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kylef · 03:39 PM

I'm on the look out for a few new TV series to check out. I'm open to pretty much anything .. but nothing animated. To give you an idea of the sort of stuff that I've watched:

Prison Break
Lost (glad it's over, was getting stupid)
Desperate Housewives (only watched first few seasons, again - was getting out of hand)
Brothers and Sisters
The West Wing
Frasier
In Plain Sight (still watching)
House (still watching)

Thanks for any suggestions. Seems the perfect way to fill a 20/40 minute gap

Laminar · Jun 26, 2009, 03:39 PM

Firefly
The Shield

cjrivera · Jun 26, 2009, 03:39 PM

Are you looking for series that are currently on, or for series that have been cancelled and are out on DVD?

shifuimam · Jun 26, 2009, 03:40 PM

Firefly
The Office
Seinfeld (if only because of its cultural impact in the United States)

Too bad you don't want anything animated - Futurama is amazing.

cjrivera · Jun 26, 2009, 03:43 PM

Alias
The Shield
Cheers
NewsRadio

Shaddim · Jun 26, 2009, 03:44 PM

Buffy
Angel
Firefly
Sons of Anarchy
Dr. Who

ringo · Jun 26, 2009, 03:46 PM

The Wire

Seasons 1 - 3 are must-see. Season 4 is optional. Season 5 is nothing special.

paul w · Jun 26, 2009, 03:49 PM

The Wire is absolutely a must, but I disagree about seasons 4 and 5. They're all must see.

Rumor · Jun 26, 2009, 03:58 PM

Heroes (It is getting better)
Carnivale
Bones
True Blood
Oz

kylef · 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by cjrivera

Are you looking for series that are currently on, or for series that have been cancelled and are out on DVD?

Either or

Originally Posted by shifuimam

Firefly
The Office
Seinfeld (if only because of its cultural impact in the United States)

Too bad you don't want anything animated - Futurama is amazing.

I've watched a bit of Futurama before, and I thought it was alright. I think I'm more of a Family Guy..guy - watched it all. Loved it because it was a bit more rude than the Simpsons, but not as out-there as South Park or anything like that.

From what I've read on Wikipedia - The Office looks pretty good (there's a UK equiv. here which is awful).

Originally Posted by cjrivera

Alias
The Shield
Cheers
NewsRadio

Cheers was a classic, it's what got me into Frasier. The Shield looks quite interesting too - from what I've read at least.

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Buffy
Angel
Firefly
Sons of Anarchy
Dr. Who

Appreciate the suggestions, but these don't seem to be my thing. Have seen a few episodes of Buffy and didn't like the concept. Thanks though, these hadn't crossed my mind before.

Originally Posted by ringo

The Wire

Seasons 1 - 3 are must-see. Season 4 is optional. Season 5 is nothing special.

This also looks quite good. Same type of crime drama as "The Shield" only this focuses on the 'good' side of things?

Originally Posted by Rumor

Oz

I was actually looking at this before I posted this thread. Although I'm still a tad confused on the premise of it. The whole prison-filming thing though really got to me with Prison Break, so thanks for the suggestion - *adds to notes to check*.

I appreciate the suggestions, guys. Initial thoughts are veering towards The Office; The Wire; The Shield; and Oz. I'll probably check out a few others too though..

I don't want to focus on too many at once, perhaps two or three to start off. Nothing worse than getting caught on to four shows .. even watching just one episode a day of each adds up to a lot time better spent elsewhere.

Thanks!

Will still keep my eye out for a 'happy' show or two (eg. Brothers and Sisters or The West Wing) that doesn't focus so much on crime etc.

adamfishercox · Jun 26, 2009, 04:20 PM

The US Office was based off of the UK one (which I think is brilliant, but completely different and a lot more vulgar.)

mr. burns · Jun 26, 2009, 04:24 PM

arrested development
entourage
flight of the conchords [they're kiwis but it's american produced]
deadliest catch
first season of heroes

to name a few.

Rumor · Jun 26, 2009, 04:27 PM

Planet Earth.

exca1ibur · Jun 26, 2009, 04:31 PM

Stargate SG1

Chuckit · Jun 26, 2009, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Shaddim

Dr. Who

That's my favorite U.S. series.

Dakar V · Jun 26, 2009, 05:04 PM

lulz

Ghoser777 · Jun 26, 2009, 05:10 PM

Lost Season 1. After that, it gets a little hanky.

mr. burns · Jun 26, 2009, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Rumor

Planet Earth.

that's actually a BBC production. they just made a separate version, with sigourney weaver narrating, for the US.

SSharon · Jun 26, 2009, 05:15 PM

The Big Bang Theory. A professor of mine suggested it and now it is one of my favorite shows. The one flaw (and it is a big one) is the laugh track which is useless and annoying.

Shaddim · Jun 26, 2009, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

That's my favorite U.S. series.

It's on SciFi (SyFy), so it's close enough.

kylef · Jun 26, 2009, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by mr. burns

arrested development
entourage
flight of the conchords [they're kiwis but it's american produced]
deadliest catch
first season of heroes

to name a few.

Deadliest Catch looks interesting, thanks. Have heard a lot about Heroes but seems a bit .. out there (sci-fi was never my strong interest).

Originally Posted by Rumor

Planet Earth.

Completely forgot about Planet Earth. Stunning series, have only seen parts. This is an absolute must-buy! Thanks.

Originally Posted by SSharon

The Big Bang Theory. A professor of mine suggested it and now it is one of my favorite shows. The one flaw (and it is a big one) is the laugh track which is useless and annoying.

