Best Sitcom: Scrubs
Best Drama: tied between Homicide and old Law & Order
Best Cop show: gotta go with Homicide on this one
Best Children’s show: Sesame Street pre-Elmo
Here are the best shows, you pick the catagory:
The Daily Show, Nova, Frontline, South Park, TVFunhouse, WKRP (“As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”), any broadcast of National Champion USC Trojan football and Speed TV coverage of Formula One (if they could ever get the commentators to shut the hell up). The first season of Twin Peaks.
And Austin City Limits. And most everything else on PBS.
SCI-FI
Bablyon 5
Star Trek TNG
Star Trek DS9
COP SHOWS
Homicide
Law and Order
The District
OTHER
The West Wing
Sci-fi: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Sitcom: Sports Night
Drama: West Wing
Cooking: Good Eats
And I have to agree with Munch’s statement here:
One of the few reality (if you can call that that) shows I’ve enjoyed.
Oh and I enjoyed British Big Brother 5, and its outcome. (I’m almost ashamed to admit that I got teary eyed). I was so hooked on that show that I still have to struggle the say the time without doing it in the (Geordie? Scottish?) accent: “8:34 eh-em. Most of the hise-mites are in the gaaahden. Jeh-sin has been in the snug for the pahst twinty miiinutes.”
Actually, the TripleCast was a viewing option during the 1992 Games.
I’ll answer for the categories of TV shows I currently watch or have regularly watched:
Sitcom – Seinfeld, with Green Acres the runner-up.
Sitcom moment – The Newhart finale seems to be the consensus choice, and I can’t object to that.
Hour-long drama – Northern Exposure, followed closely by Lou Grant.
Hour-long drama moment – Shelly sings “The Lady and the Snake” on Northern Exposure.
Cop show – Dragnet (the mid-1960’s version)
News show, regular series – Weekend, which replaced Saturday Night Live once a month during the late 1970’s.
Children’s show, animated – Wacky Races
Animated series, for adults – Simpsons, with the silver medal going to The Flintstones, which was originally on in prime time.
Variety series – SNL during the time I was in college (1977-81)
Sports special – The first Olympics that I remember watching, the 1972 Summer Games from Munich, for triumph (Mark Spitz), controversy (USSR over USA in basketball final), and tragedy (massacre of Israeli athletes and others)
Christmas special – A Charlie Brown Christmas (had the Grinch not wimped out at the end, he’d enjoy the top slot)
Other holiday special – It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (“I got a rock!”)
Cable channel in general – Right now it’s ESPN2
Made for TV movie – The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment – Challenger disaster
SNL skit, one-time – Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor exchanging racist insults (“Spearchucker!” “White trash!”)
SNL skit, repeating – “Wild and Crazy Guys”
Sitcom All in the family
Sitcom moment The last scene of the last episode of Newhart
Hour-long drama Law and Order
Hour-long drama moment -
Cop show Law and Order
Cop show moment -
Lawyer show Law and Order
Lawyer show moment -
Reality show -
Reality show moment -
News show, regular series 60 Minutes
News show moment -
Daytime soap -
Daytime soap moment -
Food show -
Food show moment -
Science fiction series Star Trek TNG
Children’s show, live action Sesame Street
Children’s show, animated Scooby Doo
Animated series, for adults Simpsons
Variety series Carol Brunett
Exercise show -
Science series Beakman
Sports show, regular series Wide World of Sports
Sports special -
Christmas special Roudolph the red nosed reindeer
Other holiday special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Western Brett Maverick
Doctor show Saint Elsewhere
Cable channel in general -
Made for TV movie -
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment Moon Landing
Commercial NONE!
SNL skit, one-time The Earl of Douchebag
“Foreign” series, comedy Muppets
Best TV show overall Simpsons
Had to log off before finishing (yeah, I should drop dial-up and switch to DSL or another cable option)…
“Foreign” series, comedy – Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Other categories?
Best quiz show (contestants must display knowledge) – Jeopardy!, with a special mention for Academic Challenge, on which I led my high school to victory twice in my two appearances
Best game show (contestants don’t need to demonstrate knowledge) – To Tell the Truth
And now for the OP’s final two categories, with an edit in the name of the second:
Best TV show overall – Seinfeld
Most memorable TV moment overall – For historic significance, Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon (the JFK assassination happened when I was four years old, so I don’t really remember the coverage)
What is the best:
Sitcom (Friends, with Simpsons a close second)
Sitcom moment (That’s Mrs. Chanandler Bong)
Hour-long drama (Sisters)
Hour-long drama moment (Jessie’s kiss in the last episode of Once and Again)
Cop show (none, none n one)
Cop show moment (none)
Lawyer show (Ally McBeal)
Lawyer show moment (Ally’s bathroom dancing)
Reality show (Survivor)
Reality show moment (The name heard round the world: Rich Hatch)
News show, regular series (No preference)
News show moment (Diane Sawyer interviews Rosie O’Donnell)
Daytime soap (General Hospital)
Daytime soap moment (Mary Mae singing the lullaby over the Sonny/Brenda shooting)
Food show (nope)
Food show moment (nope)
Science fiction series (Twilight Zone)
Children’s show, live action (Sesame Street)
Children’s show, animated (Jem)
Animated series, for adults (South Park)
Variety series (SNL)
Exercise show (none)
Science series (none)
Sports show, regular series (none none none)
Sports special (1996 gymnastics coverage Summer Olympics)
Christmas special (It’s A Wonderful Life Anniversary movie)
Other holiday special (none)
Western (Ew)
Doctor show (ER!)
