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Could never get up early enough to catch it regularly)
12) Pee-Wee's Playhouse
11) Jericho (Real iffy on its science)
10) Xena: Warrior Princess (Mmm, Xena)
9) Twilight Zone
8) The Simpsons
7) The Prisoner
6) Monty Python's Flying Circus
5) Lost
4) Farscape (A lot like B5 but in a lot of ways funner to watch. The acting was better too)
3) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I'm so bitchy because I love it so much)
2) The X-Files
1) Star Trek


My 5 Shows that Should've Been on the List:

1) Red Dwarf (Far more clever than it had a right to be. Love)
2) Kids in the Hall (OMG! TEH GAY! Seriously, I had no business being up that late, but I had to see Kids in the Hall)
3) Futurama (Jurassic Bark made me fucking cry)
4) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (The best ST over-all, IMO)
5) The Mysterious Cities of Gold (Before Avatar: The Last Air Bender there was this animated epic. People died, which shocked my fragile young mind. And I still want a Golden Condor, damn it!)

[redrikki.livejournal.com]

Mysterious Cities of Gold. That's what that show was called? Man, I loved that when I was a kid. If they released that on DVD I know I would buy it, watch it, and probably still love it.

[kaydee23.livejournal.com]

Mary Hartman Mary Hartman s hould be on there just for the funeral they had in Mary's kitchen after the coach drowned in Mary Hartman's soup after taking too many cold pills. Mary Kay Place's wheelchair-bound character sang "That Old Black Magic" during the funeral. Heeeeeeeeeeeeelarious. I'll never forget it as long as I live.

"Soap" should be on there too. A constant laugh riot.

I'd also add The Pretender, Angel, and Hercules, the Legendary Journeys.

[mistralcat.livejournal.com]

What about Dead Like Me? It so belongs on that list.

[v-is.livejournal.com]

Strange Luck - D.B. Sweeney as a guy born on February 29 with the weirdest luck possible? Named Chance? Winner!