# Tell me about your "must see" TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149 "2007-02-21T22:23:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/1 "2007-02-21T22:23:51Z")
I was out of work for a few months in 2004 and the first thing to go when I pared down expenses was satellite service. I found employment and got my finances back in order, I just didn’t ever get hooked back up. Off and on, I’ve thought about getting the service re-instated, but I’ve lost touch with what’s on and obviously haven’t been following any shows. Is there any show that you just have to watch? That you set aside time for and hate to miss? Please tell me what’s on worth watching. I just need a little convincing. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/2 "2007-02-21T22:25:27Z")
The Office. NBC. It’s the best American sitcom in a long time. Maybe ever. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/3 "2007-02-21T22:41:41Z")
Battlestar Galactica (SciFi Network) - Military drama set in space. bad cylons, bad! A billion times better than the 80s version, if you’re old enough to remember it. The Wire (HBO) – police/drug dealer drama set in Baltimore. The cops are a mixed bag between smart and dumb and so are the dealers (some of whom are _really_ smart). Just an all around awesome show. Lost (ABC) - Plane crashes on tropical island. Character drama with supernatural (maybe) elements ensues. All three of these are serial dramas, you can’t just jump in anywhere and expect to know what’s going on. They’re all available on DVD though, so you can catch up if you like. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/4 "2007-02-21T22:57:22Z")
Battlestar Galactica - Sci Fi Channel version Boston Legal House No Reservations - Travel Channel (Tony Bourdain) King of Queens - Kevin James cracks. me. up! CSI Las Vegas Law & Order Criminal Intent Law & Order (Classic) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/5 "2007-02-21T23:09:17Z")
The shows we watch, in order of my personal preference: _House The Office Law & Order: SVU American Idol Criminal Minds CSI (original) Law & Order: Criminal Intent_ Actually, I’m just going to lump the rest of them together in no particular order. These are all ones that I watch either A) out of habit, or B) because my wife really likes them. All things being equal, I’d take a good book over any of them: _Monk Psyche Numb3rs Cold Case Without A Trace_ I also watch _The Simpsons_ and _Jeopardy_, but I can’t count them on my list because I watch them in the morning over breakfast/getting ready for work. I can’t count things I watch in syndication (even though new eps of _The Simpsons_ are thrown into the mix). Nor am I counting things I watch with my daughter. Not sure if _Wonder Pets_ is what you’re looking for anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/6 "2007-02-22T00:19:52Z")
Yeah, _House_ is great also. I’ve been trying to think of ones that don’t have a ton of backstory that leaves you lost just coming in. I love _Prison Break_, for example, but I’m not sure how enjoyable it would be without having experienced the history. _House_ is one of those rare dramas that you can catch up with in an episode or two. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/7 "2007-02-22T00:25:26Z")
Well I am a sucker for good Canadian TV so my “must see” are Corner Gas and Little Mosque on the Prairie. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/8 "2007-02-22T00:28:07Z")
_Battlestar Galactica Scrubs Rome (only 4 episodes left! \) Good Eats! Iron Chef America_ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/9 "2007-02-22T00:30:55Z")
BSG has been “must see”, but the show is going downhill lately, and is in danger of becoming “watch it if I remember it’s on” if it doesn’t turnaround soon. Otherwise, my TV is typically on Football and Baseball in the respective seasons. This time of year sucks. I’ll watch some of the upcoming basketball tournaments, or late night reruns of sitcoms I missed when they were in primetime years ago. History Channel used to be good, but lately every time I turn it on is something like “Modern Marvels” that doesn’t usually interest me. Mostly I’m counting down to the NFL Draft and Opening Day of baseball season… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/10 "2007-02-22T00:32:29Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] All three of these are serial dramas, you can’t just jump in anywhere and expect to know what’s going on. They’re all available on DVD though, so you can catch up if you like. [/QUOTE] The same could be said about so many shows, it might make more sense to take the money you would have spent on satellite/cable and spend it on DVDs instead. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/11 "2007-02-22T00:39:29Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] The Office. NBC. It’s the best American sitcom in a long time. Maybe ever. [/QUOTE] And it’s bookended by two other very good sitcoms: _My Name Is Earl_ and _30 Rock_. My Most Favoritest Shows: Sunday: Battlestar Galactica, The Amazing Race Monday: Heroes Tuesday: Dirty Jobs Wednesday: Lost Thursday: My Name Is Earl, Survivor Friday: Monk, Psych Saturday: ? Plus I watch a lot of the other competition-reality shows like American Idol, Nashville Star, Project Runway, Hell’s Kitchen, Big Brother, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/12 "2007-02-22T01:16:37Z")
