Suggest some TV to me

[Gabe Powers]

I'm about to spend three months on medical leave, and I'm gonna need some stuff to watch. I'm covered on movies, but I'm not very versed in TV these days. I'm mostly going to be relying on netflix, so anything suggested should hopefully be available on DVD.

Just in case it helps I happen to be a big fan of hour long dramas like Deadwood, Dexter, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad, and animated series like Batman, Justice League, Venture Bros, Home Movies, Futurama, and Avatar. I'm not usually into sit coms or Science Fiction shows, but there are always exceptions.

Also, who cares what I like, other people should get something out of this too.

Right now I've only got the Terminator series in my queue (I know, I already broke the Sci-Fi thing).

[El Gray]

If you haven't seen "Arrested Development," please rectify. Also, "The Job."

[Jonathan]

I'm in the midst of a dual addiction to Battlestar Galactica (just finished season 2.5) and The Shield (just finished season one). The Sopranos, Deadwood, The Wire (yes I know, I should've already) and Mad Men are next on my list.

How much Buffy have you watched Gabe? That's about the only TV show I can speak for in terms of experience.

EDIT: Son of a bitch, Arrested Development. Add that to my list.

[BubWilliams]

30 Rock is pretty fucking funny, also It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They're half hour sitcoms, but they're really fucking great shows.

[Gabe Powers]

Wow, that was quick.

I'm gonna ask around my friend circles. I think I have a friend with copies of The Wire and every Buffy ever (I'll give it a chance). I gave Battlestar two episodes way back when and it was just so humorless, but I'll give it another shot. I hear everyone loves it.

I need to finish the Sopranos and Oz, but it's been so long since I saw them I'm affraid I should maybe start over.

edit: yeah, I liked Arested Development. I've never seen any 30 Rock though.

[Jonathan]

I don't know what to tell you about BSG but definitely seek out Buffy.

Other than that I don't have many TV recommendations (The Critic is on the TV on DVD wall of the video store next door and I kind of want to revisit that). Law and Order re-runs? They never get old to me. The Clerks Animated Series, even if you can finish it in the time it'd take you to watch a movie?

[Gabe Powers]

I actually own the Clerks animated series. I think it's the best thing Kevin Smith has ever touched.

[BubWilliams]

Originally Posted by Gabe Powers

Wow, that was quick.

I'm gonna ask around my friend circles. I think I have a friend with copies of The Wire and every Buffy ever (I'll give it a chance). I gave Battlestar two episodes way back when and it was just so humorless, but I'll give it another shot. I hear everyone loves it.

Battlestar is a pretty depressing show, it really is humorless (I mean the series begins with the mass genocide of humanity), but I think it's a great show.

[Domingo]

Supernatural.

(I work there)

[Litmus Configuration]

Yeah, BSG ain't exactly a laugh riot (why would anyone expect it to be?!) but it is one of the best shows ever. Highly recommended.

I also adore 30 ROCK. To me, it's kind of like THE BIG LEBOWSKI of television: amazingly rewatchable, insanely quotable and a fantastic ensemble weaving their way through playfully twisted streams of pop culture consciousness.

[Nabster]

Damages, and The Shield are phenomenal. Seriously watch them both. Rescue me is awesome too.

[Ashxking2001]

Rescue Me is a great show.Forever Knight is a great vampire show.

[Ben W]

If you are an Apatow fan (and even if you are not), Undeclared and Freaks & Geeks are both great series that got canceled way before their time. If you didn't check them out when they were on the air, you should definitely watch them on DVD.

[duke fleed]

Gabe Powers, The Unit returns Sunday September 28th at 10pm on CBS. If you haven't seen it before, it features The Delta Force led by Dennis Haysbert going on missions around the world, with a 1/3rd of each episode devoted to the men's families.

Chuck returns Monday September 29th at 8pm on NBC. Chuck is the funniest spy series since Get Smart, and the classic cop comedy...Sledge Hammer.

[Dross]

Originally Posted by BubWilliams

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

This. Funniest show on television.

[Justin Clark]

On the animated front: Metalocalypse and Invader Zim. Metal may not be your cup of musical tea, but it is by the same guy who did Home Movies, so it's worth a look. Invader Zim is just awesome, ignoring the co-opting of it by Hot Topic.

[Cuchulain]

Strangers with Candy, Planet Earth, House, Monk, Law & Order: CI, and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations are my recommendations.

[Waaaaaaaalt]

DEXTER, I know you already said that but watch it again.

Enough said.

