Tell me what I should watch...
 

I was going to post this in the Entertainment forum, but I thought I would get more responses here.

I would like to get everyone's suggestions for television series that I would be able to get on Netflix.

Last year I became very enthused with the tv series concept...on dvd. I started with Six Feet Under and I LOVED IT! I was so sad when it was all over, lol. I followed that up with Sex in the City and I enjoyed that very much, as well. I've also watched Lost up until the episode in which Spoiler: Ben's daughter was killed (I guess), but I will finish watching that with my boyfriend as he is recording them and watching them with me whenever we get together.

I like shows that are, of course, funny...but they don't have to be comedies. Good writing is essential.

I have on my Netflix queue at the moment, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, but I was hoping to find out about some others to try out, as well.

I find that tv shows are perfect for those nights when I'm too tired or otherwise unable to commit to an entire movie.

Thank you for your suggestions in advance! :)

Does Netflix carry Cathouse?

:D :D

The HBO series Rome.
http://www.7nights.com/asterisk/images/rome.jpg

One of the best TV shows ever created. Season 1 is far superior to season 2.

Also check out Prison Break if you have not already seen it.

OMG, I feel you on this one. Watched all 3 seasons in the course of a week or so. :)

We satiated our appetite with Dexter - AWESOME series, and "David" of Six Feet Under is the star! :thumbsup:

The Tudors has been interesting, Rescue Me is fun, I second Dexter, Battlestar Galactica is unreal, it's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a guilty pleasure, and 30 Rock is pretty funny.

I don't know if they do it, but American shows that I love:

Chuck,
NCIS,
Reaper,
Monk,
House.

I imagine some of them must be out on DVD in the states by now.


Or if you want the absolute best series ever made. Better than any film, get Band of Brothers. It's a war series, so no comedy (although there are some moments where the funnier of the guys show how they got through the war; with comedy). However, it is without doubt the best thing I have ever watched.

Wow, suggestions already! Thanks folks!

running over to netflix to see if they have these...

Ooh, an English one you might like is "Hustle"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustle_(TV_series)

I'd put that on a par with my Favourite US series, Chuck. Obviously behind Band of Brothers.

lol, do you mean the HBO documentary, Cathouse?

if so, it doesn't look like a series...but I put it on my queue anyway...just because, you know :p

Not yet on DVD: Chuck, Reaper
Yes, on DVD: NCIS, Monk, House.

well I was thinking there was more than one season of the "documentary" :shrug:

I'll also nominate OZ.. that was a good one IMO.

MI:5 (renamed from the original BBC Spooks)
Ultimate Force (BBC)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (esp episodes written by Joss Whedon)
Angel (esp episodes written by Joss Whedon, many actors in Angel were in Buffy)
Firefly (Joss Whedon, many actors in FF were at some point in Buffy or Angel)

Okay, I have put the first seasons of Rome, 30 Rock, The Tudors and Dexter on my queue...I will try these first. But since I absorb these things like air it shouldn't take long before I am jonesin' for more.

Please continue with the suggestions! I'm still paying attention...and maybe some other folks will find them helpful, too!

Cynth, I never would have picked you as a Whedon fan. Go figure. Did you see the episodes of The Office he directed?

I heard about them but did not watch them. I'm not so much an Office fan. I work in an office, I don't want to watch them as part of my entertainment.

If you work in an office like the office in The Office then you're fortunate to be in such an entertaining workplace.

I love Weeds. It's my favorite show. :) I second House and The Office.

In the past 15 years of working in Corporate America I cannot make up some of the stories, dialogue, situations, meetings, proposals, and promotions I have ever seen.

In my few hours of watching TV, I'd like to watch something that brings me out of the reality that I am within.

read this.. start on page 11.

http://www.openletters.net/openletters001022.pdf

look up her name and see that she's now a bigwig.

I'm going to throw out Dead Like Me. Only two seasons, but two very enjoyable ones.

Thanks for the LOST spoiler.

On further research I see there is a series but it is not available on dvd, yet.

