Top 5 Totally Rad TV shows? [Archive]

iccanui

02-14-2008, 01:49 PM

So i have this thing i do. I get like full seasons of a show and watch them back to back. I did it with farscape,avatar, stargate and so on and usually when a show i really like comes back, ill re-watch all the seasons up till the new one. Its so much fun cause you see all the story arcs so much easier and it sucks you in so much deeper. I swear Frell is gonna be stuck happily in my vocab for a long time.

So, what shows are good enough in your opinion to re-watch from season 1.

In no order.

LOST
Avatar
Farscape
Stargate/SG Atlantis
Dr Who

Anyone else ?

zombierin

02-14-2008, 02:01 PM

It's not hard for me to re-watch the whole series of my favourite shows because most of them only have 2 or 3 seasons with only a few episodes per season.

But these are the five I am constantly re-watching, not really from a story arc perspective, but because I get too damn addicted to them I cannot stop until I am finished:

The Mighty Boosh
Black Books
Spaced
The IT Crowd
Man Stroke Woman

nshady

02-14-2008, 02:55 PM

British Office - but that being said it can be hard to watch them all in a row, because it's so cringely that it becomes almost insufferable in a marathon.

deegraww

02-14-2008, 03:00 PM

I've sat down for...

Smallville
Futurama
Family Guy
Grey's Anatomy
Scrubs

nlatimer

02-14-2008, 03:17 PM

Avatar
Arrested Development (quite frankly rewatching the whole series is required)
Titus
Undergrads
Firefly (quite easy on the last two because they're only one season long apiece)

zombierin

02-14-2008, 03:18 PM

Undergrads

LOVE undergrads!

patch

02-14-2008, 03:26 PM

Man Stroke Woman

I tried to do that to you and you hit me! :(

I personaly can't watch shows again from season 1, unless its a group thing. Whats really the most fun for me is finding out the story the first time. Seeing it again, I just see everything coming and its not as fun. Same issue with books for me. *shugs* I'm just weird like that.

zombierin

02-14-2008, 03:29 PM

I tried to do that to you and you hit me! :(
.

OH YOU!!!
Happy V Day you wiener.

patch

02-14-2008, 03:32 PM

OH YOU!!!
Happy V Day you wiener.

Yay for Single's Awareness Day! Lol.

Hope you have fun at your movie with your man friend. Remeber, always use protection! Valentine's Day and Venereal Disease both have VD in them for a reason!

deegraww

02-14-2008, 04:02 PM

Yay for Single's Awareness Day! Lol.

Hope you have fun at your movie with your man friend. Remeber, always use protection! Valentine's Day and Venereal Disease both have VD in them for a reason!

As my mom would say "Use Condom sense" She's a card that one.

iccanui

02-14-2008, 05:10 PM

I tried to do that to you and you hit me! :(

I personaly can't watch shows again from season 1, unless its a group thing. Whats really the most fun for me is finding out the story the first time. Seeing it again, I just see everything coming and its not as fun. Same issue with books for me. *shugs* I'm just weird like that.

No not so weird. Im the same way. But there are stories that are so good and relate to you that you will listen too more then once, you know?

bredrenisedp

02-14-2008, 05:10 PM

Peep Show (Uk comedy) is hillarious and is excellent watching from series 1-4

godmode

02-14-2008, 06:05 PM

So many rad shows...
Office (UK)
Battlestar Galactica
Freaks and Geeks - just watched this in 2 sittings. Judd Apatow ftw.
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia - never had a bad episode
Seinfeld - i still watch all the reruns
Arrested Development - no explaination needed

honorable mentions: Dexter, Office (US), Radio Free Roscoe (woohoo Canada), Family Guy, Simpsons

tokenuser

02-14-2008, 06:17 PM

iccanui

02-14-2008, 06:55 PM

I agree with most choices on here so far, and will add:

Babylon 5. 5 season storyline that has a defined beginning, middle, and end.

Doctor Who is an interesting choice ... the question is where to start. Right back at the beginning? From the Tom Bakers years? Just the new series?

Heroes is good, but will wait to watch again (though I have the S1 boxed set).

