Thursday, May 15, 2008

TV

I don't watch a lot of TV anymore. Most of it is a waste of time. I'll watch some sporting events now again, but most of the rest of it is crap. However, there are a few shows I deem worthy of my time...

The Jon Stewart/Steven Colbert hour has always been the best thing to hit late night television in a long time. They've been able to cut the filler that infects Letterman and Leno into one hour of current event hilarity. There is a reason so many people get their news from The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. They cut out the ridiculous corporate-influenced BS they call news these days and make biting social commentary. It's really quite brilliant.

Another Comedy Central show I love is South Park. Yeah, that South Park. It never ceases to amaze me. They take every controversy and news story and turn it into something repulsive and completely funny. And now you can watch all their old episodes on the net.

The best night for television is Thursday. The best set of sit coms reside on NBC. (I feel like I've written this post before.) Tonight's Office was so smart with a new character taking over HR duties and the surprise sex scene at the end. I love this show...even more than the British version. Of course, it's the entire line-up that makes this night worth the watch. My Name Is Earl (Jason Lee is my hero.), Scrubs (most irreverent TV show in the wake of Arrested Development), and Thirty Rock (Tina Fey.) round out what must be NBC's best Thursday night since Cosby/Family Ties/Cheer (Who remembers the fourth?).

(Honorable Mention: Sundays on Fox - Family Guy, The Simpsons, American Dad, King of the Hill)

Now on to the real reason I wanted to write this post: Lost. No other show has been able to leak rumors through the interwebs, hold together so many plot lines, and still maintain a ridiculous amount of suspense as Lost. I dared a friend to watch the first season and not get hooked. It's impossible not to invest yourself in watching this story. It's loaded with complex characters, all with sordid pasts. The combination of a "present day" plot with flashbacks and flashforwards allow the audience to see how the characters ended up on the island and, in some cases, how they get off. It is truly the best thing on TV...not on HBO or Showtime.

Like I said, I don't watch much TV, but if more shows did what the shows mentioned in this post do, then I'd never leave my set.

4 comments:

GE said...

Sounds like our TV taste is as similar as our music taste. One thing though, do you feel like the Daily Show has lost some of its luster? It doesn't seem as funny of late as in months and years past. Especially with all the election coverage to talk about. On the other hand, do you watch Bill Maher's show on HBO? He's divisive, but oh-so-funny sometimes.

comoprozac said...

I don't watch the Daily Show on a regular basis, but it does seem to be hit and miss. It was terrible for about a year or two after 9/11. Then it got good again, but I think this primary season has dragged on too long and Bush jokes aren't as funny as they used to be. Besides, Colbert's gag is so spot-on.

I don't currently have HBO, but I have seen his show. He's sort of the Left's answer to Dennis Miller. Funny. I always appreciate the diverse guests on Maher's show.

Huey said...

Was Wings the fourth show on Thrusday? Or wait. A Different World?

Your list of shows are strong. I whole heartedly agree and need to get on that Lost bandwagon.

But where's the Feud?

ks said...

100% agree....Thursday is the BEST night, for all the shows you mentioned. Lost is THE smartest show on television, and I can't help but respect shows that require viewers to think.