# Is there any TV SHOW that we ALL would agree is good (if not great)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [January 13, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628 "2026-01-13T02:53:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/21 "2026-01-13T05:50:11Z")
The Wire ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/22 "2026-01-13T06:11:47Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > _Cosmos: A Personal Voyage_ (1980) > [@silenus](#): > > Connections Oh yes. I want to have their babies. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/23 "2026-01-13T06:46:21Z")
Firefly? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/24 "2026-01-13T08:32:32Z")
_Firefly_ has dated very badly, especially in the context of the revelations of Whedon’s toxicity as a showrunner. I wouldn’t support it. My nomination is _Sesame Street._ ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/25 "2026-01-13T09:03:39Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > House, M.D. Nope. I’ve seen various clips on Youtube that are entertaining enough, but when I try to watch an entire episode it goes something like this: This guy has mysterious symptoms. Let’s take a sample of his liver. We have enough sample for three tests. We cant take any more because [incomprehensible] Maybe it’s ABC syndrome [never heard of it]. Let’s test it. It isn’t ABC. Perhaps it’s XYZ syndrome[never heard of it]. Let’s test it. It isn’t XYZ. Maybe it’s Lupus? It’s never Lupus. We’ve only got one try left. Let’s try testing for ABC again. Test positive. It’s ABC. Why didn’t the first test work? Because [incomprehensible]. > [@GESancMan](#): > > Isn’t _Breaking Bad_ the standard answer to this kind of question? Nope, can’t like a show with a drug dealing murderer as protagonist. Don’t like The Sopranos or Sons of Anarchy either. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/26 "2026-01-13T09:05:01Z")
_The Simpsons_. Who doesn’t like the Simpsons? They’ve got cross-generational appeal. They’ve been on TV forever. They’ve contributed so many words and expressions to our lexicon. They’re even the subject of one of the best plays of the 21st century thus far! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NpYAqX-Y7Zc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AGMBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGFggZShIMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDjm5qQEdKu8vv-AAjeawZ087ehaw "Next On The Impulse Buying Network (The Simpsons)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpYAqX-Y7Zc&t=17) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/27 "2026-01-13T12:07:55Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Nope, can’t like a show with a drug dealing murderer as protagonist. Don’t like The Sopranos or Sons of Anarchy either. I’ve avoided shows like that, as well as movies like _The Godfather_ about organized crime, because the idea of “bad guys” as protagonists doesn’t really appeal to me; but that doesn’t mean I think they’re not _good_, artistically. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/28 "2026-01-13T12:47:43Z")
(re: House) > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Nope. I’ve seen various clips on Youtube that are entertaining enough, but when I try to watch an entire episode it goes something like this: You missed the part where the team goes to the patient’s home (presumably after their shift is over), breaks in, and turn into detectives in order to determine the source of the infection. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/29 "2026-01-13T12:49:03Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > _Firefly_ has dated very badly Can’t agree with you there. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/30 "2026-01-13T12:53:14Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > _The Simpsons_. That would be easier to get universal agreement on if it had ended at least 20 seasons ago. I no longer watch it except for Treehouse of Horror episodes. I don’t know if I would want to call the show _bad_ now, but I don’t find it worth taking up 20 minutes of my time 20 times a year. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/31 "2026-01-13T12:55:14Z")
South Park? ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/32 "2026-01-13T12:56:41Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Nope. I’ve seen various clips on Youtube that are entertaining enough, but when I try to watch an entire episode it goes something like this: > > This guy has mysterious symptoms. Let’s take a sample of his liver. > We have enough sample for three tests. We cant take any more because [incomprehensible] > Maybe it’s ABC syndrome [never heard of it]. Let’s test it. > It isn’t ABC. > Perhaps it’s XYZ syndrome[never heard of it]. Let’s test it. > It isn’t XYZ. > Maybe it’s Lupus? It’s never Lupus. > We’ve only got one try left. > Let’s try testing for ABC again. > Test positive. It’s ABC. > Why didn’t the first test work? Because [incomprehensible]. The medical stuff is silly. At least the approach the team takes is. It usually amounts to the medical equivalent of solving a crime by the method of “ let’s do these fancy audio recreations, and check this small scrap of evidence for DNA that might not be there, and do hypnosis on that one witness that might not have seen anything anyway, and now that none of that worked, let’s check the security cameras that got a clear video of everything that happened”. But the characters that did all that were interesting, compelling characters, which made the show. I will admit that the first half of season 4 (maybe it was 3?), the one where he has the contest to replace his original team, also fell short. Mostly because the old team members were temporarily gone and the new ones hadn’t been around long enough to become beloved characters. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/33 "2026-01-13T13:14:50Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > South Park? I hate that show, particularly the voices of the boys, and the general vulgarity. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/34 "2026-01-13T13:26:07Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > _The Simpsons_. > > That would be easier to get universal agreement on if it had ended at least 20 seasons ago. Would an answer of the form “Show X, seasons _m_ through _n_” be an acceptable answer to the thread title’s question? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/35 "2026-01-13T13:32:09Z")
If The Simpsons and Firefly do not pass muster, nothing is going to. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/36 "2026-01-13T13:35:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I hate that show, particularly the voices of the boys, and the general vulgarity. I could never understand what the hell they’re saying, and I don’t want to spend any time deciphering it because I find that paper cut out esthetic about as funny as characters in Lego movies. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/37 "2026-01-13T13:36:59Z")
With the understanding that “good” shows will have bad episodes from time to time: I Love Lucy And the one that I think wins outright: Mister Roger’s Neighborhood - I dare any of you to tell me that show wasn’t good. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/38 "2026-01-13T13:38:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > _The Simpsons_. Who doesn’t like the Simpsons? I watched one episode. Never felt the urge to watch another one. > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > South Park? I watched part of one episode. _Definitely_ don’t want to watch any more! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/39 "2026-01-13T13:57:51Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Nope. I’ve seen various clips on Youtube that are entertaining enough, but when I try to watch an entire episode it goes something like this: > > This guy has mysterious symptoms. Let’s take a sample of his liver. > We have enough sample for three tests. We cant take any more because [incomprehensible] > Maybe it’s ABC syndrome [never heard of it]. Let’s test it. > It isn’t ABC. > Perhaps it’s XYZ syndrome[never heard of it]. Let’s test it. > It isn’t XYZ. > Maybe it’s Lupus? It’s never Lupus. > We’ve only got one try left. > Let’s try testing for ABC again. > Test positive. It’s ABC. > Why didn’t the first test work? Because [incomprehensible]. “For the last time, IT’S NOT LUPUS.” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/40 "2026-01-13T14:29:59Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Mister Roger’s Neighborhood - I dare any of you to tell me that show wasn’t good. Seconded! I’ll also nominate _The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628.md?page=3)