# I need a new show to watch! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820 "2010-04-21T02:32:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/1 "2010-04-21T02:32:51Z")
I have been spoiled by the excellence of a handful of shows Battlestar Galactica The Office (U.K. and U.S.) Extras Deadwood The Wire Spartacus: Blood and Sand Mad Men Curb Your Enthusiasm The Larry Sanders Show Dream On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Entourage Californication Weeds Six Feet Under The Sopranos Flight of the Conchords Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace Mythbusters Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations Good Eats with Alton Brown Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister Fawlty Towers Rumpole of the Bailey Inspector Morse/Inspector Lewis Seinfeld Northern Exposure Buffy the Vampire Slayer (up to season 4) Picket Fences Mystery Science Theater 300 Rome The Tudors – and now I’m hankering for a new one – I will absolutely not watch traditional police/doctor/lawyer dramas no matter how good they’re supposed to be (House is out, for example, and so is Boston Legal) – and I’ve lost my patience for run-of-the-mill sitcoms. I also prefer shows that were made in a situation in which they were free to use adult language, nudity, and sexual situations as they deemed necessary. I find that I tend to prefer shows that were made to be shown without commercial breaks, but this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, obviously. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/2 "2010-04-21T02:36:21Z")
Twin Peaks…it’s not your traditional police drama. Arrested Development and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia should be right up your alley (based on your mentioned The Office and Fawlty Towers) Desperate Housewives…Because, well, I just like it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/3 "2010-04-21T02:38:05Z")
I suggest going outside instead. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/4 "2010-04-21T02:38:18Z")
That’s a big handful. 😉 I’d recommend trying Pushing Daisies. It was an hour-long show on ABC for two truncated seasons (there’s a total of 22 episodes). It’s a sort of a dark comedy, created by Bryan Fuller, who also worked on Dead Like Me (the tone resembles that show quite a bit). Well-written, with interesting characters, it was nominated for several Golden Globes, and Kristin Chenoweth won an Emmy for it. Though, as a broadcast series, it does have breaks for commercials, and while there are some sexual situations here and there, there’s no nudity or heavy language. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/5 "2010-04-21T02:39:35Z")
Based on your list, I recommend Dexter, Breaking Bad, The Shield, and Futurama. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/6 "2010-04-21T02:45:45Z")
Peep Show ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/7 "2010-04-21T02:46:44Z")
I think you’d like “Supernatural” - come for the hot boyz, stay for the snappy writing and humour. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nom\_de\_Plume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/85f322/32.png) [@Nom\_de\_Plume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nom_de_Plume)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/8 "2010-04-21T03:16:03Z")
I thought Wonderfalls was a good show. Well written and original. However, like Firefly, it was only one season, and not a full one at that. Definitely worth picking up the DVD. Anyone else familiar with it? ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/9 "2010-04-21T03:22:33Z")
Based on your list I’d recommend [Damages](http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/damages/). It is probably the greatest underwatched and underappreciated show on television. Season 3 just finished but I believe you can watch entire episodes for all three seasons online. Glenn Close is fantastic. This season also saw Martin Short and Lily Tomlin in starring roles. Non-comedic roles no less. The season long plots are twisted and their flashforwards and flashbacks often leave you wondering what the heck is going on. Technically I suppose it is a lawyer drama so it doesn’t qualify based on your criteria. But while Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are lawyers, the show is more a murder mystery show than a lawyer show. There are no courtroom scenes for example. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/10 "2010-04-21T03:23:28Z")
Second _The Shield_ and _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia_. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/11 "2010-04-21T03:27:05Z")
Ally McBeal. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/12 "2010-04-21T03:27:55Z")
My favorite new show this year is: The Good Wife (yes, the main character is an attorney but it’s not the usual) Some others than I’m currently enjoying via Netflix: Damages Burn Notice White Collar In Plain Sight ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/13 "2010-04-21T04:06:46Z")
If you liked BSG and ST: DS9, then you’ll probably like _Babylon 5_. At least the first 4 seasons. We don’t talk about Season 5. _Warehouse 13_ returns for either a second season, or the second half of Season 1 in July, I think. It’s quirky and fun. _V_ is on Tuesdays on ABC, and is pretty good…lots of plot threads dangling about. _Caprica_ is supposed to return in the fall, I think. Prequel to BSG. It’s been…mostly watchable…so far. Not great, not horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/14 "2010-04-21T05:41:37Z")
Saving Grace. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/15 "2010-04-21T05:47:45Z")
My favorite shows these days are the USA Network dramas: - Burn Notice - Psych - Royal Pains - White Collar - In Plain Sight Some of them are superficially structured as standard cop or doctor shows, but they all have twists that put them a cut above, and tend to focus on the interpersonal relationships more than anything else…TRM ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/16 "2010-04-21T08:21:31Z")
Breaking Bad. Definitely Breaking Bad. Also, I get +1 SDMB point for mentioning Firefly. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/17 "2010-04-21T12:39:26Z")
Seconding **Dexter** and **Supernatural**. ---
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/18 "2010-04-21T15:55:36Z")
Saw you had a few crime drams in there, so I’m going to throw my In Plain Sight hat into the ring. I’m a big fan of the show and it’s got drama and action and a really stellar cast. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/19 "2010-04-22T09:47:52Z")
I’d recommend FX’s great animated comedy **Archer**. Very smartly written & performed. Also the new BritCom **The Inbetweeners**. BTW, am I the only one who thinks that the OP’s list is quite good _ **except** _ for that godawful Brian Benbenbenben shitfest **Dream On**? Total turd in the punchbowl! ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820/20 "2010-04-22T11:18:30Z")
I recently went through all 3 seasons of **Veronica Mars** in about 4 days. The 1st 2 seasons were excellent. The 3rd was not as good, but still better than most. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-new-show-to-watch/536820.md?page=2)