# "Perfect" television shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [April 22, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366 "2025-04-22T15:42:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/201 "2025-04-26T23:06:53Z")
I wonder, if a show is perfect at being what it sets out to be is it a perfect tv show? The newest version of _All Creatures Great and Small_ perfectly hits the tone and pace it is trying for. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/202 "2025-04-26T23:12:05Z")
“Gilligan’s Island” stretches credulity in every way, but that’s part of the charm, and why it remains a favorite in reruns 60 years later. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/203 "2025-04-26T23:21:54Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I wonder, if a show is perfect at being what it sets out to be is it a perfect tv show? The newest version of _All Creatures Great and Small_ perfectly hits the tone and pace it is trying for. All Creatures Great and Small seems to air at 8pm on Sundays on American public television stations and that hour seems to be set aside for “heartwarming” dramas. So now, they’re airing Call the Midwife and I think previously The Durrells of Corfu aired at the same time. None of these get too dark and usually wrap up in a way to give you the warm fuzzies. I just remembered; a few months ago, Miss Scarlet and The Duke was in that slot. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/204 "2025-04-26T23:23:13Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I mean sure that’s the payoff but if you don’t have anything invested in the characters I don’t know if it would have any effect I wasn’t wild about any of the characters until that episode put everything into a whole new perspective. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/205 "2025-04-26T23:24:41Z")
Never mind, ninja-ed! ---
**Author:** ![Sooner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sooner/32/7875_2.png) [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/206 "2025-04-26T23:33:56Z")
I have three, all likely already mentioned Deadwood, The Wire, WKRP ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/207 "2025-04-27T00:05:13Z")
The two shows that come to mind for me are The Middle and Picket Fences. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/208 "2025-04-27T02:31:16Z")
terentii > Did she really say that? 🤨 If she did, the screenwriter should have known that Minnesota is “The land of 10,000 lakes.” I’m sure you’re correct. I saw the episode once, 54 years ago when I was ten years old, so one or two details may be off. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/209 "2025-04-27T05:29:44Z")
I was disappointed when Trudy turned out not to be as pure as the driven snow. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2025, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/210 "2025-04-27T05:35:53Z")
I think Veronica Mars is worth a mention, especially the original 3 season run. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/211 "2025-04-27T05:55:59Z")
I’m enjoying _ **Wolf Hall** _ at the moment. Have they revealed what’s happening with Edward in _ **All Creatures Great and Small** _ yet, or have I missed that episode? ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/212 "2025-04-27T05:59:52Z")
_Breaking Bad_ was perfection. I also loved _The Wire_ and _Succession_ but they were much too erratic to be called “perfect.” And, although I’m not a sit-com fan I agree that _The Dick Van Dyke Show_ was excellent. > [@Stanislaus](#): > > I shall play the role of middle-aged British man to the hilt and say _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_. That mini-series had a sequel, _Smiley’s People_, with some of the same actors. I loved this sequel hugely more than _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_. It features more interesting characters and excellent acting. I may as well also mention Canada’s little-known but very funny “sit-com(?)” _The Newsroom_ (NOT the same-named HBO series starring Jeff Daniels). (It’s available on YouTube.) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/213 "2025-04-27T06:06:20Z")
The episode of _ **DvD** _ with the semi-repentant wife-beater kinda threw me for a loop. **WTF???** 😲 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/214 "2025-04-27T06:50:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Have they revealed what’s happening with Edward in _ **All Creatures Great and Small** _ yet, or have I missed that episode? Are you all caught up, have you seen the 2024 Christmas episode yet? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/215 "2025-04-27T08:43:51Z")
I think so. It’s what’s going to happen next that bothers me. 🙁 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/216 "2025-04-27T13:07:50Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I think so. It’s what’s going to happen next that bothers me. 🙁 Out of the frying pan into the fire. I didn’t tell my wife what the H.M.S. Repulse hat meant but I knew what was coming. Then the relief of the phone call. Then the “He’s where now?” ---
**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:** [April 27, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/217 "2025-04-27T16:23:53Z")
Is it constantly being rerun because it’s beloved, or because the broadcasters can get it for cheap? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/218 "2025-04-27T20:25:18Z")
I read recently that even before the scandals broke, “The Cosby Show” was basically free in syndication, because the ratings were so low. People watched these episodes once, and didn’t want to see them again. Every year, we have a new crop of 8-year-olds who watch that show with their parents, or even grandparents. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/219 "2025-04-27T20:33:29Z")
I agree with whoever said there are no perfect ones above, but closest I’ve found is [Piece of Cake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piece_of_Cake_(TV_series)) . Not a lot of crap, and Spitfires flying around. What’s not to love?? > [@Dropo](#): > > I do not recognize any other show named _Dragnet_ that didn’t star Jack Webb. I can respect this, but Damn! Dan Ackroyd was hilarious in the movie! > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’ll nominate Blackadder. A good nomination. If you disallowed Season One, it would make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/220 "2025-04-27T20:51:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I agree with whoever said there are no perfect ones above, but closest I’ve found is [Piece of Cake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piece_of_Cake_(TV_series)) . Not a lot of crap, and Spitfires flying around. What’s not to love?? Though the TV version wasn’t bad at all, the book by Derek Robinson is way better. One of my all time favorites. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366.md?page=12)