# I suggest The SDMB All-Time Television Awards **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566 "2008-10-25T23:04:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 27, 2008, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/21 "2008-10-27T12:24:12Z")
How about a “Wait, what?” category Screech – Went from smart nerd in the first season to stupid in the following seasons. New Becky in Roseanne New Darrin in Bewitched I can’t think of anymore, but I’m pretty sure we’ve done this one before. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2008, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/22 "2008-10-27T12:26:03Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > Maybe we could just go ahead and call that the “Joss Whedon Metal of Honor” so that other deserving shows (like “Freaks and Geeks”) have a shot. Of the Arrested Devolpment award. (It works on so many levels) ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/23 "2008-10-27T14:22:30Z")
It’s looking like we’re going to have a lot of categories. I’ve started preparing a list, and I’m already at 65 categories, and that’s without including some of the more esoteric (but nonetheless completely valid) suggestions here. In the interest of not having my head explode when trying to do the counting, I will limit the number of categories. Obviously that means not everyone’s suggestion will make the final list. I think I’ll probably cap it at about 80? Sound reasonable? Right now I’m thinking of having categories for the types of show: Best Series - Dramatic Best Series - Situation Comedy Best Series - Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Best Series - Medical Best Series - Legal etc. But then having catch-all categories for the performances: Best Lead Actor - Dramatic Best Lead Actor - Comedic Best Lead Actress - Dramatic Best Lead Actress - Comedic etc. I don’t think I’ll divide into early/middle/late eras, as What Exit? suggests, for two reasons. First, too many categories. Second, part of what I’m hoping to do is to compare those early shows to the later ones. If I limit the categories like that, we should still have room for “Best Grouch” and “Coolest Gadget” and whatever other nifty and quirky categories we want, I think. Sound reasonable? thwartme ---
**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:** [October 27, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/24 "2008-10-27T14:48:21Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Of the Arrested Devolpment award. (It works on so many levels) :smack: That should be OR not OF ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/25 "2008-10-27T14:52:39Z")
How would we vote in secret? By PMing you? ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/26 "2008-10-27T15:26:52Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > How would we vote in secret? By PMing you? Yep. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/27 "2008-10-27T15:29:55Z")
Worst U.S. President; Priest from the series Lexx Best spaceship captain; A tie between Malcolm Renyolds and Admiral William Adama (New BSG) Worst spaceship captain; Stanley H. Tweedle from the series Lexx Wackiest money making scheme; the Bobbly-headed doll caper (Firefly) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/28 "2008-10-27T15:30:39Z")
Best series resolution (I nominate 6 Feet Under) Best season resolution / Best dream sequence (I nominate Buffy, Restless) Best musical episode (Buffy, Once More With Feeling) Best original song (Dr Horrible, On The Rise) Best musical performance in non musical episode (Skins, Wild World) Most blatant loss of attire, male (Peter Petrelli, Heroes) Best ARG (Lost) Show most in need of a tv movie wrap up or revival (Quantum Leap) Best joke (chicken joke, Big Bang Theory) Best Theme Song with lyrics (Gary Shandling Show) Best theme song instrumental (Angel) Best cliffhanger resolution (STTNG, BOBW) Most cast overhaul (Earth Final Conflict) Most pointless loss of castmember (Stargate Atlantis, Elizabeth Weir) ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/29 "2008-10-27T16:55:49Z")
Special Category = Best “Moment” From real-life TV: Walter Cronkite tearing up on national TV after Kennedy was shot. Another nominee could be Leonard Bernstein’s Ode to Joy at the Berlin Wall. Bob McKay telling us that all the hostages were gone at the 72 Olympics From Sports: Bob Beamon’s long jump at the 1968 Olympics. From fictional TV: for many people, when Radar announces the death of Col. Blake From “reality” TV (a category I generally despise): David Cook’s winning moment on this year’s American Idol - pure joy to watch. [catch it on youtube if you don’t believe me] ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/30 "2008-10-30T13:48:03Z")
Alright, I’m just about done compiling the the categories. Looks like we’re going to come in at about 75-80. I’ll start the nomination thread this weekend sometime. A couple of questions… Hey **pedescribe** , what’s a ‘breather’ episode? Hey **jackdavinci** , what’s an ARG? And a note: I’m not going to do “worst” awards. First off, it’s just too many categories, and also, I’d rather celebrate the best than rag on the worst. That said, if someone want’s to do the All-Time Worst TV awards, I’ll gladly participate. thwartme ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566/31 "2008-10-30T13:53:11Z")
A ‘breather’ episode is an episode that occurs between dark story arcs, usually with a light theme. This often ends up being the beach episode. Generally, these tend to be unpopular with fans, due to their lack of significance, but popular with the networks, because they can rerun them without discontinuity, meaning a good one keeps the show fresh for future fans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-suggest-the-sdmb-all-time-television-awards/469566.md?page=1)