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Entertainment Weekly Picks The 100 Best Television Series Of The Last Quarter-Century!!
I am – Hercules!!
Entertainment Weekly this week offers its “modern classics,” including the top 100 TV series of the past quarter-century.
“The Sopranos,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “The Simpsons” all make the top 10, following just about every all-time top-10 TV list issued over the last decade.
It’s also hard to argue with the high rankings for shows like “The Wire,” “Lost,” “South Park,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “The Daily Show,” “The West Wing” and “Gilmore Girls” – but the list courts controversy as well.
* “Saved By The Bell,” “Family Guy,” “Will & Grace,” “The Hills,” “The Arsenio Hall Show,” “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Project Runway” and “Melrose Place” make the top 100 but “Carnivale,” “Alias,” “Firefly,” “Veronica Mars,” “Rome,” “Murder One,” “The Venture Bros.,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” do not.
* NBC’s “The Office” and “30 Rock” make the top 100, but “Scrubs” does not. (Also missing are “Ugly Betty,” “Californication” and the Greg Garcia sitcoms “Yes, Dear” and “My Name Is Earl.”)
* “Baywatch” is ranked higher than “House” and “Moonlighting.”
* “Grey’s Anatomy” is ranked higher than “Deadwood,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Oz,” “Wiseguy” and “Northern Exposure.”
* “Beverly Hills 90210” is ranked higher than “24” and “The Shield.”
* “Sex and the City” is ranked higher than “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Arrested Development.”
* Lisa Kudrow’s “The Comeback” makes the list but “Cupid” and “Wonderfalls” do not.
* “Desperate Housewives” is ranked higher than “Battlestar Galactica.”
* “Mad Men” makes the top 100; “Dexter,” now prepping its third season, does not.
* “The Osbournes” make the top 100 alongside “Survivor,” “American Idol,” “The Real World” and “The Amazing Race” but other celebreality shows like “Breaking Bonaduce” and “Dancing With The Stars” do not.
“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” makes the list but Jon Favreau’s “Dinner For Five” doesn’t.
From page 14 of the print edition: “(In the case of TV, we include shows that only debuted after 1983.)” A bullshit rule that explains why “Cheers” and “Late Night With David Letterman” aren’t in this top 100, and why “In Living Color” makes the top 100 but the Phil Hartman-Jon Lovitz-Mike Myers-Chris Farley-Adam Sandler-Norm Macdonald-Darrell Hammond-Will Ferrell-Tina Fey-Will Forte-Kristin Wiig-Bill Hader-Toonces-Ambiguously Gay Duo era of “Saturday Night Live” does not.
Find all of EW’s top 100 here.
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Anything with Zach Braff deserves 'worst' honors. That list otherwise is SHIT.
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...due to the media's inevitable ability to make some of the most ridiculous oversights ever.
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first?
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oh well
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I mean, it's not... THAT bad. Predictable, but better than the other lists I've seen. They saved themselves by limiting it to 1983 and on.
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Just sayin'...
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It's #30, actually ranked much higher than Leno.
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I frakkin hate inacurate lists.
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Jun 22, 2008 4:04:31 PM CDT
I don't get the Zach Braff hate. I love Scrubs, personally.
by theredtoad
It's just one of those shows for me, where I see it on t.v. and I have to sit and watch it. Too many great characters, not common in today's comedy series.
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At first, I thought that this show was crap. Then, later watching the first three episodes, I realized that this is brilliant. Natascha McElhone is one of the most beautiful women on the face of the earth. Plus, she has great acting talent. This is one of my favorite, post "The Wire," shows. Give it a watch.
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Hopefully, the reason it's not on the list is because it debuted 26 years ago...that's the only way to justify its absence.
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Season 1 was solidly in first place but Season 2 (at 100) dragged it halfway down the list.
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...apart from some shows that should be lower down.
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Bear with me...it was a big deal. Still ripped off and referred to to this day. Comparing it to The Shield is a bit of a stretch. Both big in their respective genres.
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I thought the rest of America had slowly caught on to the fact that that show was a piece of shit.
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2.x first third: spectacular. revealed Laura's killer.
2.x second third: Lynch & Frost leave for other commitments. show gets sloppy. show gets moved. fans lose interest.
2.x final third. Lynch & Frost return. Season finishes in spectacular fashion. Sadly no one is around to see it. -
60. Xena: Warrior Princess? seriously?
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this one is no exception. Glad they made the distinction of the last quarter centurt, though. I'm a pretty hardcore television viewer, but because of my cash flow and the date of my birth, I really have only been exposed to shows from the past 25 years.
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I stopped reading after that.
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I stopped reading after that.
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WTF ???