Since 2004: Deadwood The Shield 24 (until this season) Lost ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/13 "2007-02-22T01:44:45Z")
The only things that are definitively Must-Watch on the networks **in their current state** , as in, as how good their recent episodes have been, are _Boston Legal_ (Tuesday 10pm), _My Name is Earl_ (Thursday 8pm), and _American Dad_ (Sunday 9:30pm). Stuff that is worth watching if you have nothing better to do, but that I wouldn’t skip out on a good book or gaming session for, includes: Monday: _24_; _How I Met Your Mother_ is almost worth watching just for Neil Patrick Harris Tuesday: _NCIS_ Wednesday: _Bones_ Friday: _Psych_ Sunday: _Family Guy_, _Battlestar Galactica_ _24, NCIS, Bones, and Psych_ are all don’t-think-TOO much shows with interesting characters, good-enough dialogue, and a generally fun ride. _Battlestar_ is still worth it if you’re invested in the series, but it hasn’t been that great since the beginning of this season. _Family Guy_ isn’t as funny as it was the first time around, but is still almost always worth a few good laughs. ---
**Author:** ![rucciface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@rucciface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rucciface)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/14 "2007-02-22T02:03:24Z")
Thanks, everyone. These all sound pretty good and I’ve heard good things about them elsewhere, too. I think I saw the pilot ep of “The Office” and thought it was good (at the time, I was comparing it to the original, of course. Has it distinguished itself and grown into its own?). Seen “House” a time or twoand liked it. “Scrubs” is still currently running? I do spend at least as much on DVD’s as I would on satellite service, but grow tired of the DVD’s pretty quick. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/15 "2007-02-22T05:04:11Z")
[QUOTE=rucciface] I think I saw the pilot ep of “The Office” and thought it was good (at the time, I was comparing it to the original, of course. Has it distinguished itself and grown into its own?). [/QUOTE] IMHO, the American version has transcended the English version, which was pretty good in itself. **Ricky Gervais** is in a new show on HBO called “Extras” which is pretty hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/16 "2007-02-22T06:57:47Z")
Our TV viewing may be out of date with the US, but these are what I do not miss: Blue Murder (I really love Canadian cop shows) Two-and-a-half Men Will & Grace (This is the final season, and damn, they’ve gotten funny again, with hectic political statements) Everwood Smallville Bones ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/17 "2007-02-22T16:34:04Z")
I recommend: _Battlestar Galactica Heroes Veronica Mars My Name Is Earl The Office 30 Rock Supernatural_ (don’t judge me – it’s very silly, but fun) _Psych The Shield_ (whenever it’s on again) _Good Eats Dirty Jobs Mythbusters The Daily Show The Colbert Report_ We don’t have HBO, but if we did I know we would watch _The Wire_ and _Rome_. As it is, I have those in our Netflix queue for the future. In fact, you might skip the satellite service altogether and just get Netflix. You can watch virtually all of these shows that way. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/18 "2007-02-22T17:05:06Z")
The Simpsons, Criminal Minds, House and Prison Break ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/19 "2007-02-22T17:12:35Z")
The Office Pardon the Interruption Mythbusters The Colbert Report South Park The Simpsons Criminal Minds Numbers, or, sigh Numb3rs if you insist How it’s Made Family Guy Dexter (on between-seasons hiatus) Joe ---
**Author:** ![holy.roller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@holy.roller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holy.roller)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149/20 "2007-02-22T17:16:06Z")
[QUOTE=cbawlmer] In fact, you might skip the satellite service altogether and just get Netflix. You can watch virtually all of these shows that way. [/QUOTE] I couldn’t agree more. Some of the more serial-type shows benefit greatly from being watched in three or four large chunks. Most of my favourite shows are on HBO. Now is the best time to subscribe if you’re going to do it because new seasons of Big Love and The Sopranos are starting in March. And Rome and Deadwood are ending. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-must-see-tv/393149.md?page=2)