Looks like it could be a hit-or-miss with me, but perhaps worth a check out. Thanks.

andi*pandi · Jun 26, 2009, 05:52 PM

carnivale
deadwood
firefly
how I met your mother
bones
mad men ***

shifuimam · Jun 26, 2009, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by kylef

From what I've read on Wikipedia - The Office looks pretty good (there's a UK equiv. here which is awful).

Thank you. The U.S. version is infinitely better than the British, which I find flat-out painful to watch. The writing is better, the acting is better, the bit characters are far, far funnier. Definitely check it out.

mac redneck · Jun 26, 2009, 08:12 PM

Dexter

-Q- · Jun 26, 2009, 11:14 PM

Burn Notice

The Philanthropist (only b/c a friend of mine has a part in it

.

misc · Jun 26, 2009, 11:17 PM

Weeds
US of Tara
The Office

turtle777 · Jun 26, 2009, 11:18 PM

Firefly
Arrested Development
How I Met Your Mother
Curb Your Enthusiasm
24

-t

turtle777 · Jun 26, 2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by kylef

From what I've read on Wikipedia - The Office looks pretty good (there's a UK equiv. here which is awful).

Originally Posted by adamfishercox

The US Office was based off of the UK one (which I think is brilliant, but completely different and a lot more vulgar.)

The US version is just commercialized Hollywood stuff. Funny, yes, but not that original.

The UK version just blows your mind. It's ugly, obnoxios, painful.

In one word: AWESOME!!!1!one

-t

Cold Warrior · Jun 26, 2009, 11:28 PM

Alias
Chuck. Action like Alias, but not the continuous drama. Plenty of laughs. The tension and chemistry between Chuck and Sarah is also great.

Laminar · Jun 27, 2009, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by SSharon

The Big Bang Theory. A professor of mine suggested it and now it is one of my favorite shows. The one flaw (and it is a big one) is the laugh track which is useless and annoying.

Seconded.

moonmonkey · Jun 27, 2009, 12:34 AM

Mork and mindy, fresh prince, family ties etc.

msuper69 · Jun 27, 2009, 01:19 AM

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Currently my fav show.

cjrivera · Jun 27, 2009, 01:29 AM

SportsNight

andreas_g4 · Jun 27, 2009, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by mac redneck

Dexter

seconded. And thirded.

IAmZoraK · Jun 27, 2009, 03:00 AM

Weeds, Scrubs, and To Catch a Predator

Chuckit · Jun 27, 2009, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by IAmZoraK

To Catch a Predator

That is disturbing.

paul w · Jun 27, 2009, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by kylef

This also looks quite good. Same type of crime drama as "The Shield" only this focuses on the 'good' side of things?

Different in that all characters - good or bad - are given the same depth and treated equally. Each season covers an aspect of Baltimore as it relates to crime and corruption - though there are main characters that follow the entire story through to the end.

It's impossibly wonderful.

mattyb · Jun 27, 2009, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by andreas_g4

seconded. And thirded.

Dexter fan here as well. Great great show.

I enjoyed "Life" with Damian Lewis (from Band of Brothers) who I just learned is actually a Brit, yet does a better accent than Hugh Laurie - IMHO.

ajprice · 05:18 PM

Not all American, but here goes…

Battlestar Galactica, Dr Who, Torchwood, Firefly.

If you liked League of Gentlemen, watch Psychoville. It's in a very similar style, dark, twisted, weird characters.

Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire is also good, hard to think of what to compare it to, but its a kind of comedy version of Robin Hood, with the hero and his gang trying to save the villages from the bad guys. Matt Lucas (Little Britain) is the head bad guy. Oh and they're all idiots.

These two series are on at the moment, Thursdays on BBC2. The earlier eps might still be on iPlayer.

ghporter · Jun 27, 2009, 05:05 PM

Notice how many people have mentioned Firefly. There's a reason. Don't let the "sci-fi" genre it gets pigeonholed in fool you. This is a series about people with issues that make them interesting, and who run into situations that they have to find ways around or through while facing very strong obstacles.

The complete series is $33 on DVD, or $55 on Blu-Ray at Amazon (and you can find it for less elsewhere). With the pilot, there are only (sadly) 15 episodes total. I HIGHLY recommend this series.

ajprice · Jun 27, 2009, 05:15 PM

Yes to everything ghporter said about Firefly, it's popular for a reason.

dlefebvre · Jun 27, 2009, 06:25 PM

Arrested Development is definitely worth it. (It's only 3 seasons)
Weeds
House MD

brassplayersrock² · Jun 27, 2009, 07:12 PM

ice road truckers

abbaZaba · Jun 27, 2009, 07:23 PM

I second and third these shows:

Oz (this is really good. there is a fair amount of male frontal nudity so take heed)
Carnivale
Deadwood (really really good)
Dexter (probably my favorite show)
United States of Tara

abbaZaba · Jun 27, 2009, 07:25 PM

oh and Weeds is entertaining but after the 3rd season it starts getting a little out there

also: Breaking Bad (this makes a run for favorite show against Dexter)

and 30 Rock

angelmb · Jun 28, 2009, 12:31 PM

64stang06 · Jun 28, 2009, 12:48 PM

If you like Nathan Fillion, maybe give Castle a shot.

SSharon · Jun 28, 2009, 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Seconded.

You like the show or you agree that the laugh track has to go?

The show isn't as exciting and suspenseful as Prison Break, Jericho, etc., but it always gets some good laughs when I watch it before bed.

ghporter · Jun 28, 2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by 64stang06

If you like Nathan Fillion, maybe give Castle a shot.

Seconded. I haven't had time to watch more than a couple episodes, but Nathan is in rare form with this character. And the rest of the cast is solid, and the writing is great too.

gradient · Jun 28, 2009, 06:40 PM

If you haven't seen it already, The Sopranos was possibly the best complete drama series ever produced for American TV, in my opinion anyway.