Five Best Shows Recently on TV

[BloatedGuppy]

I just watched the latest episode of Madmen and it has me thinking of how grateful I am that something this fantastic is on TV.

It's been REALLY good this season, hasn't it? Unusual for a show to actually improve as this point, but it's been fantastic.

You need to get up on The Wire, asap. I don't see it in your list of classic shows.

 

[gorfias]

snippy

Honestly the five shows you mentioned are pretty much the five I would say, so it's fair to say we pretty much have the same taste.

One thing I might change is Sopranos, as it isn't really a "recent" show because it started in the 90's. Great show, but something a little more recent that is also a lot of fun is Sons of Anarchy.

If you like Sopranos and Breaking Bad, than you would like Sons of Anarchy if you haven't already seen it, check it out!

Netflix has that streaming!!! Added to my queue! Thanks for the tip.

I just watched the latest episode of Madmen and it has me thinking of how grateful I am that something this fantastic is on TV.

It's been REALLY good this season, hasn't it? Unusual for a show to actually improve as this point, but it's been fantastic.

You need to get up on The Wire, asap. I don't see it in your list of classic shows.

Hopefully the Wire will be streaming by the time I get through my backlog. I did add Game of Thrones discs to my disc queue as there is so much enthusiasm out there for it.

But like you say, I started getting a little tired of Madmen by the end of last season, and now, I'm just all over this again. It's style of story telling and characterization is so different. And funny, I understand some of the creative team of Sopranos is in on this. In some ways, the lead character reminds me of Tony: They are both strangly loyal to somethings and ideas, to the point of self sacrifice, but Don beleves this life is all there is, so go after what you want, regardless: faithless to wife, faithless to country. But the episode where he has to tell a client they can't work for him, he's all broken up about it. Just amazing.

I do wish I could add a bunch of honrable mentions: so many listed in other posts: Big Bang Theory, Archer, Louie Louie, Luther... it really is a great time in TV, even if you have to wade through a lot of crap to get to it.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Hopefully the Wire will be streaming by the time I get through my backlog.

As you're an enthusiast for both Mad Men and Sopranos, I think it should be viewed as pretty much essential viewing. It should really be essential viewing for anyone. It's widely hailed as the best show in the history of the medium, and for good reason.

But like you say, I started getting a little tired of Madmen by the end of last season, and now, I'm just all over this again. It's style of story telling and characterization is so different. And funny, I understand some of the creative team of Sopranos is in on this. In some ways, the lead character reminds me of Tony: They are both strangly loyal to somethings and ideas, to the point of self sacrifice, but Don beleves this life is all there is, so go after what you want, regardless: faithless to wife, faithless to country. But the episode where he has to tell a client they can't work for him, he's all broken up about it. Just amazing.

It's pretty traditional for shows to start a slow decline around the 4th-5th season, but this might be the most fun I've had with Mad Men. The last episode was absolutely hilarious.

Tony Soprano, Don Draper, Al Swearengen, Walter White, Omar Little. The best characters in television, and I defy anyone to draft a more compelling list. Honorable mention to David Brent.

 

[psilontech]

Avatar: The Legend of Korra.
Eureka
How I Met Your Mother
The Big Bang Theory
Lost Girl

 

[gorfias]

It's pretty traditional for shows to start a slow decline around the 4th-5th season, but this might be the most fun I've had with Mad Men. The last episode was absolutely hilarious.

Tony Soprano, Don Draper, Al Swearengen, Walter White, Omar Little. The best characters in television, and I defy anyone to draft a more compelling list. Honorable mention to David Brent.

Argh! Now I've got to go net surfing to ID the people on that list I don't know But thanks for the good advice, will get all over the wire! Al Swearengen, Omar Little (sounds familiar) and David Brent, gotta look them up.

EDIT

I just read the wiki on The Wire: added to Netflix queue, first position.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Argh! Now I've got to go net surfing to ID the people on that list I don't know But thanks for the good advice, will get all over the wire! Al Swearengen, Omar Little (sounds familiar) and David Brent, gotta look them up.

EDIT

I just read the wiki on The Wire: added to Netflix queue, first position.

You won't regret it, with the disclaimer that it might ruin lesser shows for you. An often heard disclaimer in our house now is "I guess this is alright, but it's no Wire!".

 

[Latenz1134]

1. Sherlock
2. Game of Thrones, surprise
Those are the only two new shows I have been watching. I am stuck in the past...

