6 TV Series that shook your world (or at least gently nudged it)

[drunken boxer]

Continuing our "6 (blah) that shook your world" series:

I was a telly addict as a kid, but in the last 10 years or so thankfully I did more productive things than watching tv, like training, socialising, working. I just watched sport and the odd comedy. But recently I discovered that apparently we are in the "Golden Age of American Drama" and in the course of getting some recommendations I discovered the yin/yang mix of good and evil that is the DVD box set! Is it a waste of time, or is it part of being a scholar warrior to appreciate the art and culture of our time? I'll leave that for others to debate - along with my list:

1. The Soprano's. BRILLIANT. Brilliant characters, brilliant acting, brilliant comedy, just great.

1. Battlestar Galactica (Reimagined). BRILLIANT. If you love sci fi you'll love this, if you don't, you still will if you give it a chance, its themes are way beyond sci fi. Brilliant story, brilliant characters, brilliant acting. Could be the outright winner instead of joint top but for criminal underuse of the robots and I hated the ending, but still amazing. Even the pilot (which had been recut as a feature movie when I watched it) is up there on its own right with the best sci fi I've seen such as Star Wars, The Terminator etc.

3. Rab C Nesbitt.
Everyone from northern ireland or scotland knows a guy like Rab. Where i grew up, this was on at 930 on friday night and people would postpone their night on the drink to watch this - it takes a lot to do that to us on a friday.

4. Friends.
Some of my friends/colleagues think that to like this, you have to either be a girl, or be stupid. Well they can take a running jump, I thought it was great.

5. Only fools and horses.
Very funny, great family show for christmas etc, Del Boy, Rodney, Trigger, Boycie are such well loved characters.

6. Blackadder.
More great fun and humour.

7. (Yes I'm cheating with a 7 even though I started the thread) The Wire.
Called by many fans and critics the best TV series ever. It is certainly brilliantly made in every way, but for me it can't reach the top because its too bleak - I like a bit of humour and some happiness or at least a chink of light / hope in a show.

Would be interesting to hear your opinions, lists, recommendations...

[Chiahua]

I don't watch much TV these days, but I used to quite a lot.

1. Red Dwarf: I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Red Dwarf. I watched this show religiously from its very beginning, and was sort of sad when it started to get less funny.
2. Monty Python's Flying Circus: Yeah, another British show. But man, this was the right show at the right time--absolutely hilarious and perfect for my spazzy mindset back in the day
3. Mystery Science Theater 3000: It's about a guy trapped in space by his former employers. The bosses make him watch horrible movies as part of a science experiment. To keep his sanity, he builds robots that make snarky comments at the movie. So really the show's about watching a horrible movie and listening to their (usually) funny comments.
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation: I didn't watch the Original Series (TOS), but grew up watching the exploits of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard. The channel that broadcast it in our area did not come through too well on our TV, but I watched it whenever I could.
5. The Simpsons: I used to watch it much more, but stopped since the more recent episodes have been spotty.
6. Beavis and Butthead: I probably should not be putting this down, but my sense of humor is so influenced by this show that it's sort of... sad.

PS Paul.... Friends??? Really??? wow.

[Molly]

I'd imagine we'll see a lot of similarities here among the family, and I'm no exception.

apart from number one, the most important, here they are in no particular order:

1. Star Trek Voyager: this was the gateway drug that shattered my hipster existence and turned me into the hapless nerd I am today. This is all entirely Josh's fault. After spending several years mocking him mercilessly for being a trekkie, I found myself sucked it. Thanks a lot buddy.

2. The Simpsons: you've got a situation, any situation, I've got an appropriate Simpsons quote.

3. Futurama: please see above explanation.

4. Lost: You either love it, or you just don't know you love it yet. So many crazy, seemingly unrelated yet delicately interwoven storylines. It's like a modern day tropical catastophe Victor Hugo novel.

5. Battlestar Galactica: Just brilliant, if you haven't seen it, see it!

6. The Wire: Gritty, thought-provoking, heartstring tugging. And Jimmy McNulty is pretty good looking too. Not exactly uplifting, but easily one of the finest shows ever made. Period.

Being Minnesotan, I'll give honorable mention to Mystery Science Theater as well. It's just like watching bad movies with my friends. If they were awesome robots.

[Andrew]

Without much explanation:

1) Kung Fu (David Carradine)
2) The Water Margin
3) Monkey
4) Star Trek (the original series, of course)

Now it gets more difficult ......

