***Official TV sitcoms and Series recommendation thread***

[rong]

What's so good about the wire. On the strength of this thread I got my hands on the first series of it, I just watched episode one and was so bored I didn't even finish it. I then tried Dexter, which was better, but still not great.

Neither were anywhere near as entertaining as either Lost (only watched first 3 series), 24 (watched series 1-6), Heroes or Trueblood.

I really want a new series to get into but I'm struggling to find anything. Prison break is pretty rubbish, concept is good but acting is awful.

Also, I think someone mentioned band of brothers, I only watched a few of those but they were fantastic. Not really suitable for me and the mrs though, and I don't watch tv on my own, that's time I could be playin poker.

[drmcboy]

Yeah the TB stuff with the vampire culture, and the anti vampire stuff is very cool, hopefully they feature that next season

[Warpe]

Dead Like Me

[Ash256]

What's so good about the wire. On the strength of this thread I got my hands on the first series of it, I just watched episode one and was so bored I didn't even finish it.

You were probs waiting for something dramatic to happen.

One of the things I personally love about The Wire is the little moments of deepness you get in it, the little metaphors, the moments of contemplation, the symbols, etc.

FWIW it took me 5 episodes to really get it

[bigspenda73]

Everyone who tried to tell me to watch it on 2p2 told me I wasn't going to enjoy the 1st season of the wire. So, I never watched it.

[Halv]

1st season is good. 2nd can go either way, it's a bit different/unexpected. 3rd and 4th are goot. 5th sucked when I watched it week by week, but wasn't that bad when I did a marathon rewatch. Still not as good as 1-4 tho.

--

Anyone mention Psych yet?

[boost]

just watched the first episode of the wire.

Im def hooked.

[bigspenda73]

psych is great, as are a lot of the USA shows like burn notice, monk, white collar, etc...

[Deanglow]

I forgot about curb your enthusiasm. best comedy out there imo

[boost]

psych is great, as are a lot of the USA shows like burn notice, monk, white collar, etc...

Ive never watched any of these shows.. but they all look terrible from the commercials I see on them. Esp burn notice and white collar.

[drmcboy]

yeah I got through about 10 minutes of burn notice and could not stand the tone. Actually have disc 1 of monk from netflix right now, we'll see. Also hated the pysch commercials, plus I could not see Charlie from West Wing in a role like that.

Oh yeah, west wing is good, couple seasons are a little meh toward the back but worth watching. better for liberals.

[Halv]

Love burn notice.

Of course, anything with Bruce Campbell in it is gonna be awesome.

[bigspenda73]

they're fun shows, interesting and don't take themselves too seriously, my kind of stuff. Burn notice is great, idk how you could watch 10 minutes and not like the tone, the tone is a badass dude chilling in Miami doing crazy shit for friends of friends. He kicks it with his homie Bruce Campbell and blows shit up, good stuff.

[UG]

my wife loves Burn Notice but, meh, I'm not a fan. the pace of the whole show just doesn't reel me in, and then they do all of those weird fast paced cut scenes like CSI: Miami is so good at, but it just doesn't work for me on that show for some reason. it's not painful to watch or anything, it's actually decent I guess, but just not must-see-TV for me.

LOST is the only series I watch (and have watched from the beginning). I'm looking forward to February.....If you have the time, I'd definitely recommend going back and watching the first five seasons, you won't be disappointed.

Check out Eastbound and Down, too (you might have to rent, go on Netflix, or check it out whenever they replay it on HBO). Fucking hilarious.

[bigspenda73]

your wife once again proves she married way down the talent pool

[UG]

lol, you might be right.

I guess I also got into Fast Forward, too. I can't say I love the show (it is pretty damn cool though), but I started watching it when it came out because I thought it had a cool storyline, and I'm in so deep I'll probably follow it until the end. The execution of the storyline isn't the best at times, but it's still pretty entertaining.