 

[Sarah Kerrigan]

Sherlock
Doctor Who
Walking Dead
Game of Thrones
& Hawaii 5-0

*raises incoming hate shield just in case*

 

[Skylare]

Hmmm....
in no order
bones
big bang theory
bob's burgers
south park
simpsons or american dad can't pick

edit:
I totaly forgot about electric playground and reviews on the run fit them in somewhere

 

[5-0]

Recently:
The Bridge
Mad Men
Borgen
The Killing (Danish version)
The Killing II


But the greatest TV show I have ever seen is The Wire...I guess that doesn't count as recent.

 

[DustyDrB]

I watched an episode of MASH recently. I liked it and appreciated it for when it came out, but, tv has matured a lot since then. Compare ER to Saint Elsewhere sometime. Sometime in the 1990s , I think TV really came into its own.

depends on the episode, i have seen MOST of that series, some episodes are silly, some are serious, and some can be really emotional, they took a HUGE risk doing what they did, clearing the way for much of what we see today. MASH was the best show ever.

MASH, Saint Elswhere, NYPD Blue, ER, Picket Fences, lot of great great stuff. But I was just blown away by the most recent episode of Mad Men. Have you watched the series? If not and you have Netflix, you can catch about 4 seasons. It is casually magnificent, so good that I really think movies are going to have a hard time keeping up. It is just difficult to pack all that character development and scope into 2-3 hours while a great TV show like "Breaking Bad" has years to do the same.

Remember that episode of Mad Men...

Spoiler

I think it was season 3. Don's big secret is outed to Betty, and the whole episode revolves around that. It's Halloween, so Don takes the kids trick-or-treating. They come up to a fellow's home, who answers the door. He sees the kids and says, "OK...a gypsy and a hobo". He then looks at Don and asks, "And who are you supposed to be?"

Episode ends.

It's still my favorite moment in that show.

Mad Men is probably my #2 current show (maybe top 5 ever, though it trails Breaking Bad and The Wire). Breaking Bad is the best ever. It's as close to perfection in a TV series as there can be. Four seasons and not one poor episode. It's remarkable.

Other current faves...
-Community. At about the halfway point through the first season, it changed. It put a stop to the formulaic weekly episodes and started with these concept episodes. Some of them are actually pretty deep. Troy's 21st birthday has some of the most moving moments in a comedy series I've ever seen. And it's funny. It actually has me laughing out loud and tipping my hat (if I wore hats).

-Terriers: It's actually not still airing, but it's recent enough to mention. And I still hold out hope that it's recent enough to be revived if interest gathers. It had wit, emotional depth, and everything you'd want in a series. And it had a kick ass theme song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD8Kh7Pmzho].

-Game of Thrones: I've not (yet) read the books, but the series does a great job at portraying a brutal dark fantasy world.

Edit:Gahhh, really messed up the tags the first try with this post. Sorry about the spoiler.

 

[rhyno435]

1) Chuck. - Something about this show just makes me love it. And the ending, oh man :'(

2) Community. - This may be the funniest show I've ever seen. And there's such a diverse range of topics covered, but in a light-hearted, parody manner (zombies, paintball, animation, 8-bit video games).

3) The Mentalist. - This show is amazing, so much emotion, and the acting, particularly Simon Baker's, is phenomenal.

4) Breaking Bad. - Sooooo good. Hard to predict, emotional, amazing acting by the entire cast.

5) Dexter. - Haven't fully caught up on this show, I'm only into season 4, but from what I've seen, this show is really good too.

 

[DustyDrB]

Tony Soprano, Don Draper, Al Swearengen, Walter White, Omar Little. The best characters in television, and I defy anyone to draft a more compelling list. Honorable mention to David Brent.

I'd put Peggy Olson up there as well. Seriously, look at the shift in her character. And it was all believable (at least to me). Also: Jessie Pinkman (Breaking Bad).

 

[Brian Hendershot]

I'm going to stretch the definition of "recent" because I barely watch this "TV" thing anymore. I get most of my shows from Netflix/Hulu because I'm A. Too busy to watch the shows when they come on TV and too cheap/poor to get that newfangled dish and tivo thing.

Anyways in no particular order.

1. Dr. Who/ Torchwood
2. Better Off Ted
3. Arrested Development.
4. Futurama
5. Regular Show/Adventure Time

I put some shows side by side because honestly, even though I adore both of them, they seem to be very very similar in style and execution.

I'd put HIMYM, Community, Archer and GoT as honorable mentions or close runner ups. I haven't seen the new seasons or felt the quality has gone down hill (HIMYM, I am looking at you) so I feel like I can't make a judgement call on how good they are.

Captcha was Foul smelling...that's pretty strange considering I just got back from a run. Guess I better go shower again

 

[Strain42]

Community
Parks and Recreation
Futurama
The Simpsons (yeah, I said it)
Ugly Americans

Now if you'll all excuse me, my capcha is telling me to "drink milk" my calcium must be getting low...

