The Best Written TV Series of All time....

It's the 19th Anniversary for T1B - Fuckin' A

Moderator: Jesus H Christ

User avatar
Mikey
Carbon Neutral since 1955
Posts: 29904
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:06 pm
Location: Paradise

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Mikey »

That's ridiculous.

How do you compare the writing on a drama to the writing on a variety show to the writing on a sitcom? Apples and oranges.

How come 60 Minutes isn't on the list?
User avatar
Wolfman
Dumpater Artist
Posts: 7196
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:16 pm
Location: SW FL

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Wolfman »

Actually some of the best comedy writing was done during rigid censorship rules. Today you have all sorts of junior high toilet humor and crude banal sex jokes. Sort of like in here.
I think good drama is more difficult. Rod Serling's Twilight zone is in a class by itself. Some of the best in past years has to include "The Paper Chase" and "St. Elsewhere", two of my all time favorites.
Thinking man's action series have to include "Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner" which both starred Patrick McGoohan.
Speaking of lame. What do we get these days? Moronic reality shows? I'd rather watch the WWE.
"It''s not dark yet--but it's getting there". -- Bob Dylan

Carbon Dating, the number one dating app for senior citizens.

"Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to the war, and my fingers to fight."
User avatar
Screw_Michigan
Angry Snowflake
Posts: 20574
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:37 am
Location: 20011

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Screw_Michigan »

How the fuck is homicide not on that list? And I agree with Michael....comedies and dramas aren't even in the same stratospheres
kcdave wrote: Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:05 am
I was actually going to to join in the best bets activity here at good ole T1B...The guy that runs that contest is a fucking prick
Derron wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:07 pm
You are truly one of the worst pieces of shit to ever post on this board. Start giving up your paycheck for reparations now and then you can shut the fuck up about your racist blasts.
User avatar
smackaholic
Walrus Team 6
Posts: 21651
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:46 pm
Location: upside it

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by smackaholic »

What wolfie said.

Twilight Zone is in a class by itself. Another one that was great that I don't see mentioned is Star Trek.

My list would be

Twilight Zone
MASH
All in the Family
Star Trek
Family Guy
South Park
Simpsons
Cheers
mvscal wrote:The only precious metals in a SHTF scenario are lead and brass.
User avatar
Cuda
IKYABWAI
Posts: 10195
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:55 pm
Location: Your signature is too long

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Cuda »

Mikey wrote:How come 60 Minutes isn't on the list?
maybe because it's sucked goat ass for the last 30 years
WacoFan wrote:Flying any airplane that you can hear the radio over the roaring radial engine is just ghey anyway.... Of course, Cirri are the Miata of airplanes..
User avatar
Wolfman
Dumpater Artist
Posts: 7196
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:16 pm
Location: SW FL

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Wolfman »

Concur about the police drama Homicide. One of the best written stories they telecast was the one about a murder in a motel. Very well crafted story.
"It''s not dark yet--but it's getting there". -- Bob Dylan

Carbon Dating, the number one dating app for senior citizens.

"Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teaches my hands to the war, and my fingers to fight."
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

Sanford And Son
Columbo
A-Team (I'm not kidding)
Mission Impossible
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

smackaholic wrote:Family Guy
Family Guy is just 30 mins of random goofiness and pop culture references devoid of any real plot or character depth. Solid entertainment for what it is, but I wouldn't consider it "well written."
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
smackaholic wrote:Family Guy
Family Guy is just 30 mins of random goofiness and pop culture references devoid of any real plot or character depth. Solid entertainment for what it is, but I wouldn't consider it "well written."

It's not even Seth MacFarlane's best show.
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

Shlomart Ben Yisrael wrote:It's not even Seth MacFarlane's best show.
If I measure his best work strictly by belly laughs, I would say it is. What do you prefer? And please don't say the Cleveland Show.
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
Shlomart Ben Yisrael wrote:It's not even Seth MacFarlane's best show.
If I measure his best work strictly by belly laughs, I would say it is. What do you prefer? And please don't say the Cleveland Show.

American Dad.

