# Convince me to watch/read your favorite series by showing me one installment **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2005, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332 "2005-12-27T06:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/41 "2005-12-29T16:06:28Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > I got the DVD of [Sports Night](http://sportsnight.tktv.net/) for Christmas; “Intellectual Property” is my favorite episode so far, though I haven’t watched the whole thing yet (and I only caught about half of them when it was on TV). > > Isaac: Someone holds the copyright to ‘Happy Birthday?’ > Dan: The representatives of Patty and Mildred Hill. > Isaac: It took _two people_ to write that song? I’m glad someone recommended this series. I’d be hard pressed to come up with a single episode to recommend over others- They’re all incredible. If I -must-, however, _Cliff Gardner_ has one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever heard on TV (The one about Cliff and Philo Farnsworth). Also, the slight, quiet, understated moment in _Mary Pat Shelby_ when Jeromey … Tells Christian Patrick his… Uhm… ‘plan’. A sudden moment in which a normally quite character shows how incredibly powerful he can be when pushed. But for ‘first episodes’, watch the pilot episode. The last few minutes of it are positively uplifting. Just ignore the (luckilly, ditched by season 2) laugh track. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/42 "2005-12-29T16:11:52Z")
> [@Hodge](#): > > …snip… > Man, I hate(d) the TV show. It was the backdrop to most of my childhood (my father was a big fan) but I couldn’t abide it, esp. Alan Alda’s smarmy self-importance. So imagine how surprised I was to find out (after literally being forced to watch it) that the movie is a bloody masterpiece. Of course, that just reinforced my opinion that the series was overrated tripe. > …snip… I liked the show, early years were good, the movie is a classic. I wanted to let you know if you find the books the movie was based on, they were excellent. I read them in the late 70’s/early 80’s. The one problem with the TV show was that it became the Alan Alda project, even so, some later season episode were still good. I don’t actually think this show has aged as well as Taxi or Barney Miller but in was excellent in its day. Speaking of classic shows. If anyone ever wants to know why “All in the Family” was a great and funny show, looks for the Episode were Edith has an auto accident. This was episode 20 of the series. EDITH’S ACCIDENT A priest pays a call to reward Edith’s honesty for leaving a note on his car after she accidentally dents it with a large can of cling peaches. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/43 "2005-12-29T17:20:56Z")
I have to disagree about M_A_S\*H. I grew up with the TV show, and I knew it was based on a movie. When the movie came out on DVD along with Season 1 of the TV show, I bought it, and…eh. It seemed so disjointed, while I expected it to have a single plot. It wasn’t until I re-watched it that I realized I was looking at not a single story, but five or so stories presented back-to-back. Viewed this way, it improves my experience of the movie, but I still don’t see it as a classic. I certainly think the show is more enjoyable to watch. I do agree that the quality declined in the later years. I’m mid-way through watching Season 9 on DVD, and it seems that the writers forgot what a punch line was. I don’t mind Hawkeye’s preachiness, as long as I can still laugh at the end product. But I’m getting off-topic, this wasn’t meant to be a M_A_S_H thread exclusively. Regarding M_A_S_H, I’d show someone the first Winchester episode, the title of which I don’t remember off-hand. Watching the cultured, skilled, precise surgeon get introduced to the uncouth colleagues and slap-dash “meatball” surgery of M_A_S\*H and fit himself well into the cast was great, and he was a much better foil for Hawkeye and B.J. than Frank Burns was. Other TV Shows: Night Court: The episode with the dead Japanese businessman. Family Ties: The episode where Alex turns the house into a hotel while the parents are away for college Homecoming Week. Simpsons: Bart Gets Hit by a Car. Excellent introductory episode includes character-defining moments from Mr. Burns, Lionel Hutz, Doctor Nick as well as the Simpson family. Futurama: I will second the suggestion of “The Problem With Popplers.” I love this series in its entirety, and I can’t think of a better episode to provide an introductory character overview as well as being accessible to those who are unfamiliar with the show or other outside material. (For example, I love “Roswell that Ends Well” and the Star Trek Comic books: Starman: Read the _Sins of the Father_ trade paperback. If that doesn’t hook someone, nothing can. Book series: Kinsey Millhone: “B” is for Burglar. Not my favorite of the bunch (it’s 3rd, behind “G” and “E”), but an excellent introduction to the characters and a very engaging mystery. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/44 "2005-12-29T17:21:57Z")