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I think my list will reflect how far behind I am when it comes to TV. Anyway, my top 5 favorite TV shows are (in no particular order)...

The Simpsons - No matter what and, even though they don't show episodes from before 2000 anymore, I can always watch Simpsons. It's good and it's been consistently good for about as long as I've been alive. That's a pretty good accomplishment right there I'd say.

Bob's Burgers - Far more grounded than the Seth MacFarlene trio even if it does get weird from time to time. This is my current favorite show on the Fox Sunday Line-up. I've even gone back and watched this on Netflix a couple times.

Fairly Odd Parents - I swear this show gets a new episode occasionally. Even if it doesn't it's my current favorite Nick-Toon. It's also one that I think is better than some of the toons from when I was younger like Catdog. Catdog was terrible. (I should have probably mentioned in the simpsons section that these are all personal opinions)

Big Bang Theory - It's all new to me. I don't know how long the show's been going for...I'd estimate 5 or 6 seasons but I'm only just getting into it and am really enjoying it. I like the geek references and, humor. I love Sheldon and, I love how he's more of a kid than anything.

Kitchen Nightmares - Gordon Ramsey is a sexy, sexy man. I don't swing that way but I would be lying if I said anything different about him. I don't know why I love the show though: I watched the series on Netflix which I believe is the UK version from the early/mid aughts. Just watched an episode about a half hour ago about a restaurant based in Atlanta though so this may be a current series. Good show either way.

TV shows I dearly miss -

Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers
Darkwing Duck
Drawn Together
Ducktales
Goof Troop
Greg the Bunny
Mickey Mouse/Disney cartoons
Mission Hill
Mystery Science Theater 3000

 

[gorfias]

Remember that episode of Mad Men...

Spoiler

I think it was season 3. Don's big secret is outed to Betty, and the whole episode revolves around that. It's Halloween, so Don takes the kids trick-or-treating. They come up to a fellow's home, who answers the door. He sees the kids and says, "OK...a gypsy and a hobo". He then looks at Don and asks, "And who are you supposed to be?"

Episode ends.

It's still my favorite moment in that show.

Mad Men is probably my #2 current show (maybe top 5 ever, though it trails Breaking Bad and The Wire). Breaking Bad is the best ever. It's as close to perfection in a TV series as there can be. Four seasons and not one poor episode. It's remarkable.

Other current faves...
-Community. At about the halfway point through the first season, it changed. It put a stop to the formulaic weekly episodes and started with these concept episodes. Some of them are actually pretty deep. Troy's 21st birthday has some of the most moving moments in a comedy series I've ever seen. And it's funny. It actually has me laughing out loud and tipping my hat (if I wore hats).

-Terriers: It's actually not still airing, but it's recent enough to mention. And I still hold out hope that it's recent enough to be revived if interest gathers. It had wit, emotional depth, and everything you'd want in a series. And it had a kick ass theme song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD8Kh7Pmzho].

-Game of Thrones: I've not (yet) read the books, but the series does a great job at portraying a brutal dark fantasy world.

Edit:Gahhh, really messed up the tags the first try with this post. Sorry about the spoiler.

More votes for Wire and Game of Thrones! They are in my queue!

I love Breaking Bad and I agree, Jessie is just as interesting a character as Walter. Peggy is also very interesting.

Spoiler

just when I thought there was little they could do to evoke how much things have changed, socially, and that it happened in this period and the controversy they invoke, Peggy is asked to shack up with her lover to her mother's understandable outrage... holy moly.

I'll have to look up that Halloween episode. Because they were on Netflix streaming, I petty much pulled a marrathon on the first 4 season, all of which deserve at least a 2nd watch. Suitcase is a particularly great episode.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1484250/

Gotta rewatch this one!

 

[algalon]

Game of Thrones
Dr Who
Walking Dead
Trueblood
American Horror Story

 

[lemby117]

Best shows that are still running right now

1. Doctor Who
2. Legend of Korra
3. Community
4. Game of Thrones
5. Modern Family

Argh. I keep being told Game of Thones rules. I don't have HBO! I'll have to look into Legend of Korra. Never heard of it.

If I were you I would watch some clips on you tube to get ideas of characters in your head and then read the books, they are fantastic.

OT
1. Boardwalk Empire
2. Game Of Thrones
3. Screenwipe/Newswipe
4. South Park
5. Two and a Half Men

 

[AetherWolf]

Sherlock
Doctor Who
Korra
Adventure Time
Transformers Prime

And I won't list reasons because I'm sure others on this thread have already done so.