Shows that are critically acclaimed but you think are rubbish.

[Wesley]

Love/Hate
The Sopranos
The Walking Dead
Firefly
The Office (British tv series)

[plastroncafe]

Big Bang Theory
Two and a Half Men

[Raph's Girl]

Firefly
24
Falling Skies
Big Bang Theory

[DarkFell]

Me thinks that the term "critically acclaimed" is just another over abused word.
I sorta liked the earlier Charlie Sheen driven two and a Half Men, then it just got repetitive after a few shows later. I grew to disliked the Aston Kutcher version of the show.
I used to like Everyone Loves Raymond just for Peter Boyle and wanted Raymond to go away most of the time back when it was still airing. I dunno if it was critically acclaimed or not at the time

[MrPliggins]

I enjoy the Walking Dead but it's nowhere near as good as its popularity.

I would definitely say Orange is the New Black. I'm having a hard time making it through season 2. S2 ep 1 was good, but from the second episode on it seems like just more of the same. I'm only about 7 episodes in. Hopefully it gets better.

[snake]

I hate Big Bang Theory.

Someone once compared it to blackface, but for nerds, and I agree. When you portray people who read comics as annoying, no wonder no one reads comics anymore.

[turtlefanforever]

but Modern family is up there. I think that show stinks.

[Jester]

Never watched it, but man do I find Sofia Vergara annoying.

[CyberCubed]

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica. The show was very boring, too bland, and too stupidly complex with stuff that had no reason to be there.

The original 70's Battlestar Galactica was a lighthearted fun spoof on Star Wars, that's all it needed to be.

[snake]

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica. The show was very boring, too bland, and too stupidly complex with stuff that had no reason to be there.

The original 70's Battlestar Galactica was a lighthearted fun spoof on Star Wars, that's all it needed to be.

Didn't Battlestar Galactica come before the release of Star Wars?

[Jester]

Didn't Battlestar Galactica come before the release of Star Wars?
BSG was released a year after the release of the 1st Star Wars flick.

[snake]

BSG was released a year after the release of the 1st Star Wars flick.
Thanks! I wasn't sure.

[Leo656]

Is "Two-And-A-Half Men" really critically-acclaimed, though? Granted, I'm not really "up" on it - my wife's Dad watches it daily so I'm exposed to it, but I've only ever really heard it from the living room while I'm in the kitchen cooking. And I've never heard anything funny from it OR seen/heard anyone say anything good about it, even critics. I always assumed it was a show everyone knew was bad, but watched anyway because everyone inexplicably loves Charlie Sheen.

Anyways, I haven't seen enough to have a solid opinion, but I've been underwhelmed by the little I've seen of "Dexter" and "Breaking Bad". I might get into 'em if I saw more, and from the beginning, but I catch a little sometimes here or there and don't see the big deal. I don't see anything "wrong" with 'em, but nothing to justify people's obsession either.

Also, critics have warmed up to "Bob's Burgers" and I still think it's terrible.

[Wingnut]

Person of Interest is the first that comes to mind.

I would call Boardwalk Empire's last season rubbish, but I enjoyed it up to that point.

I basically watched the series to see the "inevitable" formation of the National Crime Syndicate (The Commission).

Screwed out of that, skipping ahead 7 years, and the off-screen death of Rothstein. This history buff was pissed :lol:

[AT-Man]

Arrested Development

[Netkeeper]

Big Bang Theory
Two and a Half Men
Came in here just to post these two.

[Davetello]

The Sopranos, Breaking Bad the Battleetar Galactica re-imagining, Orange Is the New Black and Dexter (the first four seasons) have all been mentioned...and I've enjoyed all of them a lot lol.

I can't really think of anything which stands out. Most 'critically acclaimed' shows that I've seen were acclaimed for a reason, imo. I really did enjoy all of them.

[Cure]

Gotham is a hit. That show is booooooring to me.

[Prowler]

but Modern family is up there. I think that show stinks.
Watched a couple of episodes of it. Didn't even smirk.

[Storm Eagle]

I just learned that I'm no fan of Girls. I don't like it much, but I don't hate it either.

[CyberCubed]

Most sitcoms for me. I mean I can just youtube the funniest moments, but I don't think I could ever sit through entire episodes of Friends, How I met your mother, Big Bang Theory, etc.