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it's popularity or longevity. The Simpsons making Number 1 on every list is retarded. It should be on the list, sure, but number one? Grey's Anatomy? Family Guy? The FUCKING OSBOURNES? What in the holy hell is The Comeback doing on the list? sweet merciful christ.
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68. Jackass, MTV (2000-02)- Good show? no, was it on long? no, okay it was popular, and that in itself is a sad reality.
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Would have liked to see The Wire higher, but whatever. Also, can we get a talkback for the movies list too? I just want to say, that ENTIRE list is invalidated by the fact that Once Upon A Time In America is not on it. That is all.
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fricking gay agenda.
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She's the only reason to see The Love Guru! Oh yeah, and um, EW needs to get their TV facts straight. BSG is so much better than DHW. Go, Jess!!
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Really????
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is that a problem?
i take the point it's only been one season but then so was Firefly, and i think we'd all agree that it deserves to be in the top 100.
the absence of “Alias”, “Veronica Mars”, “Rome” or 'Cheers' is inexplicable. i mean, lack of appreciation for beloved cult shows is understandable, but they left 'Cheers' off the list?
wtf?
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The biggest issues I see on this little rundown posted here is DHW being above Battlestar and the fact that a show like Baywatch can make the cut when Dexter doesn't. It seems more like they are making a "most influential", "most memorable", or "most culturally pervasive (i.e. - popular) shows list, something along those lines, other than a genuinely highest quality television series. Veronica Mars should definitely be on it too.
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should be ranked way higher than the rest of that shit. no show has gripped me like it has (maybe The Sopranos and I am just starting Twin Peak so we will see how that pans out)
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before you look at anything else in any "best TV shows" list, you simply scan the list for The West Wing. once you find it, look at the show ranked just above it. if that show is not The Sopranos, I Love Lucy or Seinfeld, then the list is completely invalid.as it happens, on this list, the show ranked just above The West Wing is MTV's the Real World.I rest my case.
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I believe the expression is 'WTF!"
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Is 100% correct. The West Wing was brilliant, struggled and then became brilliant again at the end. Even when it was a little lost, I loved it. The Real World is a sign of the Apocalypse. Will you be left behind? If you are "left behind" be prepared to watch episodes of the "Real World" and "My Sweet Sixteen" in an endless loop.
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Grr. Ignoring my personal feelings about Battlestar GAlactica, it's disingenuous to say that the show only ran through "2008." You'd think these people would have enough intelligence to know that the show still has 10 episodes to go, which will be filmed in 2009.
... That is, unless they know something we don't, and they will be showing it in the fall. Right? .... right? -
The same discussions are had time and time again. Yes, some good shows are on it. Yes, some bad shows are on it. Yes, some bad shows are on it higher than better shows. In the end I think all these lists end up stalemating and cancelling each other out. My top ten shows in no order: Arrested Development, Twin Peaks, Larry Sanders, Sports Night, The Wire, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Angel, Home Movies, Venture Bros. But even them I'm leaving out other stuff I adore and watch consistently like Extras, NewsRadio, and Mad Men and Breaking Bad.
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I'll admit the first episodes were hit and miss, but I think it was just the showrunner trying to find his footing. The last few were wonderful.
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uh Whaaa....
That is crazy. I'm just sayin'. -
The holy unimpeachable South Park was ranked higher than the evil, godless Family Guy. Proceed to fellate each other in celebration, and parrot contextually meaningless Cartman quotes in jubilation. Seriously, though, this is one of the better television best-of lists out there. Now if only the screechingly contemptuous public would catch up to the critic's love for X-Files.
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For my money, Angel was the overall better show and it's not even on the list. I'm also pretty sure Firefly wasn't on the list either.
I hate All Time Lists.... -
As it should be.
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Come on. You know you want it on there.
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...years? My list would have three shows on it. OK, maybe ten.
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Bah. Idiots.
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...and NO Babylon 5? This list should be printed on toilet paper.
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...Farscape, Jericho, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Titus, Futurama and Stargate SG-1 should be on the list. The Simpsons should be lower. No reality shows should be on the list (I'm looking at you, Survivor). Deadwood, Oz, NewsRadio and BSG should all be higher. And fix the date on BSG, please.
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NO WEEDS
W.T.F. are they not smoking -
Good call, Flicka.
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Why does it always seem like they put less deep thought into these top lists as picking out a corn nuts flavor at 7-11. Any one of us could pound out a better list while these pricks ponder the cultural merit of Survivor.
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gets no respect
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1. Carnivale / 2. MillenniuM / 3. Farscape / 4. Battlstar Galactica / 5. Deadwood / 6. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine / 7. Justice League (Justice League Unlimited) / 8. Jericho / 9. Supernatural / 10. Oz
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...box set...watch it all again every couple of years. Let us all thank Johnny Smith for reminding us of those we have wronged...
