Gaming World Forums
General Category => Entertainment and Media => Topic started by: Finality on April 14, 2008, 01:20:19 am
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http://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/
50. Quantum Leap
49. Prison Break
48. Veronica Mars
47. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
46. Sex and the City
45. Farscape
44. Cracker
43. Star Trek
42. Only Fools and Horses
41. Band of Brothers
40. Life On Mars
39. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
38. Curb Your Enthusiasm
37. Star Trek: The Next Generation
36. Father Ted
35. Alias
34. Frasier
33. CSI
32. Babylon 5
31. Deadwood
30. Dexter
29. ER
28. Fawlty Towers
27. Six Feet Under
26. Red Dwarf
25. Futurama
24. Twin Peaks
23. The Office
22. The Shield
21. Angel
20. Blackadder
19. Scrubs
18. Arrested Development
17. South Park
16. Doctor Who
15. Heroes
14. Firefly
13. Battlestar Galactica
12. Family Guy
11. Seinfeld
10. Spaced
09. The X-Files
08. The Wire
07. Friends
06. 24
05. Lost
04. The West Wing
03. The Sopranos
02. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
01. The Simpsons
So, Empire magazine decided to compile a list of the 50 greatest shows OF ALL TIME. You could have fooled me, seeing as though there is nothing pre-1980. I agree with the first spot, but Buffy is the second best show television has ever offered? Lost number 5? West Wing before Seinfeld? Pretty much lost all credibility after that.
Sorry, but shows like I Love Lucy and MASH has done more for television than most of that list combined, yet they were beaten out by... VERONICA MARS!
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You know why this list is awful? There's no Taxi, no Cheers, no Bob Newhart anywhere, no serial cartoons like Ninja Turtles or Batman: The Animated Series. This basically looks like one 22 year old virgin's opinion presented as some sort of well-researched compilation, which upon the slightest glace you can see that its not researched at all. There is no Johnny Carson, no Dave Letterman, and they put DEEP SPACE NINE on the list. That was probably one of the worst of the franchise next to Voyager. They are saying BABYLON 5 IS A BETTER SHOW THAN CHEERS. No Happy Days either. (WHAT?!)
As someone who loves TV, I am appalled. The list should be called "Top 50 Shows our Readers Like".
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Jesus Christ, I don't agree with this list at all - but who agrees with these types of lists, anyway? Family Guy is WAY too high. I'm glad DEXTER and SIX FEET UNDER made the list but FAMILY GUY is above it.
Also.. where's Laguna Beach guys... where's.. Flava of Love Season 2 starring Flava Flav...
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Where's Fresh Prince...
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lost and prison break but no i love lucy.
all of these lists are so terrible.
also buffy has an entire school of literature thought devoted to it, it's not such a weird choice.
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This must be an excerpt from Empire's article
"First 50 Shows that popped into our heads"
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family guy is higher than the office!
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I cannot possibly fathom how St. Elsewhere isn't on the list. Not only did it have one of the craziest most existential endings TV has ever produced but pretty much every show in the 80s referenced it and every show in the 90s referenced those shows from the 80s and there's this huge cult following that believes EVERY POST-80s TV SHOW is a product of Tommy Westphall's imagination.
Fuck.
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Did this include miniseries as well? Because I see BAND OF BROTHERS there.
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^It must then, yeah. If so the list is a whole different story.
Family Guy at number 12 is such crap. I don't hate the list but certain shows on there are way too high considering some shows aren't on there at all. Lost is way too high. The Simpsons had an amazing first...9-10 seasons or so but has become really, really lacklustre bar a few exceptions (the movie was pretty good, last episode of season 18 was pretty good). As someone said it sounds like a 22 year olds list - Fawlty Towers isn't high enough, MASH, early cartoons, I Love Lucy (I don't like old TV but that show is pretty awesome) are totally ignored and so on.
I admit that I don't watch a lot of old TV but I wouldn't write a list like that because I obviously don't know enough. If he'd changed it to "Top shows of the last 25 years" it would've been a lot better.
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Sorry, but shows like I Love Lucy and MASH has done more for television than most of that list combined, yet they were beaten out by... VERONICA MARS!
Not to mention Oz! That show was very ground breaking. Law & Order isn't on there either.
Yeah, bad list.
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Wow. this is the WORST!!!
I don't watch too much TV but someone explain to me why buffy is #2 (I've never seen it) and fucking FRIENDs and family guy are higher than the office and arrested development
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Obviously despite being labeled as "of all time" this list is only recently aired tv shows.
I'd say this is a pretty accurate list if you look at it as maybe the last 5 or 6 years.
Then again pretty much all my favorite shows made top 20.
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I want to lock this on the basis of how bad the list is but yeah, I guess it's a topic for everyone to come in and say HEH THIS SHIT IS THE WORST.
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The only pre-80's I see on the list is Star Trek, which is fine. The list really lacks 80's shows too though, like Magnum P.I. I can agree with Simpsons being on top but Buffy as second, family guy at twelve? Neither should be on the list at all.