Those sitcoms are way too time consuming to sit through every episode. Thank god for youtube uploading the funniest moments so you can skip the rest

[Sage Ninja]

I am probably going to get ripped apart for this but...American Idol.

[TheCanadiandrome]

Arrested Development

yes yes yes, a thousand times yes! :lol:

that show is just redicously over-acted and poorly written imo, and other than maybe one or two of the stars, the rest are all terrible! can't act worth a damn on that show or even any other projects! specially Michael Cera! boo! and he's Canadian for cripesake! :lol:

[Davetello]

I am probably going to get ripped apart for this but...American Idol.

Nothing wrong with that. All these reality shows are of very poor quality, and simply designed to make money rather than promote talent.

[MrTMNT2012]

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Never got the appeal!

[Davetello]

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Never got the appeal!

I keep hearing how amazing that show is. I watched the first five eps on Netflix but couldn't get into it. I'm determined to try again though - that or "Darker than Black" is gonna be the next anime I see in its entirety.

[chrisdude]

I don't usually have this problem. I've ducked in for an episode of shows like Breaking Bad, Dexter or Walking Dead, and I dig them. I may not wish to start watching another show, but I usually get it.

But, there is Firefly. I don't know if the critics liked it, or just all of my friends. But I've muscled my way through eight episodes, and I don't see the point, at all. The whole crew is kind of aimless, and so does the narrative. Everyone says, "It's about the characters," but I don't find them the least bit endearing. Couldn't care less about them.

[Storm Eagle]

I don't usually have this problem. I've ducked in for an episode of shows like Breaking Bad, Dexter or Walking Dead, and I dig them. I may not wish to start watching another show, but I usually get it.

But, there is Firefly. I don't know if the critics liked it, or just all of my friends. But I've muscled my way through eight episodes, and I don't see the point, at all. The whole crew is kind of aimless, and so does the narrative. Everyone says, "It's about the characters," but I don't find them the least bit endearing. Couldn't care less about them.

I feel you about the first paragraph. As for Firefly, are you sure you were watching the episodes in the right order? I had the exact same thoughts as after checking out about four episodes. Then I found out I didn't start off with the TRUE first episode. So I tried starting with what was meant to be the start of the series, and worked my way from there. I actually wanted to watch more and I got through it all, and even watched Serenity, the movie. I streamed it all on Netflix by the way. It's a good thing I didn't watch while it was active on TV, since the order in which the episodes were shown was all over the place. When you come right down to it, I have zero recollection of Firefly airing on TV whatsoever while it was active.

[chrisdude]

I feel you about the first paragraph. As for Firefly, are you sure you were watching the episodes in the right order? I had the exact same thoughts as after checking out about four episodes. Then I found out I didn't start off with the TRUE first episode. So I tried starting with what was meant to be the start of the series, and worked my way from there. I actually wanted to watch more and I got through it all, and even watched Serenity, the movie. I streamed it all on Netflix by the way. It's a good thing I didn't watch while it was active on TV, since the order in which the episodes were shown was all over the place. When you come right down to it, I have zero recollection of Firefly airing on TV whatsoever while it was active.I didn't know it was aired out of order. That'd be an odd thing for my friends to have not told me. I was watching on Netflix, in whatever order they have them.

[Storm Eagle]

I didn't know it was aired out of order. That'd be an odd thing for my friends to have not told me. I was watching on Netflix, in whatever order they have them.

Well they've got them in the right order there. I checked them out in 2010. How about you?

[Jephael]

I can't stand cop dramas. I once watched an episode of NYPD Blue simply because of that now infamous nude scene with Charlotte Ross showing off her assets; though like CyberCubed said in this day and age you get just watch clips like that on YouTube.

[CyberCubed]

All those medical drama's and courtoom drama's are so god awful. I have no idea how anyone can sit through them.

It feels like they're made for bored housewives the same way soap opera's are, but for anyone else they're boring and tedium. How many times can you watch someone on the operation table as everyone yells, "Stat!" or some courtroom drama where everyone yells, "Objection!"

