Pa22@

I always have a hard time choosing between The Wire and The Shield, but I'd say start with The Shield.

Ask me tomorrow and I'd say The Wire.

Rescue Me
The Shield
Nip/Tuck
LOST
Alias

1. The Wire - best drama on TV and one of the best shows ever
2. Lost - very entertaining and perfect for marathon watching on DVD
3. The Shield
4. Rome
.
.
.
.
5. Weeds - not worth your time

If you start now with Lost, you should easily be able to catch before next season starts (assuming the S3 DVD comes out no later than the Fall).

If you are strictly going by my favorite show out of those, I say The Shield.

I've always got to stick up for The Shield. Of course, my tastes seem to be a bit weird, as I got sick of Lost about halfway into the first season.

The Wire

I'd say Lost because it is one of the shows that has the most buzz going for it. It may not be the best, but it is one of the most innovative, especially after the season finale. I would think you would want to be in on all the talk and speculation. It's just fun!

Bear in mind that Lost season 3 just wrapped, so you've got close to 9 months to catch up.

I just recently watched season 1-4 of The Wire, one of the best crime/dramas I've ever seen.

Rescue Me

Nothing, and like it.

Rome.

No, seriously.

Lost, its such a great and fun show.

I'd say Lost if you like doing marathons and like "WTF?!?" moments.

I voted Lost. However, I'd go with Alias. The Shield is a great choice as well. Haven't seen The Wire or Weeds. Alias was mind freakin amazing for awhile. Garner was a real treat to watch in the role. The pilot has to be the greatest pilot I've ever seen. It blew away most movies.

The 4400, not on your list but if you have not seen it check it out...

I voted for The Wire, just because I think it's one of the best TV shows ever.

But I would also recommend any of the others, except The Shield, only because I haven't seen it before.

Voted for The Shield, once you finish that dive into Lost.

The Shield is the finest show on TV right now if you ask me, but I must note that I haven't watched The Wire or Weeds.

i voted for the wire too (awaiting a sale on seasons 2-3 though). i enjoyed weeds first season, haven't seen the second one yet.

i might also recommend the unit. first season is only 13 roughly 45 minute episodes (i watched the whole thing over the weekend).

i still have seasons 2-5 of 24, seasons 2-3 of smallville, dead like me, and 3 seasons of nip/tuck to watch and well season 3 of rescue me whenever i decide to get it.

I voted for The Wire. It's amazing.

cheers,

-the Jesus

As a Joss Whedon fan of a sort...and Veronica Mars fan...
My favorite TV show list:

1) Babylon 5
2) Angel
3) Lost (unless it ends up sucking somehow later)
...around #7) Buffy

I vote Lost

Tough call between The Shield and Rome. I voted Shield, but as I type this, I'm thinking Rome might be a better choice as it's only a couple seasons long. You could knock off the entire series on a Saturday, THEN tackle all five seasons of Shield.

Gotta show some love for Weeds. Great show.

Personally I'm about to start watching the first season of Rome.

1. The Wire
2. LOST

I gotta feel like the people not suggesting The Wire just don't watch it. It's that good.