Ok, so I really appreciate the help. A few suggested I have actually seen and like (but not seen every episode) : office. Curb, parks and rec, the league, and futurema. And I did see all of generation kill, thx. I've seen enough of entourage (as my wife watched it every week) to know I hate it (sorry, oot).

But everything else I've never seen a single episode. Based on random channel flipping, I hate all reality except storage wars (Brandi FTW) so no way I'm doing pawn stars.

I'm going to start with:
Dramas:
The wire
Sopranos
Deadwood (worth it ? Only mentioned a few times)
Breaking bad
Game of thrones

Comedies:
Workaholics
30 rock
Archer
How I met your mother
Community
(what little I've seen of big bang -I think on an airplane-seemed awfully formulaic although the girl is hot)

This seems like a combination of aggregate suggestions that came from multiple people. Good start?

There's one semi-obscure reality show I like called Real Estate Intervention. Basically it's a show about people who want to sell their home but have some misguided idea of what it's worth, and a real estate guy (Mike Aubry) tells them how it is in a moderately douchebag style. Most episodes go down like this:

Homeowner: Our house is nice! We think it's worth $500,000
Mike: ORLY?
Homeowner: Ya rly
Mike: Show me around
Homeowner: See look nice wood paneling, and this bath was just updated 15 years ago
Mike: Right... let's go look at some comparable houses
Homeowner: Okay

[...]

Homeowner: I hate this house. Who puts granite in their kitchen? And it's too big... who wants to clean all of those extra cabinets?
Mike: So, do you think having granite counters and more kitchen space is a bad thing?
Homeowner: Well... for some people
Mike: In my expert opinion, lol no
Homeowner: Okay
Mike: This house just sold. Guess how much?
Homeowner: $650,000
Mike: It was $375,000, and they credited them $20,000, so a net of $355k
Homeowner: Well they got ripped off
Mike: [facepalm] - Well, do you think your home is worth $145k more than this one?
Homeowner: To the right person

So then they go to another house. Meanwhile Sabrina Soto is doing some cheap reno fix-up to help the owners (this isn't a consistent part of the show).

It ends with Mike telling them how it is and gives his numbers and suggestion. Sometimes the people are receptive, sometimes they act like he has no clue and go back to trying to get 2006 prices for their POS home.

Good throwaway entertainment

GOAT one -season wonders:

Firefly
Terriers
Luck (not avail yet on DVD, but needs to be on the list)

Archer

Meh, forget about luck. Could've possibly developed well, but the one season isn't worth it.

Dont know how it's held up, but 24 was always good for some mindless time killing.

Top 10 series of all time IMO that's been left out: the west wing. Really just a great show, so well written. Not just a political drama, characters are fantastic and can be very funny.

Breaking Bad, The Office

watch the hatfield and mccoy's mini-series if you have on demand.

pawn stars, house hunters

I second pawn stars and house hunters, especially if you liked storage wars, pawn stars is pretty similar. I guess all reality is similar after a while though.

Awesome, got slow around 5 I think but 6-7 picked up the pace and 8 finished it off nicely

24 is my favourite show of all time.

lots of action... lots of suspense...

geesh, none of us have gone curb your enthusiasm or arrested development.

The Wire
Breaking Bad
Louie

Nothing else can touch these.

A comedy I forgot which never seems to get too much love but is amazing is Trailer Park Boys. You can even watch all the episodes on Youtube!

THE LEAGUE

AINEC

Breaking Bad, The Shield, Dexter, The Office, Walking Dead, 24.

Then rent the Big Lebowski.