[Warhorse]

Pretty much most of the critically acclaimed comedies. Big Bang Theory, Frasier, Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers, and I pretty much just ignore whatever is on TV today. I'm just not into straight comedies. Now, maybe action/drama shows with comedy infused into them I like. But my dislike for straight up comedies on TV might be becuse I hate the laugh tracks.

[MrPliggins]

I must admit Seinfeld is much better now watching it as an adult than it was for me when it originally aired. I can deal with the laugh tracks better than the "handheld camera" of some of today's comedies. Of course, I get motion sickness very easily.

[ssjup81]

All those medical drama's and courtoom drama's are so god awful. I have no idea how anyone can sit through them.

It feels like they're made for bored housewives the same way soap opera's are, but for anyone else they're boring and tedium. How many times can you watch someone on the operation table as everyone yells, "Stat!" or some courtroom drama where everyone yells, "Objection!"I think people like courtroom dramas for the actual cases themselves and how it'll play out. I like Law & Order: SVU, which does get inspiration from real life cases, but the end result isn't always the way you expect it to be... then again the Law & Order series is first half (Police investigation) second half (prosecution)...generally, depending on the ep. Anywho, I know that's why I like it.

Hm, a show I keep hearing people really enjoying is Glee. I saw an ep...couldn't get into it personally. I don't think it's crap, though...it's just not for me.

[Netkeeper]

some courtroom drama where everyone yells, "Objection!"
http://i.imgur.com/nVYnGx2.gif
Boston Legal's legitimately good. Could care less about the rest, though.

[Metalwolf]

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica. The show was very boring, too bland, and too stupidly complex with stuff that had no reason to be there.

The original 70's Battlestar Galactica was a lighthearted fun spoof on Star Wars, that's all it needed to be.For me, it was the previews showing a dude having s*x with a Cylon woman and watching her spine glow red through her skin while she gets it on. When I saw that, I thought 'Nope, this show ain't for me!.' Pretty much the impression it gave me was it seemed like the show wanted to be raunchy just for the cheap shock value, and that always turns me off watching because it makes me feel like I'm watching crap.

The one right now that everyone is gaga over is Walking Dead. I've read the first 4-5 comics, and I can tell you half of the human characters are unlikable douches. The ones that were nice got screwed, and I don't think i could stomach watching a show for 8 seasons and wanting most of the characters to bite it.

[Wesley]

All those medical drama's and courtoom drama's are so god awful. I have no idea how anyone can sit through them.

It feels like they're made for bored housewives the same way soap opera's are, but for anyone else they're boring and tedium. How many times can you watch someone on the operation table as everyone yells, "Stat!" or some courtroom drama where everyone yells, "Objection!"

I thought The Practice was a great courtroom drama when I watched it in the early 2000s because it was more about the characters than the actual court cases. A lot of people seem to like Scrubs, but I couldn't get into it. Those medical dramas are awful alright. I have no idea why Grey's Atonomy is still on the air.

[BubblyShell22]

Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Modern Family are some of the ones I can think of. I don't watch a lot of shows. I do watch Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. but that's about it for regular shows. I just can't get into any of the others.

[Shark_Blade]

Adventure Time.

[THGhost]

Mad Men - Frightfully boring.
West Wing - Same as above.
Adventure Time, Regular Show & Spongebob Squarepants - Don't get me started.
Two and a Half Men - Corny, laugh-track-filled garbage.
The Only Way is Essex, Made in Chelsea, all those other reality shows - Those things make me ashamed to be English.
True Blood & The Vampire Diaries - These are meant to be above Vampires, aren't they?
The Office (US) - Nothing like the UK series which is great imho.

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica. The show was very boring, too bland, and too stupidly complex with stuff that had no reason to be there.

The original 70's Battlestar Galactica was a lighthearted fun spoof on Star Wars, that's all it needed to be.

And the 2004 series was the polar opposite, and that's all it needed to be. ;)

[Wesley]

Mad Men - Frightfully boring.
West Wing - Same as above.
Adventure Time, Regular Show & Spongebob Squarepants - Don't get me started.
Two and a Half Men - Corny, laugh-track-filled garbage.
The Only Way is Essex, Made in Chelsea, all those other reality shows - Those things make me ashamed to be English.
True Blood & The Vampire Diaries - These are meant to be above Vampires, aren't they?
The Office (US) - Nothing like the UK series which is great imho.