I have to disagree about M_A_S\*H. I grew up with the TV show, and I knew it was based on a movie. When the movie came out on DVD along with Season 1 of the TV show, I bought it, and…eh. It seemed so disjointed, while I expected it to have a single plot. It wasn’t until I re-watched it that I realized I was looking at not a single story, but five or so stories presented back-to-back. Viewed this way, it improves my experience of the movie, but I still don’t see it as a classic. I certainly think the show is more enjoyable to watch. I do agree that the quality declined in the later years. I’m mid-way through watching Season 9 on DVD, and it seems that the writers forgot what a punch line was. I don’t mind Hawkeye’s preachiness, as long as I can still laugh at the end product. But I’m getting off-topic, this wasn’t meant to be a M_A_S_H thread exclusively. Regarding M_A_S_H, I’d show someone the first Winchester episode, the title of which I don’t remember off-hand. Watching the cultured, skilled, precise surgeon get introduced to the uncouth colleagues and slap-dash “meatball” surgery of M_A_S\*H and fit himself well into the cast was great, and he was a much better foil for Hawkeye and B.J. than Frank Burns was. Other TV Shows: Night Court: The episode with the dead Japanese businessman. Family Ties: The episode where Alex turns the house into a hotel while the parents are away for college Homecoming Week. Simpsons: Bart Gets Hit by a Car. Excellent introductory episode includes character-defining moments from Mr. Burns, Lionel Hutz, Doctor Nick as well as the Simpson family. Futurama: I will second the suggestion of “The Problem With Popplers.” I love this series in its entirety, and I can’t think of a better episode to provide an introductory character overview as well as being accessible to those who are unfamiliar with the show or other outside material. (For example, I love the Titanic episode, “Roswell that Ends Well” and the Star Trek episode, but to fully appreciate them, you need to be familiar with the source material.) Comic books: Starman: Read the _Sins of the Father_ trade paperback. If that doesn’t hook someone, nothing can. Book series: Kinsey Millhone: “B” is for Burglar. Not my favorite of the bunch (it’s 3rd, behind “G” and “E”), but an excellent introduction to the characters and a very engaging mystery. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/45 "2005-12-29T17:23:07Z")
BSG '03- just watch the first ep of the Mini, however, if i had to choose an episode of the series, it’d be “33”, the scene where Starbuck does a 180 degree noseflip in her Viper is what sold me on the show, finally, a show with spaceships behaving like _spaceships_, not “planes in space” Farscape; “Revenging Angel”, a.k.a. the “Roadrunner” episode, shows off 'Scape’s brilliant mixing of drama, humor and sympathetic characters, or, perhaps “Won’t Get Fooled Again” for the sheer mind-frell of it all… (Zhaan is a Delvian, blue skinned humanoid (well, sentient plant, actually)) ‘ZHAAN’: Sorry to keep you. JOHN: Zhaan. ‘ZHAAN’: “Zhaan”… adjective or name? John returns the phone to the cradle and stands. JOHN: ( exasperated ) It’s a name. He crosses the room, to camera, to a low table by a couch across the room. ‘ZHAAN’: Then I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I’m Doctor Kaminski. Lifting a small glass pitcher from the table John pours himself a glass of water and turns back to ‘Dr. Kaminski’. JOHN: Uh huh. And ah, you are a … Psychiatrist? DR KAMINSKI: Um hm. JOHN: I don’t think so. On earth… Psychiatrists don’t come in blue. DR KAMINSKI: Do you have a problem with people of color? JOHN: I have a contextual problem. You’re an alien. DR KAMINSKI: Yes, that’s true. But I do have a green card. JOHN: Interesting. Are you, or are you not, Blue? DR KAMINSKI: Would it matter to you if I was? JOHN: Do you always answer a question with a question? DR KAMINSKI: Does that bother you? or a few scenes with Crais… ‘OFFICER’ CRAIS: Have you any idea how much trouble you’re in? JOHN: ( weakly ) Yeah… ( beat ) Do you? ‘OFFICER’ CRAIS: I like your style, Hombre. But this is no laughing matter. Crais