The rules did not stipulate that the show had to be American. By far, the best conservative show ever was “Yes, Minister” and its sequel “Yes, Prime Minister”. (Only the sequel qualifies, however, due to the 25 year limit.)
Even though this was produced by the BBC, it brilliantly and hilariously skewered the conceit of politicians and bureaucrats. It is some of the best political satire ever produced in any medium.
Wikipedia says it was Margaret Thatcher’s favorite tv show, which is a pretty good conservative endorsement considering that she was PM when the show was produced.
Netflix has it available for download.
Adam Baldin, it should be noted, is a good old Chicago boy who has nothing to do with the Hollywood Baldwin's.
Star Trek (original series), Bonanza, Leave it to Beaver, Bewitched, The Munsters, The Addams Family, Andy Griffth
I gave up on network and cable shows over 25 years ago but I DO have a TV and a dvd player. These are the kind of shows I watch every night - all conservative:
Rawhide
The Virginian
Have Gun Will Travel
Maverick
Laredo
Laramie
Gunsmoke
Bonanza
Wagon Train
The Legend Of Wyatt Earp
The Rifleman
I must have at least a thousand movies, most every one pre-1965 films. An exception would be some of John Wayne’s westerns like Rooster Cogburn (75).
If you spend something like 25 years watching nothing but that old stuff you’ll kinda end up not being able to relate anymore to modernity.
Hey, that’s okay with me!
Conservative TV? Really. I can’t think of any, but then I don’t watch network stuff anymore. My favorites were Harry O and Rockford Files, but all that does is date me. I would have to say today that Survivor is probably the best objective show on TV in that it reveals the truth in people versus our beliefs in people. Being objective usually qualifies as conservative in that it reminds folks of the limitations of humans.
No miniseries?
A waste of time.
Sons of Anarchy... O.k. maybe not family oriented but definitely manly oriented.
Sopranos.. O.k. maybe not family oriented but definitely manly oriented.
Deadwood... O.k. maybe not family oriented but definitely manly oriented.
The Man Show... O.k. maybe not family oriented but definitely manly oriented.
I give up...
If it went back 50 years, I’d pick “The Andy Griffith Show”. (with the caveat and understanding that both Andy and Opie turned into linguini spined libs, gaga over the kenyan in ‘08)
An off-the-wall honorable mention here: Star Trek, The Next Generation.
The first couple of seasons were painfully New-Agey (and sometimes just plain painful), but later eps had several outstanding episodes touting conservative themes.
One of my very favorites was the two-parter “Birthright”, in which Worf refuses not only to give up his values and way of life to fit in with the touchy-feely, kumbayah Romulan-Klingon prison camp, but also works to undermine the camp itself.
“Burn Notice”. How can you argue with a show where the female lead says, “Well, in my experience, if something seems to good to be true, it’s best to shoot it just in case?”
I’m probably gonna get booted for this but here goes...
How about Kitchen Nightmares by Gordon Ramsay? Granted, he’s a foul-mouthed, crude SOB and it’s certainly not for the kids BUT looking past all that, he’s a true free-market capitalist who’s not above holding others accountable for doing a half-assed job.
ok, I’m running for cover now.
I’m not sure Family Ties was trying to be conservative. They let Alex have some good moments here and there, but his views were usually shown to be cold and incorrect. Plus, I knew he wasn’t a real conservative when he was in a sweat trying to decide whether his ultimate conservative hero was Reagan or Nixon.
Tour of Duty is missing from that list. I'd make an argument for The Sentinel as well. Human Target looks promising from what I've seen so far.
I'd call 24 more balanced than conservative until its most recent years where it tilts left. The most conservative part of 24 and what it did best is the dealing with the bureaucrats. I thought Jack himself was apolitical, a soldier.
Of the list, Magnum PI is about the best there was on that. It was respectful of veterans, the cast comes off as regular people.
Two Words: COP ROCK!
*just kiddin'*
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Babylon 5 yet.
Government taken over by an autocrat, after assassinating the President everyone liked? Check.
New administration creates an actual “Ministry of Peace” lifted directly from “1984” including the MiniPax nickname? Check.
Brownshirts: Night Watch? Check.
Secret Police: Psi Corps? Check.
And then you see the resistance against intrusive government. Always a high premium put on personal responsibility (Franklin’s drug use, Garibaldi’s drinking, both overcome on their own). Always a focus on the individual. The realization by the Minbari that fighting is sometimes necessary. The expulsion of both the Vorlons and the Shadows, as being representative of another form of controlling government.
Hart to Hart: happily married and deeply in love rich couple jetting around the world taking the law into their own hands and seeking justice (quite often with a gun, one that is hidden in the steering wheel of Jonathan Hart’s car) all while being charitable to others and animals causes.