Well Dr Who you would watch from season one.

Now Babylon 5, im glad you mentioned that. I was thinking about getting into this series. Its really good eh? Is it nitch or what. I mean is it a show that strikes some people and had a small core following or is it a real good series that just got looked over. Seems like it came out when geek culture was still in its infancy so it might have just slipped through the cracks. I ask now cause my netflix quew is so big at this point its gonna be a while till i get to it ( doing lost form season one then star trek TNG possibly )

tokenuser

02-14-2008, 08:09 PM

Nothing says scary like the BBC Creature Workshop :)

As for B5 - The first season is a little slow, but work through it because it sets up the season 2-4 arcs, and they contain some great, epic scifi story telling. Season 5 could be missed, but it does wrap things up.

Oddball suggestion - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy BBC TV series ... infinitatly better than the movie, but might be a little dated now (but less so than the B&W Doctor Who episods I guess :) ). I have H2G2for turning me onto something that brings a smile to my face ... rock banjo. They used The Journey of the Sourcerer by The Eagles as the theme song.

iggystar

02-14-2008, 08:21 PM

I'm not really big on re-watching much, but if it's a cable series and it re-airs I'm not opposed to checking it out again.

Flight of the Conchords
Dexter
Big Love

But with Flight, I would ON DEMAND it to a sickening degree.

tokenuser

02-14-2008, 09:56 PM

iggystar

02-15-2008, 06:01 AM

You know Dexter is rerunning on CBS on Sundays?

Oh yeah! And I missed season one, so I'm really stoked.

mormonrage

02-15-2008, 06:45 AM

Extras
Friday Night Lights
Breaking Bad
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Mad Men

damnedeyez

02-15-2008, 07:33 AM

I've too many to pick...the trick there is they need to be relatively short to watch each year...otherwise a few years inbetween at least. I do, however, grab a disc (usually the first) and watch all the episodes on that from any given set. The full view treatment works best for a show you've found you like but haven't seen all of...that way you can burn through them without waiting a week...at least until you catch up (like I did with Avatar...wound up downloading all the season 3 episodes to date and now it's just frustrating waiting.)

Reminds me, I still have The Shield season 1 disc 1 to watch at some point...

nshady

02-15-2008, 08:49 AM

Oh dude, Extras for sure!!

gabe_utsecks

02-15-2008, 09:09 AM

Freaks & Geeks and Arrested Development

serenity

02-15-2008, 12:41 PM

It's so much harder to pick now since there is a lot of good TV out there. I think we're going through a damn golden age or something.

1. Firefly
2. Dexter
3. Lost
4. Torchwood (I am really loving this show so far)
5. Battlestar Galactica

Honorable Mentions:

Dr. Who
Quantum Leap
Freaks and Geeks
House
Stargate (SG1,Atlantis)

tokenuser

02-15-2008, 12:51 PM

It's so much harder to pick now since there is a lot of good TV out there. I think we're going through a damn golden age or something.Definately a golden age of SciFi, and story telling has been recovered as well from the craptacular weekly plots from the 70's and 80's. This is making series far more compelling to watch and buy on DVD.

I am going to throw out two more little cable only shows that have been overlooked so far that make for totally rad viewing:

Sleeper Cell - if you like 24, then Sleeper Cell (and its sequel) are amazing viewing.
Eureka - scifi dramedy. An off season "summer" show on the SciFi channel that is overlooked, but lots of fun. I hope the writers strike hasn't screwed the production of season 3 up too much, because it really is the highlight of summertime viewing.

imrad

02-15-2008, 01:11 PM

Totally Rad:
Black Books
Spaced
Undeclared
Freaks and Geeks
Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

Somewhat Rad:
Deadwood
Rome
Carnivale
Bionic Woman
Lost

uncleschmidty

02-15-2008, 02:28 PM

I am surprised nobody has mentioned a few of my favorite shows that happen to be more than just a tiny bit rad.

The X Files
Weeds
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Chappelle Show

But my number one is the undisputed champ of rad:

Seinfeld

godmode

02-15-2008, 02:32 PM

wow I cant believe I forgot about Spaced. Every geek should watch it.