DLM was very cool. Dexter is my favorite. Check out Carnivàle from HBO featuring Nick Stahl and Clancy Brown (2 seasons on DVD). http://www.hbo.com/carnivale/

Another you'll-either-love-it-or-hate-it was HBO's John From Cincinnati.

Is that a spoiler? It's already aired.

Doesn't mean I've already seen it.

well, I changed it. sorry about that...

Rome??? Really? I gave the very first disk a try, but only lasted about 40 mins. Returned the set to my buddy without finishing it. And having taken Latin in highschool for 4 yrs, I was ready for some entertainment!!!

Maybe I should try again. I just thought it was superficial.


- I am currently enjoying Dexter (season 1) on CTV every Sunday night at 10 pm. Very entertaining.

- Rescue Me (Showcase) is also great

- Dead Like Me was enjoyable during its run.

Other series that are superior are:

Carnival
Deadwood
Battlestar Galactica.

Thanks.

Watch Firefly, like Cynth reocmmended. Awesome show that got canceled after only 14 episodes.

Also, Band of Brothers is a really good 10 episode mini series. I highly recommend it.

OZ was brutal, but extremely well done and a great show.

Sopranos, most definately!

Maybe seasons 1-4.

Forgot about Band of Brothers. Very good show that was.

If I might ask, what exactly is netflix?

And I am telling you, get prison break!

Online rental "store"

Battlestar Galactica: You like comedies, and this is not just a drama, but perhaps even an anti-comedy, but it's still one of the best shows on television. Forget Emmy's...Battlestar Galactica has won both a Hugo and a Peabody. It has Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, among others. Both producers have degrees in political science, and it shows. Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Bear McCreary's soundtrack(s) have been consistently recognized each year as one of the best - if not the best - of the year. It's not a happy show, but it is a great show. If you watch it, it's a show that must be watched in order, so: miniseries, season 1 (they're in the same DVD set I think), season 2, sci-fi.com webisodes (recommended, but technically not necessary, and unfortunately they're not on DVD, but I'm more than happy to send you a file containing them - they're only about 30 minutes total), season 3, Battlestar Galactica: Razor TV movie, and then season 4 once it comes out on DVD (which will be the last season).

It was a pain in the ass to try and find some sort of video to embed to promote the show in general that does not contain any real spoilers for someone who hasn't seen it. These two were, literally, all I could come up with. Everything else - including even the opening credits, you'll understand if/when you watch the show - contained what I'd consider a spoiler. The best way to get a decent idea of the show is to just check out the miniseries, cause these clips don't really give a great representation.




Weeds: You like comedies, and this show is more in line with that. It's a comedy-leaning dramedy. Anyway, it's a show about a weed selling widowed mom, starring Mary-Louise Parker...what's not to like?! :D Seasons 1 & 2 are available on DVD, season 3 comes out in early June, and season 4 will start shortly afterward on June 16.




Dexter: This show has its comedic moments, but for the most part it's a drama. And an awesome one at that. Not to mention that it gives you an opportunity to see Michael C. Hall in a totally different kind of role!




EDIT: Oh my god, how could I forget Carnivale? It's up there with Battlestar Galactica as one of my favorite shows of all time, and the same goes for its soundtrack. And I'm still upset that it got cancelled on a cliffhanger. That's how good it is though: you should watch both seasons, even though they weren't given the opportunity to finish the story.

I was even able to find the first 10 minutes of the show, so that it can speak for itself :)

Picket Fences (David Kelly's quirkiest show)

The West Wing (at least until Aaron Sorkin's coke habit kicked in)

6' under was one of my favorites too. The last episode was perhaps the best way to wrap up a series that Ive ever seen. You will also want to try Mad Men of course.

OH SNAP, how could I forget president Bartlet?!

The Riches, I've only seen a few episodes, but they are really interesting to say the least!