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We all got one. And they're all full of shit.
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in the top five, then the list just loses credibility. But at least they are on the list. It also good to see "The Sopranos" so high. The first and second season of that show are perfect. "Lost" is also well deserved of it's spot. And I can't believe they gave out some "Deadwood" love. Awesome. I do wish "Dexter" was on there though.
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Am I the only one of you morons who didn't notice this? Damn, America is a stupid country.
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... 100 times better than any reality show ...
I'm just sayin' -
Because it was Tila Tequila. Incidentally, (insert Clerks reference here).
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HEAR HEAR on that Diablo Cody bullshit. I'm STILL waiting to be impressed by this so-called "breath of fresh air" who calls herself a writer. I was so ticked off when I saw her first contribution to EW, I almost canceled my subscription. HEY EW: more Uncle Stephen, please.
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How can you leave Angel off the list?
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Actually they're filming the final episode of BSG right now (or just finished) and the last 10/11 will air in 2009. Coming Soon, my ass.
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that Angel is no where to be seen on this list.
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Do these lists do anything but cause annoyance? The Wire below Sex and the frickin City?
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Jun 22, 2008 6:23:42 PM CDT
Entertainment Weekly: reminding us they are a bunch of pikers ye
by lordenigma
What a lame fucking list. Baywatch's inclusion on this list demonstrates the high level of douchebaggery at work at that publication. The hiring of Michael Assiello will only make it higher, but that douche would not have made such shitty list as this one.
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NYPD Blue
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Perhaps the top. After all, this show was truly groundbreaking, both in the way TV is done and the way we as viewers think of it. And it's the show that gave us Bruce Willis, who proved he CAN act, and very well at that. And Cybill's comeback, and the magnificant chemistry.
And yes, Xena deserves to be on the list, probably higher. The show is, after all, the flagship for the lesbian community in the days before the L Word.
I don't understand though, what Mad Men is doing there, nor do I understand how Oz, for example, could be ranked so low.
Missing: "Cybill", "Ellen", "Mad about you", and even perhaps "The Nanny". All those defined the 90s much better than Friends, which was pretty formulaic throughout most of its run. -
I've learned to live with the fact that despite its stunning awfulness, it is internationally beloved. I'll never understand it, certainly never agree with it, but have ceased to cause myself stress over it. BTW I second the idea of starting a thread on their movie "new classics." Some of those are just begging ridicule. Blue Velvet #4? What the holy hell???
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Apparently not because we have 'Prime Suspect (ITV)' in there, meaning that 99 of the shows are American and just 1 is English, unless I missed one or two others? Which brings me to these questions - why are they mostly American? And more importantly, where the *FUCK* is Spaced? No doubt someone will reply 'Because America is the best country in the world and nobody else matters'. Brilliant.
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But yeah, I agree. Spaced should be on there. Most Americans haven't seen it yet, though. That will change in a few weeks when it's finally released in DVD.
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Xena!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was a fun show to watch. How many shows out there are that much fun?
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Jun 22, 2008 7:03:12 PM CDT
Entertainment Weekly's Half Arsed Attempt At A Best 100 List
by pitchperfect
Did a bunch of fucking morons compile this list? Where's Star Trek DS9, Star Trek Voyager, Enterprise, Babylon 5, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, The League Of Gentlemen, Spaced, Batman Animated Series, The Flash, Firefly, Angel, Torchwood, The Tudors, Rome, Dexter, Californication, Big Brother UK, The Mole, Captain Power And The Soldiers Of The Future ( well maybe not this ) A Touch Of Frost, Wire In The Blood, Blue Planet, Walking With Dinosaurs, Walking With Prehistoric Beasts, Walking With Cavemen, The Planets, The Universe, Extras, Flight Of The Conchords, 500 Bus Stops, I'm Alan Partridge, The Fast Show, The Big Train, Sliders, Highlander, Millennium, American Gothic, Phoenix Nights...
I could go on but it's obvious these fuckers at Entertainment Weekly don't watch much TV otherwise some of the ones I've mentioned here would be on that list. -
The West Wing as 23?! What a joke..
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Jun 22, 2008 7:14:06 PM CDT
Enetertainment Weekly's Lazy Muther Fuckers Put Anything Togethe
by pitchperfect
Might as well add Jerico, Surface, Invasion, Supernatural, Smallville, The Lone Gunmen, Ultraviolet, Medium, Primeval, Bill Maher Real Time, Mindfreak, Da Ali G Show, Andromeda, Lexx, Farscape, Gene Roddenbery's Earth Final Conflict, Earth 2, Space Above And Beyond.
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except for Survivor, that show is just plain stupid, but I guess it did start a whole new trend for prime time TV. ST:TNG top 25, yes!! I like some of the ones they picked for camp value, Xena and Baywatch. I knew Simpsons would be #1. It always is on these EW lists.