P.S. Cornetto

iccanui

02-15-2008, 10:29 PM

Hmm Spaced huh. Looks good. Is that the guy from hot fuzz and shawn of the dead ?

godmode

02-15-2008, 10:48 PM

Hmm Spaced huh. Looks good. Is that the guy from hot fuzz and shawn of the dead ?

Its both the guys, and it has a really good horror vibe to it.
I wish British TV shows had more that 6 episodes to a season :(

magunwarrior

02-16-2008, 02:02 AM

24
Doctor Who
Firefly
The Office (Both versions)
Mythbusters

Honorable Mentions:
Extras (Almost in the top 5)
House
Torchwood
Eureka
Scrubs
Battlestar Galactica

jchaosrs

02-17-2008, 04:41 AM

I'm very surprised no one has mentioned Supernatural. A very good show with a great range of episodes and a ton of re-watchability.

My five:
Firefly
Supernatural
Farscape
Law and Order SVU
Andromeda (S1 and S2 only)

I used to love Always Sunny in Philadelphia but I got worn out after season 2.

skazi

02-17-2008, 05:46 AM

Dude trs should review better shows instead of like the typical star trek, battle start galactica etc. My top 5 in no particular oder

1. The Real World
2. Flover of Love 3
3. Weeds
4. King of the Hill
5. Ugly Betty

:D

iccanui

02-18-2008, 12:05 AM

You know one thing im noticing about lost is that all the stuff i loved about it, i already know. Im still gonna try to go through them all before hitting season 4 and i am enjoying it, but i just watched the pilot and as i see charlie i know about the heroin and how walt betrays and stuff.

So i guess i cant put this on my replay forever list cause its the lost feeling, the confusion and the exploration of mythology and human existence with the dark mysterious subject matter that really makes the show for me. Oh well, like i said, its still good and i didnt have firefly on my list anyway. ;)

gorramit

02-18-2008, 01:04 AM

I'm a bit surprised that more people don't mention Firefly. I would have thought this show would be right up everyone's alley. Those of you who haven't seen it should go give it a try.

That being said, my current re-watching favorites:

Firefly
Wonderfalls
Battlestar Galactica
Futurama
Dead Like Me

tomremixed

02-18-2008, 01:40 AM

The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, Pushing Daisies, Top Gear, Flight of The Conchords, Entourage, and Weeds.

nobodysleeps

02-18-2008, 03:52 AM

Wasn't there already a Top 10 rad shows? I'm just gonna add the best one to the list.

The Wire.

esophagus

02-18-2008, 07:09 AM

For this one I looked for shows that were very episodic. Something you'd really get a lot of enjoyment out of watching straight through as opposed to just in reruns, or in a random order.

In no order:
Arrested Development
The Sopranos (admittedly, I haven't watched them all myself, catching up on DVD)
Mad Men (Only one season in, but I can tell already)
Breaking Bad (Only four episodes in, but again, I can tell)
The Office

Shows that I could watch endlessly, but gain less out of watching back to back:
Extras
Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia
30 Rock
Seinfeld
Flight of the Conchords

And since I love lists so much, I'm going to throw in five of the shows I know I'm going to love having marathons of, but haven't yet:
Oz
The Wire
Carnivale
Rome
Weeds

gornstar

02-18-2008, 07:49 AM

Here's my vote for the shows already mentioned:
Firefly
Arrested Development
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Lost
Entourage

And the ones not yet mentioned (or I just missed them):
The 4400
Veronica Mars
Roswell
The O.C. - I know, but there are some really rad references and hot ladies
Code Monkeys

And the Honorable Mentions:
Dead Like Me
Eureka
Freaks and Geeks/Undeclared
Smallville
Battlestar Galactica

Yes I watch a lot of television

damnedeyez

02-18-2008, 10:20 AM

For this one I looked for shows that were very episodic. Something you'd really get a lot of enjoyment out of watching straight through as opposed to just in reruns, or in a random order.

