The TV shows meme

[sarren]

Name a TV show series in which you have seen every episode at least twice:

Whitechapel, Lewis, Green Wing, The Professionals, Blakes 7, Blackadder, Coupling, Keen Eddie, The Persuaders, Wonderfalls

Most of those were only one or two series. Now, if the question was TV shows you've seen specific seasons or episodes of, like, eleventy billion times, the list would go off the page. Yay for obsessiveness!!!


Name a (current) show you can't miss:

'Can't' is a strong word. I'm probably most enjoying Castle and White Collar - because they're both fun adorable and are really all about the chemistry between the actors. Other shows I'm enjoying a lot: Being Human, Leverage and Community. Ooh, and I am really looking forward to the new season of Lewis starting.


Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show:

Simon Pegg, Mark Valley, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Claudia Black, Nathan Fillion


Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show:

Anyone known to be racist, right wing, unpleasant etc. Michael Richards, for example.


Name a show you can, and do, quote from:

Monty Python, Red Dwarf, Green Wing, Keen Eddie


Name a show you like that no one else enjoys:

Haaahaha, I can always find or convert SOMEONE. Now if we rephrase it to shows I get MOCKED for liking, Smallville leaps to mind.


Name a TV show which you've been known to sing the theme song:

Red Dwarf, True Blood, Danger Mouse


Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch:

Everything I like!!!


Name a TV series you own:

We'd be here all day.


What is your favourite episode of your favourite series?

Currently, Life Born of Fire - Lewis


A show you mean to watch, but you just haven't gotten around to yet:

The rest of Band of Brothers, the rest of Deadwood


Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad?

Stargate Atlantis, Ashes to Ashes, 4th season Angel - but then I went back for 5th season.


Name a show you aren't interested in watching, not in the least:

Ugly Betty.


Name a show that's made you cry multiple times:

Dr Who, Torchwood


Oldest TV show you like?

The Saint


Newest TV show you like?

White Collar


What do you eat when you watch TV?

Sometimes dinner, otherwise just cups of tea.


How often do you watch TV?

I watch episodes of shows I've acquired in the evenings whenever Dragonfly and I are both home and don't have to study.


Do you have a favorite talk show?

Don't watch 'em, unless the occasional episode of The Daily Show counts.


What's the last TV show you watched?

Castle


What's your favourite/preferred genre of TV?

Slashy! Otherwise I'll try anything scifi, fantasy, horror, buddy cop/agent shows, British comedies.


What's your least favourite genre of TV?

Reality TV


What was the first TV show you were obsessed with?

Hogan's Heroes


What TV show do you wish you never watched?

In a 'Can I have those hours of my life back?' way? Most American sitcoms. Specifically, I persevered through several episodes of 'Two and a Half Men' because I like Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen, but it is SO, SO PAINFUL.


What's the weirdest show you enjoyed?

The Kingdom (Lars von Trier)


What TV show scared you the most?

In a 'jolt of real fear' way - The Dr Who episode 'Blink'.
In a more scary, 'this would totally happen' way - Torchwood's 'Children of Earth'.


What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched?

Red Dwarf, Blackadder, Coupling, parts of Green Wing.


Which do you think is the best TV series ever made?

That is WAY too hard to call. Later seasons of MASH, for quality writing, acting and social commentary.


Which show would you want to be stranded on a desert island with?

I'm balancing amount of love for a show with amount of episodes made, for variety. Probably Buffy!

Comments

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

You're not doing a meme, are you? The world may be ending!

[sarren.livejournal.com]

*looks sheepish* It's about telly!!!

[trulybloom.livejournal.com]

Hurray for memes!

Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: Simon Pegg, Mark Valley, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Claudia Black, Nathan Fillion

Do you get "Human Target"? It's Valley's new show! Good cast. Major action and adventure. Not as smart and clever and fantastically awesome as "Keen Eddie" but I'll take Mark Valley however I can get him.

What TV show do you wish you never watched? Most American sitcoms. Specifically, I persevered through several episodes of 'Two and a Half Men' because I like Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen, but it is SO, SO PAINFUL.

It IS a painful show! I don't understand why it's still on the air, why the ratings are good and why it keeps getting awards. It's not funny at all. The humor is crude and cruel and, pretty much, humorless. I'm stunned that the same people make "The Big Bang Theory" because THAT show is the most awesome piece of geektastic/poporgasmic bliss ever. The only GOOD thing the two shows share is a decent theme song (but, apparently, Two And A Half Men" has stopped playing the theme song, so honestly, there's no reason left not to haul it out back and shoot it).

