Top 25 TV shows of last 25 years (3 Viewers)

[The Military Workshop]

Hi Guys,

In view of the scale and WWII bad guys threads thought we might need some light relief so offer up this Top 25 TV series in past 25 years for discussion and comment.

Have taken it from Sydney Morning Herald web page and criteria was as follows :

Our panel has wrestled with some tough decisions during the past few weeks as we have attempted to name the best 25 television series of the past 25 years.
For shows to make the list, they had to be made after 1987, which ruled out undeniable favourites such as Cheers, Family Ties, M*A*S*H and A Country Practice. The cut-off date also meant that any awkward conversations regarding Neighbours' place in the firmament of Australian television history could be had another day.

Members of the panel nominated their favourite 25 shows in order of preference. We then awarded points to shows based on where they came on each panellist's list. Additional preferences were given to shows that were nominated by more than one panellist, which, as it turned out, included all the shows in the top 25.

List was as follows :
1. Mad Men (2007-current)
2. The Sopranos (1999-2007)
3. Seinfeld (1990-1998)
4. The Wire (2002-2008)
5. The West Wing (1999-2006)
6. Arrested Development (2003-2006)
7. Frontline (1994-1997) Australian Show.
8. The Simpsons (1989-current)
9. Breaking Bad (2008-current)
10. Homeland (2011-current)
11. Lost (2004-2010)
12. Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
13.The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
14. Frasier (1993-2004)
15. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
17. Deadwood (2004-06)
18. The Office (2001-2003)
19. Blue Murder (1995) Australian Show.
20. The X-Files (1993-2002)
21. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
22. Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
23. Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
24. Law & Order (1990-2010)
25. Phoenix/Janus (1992-93/1994-95) Australian Show.

For my own part I have not seen Mad Men. I would knock out Lost, Buffy, Twin Peaks and X Files (not a Scif Fi fan) and put in Boardwalk Empire and Boston Legal. Since this is only a list for last 25 years can not include shows like Hill Street Blues and LA Law.

Seems the SMH guys do not watch much English TV. How about Prime Suspect ?

For those not familiar with it Blue Murder is about crime and police corruption in the New South Wales Police and worth a look if you like crime/police dramas as based on real events.

The full article contains summaries of each show and is at http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment...hows-of-the-past-25-years-20120912-25rs7.html

Brett

 

[Jack]

If I can put my hand up for the New Zealanders, try Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby. One of the funniest comedy programs I have ever seen.

I would also nominate a new program on Pay TV called Newsroom starring Jeff Daniels. It is quite fantastic.

 

[Mitch]

surprised that friends did not make the list as it was massive at one time.

Seinfeld and fraiser are worth being in there. I would add

A touch of Frost

prime suspect

Inspector morse

Mitch

 

[The Military Workshop]

surprised that friends did not make the list as it was massive at one time.

Seinfeld and fraiser are worth being in there. I would add

A touch of Frost

prime suspect

Inspector morse

Mitch

Agree on Friends. My children (when about 15/17) got hooked on it and I still watch the odd episode and good for a laugh.

NCIS another one (good group of characters) but ironically the cause of me posting. Better half is watching last part of a three episode storyline where somebody trying to kill them all. I find those plots tedious and can only take so many of them. Uh oh, David McCallum just had a heart attack on the beach {sm2}

Brett

 

[Jack]

Agree on Friends. My children (when about 15/17) got hooked on it and I still watch the odd episode and good for a laugh.

NCIS another one (good group of characters) but ironically the cause of me posting. Better half is watching last part of a three episode storyline where somebody trying to kill them all. I find those plots tedious and can only take so many of them. Uh oh, David McCallum just had a heart attack on the beach {sm2}

Brett

Any votes for Doc Martin?

 

[The Military Workshop]

Any votes for Doc Martin?

Absolutely not. Terrible character^&grin

 

[Jack]

Agree on Friends. My children (when about 15/17) got hooked on it and I still watch the odd episode and good for a laugh.

NCIS another one (good group of characters) but ironically the cause of me posting. Better half is watching last part of a three episode storyline where somebody trying to kill them all. I find those plots tedious and can only take so many of them. Uh oh, David McCallum just had a heart attack on the beach {sm2}

Brett

Just a question from left field - is your better half a fan of Gibbs, that coldly analytical, doggedly determined lawman?

 

[waynepoo]

Of the list only the following were worth two bob IMO.
Blue Murder
Deadwood
Battlestar Galactica
The West Wing
The Sopranos
Frasier
And Doc Martin which was not on the list. Even though it was earlier than the year given Yes Minister is the best TV show of the lot.
Wayne.

