# "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:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/21 "2025-04-22T16:13:53Z")
I did, I’ve mentioned it myself a few times on the board. We also own all but the last season on DVD. I really love **Northern Exposure**. > [@Movies/shows you can't find anywhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-shows-you-cant-find-anywhere/966420/176): > > Northern Exposure is now on Prime. It sounds like they took care of the Music Rights also. The show has held up really well. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/22 "2025-04-22T16:14:36Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > The Dick Van Dyke Show. Always funny, with a cast that clicked right away and excellent writing. They also had the good sense to call it quits after 5 seasons because they didn’t want it to get stale. Similar with the aforementioned “Barney Miller”. They _wanted_ to keep going but had trouble finding new writers to replace ones leaving for other shows; the ones they did find were reusing old stories. The producers decided to give the show a proper final season rather than rehash old episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/23 "2025-04-22T16:17:15Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > **Peep Show** Quoted for effect. I can’t think of a weak episode and I’ve seen the series multiple times. If you don’t know what Zipper and I are talking about, just try it… [Peep Show](https://www.youtube.com/@peepshowlegendado5333) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/24 "2025-04-22T16:18:27Z")
ABC loved Barney Miller, one of the cheapest successful shows ever to air. For decades, police officers said it was the most accurate tv police show. Its spiritual successor was the sillier Night Court. Not perfect, but a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/25 "2025-04-22T16:18:30Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I think Breaking Bad qualifies; opened strong and stuck the landing, so to speak. > [@Lancia](#): > > _Breaking Bad_ (and even _The Fly_ was a good episode) BB was the one I thought of upon reading the thread title. I’d also nominate Better Call Saul. I remember when word first came out that a Saul Goodman spinoff was going to be made-- rumor was that it might be…a comedy?!? Could it possibly be anywhere near 1/10 as good as BB, or was it going to be an absolute trainwreck? All props to Vince Gilligan-- he really caught lightning in a bottle twice. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > ABC loved Barney Miller, one of the cheapest successful shows ever to air. For decades, police officers said it was the most accurate tv police show. ‘Scrubs’ is similar in that, despite the wacky comedy elements, it was considered one of the most accurate shows about the day-to-day experience of working in a hospital. It _might_ qualify for this thread, if not for the godawful bastardized last season the network forced into existence. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/26 "2025-04-22T16:25:49Z")
Not to fight the hypothetical, but oif the OP rules are followed, there are NO shows that are perfect: > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > A satisfying series finale, even if the show itself was strictly episodic. This eliminates everything before the 70s(?) except for The Fugitive. Shows didn’t used to “end”, they’d just “stop”. Gilligan is still on the island, Star Trek is 3/5th into its five year mission, and Kwai Chang Caine is still wandering the earth. > [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > No “dud” episodes. Even the weakest episodes are still good. I can’t think of ANY show that doesn’t have at least one stinker. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/27 "2025-04-22T16:27:03Z")
> [@solost](#): > > ‘Scrubs’ is similar in that, despite the wacky comedy elements, it was considered one of the most accurate shows about the day-to-day experience of working in a hospital. It _might_ qualify for this thread, if not for the godawful bastardized last season the network forced into existence. I really liked **Scrubs** and I think technically we don’t have to include that weird extension. That would be like hitting MASH for After-MASH or All in the Family for Archie Bunker’s Place. Of course The Mary Tyler Moore Show is made a little better yet by the Lou Grant Show I guess. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/28 "2025-04-22T16:28:22Z")
Recently watched the pilot episode of **Cheers**.Even then they had the Sam-Dianne relationship down perfectly, and the Carla and Norm characters were well drawn. (Cliff joined the cast in Episode 2 and Coach got his character-defining story in Episode 5.) I’m especially impressed how well they handled the Coach-Woody and Diane-Rebecca transitions, and how perfectly the Frasier and Lillith characters fit into the ensemble. **WKRP in Cincinnati** just missed being perfect by having a few weak episodes in its final season. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/29 "2025-04-22T16:33:52Z")
As long as you don’t have a problem with the last episode I’d say **The Prisoner**. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/30 "2025-04-22T16:41:17Z")
Barney Miller and Breaking Bad would be the ones I would say answer the OP. Another one is _Dead Like Me_ because they did everything they tried to do (except changing the dad from exploring homosexuality to just having an affair). ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/31 "2025-04-22T16:46:49Z")
