# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecc23a/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada_Jr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/21 "2021-02-18T19:34:57Z")
How about _Chuck_ and/or _Burn Notice_? I enjoyed both, though I have not yet seen either one all the way to the end. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/22 "2021-02-18T19:42:39Z")
The U.S. version of Shameless is pretty good (although I haven’t seen the most recent couple of seasons). ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/23 "2021-02-18T20:00:17Z")
Seconded. One of the great shows of all time. ---
**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:** [February 18, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/24 "2021-02-18T20:06:21Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > 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. As you mentioned The Good Wife, I recommend The Good Fight, with the same showrunners and some of the same cast. Four seasons were released on CBS All Access but were also put on DVD and I saw them via the Netflix DVD-by-mail service. It basically started in the aftermath of Trump winning the 2016 election and is very topical. And someone mentioned the US version of Shameless, so I also recommend the UK original series, set in Manchester. And you might also like Skins, although it’s about teenagers and is mostly aimed at them. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/25 "2021-02-18T20:53:18Z")
I’ll second _Burn Notice_, also Jeffery Donovan’s other show, _Shut Eye._ How about _Doc Martin_? If _Suits_, then definitely _White Collar_, they have a very similar feel. ---
**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, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/26 "2021-02-18T21:14:41Z")
_ **Lou Grant** _ was a spinoff of _ **Mary Tyler Moore** _, which is why they had trouble figuring out how it should be classified at first. Other MTM shows over the years have included _ **Hill Street Blues** _ _ **St Elsewhere** _ _ **LA Law** _ All of which qualify as “dramedies,” I think. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/27 "2021-02-18T21:20:54Z")
I’d suggest _Scrubs_. It’s a half-hour show that is usually classified as a sitcom, and it definitely has sitcommy elements, but it has plenty of genuine drama, as well. I think it qualifies as a dramedy. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/28 "2021-02-18T21:51:17Z")
Since you like _Psych_, have you tried _Monk_? (eta: Japanese assassin got me.) ---
**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:** [February 18, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/29 "2021-02-18T21:53:22Z")
Since Monk, Psych, White Collar and Burn Notice were mentioned, how about Royal Pains? All were part of the USA Network “blue sky” slate of light shows set in sunny places. Later, when they had success with Mr Robot, they went dark. I preferred the lighter shows. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/30 "2021-02-18T21:56:07Z")
I abandoned _Mr. Robot_ after The Big Twist. ---
**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, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/31 "2021-02-18T22:17:56Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > How about _Doc Martin_? How about _ **Heartbeat** _ and _ **All Creatures Great and Small** _? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/32 "2021-02-18T22:53:07Z")
OK, since Monk and Burn Notice were both mentioned, how about House or Grey’s Anatomy? Too much blood? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/33 "2021-02-18T23:02:02Z")
No one has mentioned Downton Abbey yet. My wife and I enjoyed that. ---
**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 19, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/34 "2021-02-19T00:25:35Z")
I’m up to the third season of _Downton Abby,_ and quite enjoying it. It’s mainly a Masterpiece Theater-type drama, the main humor being Maggie Smith’s magnificent snark. It is definitely worth watching. ---
**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 19, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/35 "2021-02-19T00:39:24Z")
One that hasn’t been mentioned is _Orange is the New Black_. Black comedy, raunch, and poignant drama. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/36 "2021-02-19T02:08:22Z")
[Grace and Frankie](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3609352/) which I am surprised to find out is still going strong. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterson. For some reason I thought that season 5 was their last but now that I see that it wasn’t, I’m gonna dive right in to this show where every single celeb over 50 shows up sooner or later. Lily Tomlin is a treasure! ---
**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 19, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/37 "2021-02-19T02:16:51Z")
Another show with older actors is [The Kominsky Method](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7255502/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1), with Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. There are only two seasons so far, but a third is planned. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/38 "2021-02-19T02:34:32Z")
Justified has comedy, drama and some guns. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/39 "2021-02-19T03:16:47Z")
Yeah - Justified was great. Just started Monk - Looks like it will keep us busy for a while. I’ll keep a list of the others. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2021, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246/40 "2021-02-19T04:29:23Z")
If you haven’t watched Breaking Bad, you must. It’s primarily drama, but Bryan Cranston is a funny guy, and his humor seeps in quite a bit. I believe BB is the greatest television series ever made. And, many critics consider Ozymandias the _finest episode of dramatic television ever produced_. I agree. It’s a real punch in the gut. OP, you said you don’t like excessive violence, but this episode is worth the shock. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-long-running-dramedy/933246.md?page=3)