My wife DVR's CSI: Las Vegas and CSI: Miami, and I think the Miami version is better. She does the NCIS shows too, but the original is better and Los Angeles sucks.


also, spenda, I edited my comments about Burn Notice before I saw your reply. I didn't mean to shit all over it, I mean I've probably sat and watched a good 8-10 episodes.....just doesn't totally do it for me, though.

[bigspenda73]

well if his chick was hotter (or he hooked up with other hot chicks) it would have just about everything I need. Don't worry about shitting on it, I understand it's not the most well-executed/written/acted show there is, and I'm ok with that.

[Halv]

your wife once again proves she married way down the talent pool

My wife DVR's CSI: Las Vegas and CSI: Miami, and I think the Miami version is better.

Waaaaaaaaay down.

[surviva316]

i watch very little on tv that isn't comedy, and i'm going to mention a few things that no one else even came close to consider mentioning, so maybe this post can just be ignored altogether:

The Office-the only show on this list that is best watched chronologically because the story line's actually essential to a lot of the comedy

Scrubs- another storyline heavy comedy, but you'll laugh if all you do is watch the reruns

Always Sunny- any episode from any season is gold.

Home Movies- best show that no one's heard of, imo.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force- obviously my taste really differs from everyone else here if i'm the first person to have mentioned this show

Tim and Eric- super-fucking-weird/cutting edge humor. if you're into it, it's hilarious; otherwise you will probably come back asking me what the fuck i just had you watch.

Moral Orel- i have a feeling this could become wuf's new favorite show.

happy to see my so-called life got a shout out, but that show's well before 2006. i guess you've realized by now that i'm a college-aged rerun whore

[BankItDrew]

I've watched a dozen episodes of Home Movies, pretty sure my life will one day become like John McGuirk's. Funny show... Moral Orel is also a very funny animation but I've never gone out of my way to watch it.

[wufwugy]

What's so good about the wire. On the strength of this thread I got my hands on the first series of it, I just watched episode one and was so bored I didn't even finish it. I then tried Dexter, which was better, but still not great.

You can't do this. People like to say that they only watch stuff for the instant gratification, but you simply cannot do that. If that was categorically acceptable then nobody would have ever read Lord of the Rings or Count of Monte Cristo or Grapes of Wrath or any novel that that blows out the shallow, myopic, one-trick-pony stuff that modern westerners have been trained to prefer.

The difference is that a show like CSI (which is way more popular than Wire) uses as little detail as possible to catch audiences, but a show like The Wire does everything it can to go beyond that and capture things like art and timelessness and thematic elements and real character and story development. The difference is that what most people like is essentially cartoons or comic strips for adults. Shows like The Wire and Dexter and every other top rated show by those who know film are more like novels. They go into much detail, and almost always are considered superior products by those who simply put in the time, just like novels compare to movies

It's okay to not want to put in any time going beyond superficial gratification. Just letting you know that a show like the two you mentioned are ones made to NOT gratify superficially. If you plan on being captivated by one episode, you're doing it wrong. Just like if you plan on being captivated by the first 10 pages of a 500 page novel, you're doing it wrong

One way of putting how not even close The Wire is better than the popular cop dramas like CSI and LnO is that those shows do one case per episode, whereas The Wire starts out as one case per season (but it goes even deeper than that). They're just not even in the same ball park. I mean the first episode of The Wire only has like 5-10% of all the main characters throughout the series.

And it's not about watching actual good shows requires more brain power. It doesn't, it just requires patience. You know, the kind that you have when you read a novel longer than 200 pages and they had to build up the characters, story, and world instead of just cracking a knock-knock joke while an old guy farts on the cheeky intern and the laugh-track tells you when something funny happened.

[wufwugy]

Don't get me wrong. I love instant gratification too. I require it often. I just wanted to point out that there exists television shows that do not adhere to that paradigm, but instead attempt to be like those super epic novels that we read when we were kids or something, and those novels always turned out to be WAAAAAAAY better than expected. The thing is that we just had to stick it out while the details built everything.