Which show would you want to be stranded on a desert island with? Probably Buffy!
Really? Huh. I mean, it's a good show - at times a great show! But... oh, I don't know. I guess I'm still remembering the last couple of seasons when everything just got so depressing, but I kept watching because I'd already invested so many years. OTOH, there are so many seasons that it would take you a long time to watch them all and that would probably be a good thing on a deserted island. Personally, I think I might go with "MacGyver" or "Gilligan's Island" - just for ideas on how to build useful things out of random objects. I mean, a coconut radio might come in handy!

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I didn't much like the pilot of Human Target - I actually thought the most interesting character was the (really!)scary little guy. But Chi Pounder is cool and for Mark Valley, I'll give it a couple more eps. After all, many a great series had a crap pilot. *g*

I clearly need to start watching The Big Bang Theory!!!

I don't mind shows going dark and depressing, hell, with everything they were going through, it only made sense. I know a lot of people didn't like that Bad Thing that happened in season 6 (that we can't mention because someone on my flist is only just catching up on Buffy and hates spoilers) and the Stupidly Contrived Plot Point in season 7 *nearly* made me stop watching, but I persevered and I'm glad I did.

Hee, there should be a real DIY show for getting stranded on a desert island!!

[trulybloom.livejournal.com]

the (really!)scary little guy
Do you mean Jackie Earle Haley? He played Rorschach in "Watchmen." I'm liking him a lot as an actor.

many a great series had a crap pilot
This is VERY true. I, too, will give the show a few more eps. I watched the second on and while there were a couple of things that were just "sigh, really?" moments, clearly done just to be sensational, I'm still enjoying Valley. Of course, I long for more Keen Eddie - because that was a brilliant show for so many reason!

I clearly need to start watching The Big Bang Theory!!!
Oh, yes! I can't think of any other show on tv now (or ever) that has me laughing that much during one half hour. And the humor is really smart - it's not prat-falls or based on contrived misunderstandings which could be cleared up in two seconds if they were real people. I'm really shocked this show has not been canceled - usually, clever, intelligent shows like this rarely make it past half a season. But it looks like it's going strong, so yay!

I don't mind shows going dark and depressing
I won't go into details - I don't want to spoil your friend! But, I will say that I don't usually mind dark and depressing, but this was somehow different. It just made me unhappy. I feel like I should have just let it go, but I felt invested and obligated.

Kind of like I'm feeling with Supernatural right now. Season 5 seems to have gotten bogged down in staleness. But I'm invested, dammit! And I still have hope it'll pull itself up to greatness once again. But, the way I'm feeling right now, I hope this is the last season. I am doubtful this group of writers has it in them to create another interesting, compelling, fresh season. And I just don't want to end things with this show feeling disappointed. I'd much rather leave it longing for more! Shows I want more of are the shows I go back and watch - like Keen Eddie and Firefly. Show that end with me feeling let down and worn out, like Buffy, are show that I don't rewatch, even if they had great, shining moments that probably deserve rewatching.

Hee, there should be a real DIY show for getting stranded on a desert island!!
I think that's what "Survivor" should have been! I remember the first group and one of the women saying, "I'm a scientist - I can distill fresh water from sea water!" She thought herself SO valuable to the group, but they just gave them fresh water. I think she was voted off pretty quickly, too. Oh well.

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Watchmen - the bland little guy with the mo, who was like 'I will kill your women and children' and the big scary thugs were like *whimper*

Valley is fun and cute, and I would give A LOT for more Keen Eddie *sigh* There's a lj comm but it is deader than dead, and I honestly don't understand why. Such a brilliant show! Such chemistry between the characters! It makes me sad.

I am totally going to hunt down The Big Bang Theory now.

I've decided Supernatural is just too much hard work. I skipped season 3 because people were like 'stay away! stay away!' and I've seen about half of s4 and now you say s5 is stale???? I give up.

Pshaw. Who wants a scientist when you're stuck on a desert island? Especially when you have a magic source of clean drinking water! You want people who can cut down trees! and fish with spears! and skin things! and make you laugh when time drags!

Did you ever find out HOW you can distill the water when you only have an elastic band and some chewing gum?

[trulybloom.livejournal.com]

the bland little guy with the mo
Yup, that's Jackie Earle Haley. I thought that scene with the thugs was pretty awesome.

I think I might actually be a member of that Keen Eddie comm. But, well, I haven't watched my DVDs in a while - in fact, I've loaned them to a friend, who has yet to watch them - so I haven't honestly had much to say about the show. But, yeah, I really want more eps! That show ended far, far, far too soon.

I've decided Supernatural is just too much hard work. I skipped season 3 because people were like 'stay away! stay away!' and I've seen about half of s4 and now you say s5 is stale???? I give up.