The low-brow, mouth-breather gags are for Family Guy.
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
User avatar
Jay in Phoenix
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 3701
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:46 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Jay in Phoenix »

I also agree with Wolfie on some of his choices. Twilight Zone and St. Elsewhere were great examples of writing. ER could also be included in the hospital-drama list. But saying that comedies aren't in the same league as dramas is wrong. Different types of programs, different styles of writing, but just as difficult, if not more so. Trying to write the funnah is some hard ass work. Think about the quality of such shows as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Larry Sanders, Arrested Development, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family and dozens of others. Another example of great writing that bridged between formats and styles is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Hell, there has been philosophy books written about the Buffyverse, as well as Star Trek and other shows you wouldn't automatically think of as being "deep", or at least deeper than the surface indicates.

More recent cable shows like The Wire, Mad Men, Sopranos, etc. prove that quality has moved beyond the networks. Some shows that are good and have the potential to be great often get sidetracked or axed before their time. Last year, the Spielberg produced The River ran for only one season. Too bad, as the show was creepy as hell and very well done.

We may not be in a modern renaissance of high-end television programming, but there are still a number of quality shows to be watched. And keep in mind Wolfie, there were a lot of garbage shows back "in the day" too. For every Star Trek there was a Time Tunnel. For every All in the Family, there was a It's About Time.
User avatar
Mace
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 3593
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:18 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Mace »

Some current shows that I like are Justified and The Americans on FX, and Hell on Wheels on AMC. It's difficult to come up with an "all time" list because of the shear volume of shows but I would have to include All in the Family, Mash, and Cheers. For the old and outdated variety shows, I'd have The Smothers Brothers Show and Laugh In.
User avatar
Left Seater
36,000 ft above the chaos
Posts: 13273
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Great State of Texas

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Left Seater »

Some of my favorites will never make it because they dont need writers, Deadliest Catch and Flying Wild Alaska.

I always thought the writers on the animated shows had to be top notch though since the "actors" couldn't cover poor writing with their acting. Simpsons, King of the Hill, even Beavis and Butthead.
Moving Sale wrote:I really are a fucking POS.
Softball Bat wrote: I am the dumbest motherfucker ever to post on the board.
User avatar
Derron
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 7644
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 5:28 pm
Location: Pacific Northwest

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Derron »

Left Seater wrote:Some of my favorites will never make it because they dont need writers, Deadliest Catch and Flying Wild Alaska.
Agreed. But I think they have writers. That recent episode of Deadliest Catch where that South Islander dude, they set him up to simulate changing a diaper on some stuffed animal. Just not thinking that they stock infant diapers on those crab boats, so that makes me think that was set up in advance. Flying Wild is OK too, some of the flying sequences were a bit set up and they got mixed up on aircraft a few times. Best thing would have been one of them dudes dropping the hammer on that half breed Eskimo chick laid over a pallet of cargo in the hanger, or when he was teaching her to fly. I have heard that sexual acts can be accomplished in small aircraft.

And for a series, no mention at all for the original Hawaii Five O ? Please....
Derron
Screw_Michigan wrote: Democrats are the REAL racists.
Softball Bat wrote: Is your anus quivering?
User avatar
Left Seater
36,000 ft above the chaos
Posts: 13273
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Great State of Texas

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Left Seater »

Sure some of the planes were mis labeled, but hell when Hollywood and the major news stations can't tell the difference between a 727 and an L1011, I can give a small film crew a break on a 208 caravan.
Moving Sale wrote:I really are a fucking POS.
Softball Bat wrote: I am the dumbest motherfucker ever to post on the board.
User avatar
Screw_Michigan
Angry Snowflake
Posts: 20574
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 2:37 am
Location: 20011

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Screw_Michigan »

schmick wrote:seinfeld sucked balls, anyone who watched that show was a fucking tool not even worthy of 10 seconds of my time.
Says the unfunny douche without a single funny bone in his god damn body.
kcdave wrote: Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:05 am
I was actually going to to join in the best bets activity here at good ole T1B...The guy that runs that contest is a fucking prick
Derron wrote: Sat Oct 03, 2020 3:07 pm
You are truly one of the worst pieces of shit to ever post on this board. Start giving up your paycheck for reparations now and then you can shut the fuck up about your racist blasts.
User avatar
Diego in Seattle
Rouser Of Rabble
Posts: 8942
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:39 pm
Location: Duh