Lot’s of love for Breaking Bad, but didn’t they have one full episode that just showed Gus’s computer after they took the giant magnet to the police evidence room? That one kind of sucked on purpose as it just showed the computer screen displaying chopped up images as the cops tried to get stuff off the hard drive. I don’t beleive that episode is available anymore on the streaming services. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/32 "2025-04-22T16:48:00Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Pushing Daisies** is a great example, still sad the network treated that gem so poorly. IMO, the primary cause of the show’s early demise was the WGA strike in 2007-2008 (but aided and abetted by ABC’s handling of it, as well as a poor choice by the producers). The series got good ratings in its first season, but had only nine episodes written when the strike hit. When the strike was resolved in February of 2008, rather than trying to quickly pump out a few more episodes for the first season, the producers decided to focus on work for Season 2. As a result, when the second season finally premiered, in October, it had been nearly 10 months since there had been a new episode, and when the series finally came back, it had lost a big chunk of its audience. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I think _Pushing Daisies_ fails on the “good ending” criterion, too. They abruptly crammed a season or two worth of plot development into the last two or three minutes of the final episode, and it shows. That’s fair; I just appreciated that they did get a finale, even if it was very truncated and force-fit. ---
**Author:** ![Tokushizu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@Tokushizu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokushizu)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/33 "2025-04-22T16:56:27Z")
Thank goodness someone else feels the same way. I never saw a “stinker” episode of MTM❣️ ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/34 "2025-04-22T16:56:39Z")
The Dick Van Dyke Show _would_ have been perfect if not for his seeing the ottoman in later intros. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/35 "2025-04-22T16:58:48Z")
First season didn’t use that opening, 2-5th did and they had IIRC, 3 openings they alternated though all involving the ottoman. I’ll try to find the details if you care. First season just had basically publicity photos of the regulars falling out of folders. Season 1: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bWnENVpKM5E?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLsdXGYRKISaowYUBzLxKEEl9pMBXZ6Nzw [From here](https://aurorasginjoint.com/2016/05/29/the-story-of-dick-van-dyke-and-the-ottoman/). > Carl Reiner decided to alternate the opening between the fall over the ottoman and the missing of the ottoman from week to week. According to [Dick Van Dyke](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001813), viewers used to make bets (during seasons 2, 3, 4 and 5) on whether or not Rob Petrie would fall on any given week. I thought there were 3 alternatives, but so far I can’t cite that. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/36 "2025-04-22T16:59:35Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I don’t beleive that episode is available anymore on the streaming services. Huh. No it’s just part of episode 2, season 5. One act of four, [according to the Breaking Bad Wiki](https://breakingbad.fandom.com/wiki/Live_Free_or_Die). I’ve never heard of a streaming service leaving an episode off of a series because it’s boring. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/37 "2025-04-22T17:07:21Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > _My vote is for **The Mary Tyler Moore Show**._ Yes! MTM came to mind immediately. Started with a great set of characters, introduced others along the way, and ended with an all-time classic finale. A perfect sitcom from start to finish. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/38 "2025-04-22T17:07:25Z")
Two comedies: _Derry Girls_ and _Fleabag_ Both having limited runs helps. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/39 "2025-04-22T17:08:07Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I thought there were 3 alternatives, but so far I can’t cite that. The third version was added later: [from here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Dick_Van_Dyke_Show_episodes#Season_2_(1962%E2%80%931963)). > In this third version, Rob sidesteps the ottoman, but then trips over his feet, only to be set upright by the character Sally Rogers.[[6]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Dick_Van_Dyke_Show_episodes#cite_note-7) These versions remained in use, interchangeably between episodes, until the show’s run ended on June 1, 1966. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wPsofhzu9f0/hqdefault.jpg "Dick Van Dyke Opening Times Three") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPsofhzu9f0) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366/40 "2025-04-22T17:09:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **The Dick Van Dyke** show avoids duds. It range from well done Sitcom episodes to great shows unlike anything at the time. That was my first thought… except for one dud: Richie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perfect-television-shows/1017366.md?page=3)