Oh! No! I mean... I felt like you did about Season 3. People were bashing it SO much and I was reading all the spoilers and all the hate. It really ruined that season for me. But, later, I rewatched all the eps and they were actually GOOD and didn't deserve the bashing they'd received. I decided right then and there that I was NOT going to read anymore spoilers and I was not going to be a member of comms that tended to attract the haters.

I enjoyed Season 4 a lot more - and I enjoyed the show again, like I did Season 1 and Season 2, which was before I got into the on-line SPN stuff.

For Season 5, I have two major issues. It's difficult to explain the first one, if you haven't seen the eps. But, basically, they broke the 4th wall, in a way that made me uncomfortable. I know TONS of people who like it, though! So, I think that's just my own personal hang-up.

The second issue is popularity. The 5th season started out really strong! But suddenly the show got really popular and they brought in this one guest star, which was clearly meant to bring in new fans. Now, I'm all for new fans, but I felt that one episode was dumbed down a bit for the newbies and I felt episodes following that repeated-for-emphasis a lot of information we old fan already had but new fans had yet to grasp.

Additionally, there seems to have been a transition in the writing staff. Some new folks last year and a few new folks this year. And I think they're struggling a little bit with the monsters.

Take this past week's new episode, for example. The episode itself was fantastic! And, I'd say, right up until the last 5 minutes, I had no complaints. Then they did the what-the-monster-is reveal and it turned out it was very similar to a monster we've already seen (turns out the two writers had written that ep and this ep, so they weren't thinking much outside the monster box). But then the show got right back on track and the ending was great. If only that monster had been different and a little scarier then this would have been one of the best episodes of the entire series.

So, don't write off the show. And I encourage you to go back and watch Season 3, because that will definitely increase your enjoyment (and understanding) of Season 4, which just gets better and better as the season goes on! And know that Season 5 starts out really high, hits a bit of a slump (imo, though, certainly not in everyone's opinion), and then seems to hit a upswing again.

That said, I'm still not sure I want a Season 6. I'm not sure the writers have it in them. I'm not sure I want a season that Eric Kripke isn't masterminding. And I'm not sure Jared and Jensen would be as into it as they should be. As much as I do want more Supernatural, like I said in my earlier post, I'd rather they go out on a high point and leave me wanting more.

Then again, I could be totally wrong and the next season could be the best one yet. Could happen. But I'm not sure I want to risk it.

Did you ever find out HOW you can distill the water when you only have an elastic band and some chewing gum?
Um, I don't think you can. But a scientist would know how to work around that.

You want people who can cut down trees! and fish with spears! and skin things!
This is true. It might be better to be stranded with some crazy survivalist nutjob than with a rational scientist who would just bemoan the lack of a computer.

[victorian-tweed.livejournal.com]

HEE! I am thinking that anyone who has watched The Kingdom, and is going to do this meme, will nominate it as weirdest show enjoyed. :-D

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Especially if they read yours first and got reminded of it *g*

[neery.livejournal.com]

Later seasons of MASH, for quality writing, acting and social commentary.

Seriously? I only watched the first season, and while I enjoyed it, it was also so unselfconsciously racist and misogynist I cringed all the way through it. Maybe I should try and hunt down a later season.

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I probably wouldn't have thought of it, because it's been a long time since I watched MASH, only the friend I got this meme off had nominated it -

I would like to choose something which raised consciousness on things that matter, or led to people becoming more compassionate. I would suggest MASH - because while it was genuinely funny, it was also dramatic and issue-based. Even though it was fairly sexist (possibly because of when it was made/set), it did feature a very strong female character, and I liked that during a time where all comedies had laugh tracks, this show had a 'no laugh track' rule during scenes set in the operating room.

To which I commented -

I got given the first season of MASH, thinking I'd collect the whole lot, and I found it unwatchable. I know, I KNOW, it was the time, but the scene where it was HILARIOUS to tell that bloke was Margaret was waiting for him in her tent for sexy timez, and then stand around laughing while she screamed in terror because she'd woken up being assaulted. Yeah. No. I'll stick to the later seasons.

They used to show the later seasons over and over again on telly (and maybe still do, for all I know), but I never saw the first season til I got given the dvd.

[neery.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's good to know. I'll grab one of the later seasons and give it another chance. Do you have a favorite season?

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I have no idea which season is which - you know how you just watch reruns on TV - they've been recycling MASH since I was a kid. I'll ask around. And by 'around' I mean on lj. But I'll canvass people in real life too.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

You say you get mocked for liking Smallville? Present tense? After years of irredeemable drek scripts which have lost them half of their audience, you still like Smallville? I'm just hoping that when Kristin Kreuk joins the cast of Chuck, she doesn't infect it with Smallville-ness.