NY Post - THE 35 BEST SHOWS ON TV--EVER (Their caps)

[charlie and algernon]

"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. Don't see your favorite television show? That's probably because, while entertaining, it didn't rise above mere packaging for a car commercial.These programs, decided on by a group of obsessive New York Post writers who never listened to their parents, are something more. Popular and compelling, yes, but groundbreaking as well, each one changing what was possible - and what sometimes was allowed - on TV.This is television's most perfect network, playing on repeats in the TiVo of our minds."

edit: forgot to post the link - http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272008/tv/the_best_shows_on_tv__ever_108106.htm

1. Sopranos
2. All in the Family
3. Oprah
4. American Idol
5. West Wing
6. Mary Tyler Moore
7. Dallas
8. 24
9. Twin Peaks
10. Sesame Street
11. Johnny Carson

14. I love Lucy

18. Simpsons

21. Honeymooners
22. Miami Vice
23. Seinfield

27. Star Trek (original series)
28. X-Files
29. Dick Van Dyke

34. Cosby Show
35. General Hospital




It's a crap list. All in the Family belongs at number 2, carson should be in the top 5, 24 and american idol shouldn't even be on the list. MASH isn't even on the list!!

[DaydreaminHippie68]

1. Is The Sopranos

really that good to be number 1 ?

[charlie and algernon]

2. i never had HBO, so i couldn't see it

but i doubt it would be above some of the classics.

[DaydreaminHippie68]

5. I think Mash

should be up there...I love that show.

[charlie and algernon]

7. yeah

certianly top 20, if not top 10

[DaydreaminHippie68]

19. I can't remeber

who died, remind me please

[Missy Vixen]

8. Yes

If you're using the criteria of those who wrote the list. To say that "The Sopranos" revolutionized television is an understatement. The writing was incredible, the acting even more so, and those who watched the show were riveted. HBO is still struggling to replace it and "Sex in the City".

Julie

[Phillycat]

3. 6 Feet Under and The Wire are both better than the Sopranos.

Oprah? :wtf:

[charlie and algernon]

9. the DC101 DJ explained it best why oprah is on the list

she basically said because whatever oprah says is good, becomes like gold. Oprah's created a massive cult following with her show and people listen to her.

[BuelahWitch]

4. General Hospital?

:shrug: It's not even the best soap...

[charlie and algernon]

6. isn't it the longest running show ever?

it beats out sesame street by 6 years. I'd keep it at 35 just for that.

[BuelahWitch]

17. No

The Guiding Light and As the World Turns have been on TV since the '50s (and GL was on radio before that). At one time those soaps had better writers and actors than GH too (IMO). I haven't watched any soaps for so long I don't know.

[bmbmd]

12. The article mentions "Luke and Laura"

but it was Doug and Julie that brought campus life to a standstill when I was in college. My girlfriend was unavailable when "Days" was on.

[HERVEPA]

10. Dup

[HERVEPA]

11. Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, St. Elsewhere

and I agree, Carson should be higher. And of course Mash.

[limit18]

20. Let's not forget Cheers

:applause:

[quip]

28. St. Elsewhere: Ding! Ding! Ding!

:thumbsup:

[skygazer]

13. Lists like that are always crap lists

It's a waste of time and energy trying to quantify something like that.

[grannylib]

14. What a load of rubbish. American Idol? You must be joking.

[PVnRT]

15. What the hell is so good about The Sopranos?

Anyone else remember that it was basically a ripoff of the movie Analyze This at first?

[Mojambo]

26. Extraordinarily overrated show, IMHO. n/t

[MissMillie]

16. I've never watched The Sopranos

But I love All in the Family and I'm glad to see it way up there. It would be my #1.

I'm also happy to see The West Wing.

I really loved Mary Tyler Moore, but I didn't think anyone else felt that strongly about it.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. "The Wire"? "Homicide: Life on the Street"?

No?

I call BS.

But then again, it is the New York Post, the world's best birdcage liner.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. Beat me to it.

How the fuck American Idol got on there, I'll never know.

Wait -- NY Post is owned by NewsCorp., which owns FOX, which broadcasts... American Idol.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

21. No MASH? No Mr. Rogers?

American Idol? Gag me.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. If you can have I Love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke, why not

The Defenders
Naked City
East Side/West Side
and what's this with no mention of The Twilight Zone?

I loved The Sopranos, though. The main characters were definitely not admirable, but the quality and originality of the writing was hard to top. I was also fond of Six Feet Under and Carnivale. I never got into The Wire, but something tells me I should see the DVDs.

[Sheets of Easter]

24. Let's see. NY Post=Murdoch paper.

So that's how "Idol" slithered to #4. Crap list is right.

edit- "24" shouldn't be on there, either. That show is a perfect example of great theory, poor practice.

[Mojambo]

25. I stopped reading after seeing Idol at number 4

Total trash. To be expected from the Post.

[grace0418]

27. WORST LIST EVER! (my caps!) Where is Six Feet Under, Arrested Development, Northern

Exposure...?

Instead they choose General Freaking Hospital? Miami Vice? WTF?

[bullwinkle428]

29. Uh...excuse me, but where the FUCK is "Cop Rock"???

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