RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time

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RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 8:25:03 AM

peterelson

Posts: 11
Joined: 31/7/2007
From: London

Erm, Inspector Morse?, Prime Suspect?, One Foot in the Grave? Abigail's Party?even Steptoe and Son, and Dad's Army. I must say I agree with 'Blink' being rated as the best of the new Doctor who episodes, although I also have a soft spot for 'Father's Day' from the first series where Rose saves her father from a fatal road accident.

(in reply to James Dyer)

Post #: 301

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 9:28:55 AM

palmerantony

Posts: 117
Joined: 22/6/2006
From: guildford

I cant believe Curb your enthusiasm only makes 38!!! who really thinks that Babylon 5 is better??

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Post #: 302

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 9:35:05 AM

gpd1991

Posts: 7
Joined: 3/11/2007

WHERE'S GREY'S ANATOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(in reply to James Dyer)

Post #: 303

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 10:13:40 AM

monkeyfish

Posts: 1234
Joined: 18/9/2006
From: Under the sea

There seem to be a lot of newbies registering just to complain about this list. As far as I'm concerned it is as good as these public vote lists will ever be. People do, after all, have different opinions and tastes to you. If you don't agree with it then just make your own list. It was fairly predictably a product of the voting audience obviously being movie/internet forum geeks and therefore was perhaps more sci-fi/fantasy heavy than a broader public vote would be, but that did at least result in some shows that the general public might be less aware of doing very well. I, for one, was pleased to see mostly recent programmes up there, I genuinely believe that the best TV is better today than it was twenty or thirty years ago. Even looking back on shows widely agreed to be classics (e.g. Fawlty Towers), the style of humour seems a bit dated really compared with something like The Office which fits much more with modern sensibilities (I imagine in another twenty or thirty years, this may start to feel a little dated), while it can only be a good thing that the cheesy, repetitive likes of Knight Rider and the A-Team, much as they might appeal to a nostalgic or ironic crowd, missed out.
I think that it's interesting that a lot of the debate on here has boiled down to Buffy vs The Wire. Can't somebody like both? Also, surely given both shows managed to do surprisingly well on the list, why are their hardcore fans complaining just because other stuff also did well? I didn't vote for either but they're both good in their own ways. I think that The Wire's fans wouldn't be that happy if it did cross over into a huge, wider audience, as they like feeling that it's their thing and they can feel superior to everyone who doesn't watch it (and it's not like it gets too few viewers for the show to continue). As for Buffy, I always enjoyed watching it (and I'm not a kid or a teenager, and I'm certainly no sci-fi/fantasy geek), but its monster of the week format made for some pretty dodgy episodes alongside the proper quality ones. Like most of Whedon's work, the real strength was always in creating an ensemble of likeable, well rounded characters, rather than giving them the best plots to play a part in. Having said that, the quality of the first three seasons is mostly excellent and the next few consistently good, although the last season was a big mis-step with all the potentials, but then many of the shows on here have tailed off at the end. Angel tailed off in quality about half way through its run and yet that seems to be able to make this list. Why aren't the Buffy haters more concerned with the presence of this clearly lesser show?

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Post #: 304

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 10:15:18 AM

The Hooded Man

Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/7/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olly Richards

quote:

ORIGINAL: The Hooded Man

In Seinfeld there's no inter group romance?
Jerry and Elaine were an item in the early years of the show, albeit briefly, again did the writer even bother watching the show?

Are you 100% sure that's correct? I'll apologise if I'm wrong and change the entry, but I believe they were only spoken of as being together in the past. There was a one time sex thing, but for the point that was being made, i.e. that Seinfeld didn't go for any of the continuing-story soap opera type elements of other sitcoms, I didn't consider that really counted. They were never a couple in the show. As I say, correct me if I'm wrong, as I didn't re-watch all nine seasons before writing this entry, but I have seen them.

You are right that our precise timing on The Shield was incorrect; it did happen at the end of the first episode. It's been ammended.

Why do I imagine you with a pony-tail and little zig-zaggy beard?

No need to get personal just because I called on your inaccuracies, if you are going to put it out there you have to at least make sure the info is correct.
I can't remember if it's at the end of the second or third series of Seinfeld but Jerry and Elaine hook up.
By the time the next series starts they are no longer an item, having broken up between series.