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poopy shit
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made the list, so I'm happy. Would have been nice to see Da Vinci's Inquest, though.
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And don't give me this "didn't DEBUT until after '83" crap...that's an utter, utter copout. If the show had, say, at least half of its' episodes run within the timeframe it should count. St. Elsewhere ran from '82-'88; Blues ran from '81-'88. You're gonna tell me that these two don't count because they *started* before '83? Sheesh.
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Voyager? Really? Think about that a second. The Flash, while I thought it was cool, I couldn't see on this list either. The biggest omission for me is Venture Bros. (Except Cheers. How the fuck do they miss Cheers? Did it come out before '83?)
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I'm sorry, but Angel not being on this list makes the whole thing pointless.
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Jun 22, 2008 8:19:08 PM CDT
At least Mystery Science Theater 3000 made the list...
by filmcritic3000
I was a bit worried that they'd forgotten about it. So kudos to EW, even if they put it at 50 or 60 something, when we all know it should be number one.
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it is the weak sister of 90210, which is even the weaker sister of degrassi...is degrassi on the list??
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the suits forced lynch into listening to the idiot viewers...the fun was never in finding out laura palmer's killer, the fun was in the path there...and the longer it went, the more fun there was...no lost without twin peaks you cocksuckers..
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90210, saved by the bell and every fucking teen soap that came after owes its existence to that show...ok, so its now become a parody of itself, but it was the first to deal with fucking real issues and cast real kids...come on...explain that one...do it...
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Seeing as, due to this particular revelation, life no longer has any meaning, I'm typing this holding a gun to my head. The only thing that stopped me pulling the trigger instantly was seeing Lost in the top 10. I was gonna put the gun back in the drawer when I saw The Simpsons at no.1, AGAIN. It was worthy of the no.1 spot, oh let's see, er, 14 years ago (IF EVER). These lists are compiled by people who have never even seen 90% of the shows.
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Dammit
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The Bachelor, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Hills, Project Runway, Grey's Anatomy, The Osbournes, Jay Leno, Desperate Housewives, Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, 90210, Oprah... seriously, fuck all that shit.
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Arrested Development should be the highest rated sitom on that list. Dumb fucking mainstream Piece of Shits.
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How the fuck do you put these shows above Twin Peaks: Roseanne, The Real World, The Oprah Winfrey Show, LA Law, Beavis and Butthead, My So-Called Life, Miami Vice, CSI, American Idol, thirtysomething, Beverly Hills 90210, Ally McBeal and ER??? Even the weakest of Lesli Linka Glatter episodes are better than most, if not all, episodes of these shows
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shoulda just been a mini series and ended it at that
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is a Canadian show, and since only three or four of the shows are not American, they were probably trying to limit the number of non-US titles. I do agree, Degrassi should be on there...especially if you're going to include Saved By the Bell, which was kind of like Degrassi for stupid people.
Also, I really wish people would stop clambering for shows all made in the past few years...No VM, no Dexter, no Tudors...boo fucking hoo. They've only been on for two or three years apiece...if any show currently on deserves to be on the list, it is Weeds. -
BSG and Xena, back to back!
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Philistines, etc.
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Are we talking Junior High, or High?
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then degrassi belongs on the list...before degrassi hit the airk, the closest things to teen soaps were the white shadow and room 222...and both those series leaned heavily to the adults in the series...the only time tv shows dealt with issues that kids could relate to were the afterschool specials, and those were watered down...degrassi dealt with aids (first show to talk about it)molestation, drug use, porn, eating disorders, dating,masturbation, nocturnal emmisions, zits, etc...it spawned 90201 and saved by the bell...it may have caused kevin smith to want to get into movies (ok, so maybe that isnt such a good thing)it deserves a mention...
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first tv movie in history to have one of the characters use the word fuck on network tv...as in, YOU FUCKED TESSA CAMPINELLI????
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Ahem. Futurama.
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i wack off to my clips of omar every night
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When the last 6-7 seasons have been pure ass, nearly negating the show's heyday. It's gotten so that I can't watch one second of that show. it. is. so. played. out.
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that show treated its audience like they had brains and could follow a tight story arc. One of the first sci-fi shows to do it, if not one of the first series of recent years. Without it would networks have dared making something like BSG the way it is now?
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by themselves are light years beyond any thing else ever aired on television.
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pbs edited those epis to take out the protestors holding toy babies...the n wouldnt even show that epi or the one that tng did...that is how fucking cutting edge that show was...christ, im getting angry over a fucking stupid list...why dont we make our own, we put in nominations and vote...then we can all ream each other for our choices...i choose buffalo bill as the best comedy ever...and fuck you if you dont agree
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Sadness.