[Feral Akodon]

Originally Posted by Litmus Configuration

I also adore 30 ROCK. To me, it's kind of like THE BIG LEBOWSKI of television: amazingly rewatchable, insanely quotable and a fantastic ensemble weaving their way through playfully twisted streams of pop culture consciousness.

Yes. It's incredibly rewatchable. The actors & scripts are at the best of their game. You will soon star to adore minor characters.

[Supremo]

I'm throwing in my love for Friday Night Lights. You don't have to care about football to enjoy it, believe me.

Supernatural is also pretty great, though you have to plow through about 17 lame episodes before it gets going.

[The NZ Natural]

Outrageous Fortune. No idea if any network carries it in the US at all, but fantastic show. Currently up to it's fourth season. Alot of the humour might be a tad too "local" for the American audience at large, but you're a smart bunch on here . . . you'd get it, I'm sure.

[Fat Elvis]

Just spend the three months watching SANFORD & SON. Still the funniest show of all time. (You'll feel better)

Hope you're not too sick. Get well.

[Dr. Murder]

Everyone's covered the obvious stuff, so I'll throw out a couple of Brit shows you may not be aware of, plus a US equivalent.

State of Play - awesome drama mini series (actually getting a US version soon), probably one of the best we've ever produced (which isn't hard considering most of our stuff is shit, but still). Excellent cast, excellent story, excellent all round. A bit like the 5th season of The Wire (if it just focussed on politicians and the press).

Life on Mars - another show getting the US treatment, save yourself the time and go right for the Brit version. There's a sci-fi twist, but it's a cracking, gritty drama at heart. Amazing soundtrack. Bit like Journeyman (also worth checking out).

Murphy's Law - gritty cop drama, raw as hell, brutal, uncompromising drama, a bit hit or miss, but the lack of much better makes it stick out. Can't think of anything like it in the US off the top of my head.

Peep Show - half hour comedy, pretty much the only one worth watching since The Office and Extras finished. It's a little bit like It's Always Sunny, just dialed down about 50 notches.

[El Gray]

Originally Posted by Supremo

I'm throwing in my love for Friday Night Lights. You don't have to care about football to enjoy it, believe me.

Oh yeah! Should have thought about this when you mentioned hourlong dramas. I love this, too.

[InTheShadows]

Seconding (thirding?) the recommendation for Friday Night Lights. I'm going through the first season right now (free on HULU!) and it's much better than I expected. Of course, if you haven't seen The Wire that's really the show that you should watch ASAP, even though it makes every other show you watch suck for a while afterwards.

30 Rock, The Shield, Flight of the Conchords, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Battlestar Galactica, Fawlty Towers, Homicide: Life on the Streets, and Carnivale are all great too.

And if you're looking for a good miniseries, check out John Adams and The Corner from HBO.

[Evi]

I'll millionth The Wire and BSG. The first 2 seasons of Weeds.

and LOST.

[nekkerbee]

Some love for Discovery Channel shows: Mythbusters, Dirty Jobs, Survivorman & Man vs Wild. Also, I Shouldn't Be Alive & Megadisasters.

[Nicholas]

All of the major shows seem to have been covered so I'll suggest Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. It's only about six episodes, so it's nice and short.

[Tomas Mejor]

Already covered, but I recently started watching "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia"; it deserves more love than it gets (just like Charlie).

[Moltisanti]

Day Break

[Farsight]

DAY BREAK is a good call. It was well-done, ended well (13 eps), and the DVD is cheap ($19 I think).

I'd suggest ANGEL over BUFFY since you're, y'know, not a girl... It's just a better, more adult show overall, and much more consistent as well.

THE SHIELD, ROME, THE WIRE, and LOST are obvious picks I'll add another 'ditto' to.

If you're breaking the no-sci-fi rule, I'd suggest FARSCAPE. It's a great space opera - the closest thing to capturing the spirit of STAR WARS since ESB.

[James Kimbell]

Originally Posted by Farsight

I'd suggest ANGEL over BUFFY since you're, y'know, not a girl... It's just a better, more adult show overall, and much more consistent as well.

I do slightly prefer Angel over Buffy, but I still think everyone should watch Buffy first. Even people who are not girls.

[Trevor]

Medical leave? You ok?

[Tati]

The Wire, Generation Kill, The Venture Bros.

[MissZooey]

Originally Posted by Minsky

Medical leave? You ok?

This.

Also, since no one else has said it, The Office, British and American versions. Also Weeds and I would like to second, third, or whatever 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Buffy, and Mad Men. I'm going through Six Feet Under right now, and, while I'd say it's worth a shot, I can't really give it a reservation-free recommendation. Note: it is getting better as it progresses and I'm only in the first season.

[Gabe Powers]

Metalocalypse and Dark Place are two favs I should've mentioned.