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Diego in Seattle »

Left Seater wrote:Some of my favorites will never make it because they dont need writers, Deadliest Catch....
According to some on the Maverick a lot of the drama was staged.
“Left Seater” wrote:So charges are around the corner?
9/27/22
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

schmick wrote:what a bunch of whiny fucking jews from the east coast think is funny is certainly not. Seinfeld, David, Schwimmer, Silverman.... a whole race of unfunny cocksuckers
Dude, you are the single most humorless dweeb on any of these boards. Someone will make a throwaway crack about your faggot sons or your Tommy Lasorda wanna-be coaching exploits and you'll go straight into a dead serious three paragraph retort. I'd trust Spray to count my calories before I'd trust you to even be able to finish a knock-knock joke.
User avatar
Left Seater
36,000 ft above the chaos
Posts: 13273
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:31 pm
Location: The Great State of Texas

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Left Seater »

schmick wrote:727 had no engines on the wings and the L1011 was a fuck ton larger with way more passengers.
Thanks Marcus.
Moving Sale wrote:I really are a fucking POS.
Softball Bat wrote: I am the dumbest motherfucker ever to post on the board.
BSmack
2005 and 2010 JFFL Champion
Posts: 29342
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:21 pm
Location: Lookin for tards

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by BSmack »

Sitcoms have sucked since at least the late 80s. Here's my top 10 best written shows.

The Wire
All In The Family
The Simpsons
Sopranos
The Twilight Zone
M*A*S*H
Cheers
Star Trek The Next Generation
The Honeymooners
King of the Hill
"Once upon a time, dinosaurs didn't have families. They lived in the woods and ate their children. It was a golden age."

—Earl Sinclair

"I do have respect for authority even though I throw jelly dicks at them.

- Antonio Brown
User avatar
Toddowen
it puts the lotion on its skin....
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:15 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Toddowen »

I see no mention of Barney Miller. Sort of a forgotten one.

I always liked it better than MASH.
jiminphilly
2014 JFFL Champion
Posts: 4553
Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2005 1:59 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by jiminphilly »

The Wire
The Shield
Sopranos
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

schmick wrote:what a bunch of whiny fucking jews from the east coast think is funny is certainly not. Seinfeld, David, Schwimmer, Silverman.... a whole race of unfunny cocksuckers

Well, some of us are funny...
trev wrote:Marty, you're a funny, funny guy.
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
BSmack
2005 and 2010 JFFL Champion
Posts: 29342
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:21 pm
Location: Lookin for tards

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by BSmack »

Toddowen wrote:I see no mention of Barney Miller. Sort of a forgotten one.

I always liked it better than MASH.
If we were doing top 10 TV theme songs, Barney Miller would be all over it.

"Once upon a time, dinosaurs didn't have families. They lived in the woods and ate their children. It was a golden age."

—Earl Sinclair

"I do have respect for authority even though I throw jelly dicks at them.

- Antonio Brown
User avatar
Jay in Phoenix
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 3701
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:46 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Jay in Phoenix »

Toddowen wrote:I see no mention of Barney Miller. Sort of a forgotten one.

I always liked it better than MASH.
Ah Todd, thank you. I am amazed and ashamed to admit I omitted "Barney Miller", a great and very funny show. Of course, I have a somewhat biased view of that show as my uncle was the show's editor, as well as having written and directed a handful of episodes. He later went on with Abe Vigoda to work on "Fish", a not-so-great spin-off. My uncle worked a long time in Hollywood, attached to such shows as "Batman", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "That Girl", "The Monkees", and "Broken Arrow".