My choices would be Rome and 30 Rock. 30 Rock is great comedy if you ask me!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rkdRfbN6eew

I forgot to include The Shield

I just bought the seven seasons in one big box of this. I am a big fan. At least now I can understand what the hell goes on in US politics :)

Also, on the Joss Whedon note - I'd like to add "Veronica Mars" to your list. High School private eye - It is kinda a young peoples version of 'Murder She Wrote'. The first series especially was very well written; the end of the second series (after they knew they'd been cancelled) was nowhere near as good, but still entertaining. What is the Whedon link? he said (somewhere on the internet...) that this was one of his favourite shows, when it was airing and he makes a cameo appearance...

A Very British Coup it's a British mini series from 1988. It originally aired on Channel 4.

Plot
Harry Perkins, an unassuming, blue collar, very left-wing Labour politician is elected Prime Minister. The priorities of the Perkins Government include the dissolving all newspaper monopolies, removing all American military bases on U.K. soil, unilateral nuclear disarmament, and true open government. Immediately, the right wing and allies scheme to depose him, with the U.S. the key, but covert, conspirator.

Well, I second the vote for 30 Rock, though it seems you've already added it. Great, great show.

How about Entourage? Another HBO series that I've heard described as the male version of Sex and the City. Great characters, absolutely hilarious dialogue. I've watched up to Season 3 on DVD and it's great. Can't wait for Season 4 to be released...

Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions. I am quite overwhelmed (and thrilled!) with the response.

Yay. :)

Maybe you've seen it already, but did anyone mention "The Sopranos"? I enjoyed the first 2 seasons, and i'm very picky about these things. (e.g., i thought that "6' under" was quite well done, but i wanted all the main characters to die sooner. What an irritating crew!)

Also, the Beverly Hillbillies are at least partly in the public domain. And are moose and squirrel on DVD yet?

Well, I must admit...there were a few times when I was ready for Nate to die :p

Malcom in the Middle. I'm suprised that no one mentioned this one. Disfunctional family hyjinks for the whole family.

South Park. It's been on for over ten years and still going strong.

Drawn Together. Now this series is funny and distrubing on so many levels. It's an animated show that does pretends it's a reality tv show with paradies of popular cartoon characters, such as a disney princess, a superhero, a video game character, and a musical mystery solving gal (like from the Scooby gang). In fact, it's so disturbing, crass, crude, and discusting, that prehaps you shouldn't watch it. But it's got some great laughs once you get pass all this :)

has anyone suggested the comedy/drama called fox news. i know it´s not well written but....

The Venture Bros.--Its animated but its some of the freshest comedy I've ever seen, great parody of superhero fiction and life
The Wire--most realistic crime drama on TV
My favorite show overall is still The Amazing Race, several seasons are out on DVD. Yes, it's reality TV but it's the best reality TV there is. Its really more of a travel show than anything else. They travel around the world and yell at each other, so you don't have to.

I can second Sopranos (my whole italian family loves it), Firefly, and House (House is the only medical setting show I can stand). I love Curb Your Enthusiasm too, it's like Seinfeld 2.0.

I only watch shows that are well-written so you won't go wrong there.

Watch this :
http://www.avatarchapters.org/episodes.html
If you have nothing against cartoon series , this is the best :)

Weeds is great because if you have a PC, you don't have to waste a DVD on it, as they have the first two seasons (and maybe the third now) on Instant Watch :thumbsup:


Also it's great because, well, it's great :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It is a series, but I'm not sure if the series is out on DVD (Season 1 or 2). The DVD is ok, but the actual show (with nudity) is better.

Battlestar Glactica and Californication would be my other recommendations. I would also recommend Coupling (the British version) if you like British humour. Survivorman and Mythbusters are good TV shows on Discovery.

The Shield (best cop show I've ever seen)

Band of Brothers

Survivor (you think this show is generic but it has possibly the best editing out of any reality TV show on air, pick any season)

I was gonna recommend Lost (my favorite show on TV) but you're already watching it. :thumbsup:

My final suggestion.

FireFly

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And here's a memorable moment:

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Not exactly a television series, but you might enjoy the 7 Up documentary series might be good. It has followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964. The latest documentary was released in 2005.

The Planet earth documentary series from the BBC was enjoyable as well.