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Post #: 305

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 10:24:05 AM

monkeyfish

Posts: 1234
Joined: 18/9/2006
From: Under the sea

Having said that I'm ok with the list on the whole. I wouldn't be a forum user if I didn't suggest my own favourites that were missed out. So, here's my Top Ten Greatest TV Shows Ignored by Empire's List:

10. Spooks
9. Brass Eye
8. Garth Marenghi's Dark Place
7. Extras
6. Freaks and Geeks
5. Black Books
4. King of the Hill
3. House
2. Peep Show
1. I'm Alan Partridge

And ten that could go to replace them:

1. Sex and the City
2. Babylon 5
3. Quantum Leap
4. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation
6. Star Trek
7. Farscape
8. Red Dwarf
9. Angel
10. ER

< Message edited by monkeyfish -- 1/4/2008 10:25:42 AM >

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Post #: 306

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 10:30:26 AM

The Hooded Man

Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/7/2006

The list does seem to be very American heavy but maybe that's just a reflection of the voters.
Remember these are the people who said Casino Royale was the best film of 2006.

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Post #: 307

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 10:58:06 AM

Olly Richards

Posts: 597
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: The Hooded Man
No need to get personal just because I called on your inaccuracies, if you are going to put it out there you have to at least make sure the info is correct.
I can't remember if it's at the end of the second or third series of Seinfeld but Jerry and Elaine hook up.
By the time the next series starts they are no longer an item, having broken up between series.

Sorry, I was only kidding. Apologies if I offended you.

(in reply to The Hooded Man)

Post #: 308

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 11:07:19 AM

doc

Posts: 5
Joined: 17/10/2005

Wow. Interesting forum. I thought the list was pretty good all told. My top 5 were all in there - can't remember which order I voted, but went for Father Ted, South Park, Lost, 24 and The X Files.

Here are some of my views on the list:

The show I really must watch - The Wire (added to my DVD rental list forthwith)

The show that would've rated higher but for a dire 6th series: 24 (the first 5 were IMHO without peer - remember that I haven't seen the Wire). Oh and kudos to Empire for nailing the most memorable moment. "God forgive me" BANG!

The show that actually deserved its high ranking but is sadly cool to bash: Lost - seriously if you guys had all persevered you'd realise that this is the best thing on these days. The Des/Penny phone call a few weeks back was the first TV scene to make me cry since the Chappelle scene in 24.

The most overrated comedy in the history of TV: Scrubs. I'm a doctor, and really get pissed off with the way they ruin each episode with some gushing sentimentality. This is why the UK will always be king of the sitcom.

The show to most irrationally benefit from being recent: Heroes. Series 1 was just OK. Will watch series 2 but not expecting much. The new Lost, this is not.

The show that suffered most by being recent: Friday Night Lights - possibly my favourite 1st series of a show since X-Files, 24 or ER. But couldn't bring myself to vote for a 1 season wonder. Truly amazing TV. Rent it...now.

The Meh Award for Not my thing but appreciate that most people love it: Buffy. Who cares, seriously? Who didn't expect it to be in the top 5?

The 2nd best cartoon sitcom on TV: The Simpsons

The best cartoon on TV: South Park. And the creativity of the South Park movie just shows Matt Groening how weak he really has become. The Simpsons movie was a pale imitation of the TV show at its best, whereas with South Park, and latterly Team America, Parker and Stone showed that they rule the world of animated comedy (for adults).

The keeping-fingers-crossed for an excellent revival award: The X-Files. Actually gave up on this shortly after the first movie (largely cos I was at uni and didn't have Sky), but this is the price you have to pay when the BBC acquire American TV (they never stick with it, and dump it on at all sorts of Godforsaken hours). Hoping X2 can reignite the love for the show from back in the 90s.

The sorry it didn't make it award: Northern Exposure - have to agree that this is one of the most notable absentees.

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Post #: 309

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 11:07:46 AM

monkeyfish

Posts: 1234
Joined: 18/9/2006
From: Under the sea

So, what did the Empire staff vote for? Can you give us any indication, Olly?

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Post #: 310

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 11:23:49 AM

Zaphod121

Posts: 9954
Joined: 20/1/2006
From: Not sure yet.

Most people (well newbies) seem to be just bitching and moaning, personally I don't think The Simpsons should have made number 1 seeing as the last 10 years of the show have been fairly shite, I would have Buffy at the top spot, but hey thats me. Good to see Veronica Mars and Alias on there. I'm pretty much most of my fave shows made it somewhere on the list, so I'm happy enough.