And the 2004 series was the polar opposite, and that's all it needed to be. ;)

At Your Service is a good reality show. The premise of the show is that businesses such as B&Bs and hotels are given makeovers. I think it's educational because it deals with a lot of business issues like management.

I watched season five of The Vampire Dairies this year and I thought it was an okay show. Catherine Pierce was an entertaining character. The storyline held my attention, though parts of it seemed like a ripoff of Buffy.

[Davetello]

All those medical drama's and courtoom drama's are so god awful. I have no idea how anyone can sit through them.

It feels like they're made for bored housewives the same way soap opera's are, but for anyone else they're boring and tedium. How many times can you watch someone on the operation table as everyone yells, "Stat!" or some courtroom drama where everyone yells, "Objection!"

Yep, those can just be depressing. Also, all these procedural crime shows like NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds etc. Don't get me wrong, some of the eps can be entertaining, but there are generally no story arcs so the shows can go on forever due to the 'case of the week' formula. Also, the shows are very formulaic. I think with those shows it's best to look at "top 20 episodes" articles and just watch those. I'm someone who finds serial killers fascinating so I'd probably just watch the best episodes relating to them.

I have to say I disagree with you on the Battlestar Galactica re-imagining. I've just about finished it and I really enjoyed it. I can see why it might bore some though, and I'm told that Babylon 5 is the superior show as far as space opera goes.

[ssjup81]

Yep, those can just be depressing. Also, all these procedural crime shows like NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds etc. Don't get me wrong, some of the eps can be entertaining, but there are generally no story arcs so the shows can go on forever due to the 'case of the week' formula. Also, the shows are very formulaic. I think with those shows it's best to look at "top 20 episodes" articles and just watch those. I'm someone who finds serial killers fascinating so I'd probably just watch the best episodes relating to them.

I have to say I disagree with you on the Battlestar Galactica re-imagining. I've just about finished it and I really enjoyed it. I can see why it might bore some though, and I'm told that Babylon 5 is the superior show as far as space opera goes.Can't say for the others, but NCIS usually does have a story arc every season...although for this season, so far, not too sure about it, but generally it does have one. Usually stuff throughout the season leads up to something towards the end of it.

[Davetello]

Can't say for the others, but NCIS usually does have a story arc every season...although for this season, so far, not too sure about it, but generally it does have one. Usually stuff throughout the season leads up to something towards the end of it.

Ahh apologies, I didn't realise - I just lazily threw it under the umbrella of 'procedural crime shows'. Still, the point remains - the majority of those shows have no serial element. Case of the week shows are very hit and miss because of this so it's best to just watch the most highly rated episodes.

[CyberCubed]

Story arcs or not all those shows are boring, and the characters themselves go through soap-opera like storylines. Like who cheated on whose boyfriend or who "became gay" or who fell in love with their clients.

Boring soap opera like storylines.

[Jephael]

Boring soap opera like storylines.

That's a similar problem Smallville had throughout its run, but the super heroics more than made up for it.

[CyberCubed]

Oh yeah, I hate it when superhero stuff has boring soap opera stuff too. Spiderman is the most guilty of this.

*shudders*

[Davetello]

Oh yeah, I hate it when superhero stuff has boring soap opera stuff too. Spiderman is the most guilty of this.

*shudders*

I think that's more to make them relatable and show that they have the same desires and needs tor companionship as the rest of us.

This is especially used as a vehicle to advance the plot in Spider-Man stories because he's still a teenager. It would be pretty strange if he didn't have love interests.

[Jephael]

I think that's more to make them relatable and show that they have the same desires and needs tor companionship as the rest of us.

This is especially used as a vehicle to advance the plot in Spider-Man stories because he's still a teenager. It would be pretty strange if he didn't have love interests.

That's good and all, but I really hate it when they make the hero's love interest the object of everyone else's desires. That was the one big issue I had with early seasons of Smallville. As much as I liked Lana, they focused way too much on her physical beauty and having every other young man at school wanting to get into her pants.

Oh and don't get me started on the Peter Parker/Mary Jane/Harry Osborn love triangle in the early Spider-Man films!

