# 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:** 3
**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, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/41 "2026-01-13T14:36:48Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Mister Roger’s Neighborhood - I dare any of you to tell me that show wasn’t good. Good one. We might have a winner. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/42 "2026-01-13T14:38:51Z")
_The Joy of Painting_ with Bob Ross It has NOT been mentioned yet so I guess Everyone Does NOT Love Raymond. ---
**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, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/43 "2026-01-13T14:42:55Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > It has NOT been mentioned yet so I guess Everyone Does NOT Love Raymond. Definitely not. Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek can pull off the childish husband and annoying wife dynamic quite well.\*. Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton not so much. Has anyone nominated Malcolm in the Middle yet? ---
**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, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/44 "2026-01-13T14:47:14Z")
If you want to see Heaton in top form as an annoying wife, watch _Beethoven_. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/45 "2026-01-13T15:14:48Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > The Rockford Files No if it has Angel in it. Yes if it has Lance White. 🙂 > [@SCAdian](#): > > I watched one episode. Never felt the urge to watch another one I’m not arguing with your choice, but I don’t think you can judge ANY show by a random episode. Every show has a(t least one, maybe more) stinker, and if you randomly caught that one and that one only, it will leave a improper impression. If your only ST:TOS was The Alternative factor or Spock’s Brain, you might never come back. Same with the Simpsons episode where Homer gets raped by a panda. (shudder) > [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > I’ll also nominate _The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends_. I hate it because of the serialized format, combined with the fact the stations I grew up with never showed them in order. With both R&B and Underdog, I’ve never seen a complete story. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/46 "2026-01-13T15:38:12Z")
Not to threadshit here, but the question really is “Is there anything that’s a matter of taste that everyone agrees is good/great?” And the answer has to be no. There are some shows that have been mentioned that I consider to be _meh_. There are some I enjoyed, there are some that I got tired of as they went on (specifically MASH) I do find it interesting how many of the suggestions are comedies or dramas with a light touch (like Rockford Files.) And nary a western or police procedural in the batch. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/47 "2026-01-13T16:26:04Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Not to threadshit here, but the question really is “Is there anything that’s a matter of taste that everyone agrees is good/great?” I think it’s even worse than that. Many of the shows listed I could not in fairness say are “bad”. I enjoyed them to some extent, like MASH or MTM. But they had bad episodes, or bad years, but are still “good”. I could watch a random episode and probably enjoy it, even now. I don’t think House is a “bad” show, but I don’t think it’s great, either. I’ll never watch it, so i couldn’t vote against it. Even the worst of the worst, cancelled in one or fewer episode shows, like Heil Honey, or Turn On, probably has someone (the show creators, at least) that think it is “good”. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/48 "2026-01-13T16:29:29Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No if it has Angel in it. Yes if it has Lance White. 🙂 I think you might be posting with tongue in cheek, but on that basis I would say I don’t like MASH Frank Burns was a jerk. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/49 "2026-01-13T16:37:08Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I think you might be posting with tongue in cheek, Partially. I do hate Angel and will generally skip his episodes, but I still like The Rockford Files and think it is a good show. I just checked and I see where Angel was only in 37 out of 119 random episodes, and Maj Burns was in 121 out of 251 mostly consecutive episodes. Easier to avoid Angel, that’s for sure! (And Lance White was in only two. But he was nearly perfect. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/50 "2026-01-13T17:00:20Z")
I’d find it hard to believe anybody disagreeing with _Reading Rainbow_, _Sesame Street_, or _Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood"_. As for more general TV fare, both _The Bob Newhart Show_ and _Newhart_ would be my best guesses. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/51 "2026-01-13T17:24:42Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > My nomination is _Sesame Street._ Only B.E. (Before Elmo) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/52 "2026-01-13T17:45:57Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > I’d find it hard to believe anybody disagreeing with _Reading Rainbow_, _Sesame Street_, or _Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood"_. Only by the fact I’ve never seen any of them, and must abstain. Though I did watch _Won’t You Be My Neighbor?_ and felt a profound sadness that I missed something special. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/53 "2026-01-13T17:52:28Z")
How about _Barney Miller_? ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/54 "2026-01-13T17:53:21Z")
> > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I Love Lucy Definitely has an high spot on my list of Least Funny/Most Hated shows. OTTH, I would glance highly askance at anyone that didn’t like _The Good Place_. ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/55 "2026-01-13T17:54:27Z")
I always thought it was a little strange that Mr. Rogers was supposedly “at home”, yet he never took off that stupid tie. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/56 "2026-01-13T18:03:02Z")
I’ll veto The _Mary Tyler Moore Show_. I’ve watched many clips now of the supposed best bits, and the entire episode about the dead clown. Not one gram of amusement. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/57 "2026-01-13T18:05:19Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > 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. They do have a lot of fun with the ‘preconceptions’ game, though. For example — spoilers? — if a black wife and her white husband are showing the same symptoms, and it could be an STD that one got from the other and they’d maybe lie about it, or it could be something in the walls of their home and they maybe wouldn’t know it, how long would it take our lovable gang of idiots to ask, _wait, is this a super-rare genetic condition they share because they’re siblings?_ ---
**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, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/58 "2026-01-13T18:05:56Z")
Have we ever seen him and the Girl with the Green Ribbon in the same room? ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/59 "2026-01-13T18:10:33Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > > > I Love Lucy > > Definitely has an high spot on my list of Least Funny/Most Hated shows. I have a different - possibly unique - take on _I Love Lucy_. I hated the show with the heat of a thousand suns. Her constant whining got on my nerves. BUT I recognize that _ILL_ was ground-breaking in many ways, not the least of which is the degree of control that Lucille Ball (and Desi, too, of course) maintained creative control. She was a pioneer in the business of television, and _ILL_ set that stage. So I’d agree that _I Love Lucy_ was a great show even as I would refuse to watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-tv-show-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026628/60 "2026-01-13T18:11:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > So far all I’ve got is: > > - **Frasier** I’m not saying Frasier wasn’t good, but it certainly didn’t deserve all of the accolades it got. “The most intelligent show on the airwaves!”. No, it wasn’t. It was a fish-out-of-water comedy. Most of the humor was between elitists (Frasier, Niles) and " normal" people (Daphne, Martin, Roz). [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=2) [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=4)