metaridley

It's come to my attention that nearly everything on television right now sucks, and has sucked for the past couple of years. I don't see TV having a bright future, although I know this has probably happened before and we are just in an abysmal rut right now. From some TV shows staying on the air for too long and newer ones getting bad really quick to practically every reality show ever, I fail to see a good reason to watch TV. I'm looking for something creative and well-written, and usually prefer serialized shows to the drama-of-the-week format. I also can't find any comedy of merit to watch.

24 is my only "appointment TV", mostly because I loved the first couple of seasons, and at least season 4 has some good jolts and shocks every once in a while, even if the storyline is completely outlandish at this point.

What are the TV shows you watch that you would genuinely recommend to me or anyone else here? Maybe we can all find a new great show that we didn't know existed.

Lampei

Have you seen Scrubs?

Dr_Evil

For me, there are only 2 comedies I must see every week: Scrubs and Arrested Development. Both are well written, although, it would be best to pick up the DVDs to get the back story. The humor in both shows carries over from week to week, so some jokes will fly right past you if you haven't watched them before.

I almost forgot about Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The funniest cartoon on television right now. It is a tough show to describe, but it is hilarious. You can check out episodes on Cartoon Network to see if it is worth tuning in for (episodes are only about 12 minutes)

As for dramas, The Wire on HBO is, in my opinion, the best written show on television. You can pick up the first seasons on DVD, and be caught up by the time the fourth season starts. I also thoroughly enjoy Carnivale and Deadwood.

I'd also recommend Lost if you like 24. If you don't mind the absurdity in 24, you probably won't mind it in Lost either (although I think it is less present in Lost). The first season is almost done, but you can grab the DVD that is coming out soon and be caught up for next season.

Third Baseman

Gilmore Girls
Arrested Development
Scrubs
House, M.D.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Sealab 2021

Deftones

The Shield
The Wire
Arrested Development
Deadwood

nny

Abysmal rut?!? I think this has been one of the best years of tv ever. I don't think there's a single absolutely blow you away, amazing, must watch show on right now, but the there's so many really good shows on.

Lost, AD, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, Battlestar Galactica, Veronica Mars, Desperate Housewives, One Tree Hill, House, Medium, Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Legal, OC, South Park, Wonder Showzen, Full Metal Alchemist, Super Milk Chan, Tilt, and most things on FX and HBO.

Those are all excellent shows imo. I could list a bunch more including shows that I like, but not love. I could also list all the great reality shows on or I could list a couple shows that were either recently cancelled or recently started. I probably shouldn't even respond to these threads, but I can't help but try to answer the completely insane statements the OP made.

LorenzoL

I agree with most of the shows above plus "Lost"

Ted The Bug

Creative, well written comedies:
1. Arrested Development
2. Scrubs
3. Curb Your Enthusiasm
4. South Park

Creative, well-written dramas:
1. Carnivale
2. Lost
3. Battlestar Gallactica
4. The Shield
5. Rescue Me
6. Six Feet Under
7. The Sopranos
8. Deadwood

dvd182

I second all of these. Arrested Development is one of the few straight up comedies I can stand on television these days, and Carnivale is absolutely incredible.

dave-o

Carnivale
House,MD

IMO opinion these are the two with the best writing on the tube right now.

tasha99

No sense in posting my own list when someone else has done the work. With the exception of Rescue Me (which I've never seen) all of these shows are, in my opinion, better than 24 (strangely, I find Carnivale more believable than 24 lately). I also watch Black Books.

TV shows on dvd that I enjoy:

Farscape
Babylon 5
Coupling
The Black Adder
Buffy/Angel
The Wire
MI-5

lwhy?

I would recommend Lost, Veronica Mars, Jack and Bobby, Gilmore Girls, The OC, Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal, and Scrubs.

Red Dog

Nip/tuck
Rescue Me
The Shield
Deadwood
Entourage
The Sopranos
Gilmore Girls
Desperate Housewives
Arrested Development
American Dreams

saoirse

Still on TV:
Carnivale
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Six Feet Under
Lost
24 (which you watch)
Office (I watched the premier last week and quite enjoyed it)
Amazing Race (though you stated you do not like reality shows)
Ultimate Fighter (if you like boxing or martial arts)
Law and Order: Criminal Intent (I don't watch the other ones, but find this to be interesting).

2 of the best shows ever (but no longer with new episodes):
Twin Peaks
OZ

Tommy Ceez

My God...post 13 and we finally got Nip/Tuck!

FX does such a horrendeous job of keeping thier shows on the tip of our toungs.

PLUS Over There looks AWESOME!

Nip/Tuck
The Shield
The Wire
Deadwood
6 Feet Under
Sopranos (Eventually)
Lost
Alias (every season but this one)
24
Arrested Development
Family Guy (soon)
Amazing Race/Survivor/American Idol (the reality show backlash unfairly includes these three...ones a contest of will, the other a microcasm of human society, and the third an old fashioned talent competition)
The Venture Brothers

FORGOT;
Curb Your Enthuiasm
Ali G Show
Penn and Tellers Bullshit

FORGOT PART II;
House
The OC (guilty pleasure romp with hot chicks)

j123vt_99

for a network sitcom, i might have to include Committed and The Office has potential.

(ducks and runs)

also would have to include Chappelle's Show in there

riley_dude

Both Great comedies and not your typical sitcoms. 24 is entertaining as is Lost. Good Drama can be found in Battlestar Galactica and even CSI and Without a Trace.
I've also recently found a 15 minute show called, Robot Chicken that is pretty funny.

Jay G.

No love for The Daily show? It's one of the most consistently funny shows on, which is saying a lot for a show that airs 4 episodes a week.

MrBob

I just finished up the last episode of Carnivale and I must say that this second season was phenominal. Right up there with 24. It more than meets all of the criteria that you list, highly unique and creative, serialized, very engrosing due to excellent writting, action, cinamatography, score.

Lampei

I'm a big fan of the Daily Show, but it definitely caters to a certain audience Probably 49% of the population will find it funny

AGuyNamedMike

Tune in to BBCAmerica, lots of good stuff there. The Brit shows have always relied on great dialogue.

esc24

Arrested Development
Late Night with Conan O'Brian
Nip/Tuck
The OC
Curb your Enthusiasm
Entourage
Scrubs
Rescue Me
The Shield
The King of Queens
Lost
Alias

No longer Running but out on dvd or in reruns
Boomtown
Ed
Homicide
Freaks and Geeks
The Larry Sanders Show
Seinfeld
Newsradio

Turd Ferguson

House, M.D.
Deadwood

Legolas

I'm surprised there aren't any "anything with Joss Whedon's name on it is the greatest television of all time and anyone who thinks otherwise sucks... unless the show really does suck, in which case Whedon is blameless because it's obviously someone else's fault" posts.

24 used to be great, now it's just popcorn entertainment. They fell into the trap of needing a twist or something shocking to end each episode, even if it doesn't make sense or contradicts earlier episodes or is just plain stupid.

BDB

Huff. Its actually an amazing show, I was quite surprised.