[Davetello]

That's good and all, but I really hate it when they make the hero's love interest the object of everyone else's desires. That was the one big issue I had with early seasons of Smallville. As much as I liked Lana, they focused way too much on her physical beauty and having every other young man at school wanting to get into her pants.

Oh and don't get me started on Mary Jane love triangles in the early Spider-Man films!

Yeah, I get what you mean. Sometimes they go overboard.

[Storm Eagle]

Yep, those can just be depressing. Also, all these procedural crime shows like NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds etc. Don't get me wrong, some of the eps can be entertaining, but there are generally no story arcs so the shows can go on forever due to the 'case of the week' formula. Also, the shows are very formulaic. I think with those shows it's best to look at "top 20 episodes" articles and just watch those. I'm someone who finds serial killers fascinating so I'd probably just watch the best episodes relating to them.



I watch CSI, even though some of the stories can get downright confusing at times.

[Leo656]

Lana on Smallville was a f*cking C*nt and the fact that every character constantly fawned over that stupid bimbo really put me off the entire show before it even got too awful (and god, it got awful).

The folks at the Superman Homepage wrote many, many articles that detail much more eloquently than I ever could about what a horrible person her character was, and how sh*tty the writing on that show was to the point every male character made her into a goddess despite the fact she was, well, a terrible person, who made terrible decisions 100% of the time and acted very selfishly and irrationally even at the best of times.

See, I'd say "Smallville", because a lot of people do love it, but I don't know how "critically acclaimed" it was, because a lot of the reviews I read over the years pointed out just how cheesy and pandering it was. I hate it. As something of a purist, not only is it a really, REALLY bad interpretation of the mythology, but there's almost no characters you can root for on it. Everyone is either a Monster or a Moron or a Crybaby, with the main protagonist cycling through the latter two for ten f***ing seasons, only to have his entire "hero's journey" wrap up in the last 30 seconds with a change of clothes and some bad CGI.

But yeah, critically acclaimed or not I despise that goddamn show.

[Davetello]

I watch CSI, even though some of the stories can get downright confusing at times.

I've never seen an ep - I will google some of the serial killer ones and give them a look.

Lana on Smallville was a f*cking C*nt and the fact that every character constantly fawned over that stupid bimbo really put me off the entire show before it even got too awful (and god, it got awful).

The folks at the Superman Homepage wrote many, many articles that detail much more eloquently than I ever could about what a horrible person her character was, and how sh*tty the writing on that show was to the point every male character made her into a goddess despite the fact she was, well, a terrible person, who made terrible decisions 100% of the time and acted very selfishly and irrationally even at the best of times.

See, I'd say "Smallville", because a lot of people do love it, but I don't know how "critically acclaimed" it was, because a lot of the reviews I read over the years pointed out just how cheesy and pandering it was. I hate it. As something of a purist, not only is it a really, REALLY bad interpretation of the mythology, but there's almost no characters you can root for on it. Everyone is either a Monster or a Moron or a Crybaby, with the main protagonist cycling through the latter two for ten f***ing seasons, only to have his entire "hero's journey" wrap up in the last 30 seconds with a change of clothes and some bad CGI.

But yeah, critically acclaimed or not I despise that goddamn show.

:lol:

Don't lie - every night you have a nice relaxing warm shower before falling asleep watching one of the episodes :)

[Leo656]

Actually, a few weeks ago if you'd said "Adventures of Superboy", and "about 6 to 8 episodes" that'd be 100% accurate. :lol: And I'd never fall asleep, Seasons 1 and 2 are too hilariously cringe-worthy while 3 and 4 are too Surprisingly Good for that to ever happen.

Smallville is the absolute last thing on my "To Buy" list of Superman DVDs. There's still a Super-Friends DVD I missed. And they might still do a proper release of "Legion of Super-Heroes". I'll probably pick up "Krypto the Superdog" on DVD first if I ever get the chance.

Last time I watched Smallville was the series finale. "Man, that sucked, glad this train wreck is over" being the last observation I had on it. It's pretty much always on but I actually go to great lengths to NOT see it. I have seen the same episodes of Family Guy and American Dad literally 1,000 times... no, F that, I am the one and only person who watched "The Cleveland Show"... JUST to avoid watching Smallville reruns.

