Is there hope for TV?

pullingaway · July 9th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Ok, honestly... TV has gone to complete poop. I can't believe how many shows out there are completely unoriginal or simply lack any substance. It's also sad how there are huge audiences for many of these horrible shows. I currently don't pay for cable anymore because of this but if there is a show worth seeing I'll start paying for cable again. Anyone feel confident enough to share some of there favorites and why? No lists!

Grimmlok · July 9th, 2008, 05:49 PM

Most of the good shows are on HBO, or showcase.. the edgy smart stuff.

No idea what's going on with BIG network sitcoms but the dramas.. oy.. how many CSI's and Law & Order's do you need

PlayfulKisses · July 9th, 2008, 10:48 PM

I've always been a huge American Idol fan and get upset if I miss an episode, but other than that I rarely watch regular broadcast channels. I'm not saying I've never seen a show I enjoyed and will catch an episode of a few now and then if they happen to be on when I'm switching channels and catch them. But I don't go looking for a certain show.

The only channels I regularly watch are Turner Classic Movies (I'm a huge B&W fan) and Nick@Nite & TVLand for their old comedies.

I still subscribe to HBO, mainly because of The Sopranos when they were still in production. Now, every movie is the same ole same ole repeated ad nauseum. I've considered cancelling the subscription BUT every once in a whle they will have an excellent series like John Adams that reminds me why I keep it~

Laxmobster · July 10th, 2008, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

Most of the good shows are on HBO, or showcase.. the edgy smart stuff.

So true, all I watch are Showtime and HBO, plus the other movie channels. Network TV has gone down the tubes ever since the strike. Although I did see a preview for Heroes and I'm really excited for that.

suhani · July 10th, 2008, 04:08 PM

lots of good stuff, you could tivo different things and see

Sasha · July 11th, 2008, 09:18 AM

No.

Ravenna · July 11th, 2008, 10:02 AM

The only shows I watch now are Lost and Dexter. I haven't regularly watched any sitcoms since Seinfeld went off the air and Newsradio lost Phil Hartman. Everything else seems to be reality tv (worst thing ever to happen to television, imo), Law and Order spin-offs, and CSI spin-offs/rip-offs. I wish they'd just show reruns of some good old stuff instead of this dearth-of-creativity crap that's all over the television now.

steaksteak · July 11th, 2008, 10:44 AM

I think reality TV is at the root of the problem... a lot of the shows on HBO and Showtime are good, but all the network shows are these crappy reality TV based shows like that new one on MTV thats coming out about these two guys who have a band or group or whatever you want to call it. They have horrible music yet a reality TV show about them. I don't get it.

MrVader66 · July 11th, 2008, 12:02 PM

So called "reality" TV is what has destroyed Televison, and even reality shows are starting to recycle the same lame ideas, disguised as "new". I cannot honestly think of more than one or two shows that I watch on a regular basis that are not reruns. Let's see....24 is one, and that has not been on for a while now anyways. My Name Is Earl, because it has what TV lacks lately, originality. I will admit I am hooked on Deadliest Catch on the Discovery channel, but that IS reality, none of that is scripted (like most "reality" shows are). Aside from those three, there is nothing on TV that has any lasting appeal for me. Sadly, Movies are heading in that direction as well. But that is another topic entirely LOL.

gossipqueenie · July 13th, 2008, 07:36 PM

i'm not sure what show you're talking about with those two musicians but i do know that there is a show called NYC Soundtracks that is premiering this sunday at 8 on the MSG Network. It's a show about the NYC subway musicians. Couldnt find that many details about it but it seems less crapy than shows like Tila Tequila and Rock of Love.

Sarzy · July 14th, 2008, 03:28 PM

TV? What's that? I only turn my TV on to watch DVD's, as there is nothing but rubbish on! I mainly watch DVD's of American shows. Dexter, 24, The Wire, etc etc.

pullingaway · July 29th, 2008, 02:47 PM

That show subway is pretty good! It's sort of strange seeing some of these people that you used to or still see every morning on your commute to work! I used to see the last lady in this video everyday... (she plays the saw? or something like it)

YouTube - NYC Soundtracks - NYC's best subway musicians

LynnieD · July 29th, 2008, 02:51 PM

MAD MEN!! WATCH IT! It's good! Really good! And truly seductive!

Kirsten89 · July 29th, 2008, 05:47 PM

Best ones to watch- The Office, My name Is Earl, and Californication (which is on Showtime)

Sadly great ones end way before they should have. Arrested Development and Freaks and Geeks are some to name.

Lily · July 30th, 2008, 01:17 PM

Reality TV is the malignant tumor on the brain of television. It's horrendous. We don't need it, it's not good, it's not even bad in a FUN way anymore. It's just awful.

But there is more good television now than ever before. Unfortunately, some great TV doesn't make it past a third season, or even a first. Arrested Development was brilliant, as was Andy Richter Controls the Universe. Shows like Desperate Housewives begin with promise and then suddenly suck.

There aren't many sitcoms anymore--it's a dying genre. But there are some revolutionary and excellent shows, and television doesn't hold the stigma it used to--film and theater actors find great vehicles in television.

Cable has, generally, better shows, since it doesn't have the restrictions of the networks: The Sopranos was a phenomenal show. (Contrary to popular opinion, I think Sex and the City was a truly horrible show, badly written, badly acted, trite, misogynist, shallow, and manipulative....I don't think it was good tv in any sense of the word.) The USA Network has some REALLY great offerings--Burn Notice, for example, is underrated, as is Psych. Good writing, good acting, and quirky.

Shows like The Bob Newhart Show and Mary Tyler Moore have gone the way of the dodo, but we do have a more cinematic and original approach to television lately, and that's a very good thing.