TV SERIES - best now / best ever?

[Ivor Biggun]

Always amazed there were only 2 series but it was up against Moonlighting which for some reason got a higher share of the ratings. Some of the older Americans may remember Joseph Wambaugh's Police Story. My mum used to consider it too violent and I got sent to bed when it first came on. Later in the series ( as I matured) I was allowed to watch it.

[PigDogg]

Crime Story, the grittier Chicago opening

[PigDogg]

Crime Story, the flashier Vegas opening

[Bumpa STIKKA]

This Is Not My Life!

I've only seen the first episode but if the rest are similar then
intelligent Sci-Fi lovers have finally found something to look forward
to. Much better than the likable yet confusing 'Life On Mars.' More
comprehensible than the silly melodramatic 'Heroes.' This TV series is
from New Zealand so you'll have to be, erm... creative in how you get a
hold of this series. I suspect that this will change, though, and world
wide distribution will follow quickly.

This Is Not My Life is an absorbing sci fi drama featuring Charles
Mesure, Tandi Wright, and Miriama McDowell. It is set in the future in
a Utopian leafy suburb of Waimoana in New Zealand.

Don't let the fact that it's a TV program from NZ put you off. The
production features some fine international heavyweights and UK viewers
especially will enjoy this. The American fans of network TV are gonna
be left wondering when the bombs and bullets are ever gonna start so
they won't like this at all.

The script is top notch and you'll have to listen to every word because
there is no exposition thrown out for an inattentive teenage crowd.

The clever placement of gadgets and gizmos are blended into the
unfolding drama and not thrown in your face. The dialog is seductively
menacing and at times chilling to listen to.

Pencils and paper are things of the past. The 'greenies' and tree
huggers won! 'Carbon credits' for driving and flying are a privilege
and you'll get a stern finger wagging if you go overdrawn.

The performances, direction and effects are universally solid. There
was an annoying moment when the little girl was running down the hall
away from her father and it was obvious to the dead that she was
looking directly at someone and not where she was running, but maybe
I'm quibbling.

I'll leave you to figure out the story for yourself... much like the
lead in the story is having to do! If you are a fan of John Wyndham
then you'll ease right into this.

My personal view is that if this standard of programming can sustain
itself for the entire series then it will be as important for science
fiction as the original series of Star Trek.

If it loses direction, gets sentimental or silly then it will be
forgotten very quickly.

But for the moment I am for the first time in decades genuinely
thrilled about watching science fiction on TV...

[Ivor Biggun]

FFS Deepthroat I'm not going to sleep tonight now. i keep gettting flashbacks- The Rockford Files, Barreta, Police Woman - thnaks for starting this thread

[seanbeag7]

I have to put the sweeney and the professionals first before and other programme, then Morse, midsummer murders, fawelty towers, cracker.

On the side it's got to be all 3 CSI's and both the NCIS's first then law and order and i loved the L word.

[deepthroat]

(Lefty @ Aug. 03 2010,19:43) IMO, the most successful and one of the longest TV series was Gunsmoke. Most of the kids here probably never heard of it or ain't seen it.

It was on the air for 20 years and 635 episodes. One cool thing about seeing reruns of Gunsmoke is so many actors who later went on to be big names, were guest stars on Gunsmoke. It's fun trying to recognize them younger than most probably remember them. Amongst the early guest stars were Charles Bronson. Leonard Nimoy, Ed Asner and Cloris Leachman. Far too many more to ever name them all here.

And before it began it's television run, it was a popular radio series! The radio series ran from 1952 to 1961. The tv show ran from 1955 to 1975.

There's only one prime-time series that has run longer than Gunsmoke. Who can be the first to name it? (NOTE: there are plenty of daytime "soap operas" and game shows with longer runs but those aren't included in this quiz).

[Jake_Sully]

I have no idea but I would guess Law & Order just because I watched it a lot. Sam Waterston is awesome in that and I wish NBC hadn't canceled it. It was like them shooting their dog when they canceled it.

[thegame925]

All time TV Favourite Series €“ (Part I = Interviews and Documentaries)

"See it now" €“ Edward R. Morrow €“ (1951-1958)

"Person to Person" €“ Edward R. Murrow €“ (1953-1959)

[thegame925]

All time TV Favourite Series €“ (Part 2 = Drama and comedy)

"The Fugitive" €“ David Janssen €“ (1963-1967)

"The Invaders" €“ Roy Thinnes €“ (1967-1968)

""Laugh-in" €“ Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (1967-1973)

[Jake_Sully]

DT its the Simpsons isn't it? I have no idea when it started, I'm an occasional watcher at best.

[Lefty]

The Simpsons first aired in Dec 1989, so now it's almost 21 years, but not as many different episodes as Gunsmoke. 485 so far.

[Jake_Sully]

Hey Lefty, Welcome back!

And then I have no idea which one it is. Monday Night Football?

[daveduke007]

(Ivor Biggun @ Aug. 03 2010,16:04) Police Woman - thnaks for starting this thread  :

Pepper has starred in plenty of my 's

[deepthroat]

(deepthroat @ Aug. 03 2010,23:26) There's only one prime-time series that has run longer than Gunsmoke. Who can be the first to name it? (NOTE: there are plenty of daytime "soap operas" and game shows with longer runs but those aren't included in this quiz).

The correct answer is "The Simpsons" now in it's 21st season on Fox. Good job Jake!