The most important TV shows in my life

[MikeWaters]

Lost is groundbreaking and critically acclaimed as well as very popular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_(TV_series)#Ratings

The third season premiere brought in 18.8 million viewers. The seventh episode of the series, back from a three-month hiatus, saw a drop to 14.5 million. Over the course of the spring season, ratings would plunge to as low as 11 million viewers before recovering to near 14 million for the season finale. The ratings drop was partially explained when Nielsen released DVR ratings, showing Lost as the most recorded series on television. However, despite overall ratings losses, Lost still won its hour in the crucial 18–49 demographic and put out the highest 18–49 numbers in the 10pm time slot ahead of any show on any network that season. The fourth season premiere of Lost saw an increase from the previous episode to 16.1 million viewers,[82] though by the eighth episode, viewers had decreased to a series low of 11.461 million.[83]

The series was ranked number 1 several times in the "Best of 2005 TV Coverage: Critic Top Ten Lists" by Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe, Tom Gliatto of People Weekly, Charlie McCollum of the San Jose Mercury News and Robert Bianco of USA Today.[86]

Time magazine's James Poniewozik named it one of the Top 10 Returning Series of 2007, ranking it at #2.[87] Also that year, Lost made Time's list of the 100 Greatest Shows of All Time.[88]

Bill Carter, television reporter of The New York Times, defined Lost as "the show with perhaps the most compelling continuing story line in television history".[89]

Lost is too slow, too psychological for a lot of people.

If you love character development, if you love moral dilemmas, if you love great acting and great writing, you will love Lost.

[MikeWaters]

What did I learn about Twin Peaks? That Lynch is blamed "network pressure" for the decline of his show. In other words, he guided the series to solving the murder but 1) doesn't take the blame for it , 2) couldn't generate any plot after that.

If he intended it to be but just one season, I don't think you can call it a TV series. It's more like an extended miniseries. Part of the mark of being a truly great TV series is sustainability.

Where I think Lost really does well, is that you care about the characters moreso than you care about the mystery. And not just one or two characters. Amazing ensemble cast.

Twin Peaks has its place in TV history, and was groundbreaking. But please, let's not overstate David Lynch's supposed genius. The same people who worship James Joyce also must worship David Lynch apparently.

[RC Vikings]

Johnny Quest - The best Saturday morning carton ever made.

Wide World of Sports - Cliff diving in Acapulco, the Harlem Globetrotters, skiing, track and field. My dream job growing up was to be a cameraman for the WWS.

Miami Vice - When Sonny went to the dark side is still some of the best TV I have ever seen.

Seinfeld - Larry David is brilliant.

[landpoke]

I second Dukes of Hazzard. Friday wasn't Friday without them Duke boys.
I also second Miami Vice. Made me briefly wish I lived in Miami.
The original Late Night with David Letterman on NBC. Before he got all bitter about losing the Tonight Show to Leno.
Cheers/Frasier
Beverly Hill 90210 and proud of it. I still watch the reruns on Saturday mornings and I'm still pissed that Jennie Garth nixed a Kelly Taylor lesbian story line.

Recently it's been Ax Men. What can I say, I like lumberjacks.

I know there's more.

[SeattleUte]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Only counting evening-type television.

1. Dukes of Hazzard
2. Magnum PI
3. Three's Company
4. Miami Vice
5. Seinfeld
6. X-files
7. Sopranos
8. Lost

As in, these are the shows that I most cared about in the different stages of my life. I reserve the right to change this list as my memory is refreshed.

S.V.

[SeattleUte]

Mine:

1) Combat (w/ Vic Morrow)

2) LA Law

3) Fireball XL5

4) The Mcglaughlin Group

5) Siskel & Ebert

[Jeff Lebowski]

Starting from when I was the Little Lebowski:

1) Gilligan's Island
2) Dragnet
3) Beverly Hillbillies
4) Mash
5) Taxi
6) Cheers
7) Seinfeld
8) The Sopranos (best series ever, IMO)
9) The Office

[RC Vikings]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

2) LA Law

When the old lady fell down the elevator shaft was good TV.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Mine:

1) Combat (w/ Vic Morrow)

2) LA Law

3) Fireball XL5

4) The Mcglaughlin Group

5) Siskel & Ebert

I used to love the McLaughlin Group.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Starting from when I was the Little Lebowski:

1) Gilligan's Island
2) Dragnet
3) Beverly Hillbillies
4) Mash
5) Taxi
6) Cheers
7) Seinfeld
8) The Sopranos (best series ever, IMO)
9) The Office

I don't know that it is fair to compare Sopranos to network shows, given the Sopranos lack of regulation from the FCC.