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I remember Heather (it was Heather, right?) having to deal with the protesters. DeGrassi was righteous.
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And didn't show the one where Sandy gained weight
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Only include shows that are finished or no longer in production, as a show can be regarded as great at the time while it's on, but because of a suddern change of direction, quite a lot of shows getting re-made for their second seasons, cast members added/removed, difference in the powers that be running the show. Therefor only shows that are done (complete or not) should be counted.
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Voyager? Yeah you do have a point. I guess most of the episodes were pretty poor in comparison to previous Star Trek outings, but when you consider shows like Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and The Muther Fucking Hills, get on this shit list surely Voyager is deserving of a mention above these putrid balls of reality TV fuck wank?
I could I have forgotten Quantum Leap, that was a damn good show and ther is much sadness here that this show was over looked.
Cheers first episode aired in 1982 so I guess they could count this show out.
It's a stupid fucking list made by imbeciles anyway.
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The best Judd comedy
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And Baywatch...really? THE Baywatch? On THIS list?
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In fact it's in the top 10.
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...From the Middlebrows.
Fucking manufactured news bullshit. -
I can't believe these fools would overlook (and looks like you talkbackers did too)Bruce Timm and Paul Dini's landmark, epic Batman: the Animated Series. They got animation on the list, they got non-primetime, they got syndication series, so WTF? Did I miss something here? How is this not obvious? Somebody just put EW out of its misery now.
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No Sports Night, no rescue me, no firefly or alias, no dexter, no EZ Streets (which is one of the best written shows of all time) BUT sex and the city comes in at #5.
Ok, I officially couldnt care less about this worthless piece of shit -
Seriously? Are we going to start seeing Talkbacks about People's sexiest people too?
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Just trying to see why they left it off the list...I agree, it belongs there...certainly above The Hills and other tripe that is supposed to be about "real" kids. I love Degrassi and have the DVD's, and am shocked when others tell me they've never heard of it. Its a great show, and certainly one of my favorite top 20.
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Orion Samuelson got fucked.
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“Desperate Housewives” is ranked higher than “Battlestar Galactica.”
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They can't be taken seriously with My So-Called Life ranked 33rd in all that dreck, instead of top 5.
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Anyone see the music list? Prince at no 1. Amy WInehouse top ten. White Stripes' Elephant two-thirds of the way down. The lone metallica album was the black album. Hilarious.
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Jun 22, 2008 11:37:28 PM CDT
Family Guy is over NewsRadio, King of the Hill, The Kids in the
by postalpez
Family Guy is over NewsRadio, King of the Hill, The Kids in the Hall, or Married...With Children?
and how did Malcolm in the Middle do better than MWC? -
it should not be on this list...donahue gets dissed big time here
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how the hell is that missing?
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and no doctor who on this list,i know it is just one opinion but come on.
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the current Who series is yet to have its finest moments, but with Moffat in command we may not have to wait too long
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did this list include Townes Van Zandt or Stephen Merritt? (I don't equate the two, but, just saying...)
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I didn't exactly spell Merritt's first name right, but, who cares.
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Ok I'm not gonna get into over this list b/c I know it is impossible to create a conflict-free top 100 of anything but... I'm sorry I can't let BSG slide like that. It deserves the top 5 hands down and the only reason I could possibly see it not being #1 (in my opinion it needs to go top 5 in an all-time list of TV shows) is as a show of respect to shows like Seinfeld and Simpsons and their longevity....you all know I'm right. That is all.
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it has been cool reading some of these EW lists I actually have to admit (not the movie or TV ones mind you) and it was very cool to see that out of all the books written in the past 25 years (including the Potter books!) The Road is #1. It is proving to be quite a good read. I can't wait to finish it and then see Viggo play the nameless main character in next year's movie!
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is a sick mofo, but he can craft a novel like no other living author I'm aware of: read Blood Meridian and try to argue.
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Yeah, no Doctor Who on this list is clearly retarded.
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What the fuck? How can this piece of shit programme make it onto the list and there is no mention of Dexter on there, We live in a truly fucked up world.
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the list is immediately invalidated. Documentaries? That's fine. Watching greedy morons actually live out "Year of the Sex Olympics" for cash and so-called fame? I should travel back in time and slap Nigel Kneale for being such a prescient bastard! ;-)
The abscenses of Futurama, the rebooted Doctor Who, and Venture Bros. just further cements the utter failure of this random assemblage.
Thankfully, no one really reads EW (or if they do, they don't pay for it), so there you go! -
Bitches! At least they gave Miami Vice, The shield,Wire and Oz a mention. But Omitting greats like JLU and real time with Bill Maher is a travesty.
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But Six Feet Under is #39?
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Terrible.