I'll own it one day, because I'm a completist and a moron who HAS to have everything Superman-related, but I'm in no hurry to ever see it again. It's more like a sense of doomed obligation than anything I'm looking forward to.

Klansmen hate minorities less than I hate that goddamn show. Not to over-state it.

[Davetello]

Hahaha. I should really go back and watch stuff like Adventures of Superboy and Super Friends. I just keep hearing how cheesy they are by today's standards.

Yeah, Smallville was one of those things I always wanted to go back to. At 200 episodes it's a vast time investment, though. I really wanted to see how Clark grew and eventually meeting the JL, Darkseid etc. But it sounds like it was nowhere near faithful to the source material so not worth bothering with. I did see the first few episodes a couple of years ago but the show didn't grab me.

[CyberCubed]

I don't know how Smallville lasted 10 years. I remember when it started thinking it would last 3-5 years tops. How on earth did it keep getting renewed for a decade?

[BabyTurtles]

does Legend of Korra count?

I can sum up that show as one big pile of wasted potential. There are so many things that don't make sense, that even the writers aren't sure what happens some times.

[Leo656]

Teenage girls wet themselves over Welling's dreamy eyes and chiseled cheekbones is pretty much what it comes down to.

Dave: Season Three of "Adventures of Superboy" is actually, shockingly, the most well-done live-action TV version of the character. If you prefer things that are close to the source, it's closer than anything done yet with the characters in live-action, period. The first two seasons are various degrees of crummy and the fourth season couldn't hold up the momentum from the third, but is still pretty good. But that Third Season... hooooly SH*T, there's some goddamn diamonds in Season Three. Not even "Good by the standards of this syndicated kids show", but as in, "Wow, this show's like, getting kind of dark and deep, if only they had a bigger budget and an hour runtime to work with." Some of the flying effects absolutely kill the Reeve movies' flying scenes to death (although any scenes with the dreaded 1991 Blue Screen obviously looks cheesy as hell :lol:). And over the course of the series, F'n BIZARRO gets the greatest character arc, if you can believe that. They spend the entire show using the character to extrapolate on various issues of morality, nature vs nurture, what it means to be "human", etc. Such a turn from other, more "mature" takes, which always devolve into "Me Bizarro, Am Retarded". This show can actually yank a few tears out at times, if you let it.

Allowances for SFX and some amateur-hour acting, obviously, but even then, it looks so much better than any other show in 1991 did (It was the very first show produced at Universal Studios, so it was a huge groundreaking deal despite being buried by history). It didn't have 1/1000 of Smallville's budget, but at its best, literally all of Season Three and most of Season Four, it had a million times more Heart.

Season One is the sh*ts, but they got Stacy Haiduk in a bathing suit a few times, and believe me, that's worth a look. They found many clever ways to keep her showing off the goods throughout the series, and Bless 'Em for that. :lol:

[Luckyday]

I didn't like Regular Show, or rather I just think it's okay but it's nothing to write home about. It's gotten better.

I'm trying to get into Doctor Who but...the show has the tendency resent itself which just makes it frustrating sometimes. I never got why people Amy and Rory, but Rose was the worst.

Alright, I going to give a clear honest answer. I don't get the appeal of Constantine. I keep trying to but I can barely get through a episode.

[Storm Eagle]

I've never seen an ep - I will google some of the serial killer ones and give them a look.



The current CSI season has a serial killer arc going on, and it's convoluted as hell.

[ssjup81]

Ahh apologies, I didn't realise - I just lazily threw it under the umbrella of 'procedural crime shows'. Still, the point remains - the majority of those shows have no serial element. Case of the week shows are very hit and miss because of this so it's best to just watch the most highly rated episodes.Or...just an entire season in general since usually things throughout the season happens or stuff is mentioned from earlier eps that may lead up to something towards the end of it. Sometimes, stuff from earlier seasons are brought up again in later ones...but like I said, for this current season of NCIS, I have no idea.Story arcs or not all those shows are boring, and the characters themselves go through soap-opera like storylines. Like who cheated on whose boyfriend or who "became gay" or who fell in love with their clients.