"Barney Miller" could easily fit into the top 10 of sitcoms. It's still funny to this day.
User avatar
Cuda
IKYABWAI
Posts: 10195
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:55 pm
Location: Your signature is too long

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Cuda »

Image


=

Image
WacoFan wrote:Flying any airplane that you can hear the radio over the roaring radial engine is just ghey anyway.... Of course, Cirri are the Miata of airplanes..
User avatar
Diego in Seattle
Rouser Of Rabble
Posts: 8942
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 1:39 pm
Location: Duh

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Diego in Seattle »

The weird part is how Abe Vigoda outlived most of the other actors on that show. I'm sure most viewers had him in their death pool during or immediately after that show's run.
“Left Seater” wrote:So charges are around the corner?
9/27/22
User avatar
Toddowen
it puts the lotion on its skin....
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:15 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Toddowen »

I won't inquire as to which episodes, Jay, because that might reveal personal info.

Always loved the show. One of the few that I would make time to watch during the season. Watched many a rerun too.


I was booted from an Upstairs Downstairs message board awhile back. One of the things the people didn't like there was that I likened some of the board members that were a bit overly speculative of character scenarios to a Barney Miller episode {The Judge}, where a woman enters the precinct with a story of her neighbor who she claims that she had observed engaging in all sorts of criminal activity and marital infidelities.

When the detectives investigate the home, instead of finding any crime, they find a library of "Soap Opera Digest" magazines, describing verbatim the acts that the woman had reported.

I think Harris's response to Barney regarding her was "Shall I call General Hospital?" :lol:



Anyway...the message board there didn't have a great sense of humor.
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

Toddowen wrote:...an Upstairs Downstairs message board...

You're shitting me, right.

:shock:
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
User avatar
Toddowen
it puts the lotion on its skin....
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:15 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Toddowen »

Shlomart Ben Yisrael wrote:
Toddowen wrote:...an Upstairs Downstairs message board...

You're shitting me, right.

:shock:
No, I am not. I still watch an occasional episode.


And as for best written shows, Up/Down certainly deserves mention.
User avatar
Toddowen
it puts the lotion on its skin....
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:15 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Toddowen »

Now that I remember it, I think what really caused the ruckus at the Up/Down board was my blending the story of Lady Belamy's drowning on the Titantic with the Star Trek episode "City on the Edge of Forever"

Instead of Spock and Kirk realizing that Joan Collins must die to return them back through the time portal, I had them on the Titantic with Spock having an affair with Lady Belamy and McCoy trying to save her from drowning with the sinking ship. Only a well placed Vulcan nerve pinch by Spock on McCoy's shoulder saved all that ever was or ever shall be created.


Heck....I thought it was funny. Nobody else there did though.
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

Toddowen wrote:I thought it was funny. Nobody else there did though.
Imagine that.
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

Didn't you send me a whiny PM saying you weren't going to respond to my posts anymore?
User avatar
Shlomart Ben Yisrael
Insha'Allah
Posts: 19031
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 pm
Location: filling molotovs

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Shlomart Ben Yisrael »

:popcorn:
rock rock to the planet rock ... don't stop
Felix wrote:you've become very bitter since you became jewish......
Kierland drop-kicking Wolftard wrote: Aren’t you part of the silent generation?
Why don’t you just STFU.
MgoBlue-LightSpecial
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 21259
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:35 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by MgoBlue-LightSpecial »

17 PMs over an 8 minute span. He is going off the rails. :lol:
User avatar
Toddowen
it puts the lotion on its skin....
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2013 7:15 am

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Toddowen »

I've only just begun, you nazi sucking swizzlestick

You know my hours :grin:
User avatar
Moby Dick
2017 JAFFL Champ
Posts: 2804
Joined: Thu Feb 03, 2005 3:13 pm
Location: B-town

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Moby Dick »

no LOST??
this list is fail.
Image
User avatar
Jay in Phoenix
Eternal Scobode
Posts: 3701
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:46 pm

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by Jay in Phoenix »

schmick wrote:
that list is shit
Although not quite to the level of your posts. There is that.
User avatar
missjo
I'm a Fucking Princess
Posts: 643
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 9:50 am
Location: Oz

Re: The Best Written TV Series of All time....

Post by missjo »

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Teachers (UK)
Misfits (UK)
Dr Who
Star Trek Next Gen & Voyager
Life on Mars(UK)
Twin Peaks (season 1)
Carnivale
Skins (UK)
This Life (UK)
Red Dwarf
You just can't fix stupid...trust me I've tried
Post Reply