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but Doug, Rockos Modern Life, and My Brother and Me, better be on there! The Correct Order of this list is:
The Wire
The Simpsons
Buffy... -
Cause that would explain the glaring ommisions of Rome, DSN, Angel. (Excellant shows but didn't really impact the way we watch) Whereas dreck like Everybody Loves Raymond, The Hills, and Saved by the Bell did (God help us all)
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LMAO..I wont call out any names, but someone called wondering why there is no love for the original Star Trek for a top 100 shows of the last 25 yeas list...lmao
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I'm actually glad someone thought of that show. I loved it. But obviously the top 3 should be Twin Peaks, Arrested Development, and LOST. Such silliness, these lists.
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What a bunch of clueless gits. Number 1, how can anyone who knows anything about tv rank Twin Peaks 49th on a list of Top 100 TV shows for the past 25 yrs. I'd argue that there's not a single tv show on this list that challenged television, the medium, as well as television viewer the way Twin Peaks did. As much as I love The X-Files and Lost, I don't think either of those shows would have existed without Peaks. How can someone who thinks they know enough to seriously try to put together such a list, completely be out to lunch on this point. Twin Peaks was far more influencial in not only tv but the film industry as well than people give it credit for. To have it ranked behind shows like Ally McBeal and Frazier and LA Law and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer is just ignorant. Also, I think the Simpsons is great. Or at least I did for the first 8 seasons, but am I the only one who thinks greatest show of the past 25 yrs is a stretch?
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Scrubs is such a huge miss on their part. Seems like they struggled to come up with 100 good shows in the first place. “Desperate Housewives” is ranked higher than “Battlestar Galactica.” Ouch! And Family Guy is pretty entertaining but to include it on that list is wierd. The show itself is mostly garbage...watchable garbage. The shows they stuck behind it....just a bad list in general.
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Last time I checked Deadliest Catch was probably the best reality TV show ever concieved by the brilliant TV folk. Mostly because it really is reality, but also because it's actually good. At least compared to...oh....just about the entire bottom half of that list. And speaking of the Discovery Channel....I guess the writers at EW don't know that it exists or something. Somebody should let them know it's out there!
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Ergo, list is crap.
Quod erat demonstrandum -
This is almost as bad as that bullshit list that came out at the end of last year. For everything ranked fairly and somewhat accurately there is a an inexplicable fuck up that defies logic and reason. Pointless.
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1. Lost
2. The Wire
3. Seinfeld
4. Mad Men
5. Arrested Development
6. Freaks and Geeks
7. Deadwood
8. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
9. 24
10. Six Feet Under -
Completely useless list.
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That Hobo weed must be getting better.
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Are you serious? No "Wonder Years?"
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No Scrubs! Battlestar not in top 50! No Wonder Years! This list is garbage!
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3rd Rock From the Sun? Or Fairly Oddparents...Or Quantam Leap? Law and Order SVU? Home Improvement?
I even think The Charmings should be on this list over dribble such as The Real World or the Amazing Race.
I agree this list should be printed on toilet paper! -
Here's the deal. Firstly, IT'S A LIST OF SHOWS THAT DEBUTED ONLY AFTER 1983. Cheers debuted in 1982, so it didn't make the list. Dr Who debuted in 1963, so it didn't make the list. Please read and comprehend the rules of the list you fucking plums. Secondly, 'The Office' that they listed isn't the BBC version, they decided to overlook this and pick the US version instead. Bloody typical. And further to my last rant, here's more excellence that didn't make the list - Brass Eye, The Day Today and Phoenix Nights. The list should have instead been called 'American Shows That Americans Have Heard Of Since 1983'. To correct this injustice, let's hope that England or Germany win the World Series next year. Oh wait, they can't, can they? Pathetic.
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Another great show that got left off the list. To me it felt like a lot of good shows with strong central female characters got screwed in the rankings.
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"The Office (U.K. version), BBC2 (2001-03)" is what the list says...Isn't that what you are talking about?
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Fair enough. Personally on further reflection I would rank Mad Men above both Lost and The Wire, but all three are great. I've only just started the 3rd season of The Wire so perhaps my opinion will change. Not to mention both Lost and Mad Men haven't finished their runs yet.
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Indeed it does. I do believe I was so apoplectic with this list that I missed it. So now everything is fine and dandy. Two English shows made the list, which excuses the geniuses who compiled this and all is fine with the world once more. Go about your business and be happy...
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I myself had to re-check the list to make sure I didn't miss something in my own blind rage. Wasn't my intention to criticize or anything. :) Just thought I'd let you know.