Boring soap opera like storylines.Darn that storyline of Olivia on Law & Order: SVU of her wanting to become a mother and adopt, but being turned down because of her job as an actual cop or her having issues from being kidnapped and stuff and how she changed some from that. Or Nick having issues with his wife after she returned from being her assignment from being in the middle east, maybe having some PTSD. Or Finn having trouble with his son because he wasn't around in his life as much as he would've liked when he was younger (but they're pretty civil now). Darn those soap opera story lines. :P

You know, I think this is the main reason SVU is still around. Very character driven. Then again, Law & Order: Criminal Intent with Bobby's character was interesting with his "issues" and having to go to a psychiatrist.

[Jephael]

Smallville was one of those things I always wanted to go back to. At 200 episodes it's a vast time investment, though. I really wanted to see how Clark grew and eventually meeting the JL, Darkseid etc. But it sounds like it was nowhere near faithful to the source material so not worth bothering with. I did see the first few episodes a couple of years ago but the show didn't grab me.

You know the funny thing is I wasn't sure I'd like the show initially when it first came out, but I decided to catch an episode one night, and I was pretty hooked on it. Sure the series had its flaws, but I enjoyed it. It had some amazing moments and the writing was a good mix of drama and humor.

[Davetello]

The current CSI season has a serial killer arc going on, and it's convoluted as hell.

Might just give them all a miss then. Btw I replied to your PM, maybe you didn't receive it.

Or...just an entire season in general since usually things throughout the season happens or stuff is mentioned from earlier eps that may lead up to something towards the end of it. Sometimes, stuff from earlier seasons are brought up again in later ones...but like I said, for this current season of NCIS, I have no idea.

Yeah, but my point is that any serial story arcs seem very secondary in those shows - whereas in other shows, it's the serial element which takes precedence over the procedural.

You know the funny thing is I wasn't sure I'd like the show initially when it first came out, but I decided to catch an episode one night, and I was pretty hooked on it. Sure the series had its flaws, but I enjoyed it. It had some amazing moments and the writing was a good mix of drama and humor.

Yeah, it has mixed reviews. I just feel it's not widely loved enough for me to watch 200 episodes. It's too much of a mixed bag for that. I'd rather spend those 200 eps on the X-Files, which I've never seen.

[CyberCubed]

You could always just watch a "best 20 episodes" type of thing. There are articles online for every show where fans generally agree on the best 20 episodes of a certain show, and you could just watch those rather than getting through the whole thing.

I feel most of these live-action shows aren't worth watching the whole way through with few exceptions. Unless I'm *really* into a show I can just skim around.

Oddly enough I don't do that for cartoons, only for live-action. Maybe because cartoons are only a half hour episode and generally shorter so I don't mind filler there.

[Leo656]

I generally prefer to see the entire run of a show, in order if possible, but it only takes a couple episodes for me to decide if I want to or not. But when I watch a show, I'll literally watch it forever.

I think I've seen the entire run of Full House at least 85 times in my lifetime. And 25 years later, John Stamos is STILL the best-lookin' guy alive. Unreal.

[Storm Eagle]

Might just give them all a miss then.

Some were actually easy for me to follow, mind you.

I generally prefer to see the entire run of a show, in order if possible, but it only takes a couple episodes for me to decide if I want to or not.
I also prefer to start with the episodes in order when I try out a new show. That's how I sampled shows like The X-Files and Alias (via Netflix). They seemed okay, but they didn't really grab me all that much to make me want to keep on watching until the end.

[CyberCubed]

I think I've seen the entire run of Full House at least 85 times in my lifetime. And 25 years later, John Stamos is STILL the best-lookin' guy alive. Unreal.

Is Full House even that good or funny a show to watch it 85 times? :lol:

I've watched youtube clips of some of the funniest moments and its just OK. I realize I don't have nostalgia for it as its a late 80's and early 90's type of show...and I was like 5 years old when it was originally airing.

[ssjup81]

Yeah, but my point is that any serial story arcs seem very secondary in those shows - whereas in other shows, it's the serial element which takes precedence over the procedural.Hm, not NCIS, really. I can't explain it. It seems to be intertwined...although that depends on the season too. Recently with the changes - the actress who played Ziva left last season and they have a new actress portraying a new role on the show - I guess I can see this point. A lot of the stories, after the introduction of the character, Ziva, seemed to revolve around her being a Mossad agent and with NCIS.