 

[Partner]

I'm depressed that Hill Street Blues and LA Law were on TV over 25 years ago

Hell on Wheels is a great show currently on TV

 

[The Military Workshop]

Just a question from left field - is your better half a fan of Gibbs, that coldly analytical, doggedly determined lawman?

Yes and she often comments on our strikingly handsome good looks{sm4}

 

[Jack]

Agree on Friends. My children (when about 15/17) got hooked on it and I still watch the odd episode and good for a laugh.

NCIS another one (good group of characters) but ironically the cause of me posting. Better half is watching last part of a three episode storyline where somebody trying to kill them all. I find those plots tedious and can only take so many of them. Uh oh, David McCallum just had a heart attack on the beach {sm2}

Brett

Dear Brett

If you do not post in the next five minutes to contradict me, can I assume everything in the shop is 25 percent off?

Time starts now! 10.02 pm.

Jack

 

[waynepoo]

Dear Brett

If you do not post in the next five minutes to contradict me, can I assume everything in the shop is 25 percent off?

Time starts now! 10.02 pm.

Jack

You wish!
Wayne.

 

[Jack]

You wish!
Wayne.

Two minutes left!!

 

[TomNT]

Two minutes left!!

Your gunna get wacked by the cain....^&grin I vote for big Tony (The Sopranos), Mulder and Scully (The X-Files) and Battlestar Galactica although i missed many of the episodes....

What about Inspector Rex????:rolleyes2:

Tom

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

Mad Men well deserves the acclaim it receives
The Sopranos was very well done but never really interested me
Twin Peaks was quite well done and very unconventional for its time
Homeland has very good writing but excels with the stellar acting by Claire Danes
Battlestar Galactica was extremely well written but the acting was uneven
The Office was great for 5 years but is showing its age and missing Michael Scott
Deadwood had excellent acting and interesting writing but the constant blue language was really a distraction
Seinfled I thought was way over rated but would be hard to exclude for its many funny moments

There are a number of others that were much better than the rest of the list including:
Firefly: Simply brilliant ensemble work, clever writing and the worst cancellation decision ever made (good job Fox:rolleyes2
Babylon 5: The best SciFi TV series ever done
Boston Legal: Delightful work by Shatner and Spader and the rest of the crew
Justified: Excellent acting and writing
Startrek Enterprise: Much unrated, the 3rd best Trek
Game of Thrones: Amazingly overlooked even given its young age


While just outside this range, I don't think of any TV list would be complete without mentioning the excellent Hill Street Blues, Picket Fences, LA Law and Star Trek Next Generation

Curb Your Enthusiasm was just plain poor

 

[Rob]

Here's a list of mine in no particular order;

Black Adder Goes Forth
Friends
Frasier
Poirot
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The thick of it
I'm Alan Partridge
Knowing you knowing me with Alan Partridge
The Office; An American workplace
Band of Brothers
Foyles War
30 Rock
The Civil War ( Ken Burns)
Ab Fab
The Simpsons
Midsomer Murders
Deadwood
Sherlock
The Big bang theory
Star Trek next Generation
Dr Who
Western Front (Richard Holmes)
Rob

 

[GICOP]

NYPD Blue
CSI
CSI New York
CSI Miami

This next one doesn't qualify in the 25 year time frame but I loved it "The Sullivans"

Cheers

Martyn

 

[The Military Workshop]

NYPD Blue
CSI
CSI New York
CSI Miami

This next one doesn't qualify in the 25 year time frame but I loved it "The Sullivans"

Cheers

Martyn

I am guessing you like police shows{sm4}

 

[The Military Workshop]

Agree on Foyles War.

Minor technicality but Band of Brothers more of a mini series than a show.

Here's a list of mine in no particular order;

Black Adder Goes Forth
Friends
Frasier
Poirot
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The thick of it
I'm Alan Partridge
Knowing you knowing me with Alan Partridge
The Office; An American workplace
Band of Brothers
Foyles War
30 Rock
The Civil War ( Ken Burns)
Ab Fab
The Simpsons
Midsomer Murders
Deadwood
Sherlock
The Big bang theory
Star Trek next Generation
Dr Who
Western Front (Richard Holmes)
Rob

 

[The Military Workshop]

Any votes for Doc Martin?

No. Dr Martin is not a nice character at all.

and yes my better half often comments on the similarities between myself and Gibbs. Usually the grey hair bit{sm2}.