# If you could only pick 5 cable stations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043 "2001-09-06T15:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/41 "2001-09-07T04:31:49Z")
TNN (rodeos) TBS (nascar) ESPN (racing) ESPN2 (racing and once in a while rodeos) Cartoon Network (fun) ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/42 "2001-09-07T04:48:10Z")
In order of priority: **Cartoon Network** (Dexter, Sheep, Powerpuffs, Cow & Chicken, Courage, Chuck Jones Show, Four Luxuriant Hours of Looney Tunes on Saturdays _and Sundays!!_) **History Channel** (Modern Marvels, the World War II stuff) **New York One** (local all-news - their slogan is “The only local news worth watching!” Sadly, it’s right. Only place to see local politics, budget issues, etc.) **VH1** (Pop Up Video, Behind the Music - my great sin) **TV Land** (Mary, Retromercials - especially the Maxwell House ads) When I got up earlier I also needed my Carol Burnett fix on USA. But USA has _nothing_ else going for it, and they reduced her to a half-hour. I’m glad to see that so many interesting, bright people picked Cartoon Network. My friends think I’m [Mr. Tudvold] a-luuuuuuney tuuuuunes![/Mr. Tudvold]. As it were. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/43 "2001-09-07T05:09:40Z")
Well, I get the East Coast and West Coast network affiliates, which I HAVE to have. But barring those, my “cable” choices would be: FoxNews (That Shepard Smith and Bill O’Reilly! Oh! Tony Snow!) Never mind…I’m weird… SciFi (Farscape, Quantam Leap, Invisible Man) TVLand (Paul’s Ultimate Fan Hour - you NEVER know what he’ll pick!) Oh, and Beverly Hillbillies. AMC (Old movies! Love 'em!) TECHTV ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/44 "2001-09-07T05:51:54Z")
**History Channel** (It was geeks like me they had in mind when they started it.) **Sci Fi** (Mainly for _Babylon 5._) **ESPN** (Football, hockey.) **ESPN 2** (Football, hockey.) **Fox Sports** (Penguins hockey.) ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/45 "2001-09-07T15:13:32Z")
ESPN - Football, football, football. ESPN2 - More football, more football, more football HGTV - Norm, Steve, and Robin (less Dean please). Food Network - Iron Chef, and anyone but godawful Emeril Discovery Channel - There’s always something interesting on. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/46 "2001-09-07T16:09:23Z")
TLC TDC History A&E TNT (I know they have cheesy stuff, but what the hey.) ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/47 "2001-09-07T17:15:57Z")
In no particular order: Nickelodeon (Gotta have SpongeBob! And Angry Beavers.) Cartoon Network (For the new stuff, not the @$%#! reruns.) Independent Film Channel Sundance Channel I’ve never actually seen IFC or Sundance, but I like independent/underground/alternative films so I figure I’d like them. Slot #5 has a lot of contenders, but I guess if I _really_ had to pick it would be this one channel - I think it’s called the Cable Arts Network - it’s kinda like MTV for cultural snobs. Snippets from art documentaries or classical music or film scenes. I just dig watching it. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/48 "2001-09-07T17:22:27Z")
Lifetime (It is the most watched cable network) A&E Nickelodeon TNT (because now they have Law & Order reruns too) E! ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/49 "2001-09-07T17:35:54Z")
A&E HBO Comedy Central Fox News Tossup Channel: A choice between Lifetime (occasional Golden Girls reruns are a good thing) Bravo, TLC, Food Network, Court TV (for the Homicide reruns only), TNT (for Law & Order, Pretender and ER reruns only), F/X (for The Practice reruns only) VH1 (I’m a sucker for Behind the Music) and MTV (sometimes there’s something worth watching – sometimes.) Maybe channel #5 could be a potpourri channel that features different shows from all of my tossup networks? ---
**Author:** ![Enore\_Tsotset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/2bfe46/32.png) [@Enore\_Tsotset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enore_Tsotset)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/50 "2001-09-07T17:36:29Z")
Gotta have my: Animal Planet Discovery Fox (pretty much only for sunday though… and Dark Angel \) A&E Comedy Central (South Park, I’m ashamed to admit) I still get my cable modem with that though, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Edwardina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Edwardina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edwardina)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/51 "2001-09-08T03:18:36Z")
Tough to choose, because there are few channels that I enjoy in their entirety, many that I enjoy for just a few shows, or sometimes, just one show. But, these are my top 5, all things considered: **Sci-Fi The Food Network TNT A&E TLC** ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/52 "2001-09-08T03:36:47Z")
Hmmm…does “cable” mean premium channels, or ones you can’t watch without having cable service? Reception is so poor here, I can’t get channels other than ABC, PBS and occasionally WNDS without a cable hook-up. The only channels I actually watch are: WB Fox FX UPN NBC So I guess those would be my choices, regardless if they’re really “cable” or not since those and occasionally MTV and the Sci-fi channel are all I personally need. The bastards at our cable company won’t carry the Sundance Channel or M(tv)2 so I’m s.o.l. until they see the light. I miss those channels. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/53 "2001-09-08T07:38:35Z")
The five I must have: ESPN ESPN2 Fox Sports Food Network MTV2 Honorable mentions: Travel Channel, Game Show Network, and HBO ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bitterdrunk_Kid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/54 "2001-09-08T17:44:13Z")
Comedy Central ( I gotta watch Whose Line Is It Anyway?) Fox News Channel (I know, but I’m a conservative, and I like it better.) TV Land The Weather Channel (I’m a farmer and I rely on the weather a lot) MSNBC (I like to watch Imus In The Morning, and that’s pretty much it. Chris Matthews yells too much, and seems obsessed with John McCain.) ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/55 "2001-09-08T18:38:18Z")
Here’s my five: Cartoon Network BBC America-- I don’t even have to hate A&E any more, since BBC America shows Monty Python and Blackadder for me VH1 MTV-- I don’t even like MTV…but _Daria_ is one of my favorite shows Food Network I would like to replace MTV with programming from my local channels when _Daria_ isn’t on, though. I’m addicted to those cheesy “Judge \_\_\_\_\_\_” shows. They’re a thousand times more enjoyable than the endless reruns of _Real World_ or _Road Rules_. jessica ---
**Author:** ![TheNewbie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@TheNewbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNewbie)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/56 "2001-09-09T04:32:33Z")
ESPN The Game Show Network Comedy Central Fox TNN (for the rest of NASCAR season anyways…) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/57 "2001-09-09T10:08:16Z")
ESPN Comedy Central TNT A&E Fox Sports West ---
**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:** [September 9, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043/58 "2001-09-09T18:12:07Z")
In order of value: 1. Sci-Fi 2. Comedy Central 3. Fox News 4. A&E 5. The Learning Channel I watch others, but if I HAD to choose, it’d be those. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-only-pick-5-cable-stations/80043.md?page=2)