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Jun 23, 2008 12:35:38 PM CDT
We all need to send one of these to Entertainment Weekly...
by cletus van damme
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http://www. throwthebsflagatmccain. com/BSFlagHistory.html
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i can get shit like Friends, Lost and west wing on the list... I hate them but i understand that theyre respectd. But the fuckin hills, the bachelor and american idol? Dear Lord? And Roseanne should be in the top 10. And what about Once and Again?! Shows don't get any more classic than that. Glad to see Sex & The City, Buffy, Roseanne, Melrose place, Golden Girls, The Comeback and Saved by the Bell
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the U.S. version of the Office is superior to the U.K. version. I know the U.K. Office was first, and without it the U.S. version wouldnt exists, but im not judging on breaking ground, i'm just judging which show is better. The U.S. Office also has the advantage of 4 seasons (so far) so its been able to establish characters better.
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Jun 23, 2008 12:55:59 PM CDT
HoboCode, have you seen Sopranos, Dexter or The Shield?
by cletus van damme
Just wondering.
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i hadnt watched it first run, but from the commercials i had always thought it was going to be more like 'high brow single camera' humor, ala arrrested development (just not as good.) then i caught a bunch of reruns on comedy central.. good lord, that show is unfunny.
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best show on tv.
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you're kind of showing you age (which im guessing is young) while the shows on your list are good, it would fit better as a 'best shows of the last 10 years' (except seinfeld)
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sorry.
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Did they run a poll of their readers and website visitors? Is it based on ratings? Is it based on DVD sales? Is it based on what shows belong to the magazine's top-paying advertisers? Did they simply ask 100 people what their favourite show was and, like Family Feud, if anyone duplicated a response they had to chose another show? Did they throw a bunch of tv shows in a hat and pick them out to determine who was on the ist and in what order? Was it put together by all the magazine's contributors listing their top 20 shows, then tallying the votes? Was it one dude, with a deadline fast approaching and no article done, just randomly listing 100 shows he could think of? I think it's the last one.
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What the hell are you starin' at!
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I'm English and I absolutely love both versions of The Office. Sure, we wouldn't have the US show with the UK original, but both shows really are different, more so now that the US version has extended into more seasons. They're both different kinds of humour, so I really don't consider the American version related to the English version anymore. And godzillasushi, sorry if I lead you to believe I was ranting against you. It was directed purely at the tossers who compiled the Top 100 list. By the way, I Am Batman, got any issues that you want to work through at all? Anything you've been suppressing and might want to share with the world? It's okay, it's the 21st Century. You can live your life and be free now...
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Never watched the Shield. Only watched the last three seasons of The Sopranos because my girldfriend watched it. I found it kind of exploitive, but I've heard the first 2-3 seasons are better. Never watched Dexter either, though I did see the first episode and found it a little gratuitous for my taste.
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Yes I am relativelyu young I suppose. 32. I never really liked anything on TV before Seinfeld anyway though. I loved the X-Files but it was dragged out way past its time.
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Jun 23, 2008 2:11:36 PM CDT
Shouldn't somethign be at least a few years old to be a classic?
by drewlicious
How does Men in Black outrank T2 by the way? Seriously in terms of cultural influence, popularity, and quality T2 should have ranked much higher. And why is Kanye West so high in the music section? I've liked a few of the things he's done but there must have been at least fifty albums in the last 25 years that are better than that.
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"Felicity" is finally being acknowledged. What a joke. And how do "The Civil War" and "Plant Earth" make this list? Yes, they are both excellent documentaries but neither should classify as a TV series.
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Who made these lists? Owen Gleiberman?
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And Simpsons stopped being funny when I hit highschool, and I'm now 30 years old.
Buffy is the best show of all time. Period. That, Angel, Freaks & Geeks, Sex & The City, Deadwood, Lost those all should be in top 10 of past 25 years... Maybe Sopranos, but Deadwood was better then that show overall. Xfiles? Good show, but not as great as everyone thought. -
Threes Company, Family Ties?
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Also should be in top 10.
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Thats really all there is to it. But then again, look at this list, half the shows shouldnt even be on it, and many that should be in top 10 aren't even listed at all.
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Where the hell is Dream On? Early Salma appearance on that show. Marvellous.Also missing Monk. . .but methinks that is more a guilty pleasure
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fools
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Is the greatest show in TV history. Even if the third season paled in comparison to the first two seasons.
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How do these two docs, "Civil War" and "Planet Earth", make this list? EW's arbitrariness is just plain disgusting.
Don't get me wrong; both docs are great, but then I'd like to add "Band of Brothers" and "From the Earth to the Moon" as more superior TV shows that are deserving to be on the list. -
Just funnin' ya. I do enjoy Lost (I blew through all 4 seasons this last year), and my tastes are pretty similar to yours. I am a big time Mad Men fan as well. I think you'd dig The Shield.
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So what if the 2nd season was uneven, it had more than twice the episodes to deal with compared to season 1. Besides, all my favorite episodes and moments from the show happened in season 2.