This is great. I've probably only seen about a fourth of the stuff suggested.

And those wondering about my health need only look here
Then not worry about me. I'll be fine, I'm just going to be bored.

[Hammerhead]

Originally Posted by Nicholas

All of the major shows seem to have been covered so I'll suggest Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. It's only about six episodes, so it's nice and short.

The commentaries and extras on the R2 disc are well worth running through.

Originally Posted by Farsight

If you're breaking the no-sci-fi rule, I'd suggest FARSCAPE. It's a great space opera - the closest thing to capturing the spirit of STAR WARS since ESB.

DVDs of the first season are awfully hard to find.

Nobody's mentioned Spaced yet?

[Gabe Powers]

I'm one of those saps that spent a giant sum on the R2 Spaced. I am very aware of its beauty. I've thought about buying the R2 Dark Place, I wonder if there'll be a sale somewhere...

[FilmNerdJamie]

It shouldn't be too much longer till TNT start re-running last season of Law & Order (the 18th) which was probably the absolute best the flagship's been since the late 90s with the additions of Sisto and Roache (and later Anderson!) Not to mention, making McCoy the DA was a stroke of genius.

[Trevor]

Sorry to hear about the health stuff.

On topic, I'm a big fan of HBO's Rome. 2 seasons of really expensive and well-made television. Season 1 is the tops.

[Hammerhead]

How about Web series? I love The Burg and The Guild.

[Ratty]

The Prisoner. Whole series = 17 one-hour mindfucking episodes. Well worth it.

[matches]

It was only mentioned once, but it's worth mentioning again - LOST!!

[Hammerhead]

Getting away from genre shows, I hear nothing but good about the Canadian series Slings and Arrows. Also from up north, Ken Finkleman's The Newsroom is some of the darkest topical comedy ever broadcast. I suppose one could then lighten the mood with selections from the SCTV boxes.

Dammit, I'm going to end up getting one or another of these myself today.

[JPL]

Wishing you a speedy recovery in your current medical situation, Gabe.

On topic, I'm surprised no one has mentioned Psych. Hilarious mystery show with some of the best pop culture references on tv. Both season one and two are currently on dvd. James Roday and Dule Hill have great chemistry on the show and it is worth checking out if you have never seen it before.

[The NZ Natural]

Originally Posted by Dr. Murder

State of Play - awesome drama mini series (actually getting a US version soon), probably one of the best we've ever produced (which isn't hard considering most of our stuff is shit, but still). Excellent cast, excellent story, excellent all round. A bit like the 5th season of The Wire (if it just focussed on politicians and the press).

Funny you should say that. I'm about halfway through season 5 of The Wire at the moment and as soon as they started bringing the newspaper/media story into focus, I immediately drew parallels to State Of Play. That was a mind-blowing series and it really showed just how hogtied the police can be by the law and their own processes, whereas the media can just go out and hand over money to anyone they like to get a quote or some info. Police have to work for it, the media can just buy it. Was quite fascinating, but disturbing at the same time.

Also, I agree wholeheartedly with Life On Mars and Murphy's Law. Only got the first season of Murphy's so far - does the quality continue on from there?

[reggie-wanker]

A show that in its weakest season is merely great.

The movie opened at #12 in the combined US and Canada box office ranking - with zero US screens. It went out in two or three cities in the US earlier this year, to little effect.

[James May]

Jesus, sorry to hear about the health issues. Take good care of yourself.

Get your ass to watching the Wire if you haven't already, it really is great stuff.

Originally Posted by Ratty

The Prisoner. Whole series = 17 one-hour mindfucking episodes. Well worth it.

This is a good one.

[Nicholas]

I forgot to say this earlier, but I hope you have a quick recovery from those recent shitty events in your life.
Some more suggestions:
I can't vouch for these shows, maybe someone else here can, but some older shows that I want to dig into are Murder One, Kojak, and The Rockford Files. All are on Hulu. They might not be as great as some other suggestions but I've heard good things about them over the years. Maybe they'll pique your interest as well.

[InTheShadows]

Originally Posted by Nicholas

The Rockford Files. All are on Hulu. They might not be as great as some other suggestions but I've heard good things about them over the years. Maybe they'll pique your interest as well.

Rockford Files is pretty good. It's my Dad's favorite show, and he owns all the DVDs, so I've sat through most of the episodes. It's a little dated now, and the screeching tires in the car chases will give you a headache, but it's really not bad if you're looking for straight up entertainment. And there's also some really cool cameos. Definitely the best show of that generation.

And if it wasn't for Rockford, we wouldn't have gotten The Sopranos.