Shows that surprised you?
 

Whether like or dislike, what old or recent shows have surprised you?

For me, at least recently, I find Superstore quite amusing. Usually don't get into new comedies of any kind, but this has surprised me in enjoyment...

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Beavis and Butthead.

The entire show's premise sounded really bad at first. But in the end, it turned out to be hilarious.

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I caught the first season of The 100 on Netflix, after swearing not to watch another teenage CW show. But, wow, was that an intense and totally great season and since then seasons 2 and 3 were as good.

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Superstore has really improved this season. The first season had the POV that because these people worked at Walmart, they were losers. Now it is more about them being weirdos that share a workplace.

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Timeless has surprised me, as I was always planning on recording the show because I like to give most new shows on ABC/Fox/NBC/CBS/CW a shot, but I find Timeless to be a show I pay attention too and entertaining enough to get me to stop goofing on my tablet when I watch it off of my tivo.

A reaction to a show that has pleasantly surprised me is how a fair amount of DVD Talkers admit to enjoying Lethal Weapon.

As far as an older show that is still going strong, to this day I feel The Middle is an under rated gem of a show...funny and charming in a way that eludes many sitcoms.

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Life in Pieces has grown on me. I thought the large cast, the odd show template and the inevitable comparisons to Modern Family would do it in, but I've been enjoying each of the characters quite a bit.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Lethal Weapon

I don't think a single person thought it was going to be good. This forum especially thought it was going to be terrible. It's actually the surprise hit of the season even though it's for the most part a procedural.

Crawford and Wayans chemistry and humor have really made the show work and different from the movies.

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Pitch

Hadn't planned on watching it, but I'm glad I have been.

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The OC - was channel surfing and decided to check it out (it was already on it's 5th episode). Got hooked on it.

Grimm - never thought it would survive the Friday night time slot. The final season is coming soon, but I didn't expect it to last more than one season due to the ratings.

Scream Queens - didn't expect much from it, but the first season was quite good.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Another vote for Pitch.

Also, The Exorcist, especially after the humongous reveal 2 weeks ago.

Another one to mention is This is Us. I had no idea what to expect from that, but it's turned into must see TV this Fall. It's almost like the new Parenthood and it's doing really well in the ratings.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

This Is Us - Only recorded the first episode because it got such a good write up. Figured it would be a one and done for us.

Years ago we gave Mom a shot even thought I usually can't stand Allison Janney. She's still not one of my favorites, but it's one of the only sit-coms we didn't drop over the years.

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No Tomorrow has come out of nowhere for me. I love the writing and casting on the CW's new rom-com. It's goofy, sexy and charming. I've seen movies pull off that combo but I can't think of a show pulling it off so well since Moonlighting.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Yeah I wasn't planning on watching it since it's so out of the norm for The CW, but I've found it very charming and the 2 leads Sasse and Anderson have really great chemistry. I like that it's a mix of quirky comedy, romance and a little drama. For this forum, I'm guessing the genre just doesn't appeal to most of the men here.

But yes, it's a pleasant surprise. I hope it at least gets to air it's original 13 episode order.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Supernatural. My niece got me hooked on it just last year and now I love it. Kind of gay for Sam and Dean. Still too many hours to catch up on. So I watched around Season 1-5 and then the newest (11 or 12).

Dead Set showed up on Netflix and was fun.

Didn't watch Deadwood until last month. Good stuff. Can't say anything that hasn't already been said about how good it is.

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Banshee, because of the stupid title, i didn't know about it until this year

Has become one of my fav shows ever, so bummed it's ended, should have another 5 seasons of awesomeness

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Atlanta. I try to avoid that city like the plague, I'm not a rap fan at all, and being a middle class white boy in Alabama, I was skeptical that I'd identify much with the characters. But I am a fan of Donald Glover so I gave it a chance and it became one of my favorite new shows of the fall.

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I don't usually watch new shows right out of the gate but I am enjoying Timeless. Could be better but I love the time travel theme.

I'm going to agree that The Middle is amazingly well done. Always enjoyed that more than Modern Family even when Modern Family was good. It has slipped a bit, but it's several seasons old and the kids are grown up which can kill shows just like it did to MF.

Supergirl. Didn't think I would like a superhero TV show but Benoist is so damn cute I can't help but enjoy watching it.

Life In Pieces. I thought it was going to be a terrible Modern Family rip-off with it's multi-story format but we loved it from the first episode. Hanks is really good at playing a loveable goof. But the banter the couples have is A+. Zoe Lister-Jones is top notch.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

this, this, this, this, this, this, this!!!!!!!!!!!

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I didn't think I would like Supergirl, but ended up binge watching it and became my favorite new show.

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The Good Place, I didn't realize how much I wanted another serialized comedy in my life.

