Best TV Shows......

As reality shows have been blowing up lately and as we have been discussing what makes a great show, I have been thinking.......what shows have been my favorite throughout the years? Everybody loves to rank things: Best movie, best song, best dress, best actor, best pizza, etc.. etc..

Well, I've decided to come up with my own list. My top 5 TV shows of all time. The shows that I loved and still love to watch. You know those shows....the ones that pop up every once in a while and you can't turn the channel even though you've seen that specific episode 100 times.

I have watched much TV throughout my years so this was actually more difficult then it might seem. I had to cut out shows that were entertaining at the time but then got old after awhile (The OC comes to mind). I had to cut out shows that although might be your favorite...wasn't mine (ie Friends....that show would make my top 5 hated shows of all time...Sorry). I had to also cut out shows that are classics but just not good enough to make my list (like Beavis and Butthead). I also cut out reality shows (gasp) even though if I made a top 10 then of course (The Bachelor) would no doubt be on that list.

Included in my list are shows that might make you furrow your brow. Shows that might make you think less of me (if that is even possible). And shows that might define me in a way that is less than masculine (yes, I know...I've already accomplished that feat).

Anyway, in the end, I came up with the following.....hate me, love me, yell out, "NO WAY"...I don't care. These are shows that I looked forward to all week. Shows that I couldn't get enough of and still watch to this day whenever they are on.


Drumroll please......



#5 Different Strokes



Nothing says humor more than a little black kid with pudgy cheeks who constantly yells out, "Watcha talkin' bout Willis?" The show's premise: Rich white guy with teenage daughter adopts 2 "brothers" and tries to cultivate and educate them. In reality, what Mr. Drummond learns is that it is "he" who gets the "education."

"Now the world don't move to the beat of just one drum. What might be right for you....may not be right for some."

Never has a show's opening tune spoken more volumes. Definitely had to have "Different Strokes" in my top 5.



#4 Lost





Most of you already know why I love this show: Drama, life metaphors, and of course...KATE. I look forward to this show the minute that little robot shows up signifying the end of the hour of the episode I just watched. You never know where this show is going or what questions they are going to answer. I love to try and "figure it out" even though I rarely do. That is the mark of a great drama in my opinion. It keeps you guessing and never fully gives you the answers. Plus there's always "Kate."


#3 Threes Company



Ah. The show prohibited by most Mormon parents....which is probably why I liked it so much. (Maybe there is life lesson there?) The show that was "taboo" in its day. Not only did a guy live with 2 girls but he acted "gay" so he would be allowed by Mr. Ferley (the landlord) to reside there. This was a big no-no back in the day. No one lived with 2 women and no one was or acted gay. (Look how far our society has fallen.....)

This show was hilarious from start to finish. It always began with a misunderstanding and we had to endure 30 minutes before each character figured out that they were sorely mistaken. Jack (unlike today's shows) never "slept" with Chrissy or Janet but instead became their friends! (gasp.) There was actually no sex on the whole show (even though Larry always tried).

Even though this show was banned by many Mormon families, it can now be seen on the family channel. (go figure).

Quick...name the place where Jack Tripper hung out? That's right.."The Reagle Beagle." How could you not love a show with a bar called "The Reagle Beagle?"

Definitely had to have this one in my top 3!



#2 Beverly Hills 90210




The show that started it all: Teenage drama on the big screen. What mid 30s adult living right now, didn't wait with anticipation for BEV to begin each week? What mid 30s adult living right now, didn't get together with friends (girls and guys alike) to eat popcorn, drink soda and watch how Brandon and Brenda (two Minnesota teenagers) could coexist and blend in with kids from "Beverly Hills." Not only did they blend in....they became part of the drama. For the first time in network television the "big issues" were brought to light and we "learned" that teenagers did in fact have sex and do drugs. Who couldn't forget Donna Martin's plea to her mother: "Just because you put a fence around the pool, doesn't mean kids aren't going to jump in. You still have to teach them to swim." (sidenote: It took Donna Martin 7 years to "swim" which made her argument all the more compelling....)

Yes, I too watched the show. And yes, I loved it just like you. If you go to the "Soap Opera" channel, you can catch re-runs of this classic show.

ps Weren't they in high school for like 6 or 7 years?!?! Hilarious!


And the #1 show of all time, in my humble opinion........................



#1 Seinfeld



"The show about nothing." 30 minutes of straight sarcasm!!!! This show came along at the right time in our society. Once this show realized it wasn't about Jerry, it took off. Instead of the characters setting up Jerry, he instead "set up" everyone else. The show created stars in Elaine, George, and Kramer. And it created numerous common phrases that we use even in today's world. You know a show is great when in almost any situation, one can refer to an episode of "Seinfeld" and everyone will laugh.

You can't flip through the channels and not stop when coming across an episode of "Seinfeld." But the true humor doesn't come from the show itself but from the common references by people throughout the years.

"Seinfeld" is a classic that will never get old and never go away and that is the mark of a great TV show.


Anyway, that is my list. If I have forgotten your favorite, please enlighten me. But I doubt any of yours can ever or will ever CRACK my top 5.