Cable channel in general (CNN)
Made for TV movie (none)
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment (all of 9/11)
Commercial (Great Googly Moogly)
SNL skit, one-time (none, that’s why they weren’t repeated?)
SNL skit, repeating (Celebrity Jeopardy)
Best TV show overall (Survivor)
Animated Show: Futurama
Opening Song: “Inner Universe”, from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Sitcom: The Simpsons
Animated Children’s Show: Megas XLR
Live-action Children’s Show: Mr. Rodger’s Neighborhood
Cable Channel: Cartoon Network
Sci-fi: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (followed closely by Stargate SG1)
Game Show: The Price is Right
British Comedy: Blackadder
Science Series: Bill Nye the Science Guy
Star Trek:TOS
But UK centric…
Sitcom (Only Fools and Horses)
Sitcom moment ("Act nonchalant."Leans on the bar and falls through the hatch)
Hour-long drama (Band of Brothers)
Hour-long drama moment (Bastogne - the whole medic thing)
Cop show (Starsky and Hutch)
Cop show moment ()
Lawyer show (This Life)
Lawyer show moment (Christmas party)
Reality show (So you think you’re tough enough for the SAS?)
Reality show moment (evac of the rescued hostage, being chased by enemy)
News show, regular series (Questiontime)
News show moment (Liked the US pre election one with Michael Moore)
Daytime soap (grrrrrr)
Daytime soap moment ()
Food show (Faking It - guy getting trained by Gordon Ramsay)
Food show moment (when the guy passes the test by winning a competition)
(at this point, I’m going to stop listing moments – fill in the blanks yourselves)
Science fiction series - Star Trek - Voyager (Scorpion)
Children’s show, live action ()
Children’s show, animated (Battle of the Planets)
Animated series, for adults (Simpsons)
Variety series ()
Exercise show (huh?)
Science series (Horizon)
Sports show, regular series (Grandstand)
Sports special (2000 Summer Olympics)
Christmas special (Only Fools and Horses Xmas)
Other holiday special:
Western: Rawhide
Doctor show: Casualty
Cable channel in general (Discovery)
Made for TV movie: It
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment (Diana)
Commercial: Guiness Here’s to you Ahab
SNL skit, one-time: what is this?
SNL skit, repeating ()
“Foreign” series, comedy ()
“Foreign” series, other (West Wing)
Best TV show overall: West Wing or Buffy
Best TV moment overall: Fawlty Towers - “don’t mention the war”
Definitely going to be showing my age on this one…also, done without regard to others’ picks.
Sitcom (Roseanne)
Sitcom moment (Lucy on the assembly line)
Hour-long drama (Boston Public)
Hour-long drama moment (ER-first live show)
Cop show (COPS)
Cop show moment (-)
Lawyer show (-)
Lawyer show moment (-)
Reality show (Fear Factor)
Reality show moment (-)
News show, regular series (The Daily Show (duh))
News show moment (Jon Stewart’s first post-9/11 monologue)
Daytime soap (-)
Daytime soap moment (-)
Food show (Good Eats)
Food show moment (-)
Science fiction series (MST3K?)
