# Recommend me a long-running "dramedy" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [February 18, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246 "2021-02-18T18:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/1 "2021-02-18T18:03:50Z")
My wife’s and my preferred TV watching is what I’ll call dramedies - hourlong shows, w/ several characters and clever dialogue. We just finished Suits. A couple of other shows we enjoyed recently were Psych and Boston Legal. West Wing and The Good Wife would be another good example. And Buffy, Angel, and Firefly are pretty much the gold standards. We also enjoy dramas - in the Masterpiece Theater vein, but we don’t like excessive blood/violence, preachiness, suspense, etc. When we find a show we like, we really like it if it had a decent run, so we can binge it for a while. So - any suggestions for our future binging? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/2 "2021-02-18T18:12:21Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > My wife’s and my preferred TV watching is what I’ll call dramedies - hourlong shows, w/ several characters and clever dialogue Have you tried _Six Feet Under_? ---
**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:** [February 18, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/3 "2021-02-18T18:15:17Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Buffy, Angel, and Firefly are pretty much the gold standards. > [@](#): > > So - any suggestions for our future binging? Get your Christian Kane fix with Leverage? ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/4 "2021-02-18T18:16:53Z")
Seconding Leverage. Eureka and Warehouse 13 are both a little silly but still good. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/5 "2021-02-18T18:18:40Z")
I’ve been enjoying “Alone Together”, [Two millennial misfits strike up a platonic friendship in order to navigate life in vain and status-obsessed Los Angeles] It’s target audience is obviously for 20-somethings. But I find the dialog clever enough to keep me interested. Only two seasons so far though. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/6 "2021-02-18T18:25:37Z")
I think the original “dramedy” was _ **Lou Grant** _, back in the late '70s. When it first came on, _ **TV** _ _ **Guide** _ described it as “comedy,” then a “drama,” and finally settled on “comedy/drama.” The term “dramedy” was coined soon afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/7 "2021-02-18T18:30:57Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Have you tried _Six Feet Under_ ? I’ve been watching this and would also recommend it. I originally thought the death-of-the-week feature might be off-putting but it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/8 "2021-02-18T18:39:21Z")
**White Collar** is worth a look: > **[White Collar (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Collar_(TV_series))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > White Collar is an American police procedural drama television series created by Jeff Eastin, starring Tim DeKay as FBI Special Agent Peter Burke and Matt Bomer as Neal Caffrey, a highly intelligent and multi-talented con artist working as Burke's criminal informant and an FBI consultant. Willie Garson and Tiffani Thiessen also star. The show premiered on October 23, 2009, on USA Network, and aired six complete seasons, concluding on December 18... ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/9 "2021-02-18T18:42:40Z")
Eureka is solid for the first three seasons. Lilyhammer is pretty good and I think qualifies as a dramedy. Jessica Jones is fantastic even though I don’t like super hero stuff. My wife and I enjoy In The Dark ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/10 "2021-02-18T18:52:13Z")
Give Mad Men a shot if you haven’t already seen it. Great show IMO. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/11 "2021-02-18T18:55:19Z")
Not sure if it meets the “long-running” category, but I’ve enjoyed _Fleabag_ (2 seasons) and _the Marvelous Mrs Maisel_ (3 seasons). ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/12 "2021-02-18T18:56:13Z")
Depending on your definition of “excessive violence”, I’d recommend Fargo. The first two seasons are among the finest TV ever made in my opinion. The third season is good, but doesn’t hit the heights of the others. I haven’t seen the recent fourth season because it hasn’t reached the UK yet. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/13 "2021-02-18T19:00:31Z")
Thanks - lots of good suggestions. Seen: 6’ Under Mad Men Fleabag Maisel Will make a list of the others! Also going to rent The Good Fight from the library. BTW, we have Netflix and Prime, and a pretty good selection at the library. Keep the suggestions coming. We’ve been watching WAY too much TV! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/14 "2021-02-18T19:06:00Z")
It is weird trying to find shows that fit into the sweet spots of TWO people. My wife is a little less tolerant of creepiness/gore than I. And some shows start off OK, but then run out of steam. We enjoyed Grace and Frankie, and Better Call Saul (but not Breaking Bad). ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/15 "2021-02-18T19:09:07Z")
> **[Weeds (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeds_(TV_series))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Weeds is an American dark comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan, which aired on Showtime from August 8, 2005, to September 16, 2012. The series tells of Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker), a widowed mother of two boys (Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould) who begins selling marijuana to support her family. Other main characters include Nancy's lax brother-in-law (Justin Kirk); foolish accountant (Kevin Nealon); narcissistic neighbor... ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/16 "2021-02-18T19:10:11Z")
I’ll second _White Collar_, in that it’s a weird hybrid of detective show/police procedural along with heist/art thief. Maybe it’s a bit silly at times, but it’s well acted- Bomer is great, and DeKay is consistently underrated in everything he’s in. Willie Garson is a hoot as well. I would suggest _The Sopranos_, depending on where you draw that drama/comedy line, but it’s fairly dark and violent. Funny as hell sometimes though. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/17 "2021-02-18T19:25:29Z")
> **[Big Love](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Love)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Big Love is an American drama television series that aired on HBO from March 12, 2006 to March 20, 2011. It stars Bill Paxton as the patriarch of a fundamentalist Mormon family in contemporary Utah that practices polygamy, with Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin portraying his wives. The series charts the family's life in and out of the public sphere in their Salt Lake City suburb, as well as their associations with a fundamen... ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/18 "2021-02-18T19:28:26Z")
Murdoch Mysteries Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (I never got into this one, but it’s often listed with Murdoch Mysteries – a lot of people like both.) Super Girl Black Lightning The New Legends of Monkey (2 seasons on Netflix) The Good Place (1/2 hour shows, but fits, I think) Parks and Recreation (same) Call the Midwife Wynonna Earp ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/19 "2021-02-18T19:31:44Z")
If you liked Psych, I suspect you’d like _Monk_ (129 episodes). Also, there’s a more recent Belgian series with English subtitles available on the PBS streaming service called _Professor T._ It’s similar to Monk in many ways, but different enough, and amusing enough, to be worth watching. There are 39 episodes, and apparently no more will be made. _Dead Like Me_ was somewhat uneven in quality, but very good. Unfortunately there are only 29 episodes. Conceptually similar is _Pushing Daisies_ which is also worth watching, but only 22 episodes were made before it was cancelled. It’s been a long time since I saw an episode of _Northern Exposure_ or _Picket Fences_, but they fit the description and I remember both fondly. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/20 "2021-02-18T19:33:14Z")
Veronica Mars [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246.md?page=2)