Empire's List of the 50 Greatest Shows (a.k.a. a piece of crap)

Empire's List of the 50 Greatest Shows (a.k.a. a piece of crap) (Read 2468 times)

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PTizzle

#21 April 14, 2008, 03:47:29 pm

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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.

Quote from: Shinan on April 14, 2008, 01:36:48 pm

The Flying Circus (1969-1974) is there, as is Fawlty Towers (1975-79).

Also the original Star Trek series is from the 60's.

Last Edit: April 14, 2008, 03:49:29 pm by PTizzle

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TheInquisitor

#22 April 14, 2008, 06:20:20 pm

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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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Wash Cycle

#23 April 14, 2008, 06:45:27 pm

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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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Impeal

#24 April 14, 2008, 07:50:55 pm

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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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Lyndon

#25 April 14, 2008, 08:24:39 pm

Captalist pig :|
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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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headphonics

#26 April 14, 2008, 10:36:42 pm

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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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jamie

#27 April 14, 2008, 10:39:01 pm

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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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Artis Leon Ivey Jr

#28 April 14, 2008, 10:45:40 pm

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Quote from: bazookatooth on April 14, 2008, 10:36:42 pm

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.

brian chemicals

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TheInquisitor

#29 April 14, 2008, 11:40:08 pm

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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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Lyndon

#30 April 14, 2008, 11:50:45 pm

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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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Ragnar

#31 April 15, 2008, 02:39:47 am

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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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EvilDemonCreature

#32 April 15, 2008, 02:55:10 am

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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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tuxedo marx

#33 April 15, 2008, 04:21:53 pm

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Quote

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)

Last Edit: April 15, 2008, 04:23:52 pm by Rockman.

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maladroithim

#34 April 15, 2008, 05:36:41 pm

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Quote from: Ragnar on April 15, 2008, 02:39:47 am

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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kentona

#35 April 17, 2008, 03:08:24 pm

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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

Quote

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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tuxedo marx

#36 April 17, 2008, 04:13:05 pm

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Except those are all live-action series! (also Seinfield? Seinfield?)

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Fire Mage

#37 April 17, 2008, 04:16:56 pm

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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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Artis Leon Ivey Jr

#38 April 17, 2008, 04:39:47 pm

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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?)

brian chemicals

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Shinan

#39 April 17, 2008, 07:11:50 pm

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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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Sarevok

#40 April 22, 2008, 02:44:01 pm

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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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