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Post #: 311

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 11:28:15 AM

Olly Richards

Posts: 597
Joined: 30/9/2005

I don't think it's really relevant to give our full personal bests. We didn't vote in the poll because that wasn't the purpose. It's a readers' poll. I probably would have put Simpsons at number 1 too, based on nine seasons of utter brilliance, which is a better streak of quality than any other TV show has ever managed and an achievement that shouldn't be dismissed by the later series failing to match it. But I've yet to get round to watching all of The Wire or The Sopranos (I have a huge back catalogue of TV shows to catch up with and am only now getting through the last of The West Wing and haven't even begun on Battlestar Galactica).

I do think it's slightly odd that there are some arguments suggesting that the high placing of modern TV shows is wrong. There are certainly older series that might well have made the list (e.g. The Twilight Zone). But, in my opinion, where you could make a very valid argument that the best films ever were made decades ago, I believe that the quality of TV in the past 10-15 years is the highest it's ever been, since the perception of the small screen as an inferior medium to the cinema screen has largely disappeared and therefore attracted better talent.

(in reply to monkeyfish)

Post #: 312

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 11:34:18 AM

philthehippoworrier

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/11/2005

I realised that myself when I suddenly saw that not only was The Prisoner not on there but also that I'd not voted for it. Oh the shame. By the way, has the board been reset at some point within the past year, I used to post quite a lot on here and when I started again yesterday realised that my post count had been reset. Not that that matters to me....much.

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Post #: 313

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:00:31 PM

The Hooded Man

Posts: 2717
Joined: 12/7/2006

What about a most over-rated poll? Here is mine.
1) Lost.
2) Friends.
3) Buffy.
4) Alias.
5) Sex and the City.

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Post #: 314

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:14:38 PM

monkeyfish

Posts: 1234
Joined: 18/9/2006
From: Under the sea

quote:

ORIGINAL: Olly Richards

I don't think it's really relevant to give our full personal bests. We didn't vote in the poll because that wasn't the purpose. It's a readers' poll. I probably would have put Simpsons at number 1 too, based on nine seasons of utter brilliance, which is a better streak of quality than any other TV show has ever managed and an achievement that shouldn't be dismissed by the later series failing to match it. But I've yet to get round to watching all of The Wire or The Sopranos (I have a huge back catalogue of TV shows to catch up with and am only now getting through the last of The West Wing and haven't even begun on Battlestar Galactica).

I do think it's slightly odd that there are some arguments suggesting that the high placing of modern TV shows is wrong. There are certainly older series that might well have made the list (e.g. The Twilight Zone). But, in my opinion, where you could make a very valid argument that the best films ever were made decades ago, I believe that the quality of TV in the past 10-15 years is the highest it's ever been, since the perception of the small screen as an inferior medium to the cinema screen has largely disappeared and therefore attracted better talent.

I didn't say it was that relevant. I'm just interested in how the list might have looked had it not been put to a public vote (especially as there are so many comments decrying the sensibilities of the general public). Would the Empire staff list have pleased people more even though they had no say in it?

Oh, and, as I said in my post above, I completely agree about the standards of TV being generally better in recent years.

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Post #: 315

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:18:03 PM

markpoint3

Posts: 1
Joined: 19/12/2007

wheres harry hills tv burp......... best show on tv

(in reply to theoriginalcynic)

Post #: 316

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:19:53 PM

micktonks

Posts: 2
Joined: 15/12/2006

I cannot believe the level of profanity that so called educated people have to use to reinforce their argument on what is surely a very subjective matter in the first place. What is wrong with you people? Is it a sad indictment of our educational system or are you all trying to be cheap Tarantino rip offs? What sounds good in the playground rarely translates into adulthood.

And this is from what I would construe as a well balanced and fairly well educated populace. God help us all.

(in reply to peterelson)

Post #: 317

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:34:07 PM

theoriginalcynic

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007

quote:

ORIGINAL: motokouk

Seinfeld should have at least been number 2 or 3..For gods sake Buffy isn't even a good programme, it died years ago along with the hype...who watches it really? Friends should be after Seinfeld easy...This list is a bit of a joke really.

Millions of people and now through FX millions more. It died ages ago with the hype? What's that supposed to mean - it finished of it's own accord after 144 episodes

(in reply to motokouk)

Post #: 318

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:35:16 PM

theoriginalcynic

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007

quote:

ORIGINAL: gpd1991

WHERE'S GREY'S ANATOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ripping off Scrubs somewhere - sorry I just had too

(in reply to gpd1991)

Post #: 319

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:37:33 PM

cabstar

Posts: 6
Joined: 7/10/2005

Fawlty Towers is set in the South West, not the South East!!! Nothing happens down here so please don't take that away from us!!!