Look at it this way, I don't know anything about any of the characters in 'normal' TV shows. There is no detail, no depth, no nothing. It's just a bunch of generic characters going on camera and doing nifty stuff and making happy for half hour to hour once a week. However, in novelesque shows, the opposite is true. I know more about Bubbs from The Wire or David from Six Feet Under than I do every single character in every single generic show I've ever seen combined. On top of that, the novelesque shows almost always have much better production and cinematic value than the stuff that caters to average audiences

[rong]

GTFOOHWTBS You are a total TV snob.

Fisrtly, I can soooo do that.

Cos what exactly did I do? I said that esentially I thought the first episode was boring, and on the strength of that episode, I don't think I'm going to bother watching the rest.

The first episode of a series needs to do something. Either entertain you, or entice you in with implications that something interesting is going to happen. This did neither. The main detective chap was kinda dull, the story was boring, it just looked like a typical flashy American TV drama that thought it's script was way better than it is.

As for books, the first chapter of a book is hugely important. It sets the scene for the entire story. It doesn't have to be exciting, funny or clever. But it has to be something, make you feel something, even if all it makes you feel is that something good might come from the rest of it.

The first episode of the wire did nothing for me. In this day and age, with so many drama series out there, why should I watch one that wasn't interesting to begin with. It's not enough for the end to justify the means when it comes to a drama series, its about the journey, and this journey started off real slow, like a train journey that never made it out of the station. Dexter seemed better, I have the first two series of that and I'm going to try and watch the second episode tonight, but the wire was simply dull.

[boost]

DanArong, you need to go back and start the series over. You havent even met Omar yet.. srsly, youre missing out imo.


Also, on shows like burn notice, leverage, csi, ect. The thing I really hate is the color saturation and the camera movement. This probably sounds strange, but those two things alone completely turn me off. The color saturation is a pretty weird one.. these shows seem to employ really bright, vibrant and crisp colors, yet it somehow makes for an incredibly dull world. The camera movement Im talking about is the big swooping shots that are painfully overused. Its like they have no respect for photography.. they cant just offer a really sweet still shot, the camera has to be flying across the scene. So tilting.

[wufwugy]

GTFOOHWTBS You are a total TV snob.

Fisrtly, I can soooo do that.

Cos what exactly did I do? I said that esentially I thought the first episode was boring, and on the strength of that episode, I don't think I'm going to bother watching the rest.

The first episode of a series needs to do something. Either entertain you, or entice you in with implications that something interesting is going to happen. This did neither. The main detective chap was kinda dull, the story was boring, it just looked like a typical flashy American TV drama that thought it's script was way better than it is.

As for books, the first chapter of a book is hugely important. It sets the scene for the entire story. It doesn't have to be exciting, funny or clever. But it has to be something, make you feel something, even if all it makes you feel is that something good might come from the rest of it.

The first episode of the wire did nothing for me. In this day and age, with so many drama series out there, why should I watch one that wasn't interesting to begin with. It's not enough for the end to justify the means when it comes to a drama series, its about the journey, and this journey started off real slow, like a train journey that never made it out of the station. Dexter seemed better, I have the first two series of that and I'm going to try and watch the second episode tonight, but the wire was simply dull.

You misunderstood me. I was expressing how stuff works, you're expressing your preference.

[rong]

The first sentence of your post was "you can't do this" which kinda got me ranting, but I do see your point about trashy shows compared to deeper more considerate ones. I still think the first episode is important though, in fact extremely important, and after all the hype of The Wire, I had huge expectations which were simply not met.

[Ash256]

after all the hype of The Wire, I had huge expectations which were simply not met.

What were these expectations and how did you acquire them?

[wufwugy]

The first sentence of your post was "you can't do this" which kinda got me ranting, but I do see your point about trashy shows compared to deeper more considerate ones. I still think the first episode is important though, in fact extremely important, and after all the hype of The Wire, I had huge expectations which were simply not met.

