THE 35 BEST SHOWS ON TV--EVER

New York Post ^ | April 27, 2008 | ROBERT RORKE AND STEPHEN LYNCH

[ConservativeStatement]

Our parents told us TV would melt our brains. While it's possible "Punky Brewster" and "A-Team" did just that, along the way we saw some genius art. Television can't play 90 minutes on the big screen and vanish into the bargain bin. And it lacks one author to take it from introduction to the final page. Yet within these boundaries, there are a small number of shows that capture our attention, our obsession, and create enduring stories. How many? 35. They're listed here.

[proudtobeanamerican1]

Buck Rogers Anyone?

[MitchellC]

The mother on Good Times, Florida, was Maude’s housekeeper for a couple of seasons.

[MarkL]

Personally, I think 'Barney Miller' is one of the best TV shows ever made, but there you go

As would I. Barney Miller certainly deserves to be on the list. BTW, did I mention that Ron Glass, Detective Harris on Barney Miller, played "Shepherd Book," quite possibly the most interesting character on my favorite TV show of all time, "Firefly?"

Mark

[MitchellC]

That's pretty much the way I feel about X-Files. The only episodes that I liked at all were stand-alones. The only episode I thought was great was the one with the guy who could foresee how people died.

[MarkL]

Joss Wheedon, his writers, and even his actors really outdid themselves in both the series, Firefly, and the movie, Serenity, in coming up with memorable, quotable lines.

Mark

[MitchellC]

The most hilarious episode of Beverly Hillbillies that I’ve seen was the one where Jed and Jethro were invited by friends of Mr. Clydesdale to “shoot golf.”

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Just so everybody knows what you’re talking about-nice site devoted to the TV show:

http://www.emergencyfans.com/general_info/FAQ.htm

[floralamiss]

Was reading last night that William Faulkner disliked television and would not allow a television set in Rowan Oak. But there was one program he enjoyed immensely and every week would watch at a friend’s house. It was “Car 54 Where Are You?” LOL!

[MarkL]

I only saw a tiny part of the episode "Safe" when it was actually on Fox. I never saw it again until a buddy told me that if I didn't buy the DVD set, I'd never forgive myself. He loaned me the first DVD, which I watched, and that evening I ordered the set from Amazon. I can't recall how many times I've seen every episode at this point, but I will say that I watched at least one episode every night after work for a few months. And I've ripped them to avi's, so I can keep them on a single DVD, flash drive, or my laptop. I still watch at least one episode a week, and it's been a few years now. It's like getting together with some old, close friends. Maybe it's Kaylee's smile.

Mark

[ConservativeStatement]

My brother has fond memories from his youth of an animation TV series called Prince Planet. Ever hear of that (mid-to-late 60s, I’d guess)?

[saminfl]

I acquired a set of vhs tapes with all the episodes. They were recorded off some TV channel and some of the quality is gone, but I love that show.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I liked the episode that Jethro wanted to be an astronaut.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

I liked the one where Drysdale bought Jethro a surplus rocket because Jethro wanted to go to the moon after reading sci-fi pulps. Drysdale thought it was safe because it had been defused, and Jethro would soon tire of trying to figure a way to propel it. Granny used her corn squeezins to power it, and Jethro rode it over the ocean, where he was picked up by the military and thought to be an alien. It showed Jed, Granny, and Ellie May watching tv, and you heard Jethro saying to the reporter “Hey! Where’s all the moon maidens?” And Jed just shook his head. Dear God, that was one of the funniest moments I remember on TV.Another good one was where Drysdale bought Jethro a surplus tank.

[ConservativeStatement]

TZ has been mentioned a few times in this thread. What an intoxicating series. One of my favorite episodes "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up":

[floralamiss]

There’s a holdup in the Bronx,
Brooklyn’s broken out in fights.
There’s a traffic jam in Harlem,
That’s backed up to Jackson Heights.
There’s a scout troop short a child,
Krushchev’s due at Idlewild......
CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU???!!!

Words: Nat Hiken
Music by: John Strauss

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

My personal fave of all the space shows was SPACE PATROL(w/Commander ‘Buzz’ Corey), although ROCKY JONES, SPACE RANGER and TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET are also remembered fondly. Hell, we’ve forgotten THE LONE RANGER and CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT too. None of these may be considered top 100 by todays standards, but they were considered groundbreaking at the time.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

The great and irreplaceable Jack Elam. I forgot he was on Twilight Zone.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Are we thinking of the same episode? See post 253.

[Cyropaedia]

Barney Miller was probably the most true to life cop show ever put on American television.

A lot of drudgery, and dealing with morons over the most ridiculous stuff; -day, after day, after day.

[BnBlFlag]

Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners.

Modern - The Sopranos, Lonesome Dove