HEH THIS SHIT IS THE WORST
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I was about to shit my pants in rage because I couldn't find Firefly anywhere on the list, but its actually sitting at a well-deserved 14th...
Other than that, this list is pretty much bullshit.
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The only pre-80's I see on the list is Star Trek, which is fine.
The Flying Circus (1969-1974) is there, as is Fawlty Towers (1975-79).
I don't entirely disagree with this list. Sure the order could be different but all the shows are fairly quality, there's nothing I would classify as Pure Shit on the list and although some things are missing that's only to be expected.
I would say that without taking the order into account all of these shows fit into a top50, not mentioning exactly where in the top50 they'd fit.
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'The Wire' is at number 8? THE FUCKING WIRE GOT A LOWER RANKING THAN MOTHERFUCKING 'FRIENDS'?!! AND FUCKING 'LOST', TOO?!! Passing... out... from... sheer... unadulterated... rage...
Also, Futurama was way better than the Simpsons.
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No All in the Family, no MASH, no Happy Days, no..... Well, not a single good old sitcom is even on this list.
I've never heard of this "Empire" and, quite frankly, I can see why now. This list is full of so much bullshit that I am surprised that American Idol and Survivor do not top the chart.
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The Flying Circus (1969-1974) is there, as is Fawlty Towers (1975-79).
Yeah, temporary mindslip there. Fawlty Towers and Mash should definetly be on that list.
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^I've bought the magazine a few times and it's not a bad read, but I think it should stick to film if it's going to put TV lists out like this.
Granted, the actual article on the site is a half decent read, which, granted, doesn't change the list, but at least helps get into the mindset the writer was in somewhat.
But jesus, in no series of parallel universes would Family Guy ever be a better comedy than Fawlty Towers or The Office.
The Flying Circus (1969-1974) is there, as is Fawlty Towers (1975-79).
Also the original Star Trek series is from the 60's.
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I'd say the titles in the list are pretty solid. There's probably a few shows that aren't there that deserve to be. Some of the shows listed have been wildly inconcistent, like Family Guy, 24 and the Simpsons and should therefore be much lower. Whilst I agree with most of the titles, the order is woefully poor.
Star Trek
Only Fools and Horses
Red Dwarf
Blackadder
Futurama
South Park
The Office
Fawlty Towers
Are the best ones I can see on the list. Some of the others, although not as good should fairly be there on merit. Even if you don't like Friends or The Simpsons, you can't argue with their cultural impact and huge popularity. The biggest shocker in the list, I feel, is "Angel". I can't see its merit it being there. It wasn't nearly as huge as Buffy and neither were particularly great shows. :P
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Pretty much everyone I've ever talked to who knew what I was talking about would agree that Northern Exposure was one of the best television shows of the 90s if not ever. Had a great ensemble cast, an original setting and honestly... no show other than The Office since has been able to match it as far as comedic dialogue and adlibbing goes. What a great fucking show... and oh... Prison Break makes the list but Northern Exposure doesnt. haha PRISON BREAK
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I just realized Empire is the same magazine that released that list of "50 best indie films" a couple years back, and we all thought that list was terrible too.
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it's all opinions at the end of the day. Like, I think X Files should be number one, buts that just me...
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it's funny to me that shit like the original star trek even made this list. who really thinks this shit?
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i guess lists like these are inherently interesting cos it's an extremely digestable of piece Journalism. but really it's completely worthless, just like all things which try to objectively rank hugely subjective items in any kind of structured order. i mean seriously, why even set out to do this other than to fill space in your magazine? i guess there is also the reason that you need to fill space in your magazine, but even that is stretching it.
who the heck cares. it's like, it's a really easy topic to come in post in obviously, but why make a topic about it? to express outrage at some magazine not seeing things your way? to talk about how lists suck? bargh. i don't want to be an asshole but i just don't get why anyone shows any interest in this crap.
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it's funny to me that shit like the original star trek even made this list. who really thinks this shit?
probably there for importance.
of course, they also put the NEW DR. WHO.
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I assumed they meant the whole Doctor Who from start to finish. Of course, it was all crap.
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Life on Mars should definitley not be on that list AT ALL. I can't stress this enough.
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Didn't Dexter just come on like a week ago
Also CSI is a pretty horrible show
Also I can see where they could be phobic about putting up obvious shit like TAXI and stuff because that stuff would fill up the list pretty fast - but even as a list of "recent" shows it's pretty damn horrible
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Man. Don't get me started.
I'm just glad an episode of south park already covered it for me, and it's number 17.
I don't know how ironic that makes it, I better watch the episode again.
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Also, Futurama was way better than the Simpsons.
For so many reasons, yes.
Yeah, I don't really want to reiterate what everyone's been saying, but this list quite shocked me! Maybe we should make GW's List of the 50 Greatest Shows (a.k.a. a pile of lovely)
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Didn't Dexter just come on like a week ago
I think its into its third season but it definitely has at least two seasons. Also it is pretty good.
But like everyone else I agree that other than the #1 spot (the Simpsons is probably the most important and popular television show ever) this is the worst list ever.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer SERIOUSLY???