begins pacing back and forth in front of John. The little white dog tucked under one arm and brandishing a folded flimsy in the opposite hand. John tracks him with his eyes, but otherwise remains unresponsive. ‘OFFICER’ CRAIS: Assault on a Police Officer. Theft of police property. Illegal possession of a firearm. Five counts of attempted murder. That comes to… Twenty-Nine Dollars and Forty Cents. ‘Officer’ Crais extends the flimsy toward John. ‘OFFICER’ CRAIS: Cash, check, or credit card? John reaches out to take the offered flimsy, but the limit of the handcuffs securing his left arm to the table prevents him. The handcuff clanks on metal and John’s hand comes up short. Crais lowers the flimsy slightly and John accepts it between two outstretched fingers. Giving John one final glare, Crais exits, flicking off the lights as he goes. John’s gaze rotates up to the now extinquished lights, then down to the flimsy, unfolding it and examining it without an ounce of interest. later… John falls out of the sky, presumably from the hospital roof, screaming all the way. His scream abruptly cuts off as he drops through shot and a loud thump indicates his impact. A wailing siren heralds the arrival of a police car. The policeman hops out of the vehicle, all business except - improbably - for a lovely pair of red pumps. He draws down on a prostrate, barely recovering, John OFFICER CRAIS: Freeze! You’re under arrest! You have the right to the remains of a silent attorney! If you cannot afford one… tough noogies! You can make ONE phone call! I recommend Trixie: 976-Triple 5-“love”. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?! Well do you, punk?! John shakes his head weakly, his baffled response nearly inaudible. JOHN: No. OFFICER CRAIS: Then I can’t arrest you! John falls backward under impact with the door as Crais slams it into his head. [Transcript for WGFA here…](http://www.johnskeedvabbq.com/Transcripts/WGFA_TRANS.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/46 "2005-12-29T18:29:44Z")
> [@mamboman](#): > > If I wanted to explain to someone what James Bond films were about, I’d show them the pre-title sequence to [Goldfinger](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058150/), which for me pretty much encapsulates what’s great about the series. “Shocking…positively shocking.” (The teaser sequence to James Cameron’s _True Lies_ pays homage to _Goldfinger_, BTW.) My all-time favorite series: [Max Headroom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Headroom#TV_show). I think every episode was brilliant (“Edison…an off switch. She’ll get years for that.”) but the pilot episode, “[Blipverts](http://maxheadroom.com/mh_episode_11.html)”, and “[Blanks](http://maxheadroom.com/mh_episode_16.html)” were particularly great. Unfortunately, the genius rocket scientists as Lorimar or Warner Bros. or whoever owns the rights these days have consistantly refused to release the show on DVD. I just hope it isn’t going to degrade into videocassette oblivion before someone does record it into durable form. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/47 "2005-12-29T18:34:44Z")
I’d go with “Simpsons Roasting Over An Open Fire.” That first episode was good. ---
**Author:** ![Thrillhouse15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ad7895/32.png) [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/48 "2005-12-29T19:53:14Z")
For the original, British incarnation of The Office, I’d recommend the third episode of Series One, where the office spends the day in a teamwork seminar and David’s convinced he can lead the seminar better than the consultant. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/49 "2005-12-29T20:49:21Z")
bouv: > [@](#): > > If you can watch the Futurama episode “Jurrasic Bark” and not at least shed a small tear at the end, you are an inhuman moster with no soul who was spawned in the very depths of Hell itself. I share your feelings about this episode, but for me, “Luck of the Fryrish” was even more of a tear-jerker. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332/50 "2005-12-29T21:37:16Z")
> [@Thrillhouse15](#): > > For the original, British incarnation of The Office, I’d recommend the third episode of Series One, where the office spends the day in a teamwork seminar and David’s convinced he can lead the seminar better than the consultant. I absolutely agree. This is one of the funniest half-hours anyone can see. Except of course for Fawlty Towers’ episode “The Germans”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/convince-me-to-watch-read-your-favorite-series-by-showing-me-one-installment/337332.md?page=2)