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Post #: 320

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 1:59:35 PM

Olly Richards

Posts: 597
Joined: 30/9/2005

quote:

ORIGINAL: tysmuse2

I'd be interested to hear just how many people casted their votes, I can't imagine that it was that many, since it was only made available to people registered to this website, plus voting period didn't even stay open for that long, so it's no where near as comprehensive as it could/should have been. Especially when you consider how many people actually watch television shows.

Also, why are people moaning about not enough people watching 'the wire', isn't it still going into it's 5th season?

I don't have exact figures on number of voters, but it was several thousand. Registration wasn't necessary to vote (it was taken off after a few days). I don't know that a longer voting period � it was about 2-3 weeks � would have especially changed the list. It would have meant a larger sample, but not necessarily one with any different opinions.

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Post #: 321

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 2:03:29 PM

holsy

Posts: 191
Joined: 5/12/2005

May i kindly suggest to Empire that this list be renamed as the fifty most POPULAR shows rather than greatest. Seeing as its voted for by the public that is basically what it is, a popularity vote, which is no bad thing as it goes to show what kind of shows attract a mass audience. But only a few of these shows could be defined as truly great dont you think? Also being a huge Lost fan im afraid i just have to correct your details. The favourite episode being the two part finale of season 1 , Exodus. Exodus is actually a three part episode, eps 23, 24 and 25 at the end of season 1. Check out the DVD boxset if you dont take my word for it. Anyways i think this is a great list, only it should be titled most popular.

(in reply to cabstar)

Post #: 322

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 2:17:26 PM

Seamie

Posts: 142
Joined: 9/2/2006

Veronica Mars is absolutely brilliant and I wish it was higher on the list but since only 7 people saw it I'm surprised it made the list at all! Really disappointed that Six Feet Under was at 27...Surely it should've been in the top 10?! And Buffy so close to number one?! Great show but too many miss-fires to be that celebrated...
I love these lists though, they make great debate fodder!

(in reply to James Dyer)

Post #: 323

RE: CARNIVALE!!! - 1/4/2008 2:27:45 PM

SMERSH_91

Posts: 3
Joined: 29/3/2008

i totally agree! i actually expected to see Carnivale on the list and was really disappointed at the end when it wasn�t. Though i�m glad that West Wing is on it, if not then

#!!!

(in reply to indy2606)

Post #: 324

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 3:18:14 PM

decaboots

Posts: 1
Joined: 6/12/2007

Way too much Sc-Fi, why does every movie fan have to be such a geek? Thank god some comedy broke through, these are the sort of people who keep voting Star Wars as the greatest film of all time..............GROW UP.

(in reply to James Dyer)

Post #: 325

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 3:58:47 PM

Angelus

Posts: 722
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Black Mesa

Copy and paste reply form:

I can't believe anyone voted for ________ let alone that it placed above ________. The fans must be a bunch of _______ _______ who have no ________ whereas I am clearly _______ and ________ superior for liking ________. And what about _______, how the ________ did that get in there? You're all a bunch of ________!

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Post #: 326

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 4:46:18 PM

theoriginalcynic

Posts: 6517
Joined: 10/4/2007

Ha ha spot on Angelus

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Post #: 327

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 4:55:30 PM

philthehippoworrier

Posts: 37
Joined: 7/11/2005

Well I for one am going to try and take something positive from the whole traumatic affair, there are several shows that I've never watched on that list, Veronica Mars being one of them and hopefully they will live up to expectation. I know first hand from having tanya kryswynska (apologies for spelling, its been a couple of years) at uni that some peoples levels of buffy obsession can cross the border in full blown mania.

And technically the Wire has finished. In America it has anyway. I freely admit to downloading the whole show on the basis that I've since bought all available series.

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Post #: 328

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 5:19:53 PM

SamuelFPalmer

Posts: 5
Joined: 7/12/2007

Buffy at 2? Please. Hard to seperate The Wire, The Sopranos and The West Wing in my book, and of course the Simpsons wins hands down. Buffy though? Dear oh dear....

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Post #: 329

RE: The 50 Greatest TV Shows Of All Time - 1/4/2008 6:20:01 PM

samthemanc

Posts: 1476
Joined: 20/11/2007
From: here to eternity

quote:

ORIGINAL: wallsy

Buffy is better than the Sopranos, get a grip.

Buffy's only mildly better than collonic irrigation

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Post #: 330