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This list is crap. I like a lot of shows on that list, but c'mon...Buffy? Deep Space Nine?
Here's a better list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_Guide's_50_Greatest_TV_Shows_of_All_Time
1. Seinfeld (NBC, 1989-1998)
2. I Love Lucy (CBS, 1951–1957)
3. The Honeymooners (CBS, 1955–1956)
4. All in the Family (CBS, 1971–1979)
5. The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007)
6. 60 Minutes (CBS, 1968— )
7. The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 1993— )
8. The Simpsons (FOX, 1989— )
9. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS, 1960–1968)
10. Saturday Night Live (NBC, 1975— )
11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970–1977)
12. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (NBC, 1962–1992)
13. The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS, 1961–1966)
14. Hill Street Blues (NBC, 1981–1987)
15. The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS, 1948–1971)
16. The Carol Burnett Show (CBS, 1967–1978)
17. The Today Show (NBC, 1952— )
18. Cheers (NBC, 1982–1993)
19. Thirtysomething (ABC, 1987–1991)
20. St. Elsewhere (NBC, 1982–1988)
21. Friends (NBC, 1994–2004)
22. ER (NBC, 1994— )
23. Nightline (ABC, 1980–present {originally premiered as The Iran Crisis—America Held Hostage in 1979})
24. Law & Order (NBC, 1990— )
25. M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972–1983)
26. The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1959–1964)
27. Sesame Street (PBS, 1969— )
28. The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984–1992)
29. The Phil Donahue Show (Syndication, 1970–1996)
30. Your Show of Shows (NBC, 1950–1954)
31. The Defenders (CBS, 1961–1964)
32. An American Family (PBS, 1973)
33. Playhouse 90 (CBS, 1956–1961)
34. Frasier (NBC, 1993–2004)
35. Roseanne (ABC, 1988–1997)
36. The Fugitive (ABC, 1963–1967)
37. The X-Files (Fox, 1993–2002)
38. The Larry Sanders Show (HBO, 1992–1998)
39. The Rockford Files (NBC, 1974–1980)
40. Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1975)
41. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (The WB/UPN, 1997–2003)
42. Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (NBC, 1968–1973)
43. Bonanza (NBC, 1959–1973)
44. The Bob Newhart Show (CBS, 1972–1978)
45. Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990–1991)
46. Star Trek: The Next Generation (Syndication, 1987–1994)
47. The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (ABC, 1959–1964)
48. Taxi (ABC/NBC, 1978–1983)
49. The Oprah Winfrey Show (Syndication, 1986— )
50. Bewitched (ABC, 1964–1972)
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Except those are all live-action series! (also Seinfield? Seinfield?)
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Band of Brothers and Dexter are so low while BUFFY and SEINFELD and FAMILY GUY top the list?
Hell, Band of Brothers deserves Top 5.
Fuck that. This is a horrible list.
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what?
Seinfeld is not only one of the most profitable sitcoms ever (resulting in Jerry Seinfeld becoming a billionaire) but it was pretty much the defining television show of the 90s. even if you don't care for it, you have to admit it deserves a pretty high place on any list just for significance.
it also was genuinely funny a lot of time and was the first sitcom to try new things (dare I say...postmodern?)
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The two lists differ pretty majorly on the fact that one publication is British and the other American. At a quick glance I can't see any non-american series on the TV Guide list (and checking the wikilink it says "is a list of American TV series" making this post redundant, but the point sort of still stands)
Even looking closer at the American all-time TV though I've never even seen half of the shows there and neither Northern Exposure nor Sledge Hammer! is on any of the lists.
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Shinan beat me to posting about the all-american thing. I didn't bother clicking the link so I didn't know it was meant to be american-only but w/e.
Still I always find these lists are ALWAYS just a way to put the simpsons at number 1. We have top 20/50/100 [ x ] every other week on TV here in england, and it's ALWAYS "Right, Simpsons first...now find 49 other shows." It's so hilariously bad that they once had the TOP 50 ACTORS OF ALL TIME and Homer Simpson was number 1. They didn't even try to hide it by awarding it to the voice actor... it went to the bloody character. Every other one was, of course, an actor.
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as long as Seinfeld is the top 1 in any list I'm satisfied, that's all I care
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what?
Seinfeld is not only one of the most profitable sitcoms ever (resulting in Jerry Seinfeld becoming a billionaire) but it was pretty much the defining television show of the 90s. even if you don't care for it, you have to admit it deserves a pretty high place on any list just for significance.
it also was genuinely funny a lot of time and was the first sitcom to try new things (dare I say...postmodern?)
Everything usually just boils down to opinions. Seinfeld never grew on me therefore I don't care for it. But I will recognize that it did a great job for a live-action show...
But I still can't really stand it.
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Futurama's not even on the Wiki list. Bullocks. Also where's the Charlie Brown specials (it's not really a series or show, but it did have a big impact)? and the first Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles?!
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Has anyone here actually ever watched Only Fools and Horses? It is comedy genius. No other comedy show will ever come close to it in my "opinion" and therefore should be number one. Also where the fuck is Heroes. :crazy: