Six feet under is SO good. You really should try it.
One that we just started is Battlestar Galactica, even though neither of us are particularly into sci fi. (We tried to watch firefly on DVD, which EVERYONE raves about, and suffered through three episodes before giving up on it. I have no idea what all the fuss is about.)
But Battlestar Galactica is kind of doing it for me. It’s well acted with good character development and good pacing. I expected to hate it, but I’m liking it.
Weeds is also fantastic–the first two seasons, anyway. After that, it looses something. But the first season, especially, is hilarious.
The West Wing is top quality writing (even better than Studio 60, because Sorkin was by then more experienced).
I third the **Nero Wolfe **series (starring Timothy Hutton and Maury Chavkin). Good characters (thanks to Rex Stout) and a colourful 50’s setting.
If you like ‘locked room’ detective stories, you’ll enjoy Jonathan Creek - but watch for Region compatibility.
There’s a reason that **Law and Order ** is the longest running US TV series - it’s a classy format with good actors.
I recommend both the original series and the spin off ‘Criminal Intent’
From the OP: "I’ve always disliked those sorts of unhappy-for-the-sake-of-it stories that many people seem to like. I’m not, generally, into tragedies, especially the type of thing that makes you feel like everything is pointless."
That’s one of the reasons I’m not a new-BSG fan. I watched maybe two episodes and there seemed to be nothing but gloom, despair, depression, darkness and loss.
If you liked Studio 60, you definitely should watch West Wing and especially Sport’s Night (even if you don’t like sports). I’m a huge Sorkin fan, and Studio wasn’t anywhere near as good as Sorkin’s earlier work.
I loved Coupling! It’s the only program where I can name an episode - “the Melty Man Cometh” Absolutely Fabulous is great, so is Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served, and umm, the one with Hyacinth Bucket - ah! Keeping Up Appearances. I know these are all ancient but they hold up well.
That’s a lovely offer, and I’d take you up on it except I think your dvds won’t play on my player. I don’t understand the whole region thingie with dvds, but I know I’ve been burnt by it before.
Mrs. R and I both enjoy the Foyle’s War series of WWII murder mysteries very much. Compelling characters and interesting insights into lesser-known aspects of Britain in WWII.
Plus, Honeysuckle Weeks (who plays Detective Chief Inspector Foyle’s driver) is about the cutest actress I’ve ever seen.
I like How I Met Your Mother as well. There’s an extra in season two where they rehearsed a “fake” proposal which was really a real proposal, between a guy who knew one of the writers and his girlfriend, who “somehow” ended up as extras in a restaurant scene. It was really sweet, and the shot actually made it into the final editing of the episode.
I have the entire (British) series of Coupling on my Mac, and probably watch an episode every other night, and have been doing so for months. That series doesn’t seem to get old. (Contrast Mork & Mindy, which has not aged well).
Sports Night is also very good, despite the fact that I don’t watch any sports, nor any TV shows about sports.
