I'm just a lurker but for how much you seem to keep up with everything and how much everyone raves about The Wire (completely justified raving imo) I was pretty shocked when you said you had never seen it.

Hey, Come on now. I am not THAT old!!!!

wow, that's one of of my favorite scenes, ever, Diddy. You don't think that was entertaining? If you had seen the episode or followed the show at all, you would understand how integral that scene is to the storyline and reaffirming Batlett's character.

When idiots like Dr. Laura have a pulpit where they can preach their ignorance, I don't mind someone coming back at them with a little smugness.

I don't pay for HBO...I'm sure I'll get around to seeing it on DVD one of these days, though.

Ok I understand you can't watch every show and I also think you made a pretty good list which was a good read but you have to understand if you make a "top 20 <anything>" list on a internet forum and leave out one of, if not, the best <anything> people are going to mention it, a lot.

this is my list....and in case the goofy categories didn't clue you in, it's completely subjective, ldo.

Key West, awesome. I was at a Spinal Tap concert at Carnegie Hall in 2001, and Fischer Stevens was sitting near me. After it was over and we're filing out, I called out "Fischer!" He looked, and I said simply "Key West. Key West." and held up the devil horns sign (as in "rock on" or whatever) since it was a Spinal Tap concert. He gave a big genuine smile and did the devil horns back. I'd like to think he was pleased as punch that somebody remembered, since I'd heard that he really loved doing the short-lived show.

wow, someone else remembers Key West besides me??? I'm amazed. A few years ago I worked on a show with actress Kim Meyers, who played the Oceanographer/doctor on Key West. She was actually befuddled I even knew about that show! It was pretty funny.

Like Northern Exposure, it did "whimsy" very well. It also had some very cool touches of Magic Realism in it. Too bad it only ran for thirteen episodes!



This is the only photo from the program I can find! Check out a young Jennifer Tilly - I almost forgot she was on this show!

I've had a love/hate relationship with West Wing. I don't believe in government, so while I'm certainly not a Republican, you can throw me into the "anti-Democrat" camp.

I have a good friend who used to be a die-hard Democrat and loved WW, and is now an anarchist but still appreciates the show as a mythology.

My problems with it include the smugness factor, and just Sorkin's writing in general. Watching characters speak his dialogue is kind of like eating something really sweet. The sugary goodness is wonderful at first, but after too many bites you're ready to vomit all over the place. It's like "haha, Sam, how clever and witty!", but watch too much at once and it's just gross. EVERY single ****ing moment just HAS to be clever as ****.

That being said, I've watched the first couple of seasons this calendar year and enjoyed them for the most part. I have issues with idiots who think Two Cathedrals (season two finale) is the greatest thing ever though - it wasn't even the best episode on that DISC, let alone the best episode in the history of television, which it has been christened as by some.

Edit: No offense if you think Two Cathedrals is the greatest thing ever.

It wasn't me. The first 30 seconds of the scene (up until the point I got bored) are all of the West Wing I've ever seen.

Here's my non-political 2 cents on why I hate "The West Wing;" it's not so much the show as it is creator Aaron Sorkin that I can't stand. I couldn't stomach "Sports Night" any better than WW. Chymechowder and Juntmonkey really nailed Sorkin's main drawbacks: the suffocating smugness of tone and the "witty" dialogue. I feel like Sorkin and his writers are just showing off; "look how quick-witted and snappy we're being." Juntmonkey's right; the novelty wears off quick. After a few minutes of dialogue I'm yelling at the TV "stop talking like that! Act like a grown-up for chrissakes!"

I am a fan of the lighting-quick dialogue from great movies like "The Philadelphia Story" and "Double Indemnity" and Sorkin seems to want to emulate those films. But he just falls flat. His shows are filled with characters who talk and act like wise-ass college students instead of intelligent, professional adults. WW is filled with a bunch of self-satisfied yappers who we are supposed to buy as the people competently running the country. The tone of WW veers from cutesy banter to grave seriousness. The juggling act doesn't work for me. Sorry, no sale here.

And your political affiliation?

Good list but needs Walker Texas Ranger + The Unit.

Holy 3 year old bump, Batman!

I should probably read it, but I know Dom has good taste and included thirtysomething.

Edit: just found it under tearjerker??? What the hell. I can't see crying over that, but it sure was a great show.

My favorite sci fi show is Babylon 5. I like Battlestar Galactica, but I love Babylon 5.

The big question is, has Dominic watched The Wire yet?

not yet....waiting for it to available on Instant Watch

Good list, Dom.

You had two shows on your list that have, at one point, held my (one day revered) designation of Best Show on Television (ER Season 2)and West Wing Season 2).

I won't pile on about The Wire, except to say that my favorite season is one of the least-mentioned (Season 2 - not sure why I dug the unionized labor theme so much). The only part about The Wire that gives me pause is that it's almost too good...which is to say that its devotion to realism makes it less viscerally enjoyable for me than other "entertainment" shows.

It's funny...I'm noticing a pattern...I thought that Buffy Season 2 was the best, too. Maybe it's the combo of freshness yet familiarity...I don't know

To the West Wing comments regarding smug: I think the moving aspect of the show is the depiction of moments where the smug fails. The erudition of Aaron Sorkin is fun, to be sure, but pales in comparison to President Bartlet standing in the National Cathedral and cursing at God.

Terrific scene

This list has my favorite shows from the 80s (Hill Street Blues) and 90s (Northern Exposure).

Don't hold your breath.

2 years ago, a survey was floating around about an extra charge to get HBO access, but nothing came of it.

I'm about halfway through S2 of Babylon 5. I never picked up on it during its run - seemed boring, too much dialog, not enough action. But I had geek friends who swore by it so I've had it in the vault.

So far I'd say good but not nearly as good as BSG.

Maybe I'm just biased because Straczynski wrote He-Man.

A list like this is definitely not complete without a David Simon show. Although personally I would go with Homicide over The Wire.

I'll chime in as a liberal (big Clinton guy back in the day) who didn't like The West Wing. Maybe I would have liked it IDK, never watched more than a few episodes. Didn't turn me on.

Maybe I'll have to check it out again and see what the fuss is all about.

I never liked The West Wing's politics, but the show was so good that I played along.