I've always used Saving Private Ryan as a premier example of how the beginning of any film should be very gripping. All the amateur stories I've written have adhered to this idea, and any in the future will as well

However, I've come to realize that many storytellers don't bother with this. FWIW, I was bored for the first 100 pages of East of Eden, but that turned out to be the best classic novel I've read, and I was bored for the majority of the entire first season of Carnivale, but that turned out to be my favorite story to date. I mean I love that show so much I would gladly pay a 100$ per episode for them to finish the final 3 seasons they had planned, but if you watch just the first episode or maybe first couple episodes you'll likely be thinking WTF is so great about this... With Carnivale specifically, you don't actually find out what the plot of the series is about until about episode 8-9. Even though I think it would be nice if they could really grip you in the first episode, I think that could have actually detracted from Carnivale's awesomeness in building up everything and revealing the truth further in.

With regards to some shows, you just gotta stick it out. I personally did not care for The Wire at all until about midway first season, but because I knew exactly how highly rated it was, I was determined to get into the meat before I judged it. That's just how it happens when a story is meant to be very involved

And FWIW, I shut off Dexter too. First episode didn't get me at all, or I wasn't in a great mood or something. But I love cinema so much that I decided to come back to it later and give it another and longer shot, and after I began to see the meat of the show and get acquainted to its style, I found it to be supremely entertaining

[bigspenda73]

someone mentioned "Deadwood" so I watched the first few eps last night, the setting/plot seems pretty badass but I found myself losing interest for some reason. I'll give the next few episodes a try tonight and see if I cant get hooked. If I do I'm sure I'll watch all 30 eps by the end of next week.

[Deanglow]

The first sentence of your post was "you can't do this" which kinda got me ranting, but I do see your point about trashy shows compared to deeper more considerate ones. I still think the first episode is important though, in fact extremely important, and after all the hype of The Wire, I had huge expectations which were simply not met.

I understand your sentiment completely but please please please give it until about the 4th episode. If you are not hooked then come back and call us all basterds

[Stacks]

Another +1 to giving The Wire another go, and longer this time. It gets better.. I'm trying to get my hands on all seasons again to begin re-watching (effing notice to stop torrenting =[)...

Anyways.. TY to whomever recommended Friday Night Lights. I had previously watched the first episode before, and thought it was corny, and didn't give it another look. Got bored, so rewatched, and knocked out all 3 seasons on Netflix in under a week. Was pretty awesome. Just finished watching, and pretty much want to marry Julie (Aimee Teegarden). Oh.. The show was pretty good too.

[Stacks]

Is there any place to watch Six Feet Under online, like legally?

[boost]

(effing notice to stop torrenting =[)...

details?

[Renton]

just hit a torrent and it will be on your hard drive in a few hours, buzz killington

edit: rofl didn't see your previous post

[Stacks]

I haven't looked at the email in about a month, but it was from I believe NBC for me pirating a few episodes of The Office. Said to either cease or they would press charges. So I obv have ceased because I don't have the 10million dollars per episode they would be able to sue me for.

[bigspenda73]

Anyways.. TY to whomever recommended Friday Night Lights. I had previously watched the first episode before, and thought it was corny, and didn't give it another look. Got bored, so rewatched, and knocked out all 3 seasons on Netflix in under a week. Was pretty awesome. Just finished watching, and pretty much want to marry Julie (Aimee Teegarden). Oh.. The show was pretty good too.

Yes it's widely known that the pilot sucks and is just some varsity blues level to set up all the characters. Also, stay away from Aimee, she's mine!!!!!!!!!

[Deanglow]

I'm halfway through the 2nd season of FNL and I think the first season is quite a bit better

[boost]

I haven't looked at the email in about a month, but it was from I believe NBC for me pirating a few episodes of The Office. Said to either cease or they would press charges. So I obv have ceased because I don't have the 10million dollars per episode they would be able to sue me for.

jeez that sucks.. have you quit torrenting all together? I wonder if Ive received anything like this.. I dont use my ISP's email, so I wouldnt know..