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This was also a big one for me last season. I'm not a huge viewer of the half hour sitcoms, but my wife watched it while I was in the room and I got hooked. Black-ish is enjoyable too, but I only catch the occasional episode.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

Dice. Thought I'd hate it... but I didnt.

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I agree with Pitch. Wife wanted to watch it and now I'm hooked as well.

In the other direction, Walking Dead. Everything about it something I should like but I couldn't get past the first few seasons. Gave it a 2nd and 3rd chance, just couldn't get into it. Quit way back when they were on that farm.

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I don't know how I stumbled on it (I may have been looking for a new show to watch during the summer, but I was expecting to hate it too.) I loved it and felt it was another one of those cable shows that fell under the radar and just had a cult fanbase.

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I'll say The Exorcist, as well. I thought it was going to be a hokey, toothless show. Instead it has been a very good, creepy and sometimes grotesque. I've been surprised at what they have been able to do on a network show.

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Ditto on Banshee. It's probably in my top 5 of all-time. Desperate Housewives would be another one.

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Westworld. So far it's been great. I didn't know what to expect. It's a show that makes you think and come up with questions for days after the eps.

Arrow (current season)...of all my DC Shows this is the one I usually catch up to last. But this season has been keeping engaged even more than before.

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The Last Man on Earth has also surprised me in its wit and originality. I like it more and more as it has gone along...

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I caught an episode of The Goldbergs when Hulu made it the next show to autoplay after the show I chose. Pleasantly surprised by how funny it is. My wife and I dig it.

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I love Banshee but don't know why the title is stupid. :hscratch:

Now as far as stupid titles go, I avoided watching Selfie last year because of the title, but it was actually entertaining before it got canceled.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

I was going to update my original post, but nah...I have been super surprised by how good Milo Ventimiglia is on This Is Us. He is not an actor that I normally gave a damn about, but he is just fantastic in every scene he is in on the show. I have not even finished the last episode, and the scene where he picks up his kid from what I presume is a play date and his conversation with the black mother is just wow. As much as I love the show, Milo's character has been the real surprise for me.

Fyi folks...no spoilers please, I hear his fate was revealed on the last episode.

Re: Shows that surprised you?
 

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I despised the first few episodes back when they aired and completely wrote the show off. 3-4 years later, I notice that it's still on and people are raving about it. I gave it a second shot, and ended up loving it.

Fringe, on the other hand, was one I thought I would love. After about half a season, I just couldn't get into it, and move on to something else. I'm hoping that at some point I'll revisit it and, like Sunny, I end up enjoying it.

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Since this show takes place in multiple time periods his fate doesn't matter much either way.

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have to bring this back to vote for an older gem of mine.

The West Wing...never thought i would get into a government/political/fast talking/fast thinking type of show, you know very Sorkin. but, this show was amazing until the last season with Smits and Alda. that was atrocious. still surprised how much i love and how much replay it has. probably have seen the complete series 3 times in my life, which is a lot for me...

also, Wrecked. very well done.

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And if you watch Shameless you can see Cheyenne from Superstore naked.

Here's some for me, and my thoughts as to why I didn't think it would be any good, or why I started watching it.

Walking Dead & It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (didn't watch S1 of either one until I heard Preston & Steve talking about them after they started airing. Walking Dead S2 was getting ready to start, and Sunny, they had some of the cast on, and I was close to a year behind the podcast...)
Lucifer (The Devil? I hope it's not all religious...)
Scorpion (Nerds saving the world, I'll try it.)
Lethal Weapon (another movie remade into a TV show?, well I like Damon Wayans)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (didn't start this one until it won at the Globes. A break into song show, it won't be as good as Glee.)
Z Nation (another zombie show? yeah right)
Fargo (another movie made into a TV show?! This can't work, hmm but Billy Bob is in it...)
Hawaii Five-0, Macgyver (a remake of an old TV show? Neither one I watched regularly but had seen occasionally)
Imposters (never heard of it, but they kept running commercials for it during a show I watch, I forget, maybe Walking Dead? Hot girl in lingerie, hmm, I better check this out)
Elementary (a modern day Holmes, and a female Dr Watson! WTF!)
Rick & Morty (never heard of them until they showed up on the couch gag of the Simpsons)
Might as well throw Shameless on here too. Binged first 7 seasons on Netflix a few months ago. Never subscribed to Showtime, but the girl that cuts my hair kept asking if I checked it out yet. <3 <3 <3 Fiona! :drool:

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is she the ditzy, cute skinny one?

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She was the one that was pregnant in S1.

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Bates Motel. Who would have guessed that a series based around one of the greatest films of all time would be as good as it was? It definitely helped having strong leads as Norman and Norma.

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yeah, she's ok. little too skinny for me, but she is cute...

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I burned through Strike Back earlier in the year. It was probably my most recent favorite that really surprised me.