What was the BEST era of Television?
 

I was just wondering what everyone's favorite era of television is/was and why?

--LVM

Watching some of the 70's shows like Kojak, Hawaii 5-0 and Starsky and Hutch, I realize that the new 'edgy' shows aren't that edgy at all in comparision.


d

For me, it was a tough call between 1950s and 1980s (I was a product of the 1980s, but I thoroughly enjoy 50s shows like Lucy and TZ).

I ended up going with 80s out of pure nostalgia.

SHows like Family Ties, Growing Pains, Night Court, Cosby Show and even cheesy ones like Small Wonder bring back great memories of childhood.

--LVM

the present is by far the best time for televisions. the sheer amount and variety of programming along with great shows that would never been greenlit in earlier generations like aqua teen hunger force, south park, six feet under, the shield, nip/tuck, etc.

Each era have their great and memorable shows. No best one.

I totally agree. Hell, I can narrow down the best year of TV ever imo.

2000-01: Some of the first hour-long comedies including the first seasons of Gilmore Girls, Ed, and to a lesser extent Boston Public. The reality boom started with 3 of the best reality series ever: Survivor, Big Brother, and American High.

We had the second coming of Seinfeld in the form of Curb Your Enthusiasm. One of my favorite comic creators released Invader Zim. A show I didn't start watching until it began airing on cable, West Wing, had a great second season. Roswell had a second season that I really loved. Once and Again and Oz both had overall disappointing seasons, but both ended very strong.

Looking through epguides.com, I was surprised to see that Family Guy didn't air any episodes in the conventional 00/01 season even though it had a full season before and after that.
Some particularly good action cartoons started: Jackie Chan Adventures, Max Steel, and X-men Evolution.

Of course I've left off a lot of other great stuff too.

Nostalgia has a nice way of weeding out the crap. There was so much stupid television in all these decades, but we don't remember it because it sucked. Looking through my nostalgia glasses, I'm very partial to the 70s. I guess you could say it's my "favorite." As for the "best," the second half of the 90s marked a real explosion of quality unmatched by any other time in television. Can that make up for the early 90s? Eh, probably not.

I have to agree that the last 10 years are probably the best ... and in a way, the worst. It's really an unfair comparison, though. The emergence of HBO, FX, and The WB (and even to an extent Showtime) offering so many shows of staggeringly high quality and refreshing uniqueness outside the scope of the traditional networks has really changed the face of television. On the flipside, reality TV (save a few gems) is eating away at that. In a way, we're in the midst of a new age of television right now.

das

some lovely, thoughtful answers to this thread. :) mine is quite simple, however.

1990's = X-Files and ST: TNG.
hands down, the absolute winner for me.

agreed, 90's.

X-Files, ER, Seinfeld, Friends, Frasier, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Homicide, majority of the Simpsons, Quantum Leap, and I'm sure many more that I am forgetting. Even Cheers was still on for 3-4 years early 90's.

For comedy, the 70s.
For drama, the mid-90s to the present.