[bigspenda73]

I'm halfway through the 2nd season of FNL and I think the first season is quite a bit better

def., a few of the storylines in season 2 were lolbad; however, they weren't that far off of some of the weird shit that goes on in small towns in Texas. Season 3 (as well as the start of 4) might be on par with season 1, but definitely better than Season 2.

[Stacks]

Anyways.. TY to whomever recommended Friday Night Lights. I had previously watched the first episode before, and thought it was corny, and didn't give it another look. Got bored, so rewatched, and knocked out all 3 seasons on Netflix in under a week. Was pretty awesome. Just finished watching, and pretty much want to marry Julie (Aimee Teegarden). Oh.. The show was pretty good too.

Yes it's widely known that the pilot sucks and is just some varsity blues level to set up all the characters. Also, stay away from Aimee, she's mine!!!!!!!!!

HU4Aimee?

And I agree Dean.. First season was pretty great. 2nd was meh, starting out okay, and sorry to say, but deteriorating as the season went on imo. 3rd season got it back on track imo, and I liked the 3rd season. But 1st was best.

Matt Saracen is pretty much the greatest guy ever also fwiw. No homo, but he can have my heart.

[Stacks]

I haven't looked at the email in about a month, but it was from I believe NBC for me pirating a few episodes of The Office. Said to either cease or they would press charges. So I obv have ceased because I don't have the 10million dollars per episode they would be able to sue me for.

jeez that sucks.. have you quit torrenting all together? I wonder if Ive received anything like this.. I dont use my ISP's email, so I wouldnt know..

Yes, so far.. And it sucks. The day I got that email, I just stopped, and I've been dying to get The Wire back on my external (no idea what happened to it). I want to re-watch that so bad, but no idea where to go.

Question: Would getting media via FTP transfer show up on their radar?

P.S. - Someone from FTR, perferably someone with a kickass database of shows, should setup a JTV channel that streams kickass shows (Six Feet Under, The Wire, FNL, Entourage, etc). That would be epic win, and I would gladly chip in towards whoever took the time and effort to do that.

[wufwugy]

Totally gonna be a work around with that piracy thing

Like how NBC doesn't care about HBO piracy, maybe just mask IP, that type of thing is a bluff anyways....

[frosst]

Totally gonna be a work around with that piracy thing

Like how NBC doesn't care about HBO piracy, maybe just mask IP, that type of thing is a bluff anyways....

what wuf said, plus you can download peerguardian, which is a program that monitors your connections to other ips. when it comes across a known ip that tracks torrent users, for say NBC, it will automatically block that ip access to your pc, thereby keeping your actions safe, keeping them secret. herego, vis-a-vis knowwhatimsayindawg?

[jyms]

I'm going to need a stream for a bunch of these shows too. My IP just sent me a note in my last bill that my downloads are getting too high and I will have to start paying if it keeps up. Anyone know of steam sites in Canada.

[bigspenda73]

i stumbled across ctv.ca trying to watch a show the other day, wouldn't let me watch but guessing your canuck ass will be fine.

[jyms]

Yea, found that one yesterday, but I was looking for Entourage and The Wire particularly. CTV does have some shows I want, not sure if it has past seasons or not yet, but not those.

[jyms]

http://free-tvshows.com

Hit and miss sometimes ona few episodes if they are old. So far I watched most of the Entourage series here and had to search out some others on this forum

QuickSilverScreen Forum (Powered by Invision Power Board)

I can't download torrents anymore my ISP wants to start charging me for downloading so I am a streaming machine now. Sometimes I have to sacrifice quality.

[bode]

i'm through season 2 of entourage and its good so far.

quicksilverscreen used to be so awesome. You could just straight download a shit ton of movies, now i think everything is streaming.

[BooG690]

I'm loving that Undercover Boss.

[jyms]

Finished all 6 of Entourage, sucks I have to wait. Worth the watch for sure.

I need to see more of Omar. I can do without all the man kissing but the guy is so fucking bad ass.