Children’s show, live action (Mr. Rodgers’ Neighborhood)
Children’s show, animated (Reboot)
Animated series, for adults (The Simpsons)
Variety series (SNL)
Exercise show (-)
Science series (Bill Nye the Science Guy)
Sports show, regular series (SportsCenter)
Sports special (2003 NLCS)
Christmas special (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
Other holiday special (Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve)
Western (-)
Doctor show (ER)
Cable channel in general (CNN)
Made for TV movie (Category 6: Day of Destruction)
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment (Shuttle Columbia disaster)
Commercial (“Clap on, clap off”)
SNL skit, one-time (Three-Legged Jeans)
SNL skit, repeating (Weekend Update)
“Foreign” series, comedy (Monty Python)
“Foreign” series, other (-)
Best TV show overall (Friends)
Best TV moment overall (not “best,” but most memorable: 9/11 tv coverage)
Sitcom: The Dick Van Dyck Show
Sitcom moment: Final scene of “Newhart”
Hour long drama: Hill Street Blues
Hour long drama moment: Andre Woodard talking about her dead child in “Hill Street Blues”
Cop show: Hill Street
Cop show moment: See above
Lawyer show: Ally McBeal
Lawyer show moment:
News show, regular series: Weekend with Lloyd Dobbins and Linda Ellerby
Food show: Good Eats
Science fiction series: Babylon Five
Science fiction/fantasy series moment: Buffy killing Angel to save the world (2nd season)
Children’s show, live action: Pee Wee’s Playhouse
Children’s show, animated: Rocky and His Friends
Animated series, for adults: The Bullwinkle Show
Variety series: The Ed Sullivan Show
Science series: Ask Mr. Wizard
Christmas special: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Christmas episode of a series: “So-Called Angel” from “My So-Called Life”
Western: Best of the West
Cable channel in general: TCM
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment: JFK
Commercial: Gino’s Pizza Rolls
SNL skit, one-time: Slumber Party (“I might”)
SNL skit, repeating: Weekend Update
“Foreign” series, comedy: No, Honestly
“Foreign” series, other: Dr. Who
[QUOTE=tdn]
Title pretty much says it all, but the question gets pretty complicated, so let’s break it down into categories. I have put examples in parentheses, but these are not my actual choices, just suggestions.
What is the best:
Sitcom: WKRP in Cincinnatti
Sitcom moment: The Turkey episode of WKRP.
Hour-long drama: 24
Hour-long drama moment: When Magnum shot Ivan at the end of Did You See the Sunrise.
Cop show: The Shield
Cop show moment: The end of the Miami Vice episode Glades. “Maybe you won’t even twitch.”
Science fiction series: Firefly
Western: Deadwood
It’s going to take me a while to compile a full list, but one category is indisputable
News show moment: Barbara Walters asking Katharine Hepburn what kind of tree she would be.
Sitcom: I Love Lucy
Sitcom moment: As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly
Animated series, for adults: The Simpsons
Variety series: Carol Burnett
Variety series moment: I saw it in a window and just couldn’t resist
Christmas special: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Christmas episode of a series: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
Western: Best of the West
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment: 9/11
SNL skit, one-time: Slumber Party (“I might”)
SNL skit, repeating: Weekend Update
“Foreign” series, comedy: Man Around the House
“Foreign” series, other: Dr. Who
Sitcom (Cheers)
Sitcom moment (The End of either Newhart or The mary Tyler Moore Show, each a reward for long time viewers)
Hour-long drama (Cracker (UK))
Cop show (Hill Street Blues)
Lawyer show (LA Law)
Food show (Jamie’s Kitchen (UK))
Children’s show, animated (Astro Boy)
Animated series, for adults (The Simpsons)
Variety series (Denton (Australia)) or any other show Denton did.
Science series (Why Is It So? Professor Julius Sumner Miller (Australia) although Miller was an American. Fantastic TV from the early days.
Western (Lonesome Dove)
Doctor show (Scrubs)
Made for TV movie (And the Band Played On/Barbarians at the Gates)
SNL skit, one-time (something from long long ago)
“Foreign” series, comedy (Fawlty Towers)
Sitcom: Seinfeld
Hour-long drama: The Sopranos
Hour-long drama moment: Big Pussy’s execution
Cop show: Cop Rock
Cop show moment: They’re fuckin singing, man
Lawyer show: LA Law
Lawyer show moment: Every time Benny acted retarded
Reality show moment: The Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee pretends he shit his pants while doing yoga
Food show: Good Eats
Science fiction series: Star Trek
Animated series, for adults: Futurama
Variety series: Mr. Show
Science series: Scientific American
Christmas special: A Charlie Brown Christams
Western: Deadwood, duh
Doctor show: ER
Cable channel in general: Turner Classic Movies
Made for TV movie: Mother, May I Sleep With Danger starring Miss Tori Spelling
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment: Sept. 11, 2001
Commercial: Wake Up With The King
SNL skit, repeating: Will Ferrell and his lov-ah
“Foreign” series, comedy: Monty Python’s Flying Circus
Best TV show overall: The Sopranos
Best TV moment overall: Jon Stewart kicks Tucker Carlson’s ass
Best skit, SNL or otherwise: U2 and Lucky Clovers on The Ben Stiller Show
Best miniseries: I, Claudius
I forgot game show!
I’ve Got a Secret
Game show moment:
On the Price is Right, a contestant got so excited security had to haul her off.
I don’t watch much TV because I like very little on television. I just want to add one thing here:
“We interrupt this broadcast” moment:
Jim McKay in 1972 correcting the earlier report of the Israeli Olympic athletes being saved. It wasn’t a real break-in announcement because I watched it non-stop for hours. I still remember the look on McKay’s face…
Unlike some, this is when terrorism became real to me, not September 2001.