As far as fiction, I enjoy/ed Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Firefly, and Band of Brothers,

Monkey Dust

The darkest, blackest cartoon comedy you'll ever see.

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It's British, this one dates cira 2002 i think, this is number 1 of series 1.

now up to series 3... all of which can be found here;

Monkey dust on Youtube

Absolutely Fabolous

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firefly, Firefly, FIREFLY!

Sex and the City is my ultimate favorite TV show of all time. I really enjoy Greys Anatomy and Lost too. Although lately LOST Has had too many commericials! Irritating! I also enjoy Golden Girls on lifetime. My parents love "Back to You" and "My Name is Earl" so...yea

Ha! I LOVED that show.

I love Coupling. Just because it's hilarious.

The 4400
The Lost Room
Weeds
Dexter and
Dead Like Me

are staples in our house. And that's okay on the Lost spoiler. I don't even know who Ben is... I'm on the sixth disc of season 2 and I'm addicted.

I'd forgotten about that show. It was a lot of fun -might have to go get the DVD's and watch it again ;)


another good quirky show, this one from the 80's, is St. Elsewhere. Think ER but good.

OH! I forgot to mention....if you watch and like either Battlestar Galactica or Carnivale, then be sure to check out the other. Ronald D. Moore was the producer on Carnivale and is now the producer for Battlestar Galactica. (Ignore David Eick, the other Battlestar Galactica producer...most of the other stuff he has done is crap :p)

Okay...

so I watched the first disc (2 episodes) of Rome...and it just didn't...I don't know, hook me...It's me, I know, but I can't help it...I could get more into why I didn't like it, but it doesn't matter.

I'm going to try Battlestar Galactica next.

And if that doesn't get me...then it's on to Dexter...or Oz...haven't made up my mind.

You want hooks? From the track record I've seen, BSG will get you. All it takes is the initial miniseries.

Rome didn't do it for me, either. The Tudors seems to be a better take on the ultra-dramatic historical fiction. But even that starts to drag during the second season.

BSG. Enjoy.

And if the BSG miniseries doesn't quite get you, it's worth checking out the first episode of season 1 (titled '33') as well. If your interest isn't piqued by then, I think it's a fair point to give up at.

Just thought I'd file a report here:

I skipped Battlestar Galactica and went to Dexter.

...aaaaaand I didn't like it.

I'm insufferable, I know. But I can't help it. After the first two episodes or so I started to get really tired of the 'I'm a serial killer, I have no emotions, I'm not like other people' inner narration and it got to where I wanted to scream at the tv, 'I know, I know, enough already, I know!'

Spoiler: I gave up on that one totally right after it became apparent that his sister was dating the other serial killer, sheesh... :lol:

So then I took a long break from watching television shows and went back to movies...watched a lot of movies.

But the other day I received Season 1, Disc 1 of The Sopranos. I figure that one's a no-brainer.

But I still appreciate everyone's suggestions and I will keep trying new shows out.

Thanks. :)

I can't believe a few of my favorites weren't mentioned so in addition to the others I recommend, in no particular order:

Charmed
Quantum Leap
Highlander
Red Dwarf

(I always joke that the only reason I married my hubby was because he was the only American I met that loved Red Dwarf as much as me, it is a British Comedy.)

Update:

I've been really busy with schoolwork and not in the mood for watching tv shows...

But I just put in the first disc of The Sopranos in last night.

And I loved it!

That thing with the ducks....oh, man. Priceless.

I'll be able to stick with this one, I think.

If you liked Shawn of the Dead or Hott Fuzz, you should check out Spaced which recently came out on DVD. It's basically what the cast of Shawn and Fuzz did before the movies.

I recommend [1] John from Cincinnati HBO [2] Deadwood HBO [3] Dead Like Me Show time

How about some quality British television.

Shameless.
The Office (UK)
Skins.
-----Added 30/7/2008 at 05 : 02 : 53-----
Oh and maybe some Entourage too. I quite like that and I loved arrested development!

I'll add a vote for this too. I have the (UK) first season on DVD and it is well watched. They did a US version of this didn't they?