[ssjup81]

Is Full House even that good or funny a show to watch it 85 times? :lol:

I've watched youtube clips of some of the funniest moments and its just OK. I realize I don't have nostalgia for it as its a late 80's and early 90's type of show...and I was like 5 years old when it was originally airing.I started watching Full House in its first season. I was about 6 at the time and easily got into it. Looking back on the show now...I can't get into it past maybe the fist three seasons. Now could I watch it 85 times? No way! lol

It's the same with shows like say Family Matters and Step by Step. After a certain point, if I watch reruns of it as an adult, I can't tolerate it. For Family Matters, the first couple of seasons are okay and I can still watch it. It wasn't the "Steve Urkel Show" yet. It was about Harriet (from Perfect Strangers, which I was also a big fan of) and her family. I missed that element from the earlier seasons, so as an adult, I can still enjoy the first couple of seasons. Beyond that...it's a bit cringeworthy for me.

Hm, I was about four when I first saw The Cosby Show. Loved that as a kid and that's a show I can still watch now...although the last couple of seasons weren't as fun as the earlier ones because the kids had pretty much grown up, hence the addition of Raven Symone.

I was maybe 5 when I first saw Growing Pains and Who's the Boss and Perfect Strangers, loved those shows too.

Age really doesn't matter, does it?

[Leo656]

I'd have to say, no, it's got less to do with being good and more to do with being Constantly On. It's like the default show when it's 3am and there's literally nothing on but you happen to have the TV on for background noise.

[Wesley]

I don't think Saved by the Bell is critically acclaimed, but a lot of people that grew up with the show love it. I watched it in the early 1990s, but the only thing that I remembered about it was the theme song. I watched an episode recently and I thought it was boring.

I thought the first three seasons of the Big Bang Theory were great, but the later seasons aren't as good. It should have ended after season three.

[ssjup81]

I don't think Saved by the Bell is critically acclaimed, but a lot of people that grew up with the show love it. I watched it in the early 1990s, but the only thing that I remembered about it was the theme song. I watched an episode recently and I thought it was boring.

I thought the first three seasons of the Big Bang Theory were great, but the later seasons aren't as good. It should have ended after season three.Man I loved Saved By the Bell back then...but now...meh. I can still watch Good Morning Miss Bliss. Even back then, I preferred this to what we got later. I liked Hayley Mills' character and the other adult characters.

[CyberCubed]

On the same topic, how did all those old late 80's and early 90's sitcoms hold up?

Boy meets World, Saved by the Bell, Full House, Family Matters, Seinfeld, etc. I think Seinfeld is the only one still critically acclaimed.

[Leo656]

That's just because a lot of the critics are from New York and they're in love with seeing "themselves" on screen. Seinfeld is overrated as F*ck. It's not bad, exactly, but it's really gotten a rep it doesn't deserve.

And not for nothin', but it's pretty amazing how much hotter Julia Louis-Dreyfus has gotten since then seeing how it was like 20 years ago. I got a huge crush on her.

None of those shows have "aged well" really, but I don't think they were really conceived to become cultural touchstones, that just kind of happened by accident. Of the ones you listed, I'd actually honestly argue Full House is the overall most watchable (even if it's pretty fluffy and corny), though Boy Meets World comes close. Family Matters had its moments really early on but once it became The Urkel Show it got unbearable really fast. That's another show I've seen pretty much beginning to end because it's always on, that and Step By Step. Saved By The Bell was the sh*ts.

[Jephael]

Seinfeld is overrated as F*ck. It's not bad, exactly, but it's really gotten a rep it doesn't deserve.

And not for nothin', but it's pretty amazing how much hotter Julia Louis-Dreyfus has gotten since then seeing how it was like 20 years ago. I got a huge crush on her.

Yea, I used to love that show as a teenager, but now whenever I catch an episode I find myself wanting to punch Jerry in the face half the time... smug bastard!!! You're right about Julia though.

[Wesley]

A lot of critics like Devious Maids, but I watched a few episodes of it and thought it was boring. Desperate Housewives was much better.

[Brooke507]

I know the GoldBergs is a critically acclaimed show. I couldn't get into it, I watched an episode and the acting is so bad, not going to lie. The jokes fell pretty flat too.