5) "Not the 9 o'clock news" --- maybe only known to the Brits?
6) ... pretty much any series with Ronny Barker

[Daniel]

1-the young ones
2-red dwarf
3-black adder
4-manos a la obra (spanish one)

[Mark A]

Hey Folks,

Saphire and Steel..........( very obscure 80's series)

Monkey and water margin

Kung Fu ( of course)

Farscape

Star Trek as a whole universe

Natural World David Attenborough

Mark

[Kevin_B]

Dear Virtual Kwoon Readers,

24: I actually get quite animated when talking about 24 so I need to limit myself to one comment: Utterly exceptional in everyway possible. Most memorable quote: ‘I’m sorry we let you down Ryan…’

Glenroe: Iconic Irish TV drama from the 80’s. Given my child of the 80’s status, I have many fond memories of the Sunday night ritual that was watching Glenroe with my folks. Still haven’t quite recovered from the shock of Miley’s affair with the babysitter (Holy God!) or Biddy’s wholly implausible car crash in which she met her end. Sad stuff really.

The Simpsons: Sign over Springfield Zoo: ‘Born free, then caged’. Hilarious stuff.

Macgyver: Essential part of the staple TV diet of any self-respecting child of the 80’s. Possibly the only person in the history of man who could take make a jetpack from some paper clips and commonly available household detergents which, most conveniently, happen to be lying around the storeroom in which he was being held hostage by shady moustache-wearing goons. Guys loved him because they wanted to be him; women loved him because of the mullet.
Cracking theme tune too.

The Frontline: Still in its debut season, The Frontline is Ireland’s socio-economic answer to Jerry Springfield. Essential viewing for those who wish to bear witness to the fallout from the Great Irish Economic tragedy that is the post-Celtic Tiger years. Expect much finger-wagging, chin-wagging and shards of spit flying everywhere. Most likely politician’s quote: ‘At the end of the day, the reality of the situation is that we are where we are and…ehhhh…why is that angry man looking at me like that…”

Ren and Stimpy: Happy happy joy joy anyone?

Best Wishes,

Kevin

[Andy]

Thankfully Ive managed to break out of my old TV habits ...but I still glow with warm and fuzzy nostalgia reading these lists

• Blackadder
  More hilarious moments in each series than is decent. Classic!
  
• Red Dwarf
  I would have thought this type of humour wouldnt cross the pond well? Brilliant in its day. It is indeed sad that they milked it beyond its life span.
  
• The X-files
  Another show that died a slow death, but first 2-3 series were truly extraordinary (pun).
  
• Farscape
  Very clever twist on common sci-fi themes. Which reminds me of...
  
• Babylon5
  Genius series in its heyday!
  
• The A-team
  As a 5 year old at 5pm on a Saturday it dosent get any better. Can I cheat and add honourable childhood mentions to Transformers, Thundercats, Ulysses, Cities of Gold, Dogtanian?....I'll stop now.

Andy

PS

Beavis and Butthead: I probably should not be putting this down, but my sense of humor is so influenced by this show that it's sort of... sad.

Uh-huh huh huh, uh-huhuhuh, uh-huhuhuh

you said "putting this down"

[Chiahua]

I never watched a lot of MacGyver, but I'm glad someone put that down on their list

Ren And Stimpy also! Space Madness is one of my favorite cartoons, EVER.

I would have thought this type of humour wouldnt cross the pond well? Brilliant in its day. It is indeed sad that they milked it beyond its life span.

You know, the Sci Fi comedy is an under utilized genre. And it's nice, because it's Sci Fi I think it crosses lots of boundaries (except the geek boundary).
I heard there was a "Return to Earth" Red Dwarf mini series, but I'm not sure I want to see it for the same reason that I completely regret seeing the second and third Matrix movies.

[PM]

- Twin Peaks

- Carnivale

- Lost

- Kingdom (the original one, Lars von Trier's)

- ...so far "V" and Flashforward is not bad, we will see; i also like Supernatural. Black Adder and Red Dwarf is cool. BSG was not so bad, but i did not like the ending (no spoilers, do not worry)

[joko]

Mine are Korean Drama Serials:

- Jumong
- Yisan
- Iron Empress / Empress Chun Chu
- You're My Destiny
- Golden Apple,

and, of course, "the Eagle Shooting Heroes" Trilogy.

Joko

[Molly]

Of course!! I forgot all about MacGuyver! I watched the whole series, beginning to end. Even though every episode followed the same format, I still loved it for all it's cheesy glory.

[AlexBaranosky]

MacGyver, classic.
A-Team.
Stargate.
Seinfeld.
X-Files.
Beavis and Butthead.
Star Trek, both.

But I barely ever watch tv anymore. I don't even have a tv

[DiegoM]

Kung Fu
The Invaders
X-Files
Star Trek (TOS & TNG)
The original "V" miniseries
Roots

And probably more... I watched a lot of TV when I was growing up...

[Chiahua]

Mine are Korean Drama Serials:

- Jumong
- Yisan
- Iron Empress / Empress Chun Chu
- You're My Destiny
- Golden Apple,

and, of course, "the Eagle Shooting Heroes" Trilogy.

Joko

Did you used to live in Korea or do they play lots of Korean dramas in Indonesia?