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huh? How could they leave NYPD Blue off the list?
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garbage
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while i do think the U.S. version is better, the U.K. final christmas episode was pretty genius, with david trying to 'cash in' on his d-list celebrity-ness.
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I agree, I can't believe that Threes Company and Family Ties don't appear in this list! At least that's what I would be saying if you weren't such a moron. Read the subject before you post. The list is only for shows that - DEBUTED AFTER 1983! Sheesh.
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Nice spelling error on your Talkback name there. Oucha.
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I can understand why some of my favourites might be left off, but no mention of the superbly written BABYLON 5, while THIRTYSOMETHING - a.k.a. THE DAYS OF WHINE AND ROSES where a bunch of people who are better off than 90% of humanity have nothing better to do than complain about how badly off they are is listed?!?! Feh. Explains much about the current, mostly dismal state of the industry.
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They're about as irrelevant as The Real World. Who gives a crap what they think?
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"Jackass." That sums up this entire list perfectly. I don’t care what crack-addicted, half-lobotomized fraternity brother you know who never missed an episode of this series. Naming it as one of the top 100 TV shows OF ALL TIME? Then they snub the original Star Trek. And Alias. Then you see the choice for #1 TV show of all time. Maybe I would’ve agreed with them back when Simpsons was actually good. Since then you’ve had one too many seasons which were a wet sloppy dog’s lawn ornament squeezed into the form of a cartoon. Then you see how they “daringly” put an animated series as #1, while snubbing Justice League, Batman, and yet…Saved By the Bell makes the list? Was the writer of this list 14 *AND* on crack? This list is beyond laughable. It’s certifiably insane.
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They snubbed the original Star Trek tv series that was filmed back in the 60's? I can't believe that! Oh wait, only shows from the 25 years are allowed, which you'd have known if you actually read the article. Anyone else going to complain about some old shows not making the list? No 'I Love Lucy'? No 'Flintstones'? No televised test transmission by John Logie Baird in 1925? Disgraceful.
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..seriously, you owe it to yourself to check out Dexter and The Shield from the beginning. The stories are more arced over entire seasons (13 or so episodes) than standalone eps. There are only 2 seasons of Dexter done so far, total of 20-22 episodes, check those out first and stay away from spoilers and you'll be a fan pretty quick.
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...Reaper and Friday the 13th the Series
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Was one of the best sitcoms on TV, period, and it is not on the list? What a load of stinky horse shit.
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Why do I ask? How about you actually read the article. Then read the Talkback. Then get back to me eh? Good boy. I worry about the future of mankind when I encounter people like this...
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comes out with an cranial rectumitis list like this, Harry should set up a poll here and we'll tell them what the frakking list should be.
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How could they forget about the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. That show was the bomb.
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Jeez my show had all the stars on... including Jamie Farr, Dick Martin and Charo. Where's the justice?
Hey TV fans, check out this great new blog. it's called: thebitterproducer.blogspot.com -
I understand most of the other top ten shows are there reasonably, whether they energized what a TV drama should be (The Sopranos) or shamelessly kicked off the reality craze (Survivor), I can't think of a good enough one to explain LOST's apparent importance.
Homicide: Life on the Street should be higher. And yes, The Wonder Years should be at least in the top 30 somewhere. -
...maybe my mind missed it after I went into shock over reading The Cosby Show was in the top 10.
Monnlighting should have been higher, Wonder Years and Quantum Leap both deafeningly absent. -
Zeus..Apollo...attack!
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Magnum P.I. (1980) and Fantasy Island (1978). Hey, keep the list of shows that aren't eligible coming you stupid fuckwits!
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I think you'll find it was the Dutch version of Big Brother that 'shamelessly kicked off the reality craze' in 1999 on a global scale. Of course, you're only seeing things from an American perspective, so nowhere else really matters, does it?
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Tales of the Gold Monkey?
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As they're both 1983, so they scrape in, but Tales Of The Gold Monkey debuted in 1982, and isn't eligible. Sorry.
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HoboCode - nope, I'm not a bitter Heroes fan. Didn't even mention the show.
LordPorkington - thanks for narrowing me down so quickly? I think it's apparent this list is referring to American shows only, and the influence those shows had here. I'm not the xenophobe you take me for. Chill out... -
I've already mentioned how not mentioning Babylon 5 is a crime, but the same must be said for Stargate SG1. That show was, I believe for its time, the most expensive show being made on TV and it lasted 10 years - 8 of which were solid! It was easily up there with Star Trek TNG and DS9 storywise, and more consistent than the X-Files. Like Sam Carter said in one of their latter episodes "you'd think with the years of work done on the Stargate program (nice pun) we'd have earned more respect".
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