Top Twenty All-time American Televison Programmes
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I only watched "I love Lucy" on reruns. I've read that most of the early shows were broadcast live which makes that show special. No re-takes, any flubs went out over the airwaves.
"Mash" was alright I guess. It was interesting that the show went for 11 years while the war lasted only three.
"Star Trek" , in it's many incarnations, was a classic. It was hard to see any of the regular cast in anything without thinking of their characters in this space opera.
"All in the Family" was based on the British show,"Til Death do us Part" was a funny show that went against the general run of the mill sit coms.
"The Carol Burnett Show" owed everything to the excellent cast, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, The show wouldn't have made it without all of them.
"Mash" was alright I guess. It was interesting that the show went for 11 years while the war lasted only three.
"Star Trek" , in it's many incarnations, was a classic. It was hard to see any of the regular cast in anything without thinking of their characters in this space opera.
"All in the Family" was based on the British show,"Til Death do us Part" was a funny show that went against the general run of the mill sit coms.
"The Carol Burnett Show" owed everything to the excellent cast, Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, The show wouldn't have made it without all of them.
One of the oldest shows on TV now, (reruns) is "Rawhide", Clint Eastwood, I watch all of them, Black and White, but some very well-written episodes. And you could see the future success in Clint Eastwood back then.
I also watch "reruns" of "Bonanza",good old western, interesting plots, good acting.
Got good laughs from "I Love Lucy", she was very funny.
Loved "All in the Family", Archie was such a loser, but made it work, his acting was amazing.
Enjoyed the humor in "Mash"
The old black and white shows have to be enjoyed "from the standpoint of there time", as the social
acceptance of "the family" in those days, was so different. Women didn't work, were like maids in
the home, talked to their husbands like they were their dads, had to ask permission for "things", etc.
I watch all of the reruns of "Seinfeld", such brilliant writing, a show completely about "nothing" and
done to perfection, love it.
And, of course "The Carol Burnett Show, brilliant characters, I laughed till the tears rolled down my cheeks.
I also loved the "Perry Mason" shows, introduction to the court room dramas, good stories, and
good acting, and I now watch all of the CSI's, which I enjoy.
I also watch "reruns" of "Bonanza",good old western, interesting plots, good acting.
Got good laughs from "I Love Lucy", she was very funny.
Loved "All in the Family", Archie was such a loser, but made it work, his acting was amazing.
Enjoyed the humor in "Mash"
The old black and white shows have to be enjoyed "from the standpoint of there time", as the social
acceptance of "the family" in those days, was so different. Women didn't work, were like maids in
the home, talked to their husbands like they were their dads, had to ask permission for "things", etc.
I watch all of the reruns of "Seinfeld", such brilliant writing, a show completely about "nothing" and
done to perfection, love it.
And, of course "The Carol Burnett Show, brilliant characters, I laughed till the tears rolled down my cheeks.
I also loved the "Perry Mason" shows, introduction to the court room dramas, good stories, and
good acting, and I now watch all of the CSI's, which I enjoy.
Yeah, I dubbed it the "Hawkeye Pierce Show". 40 episodes and then an episode that wasn't revolving around Hawkeye Pierce. Then another 40 episodes of Hawkeye Pierce. And so on.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
Geee. Frasier experiences something. Frasier makes a fool out of himself. Show ends.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
Everything about America is UScentric. lol
The character of the country is extremely egoistic and narcisistic.
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I am old enough to have seen the show when it first came out and lived in Brooklyn at that time. The expression 'bang, zoom' at that time was not understood to have been any real threat against his wife.
There is an article in today's NY Times about Joyce Randolph who at age 82 remains as lovely and charming as ever. Every day she is reminded of what a great show it was.
American cartoons have become so few and far between. I remember the days when it seemed like the artists involved actually tried to make the show/characters look good. Nowadays, it seems like quality animation isn't so important.
But, there are a few exceptions, and I thought this thread would be a good place for us to make mention of the American cartoons that actually have some effort put into them. Disney shouldn't have a monopoly on well-drawn characters.
A few that come to mind are
Avatar: the Last Airbender
Ben 10
Justice League & Justice League Unlimited
The Batman was okay (by comparison to other shows) I thought, but the storyline didn't really hold me (maybe I've seen too many incarnations of Batman).
X-Men Generations was well drawn, but again, the storyline killed it for me.
But, there are a few exceptions, and I thought this thread would be a good place for us to make mention of the American cartoons that actually have some effort put into them. Disney shouldn't have a monopoly on well-drawn characters.
A few that come to mind are
Avatar: the Last Airbender
Ben 10
Justice League & Justice League Unlimited
The Batman was okay (by comparison to other shows) I thought, but the storyline didn't really hold me (maybe I've seen too many incarnations of Batman).
X-Men Generations was well drawn, but again, the storyline killed it for me.
Funny how age creeps up on you! I have no idea what these cartoons are that you mention! The last cartoons I remember are the ones my kids used to watch back in the 1970's...sigh...I am old!
Cartoons. Even when I was a kid we hardly watched them. We had lives to live. The great outdoors to explore. Being sentient beings we wanted to live sentient lives. The human species has transmogrified since the '60's. I no longer recognize most of the humans I see on the streets. Them. Are they really like us?