I tried doing that with 24 in season 3 and lost interest in the show entirely. I'd let them accrue on my TiVo for 4-8 episodes and watch them together in a couple hours...it quickly became hard to want to watch, though.

esophagus

02-19-2008, 09:37 PM

I tried doing that with 24 in season 3 and lost interest in the show entirely. I'd let them accrue on my TiVo for 4-8 episodes and watch them together in a couple hours...it quickly became hard to want to watch, though.Yes, it takes quite the attention span to sit through an entire season solid. I usually break it up over a day or two. Found the Arrested Development DVDs for cheap over Christmas break, and got sick immediately after. I powered through three seasons in two days, as I had no intention of leaving my bed anyways. That's probably the only time I've ever had a TRUE television marathon.

damnedeyez

02-19-2008, 10:44 PM

Yes, it takes quite the attention span to sit through an entire season solid. I usually break it up over a day or two. Found the Arrested Development DVDs for cheap over Christmas break, and got sick immediately after. I powered through three seasons in two days, as I had no intention of leaving my bed anyways. That's probably the only time I've ever had a TRUE television marathon.

oh, some shows I have no problem with...24 had issues with me because it started coming off as formulaic and absurd when watched together. "it's nearing the end of the hour, this'll be a cliffhanger" "well that's tied up, now what's going to go wrong?" etc. It felt like they were just doing some things to keep from things getting resolved.

esophagus

02-19-2008, 11:53 PM

oh, some shows I have no problem with...24 had issues with me because it started coming off as formulaic and absurd when watched together. "it's nearing the end of the hour, this'll be a cliffhanger" "well that's tied up, now what's going to go wrong?" etc. It felt like they were just doing some things to keep from things getting resolved.Ahh. I've never gave 24 a shot, for fear it would work out that way. Depressing when that happens. The first bunch of seasons for Smallvillewere really bad for that.

heyseuss

02-20-2008, 12:57 AM

And since I love lists so much, I'm going to throw in five of the shows I know I'm going to love having marathons of, but haven't yet:

Weeds

Weeds marathon from ep. 1 season 1 is awesome.

I have to throw Newsradio in the mix. None of you ever saw it in originaly air/production order. It's one of the best tv shows ever. Also a mentionable, but not TOP 5, That 70's Show for the first 5 seasons in order.

bigsteve33

02-20-2008, 01:36 AM

I only have 1:

The L Word

Best show EVER!
(if yer a heterosexual male)

Bigsteve33

heyseuss

02-20-2008, 01:41 AM

I only have 1:

The L Word

Best show EVER!
(if yer a heterosexual male)

My neighbours created that show. Best neighbours ever, as a heterosexual male.

My ex-gf and her lesbian sister watched 4 seasons in 2-3 weeks, obviously loving it.

magunwarrior

02-20-2008, 01:54 AM

I honestly have no problem watching 24 in bulk, I watched an entire season in one day for the fuck of it.

But, I am a bit of a fanboi, so take that with a grain of salt.

irishpunk

02-20-2008, 02:10 AM

aerc

02-20-2008, 08:42 AM

Lost is my #1

The rest are in no particular order

Prison Break
24
House
Jericho

patrickdonohue

02-20-2008, 04:18 PM

In no particular order:

Sportsnight
Boy Meets World
Extras
The Office (NBC)
Scrubs

jaylaf

04-02-2008, 11:25 AM

Obvious ones:

Sopranos
Battlestar Galactica

Maybe less obvious, but mentioned already:
Freaks and Geeks
Arrested Development

And last:
how many people here have seen Trailerpark Boys? That show is frickin hilarious.

Though a Canadian import, I can't believe it hasn't grabbed a U.S. audience (like Comedy Central or Adult Swim, though it's got a hard-"R" potential for language, and it's live-action, not animated)

Because it's impossible for me to follow the number rule, I have to mention some more:
Six Feet Under (all I can say is, "Holy shit!")
The Shield (watching now for the 1st time, I'm in Season 2)
Firefly (f-ing rocks my socks)
Dead Like Me (was great, great, great)
MacGyver (campy, yes, but I loves me some MacGyver [own all 7 seasons])