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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 11:06:48 GMT -5
Piper Perabo was really good in Game Night. And other things. Pretty good middle blocker for Texas too. And an OU grad. I thought you meant Oklahoma, not Ohio U. Are you related to her or something? If you are, oops for all the derogatory comments. She seems like a nice woman. If not, she's so godawful in Covert Affairs.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 11:08:23 GMT -5
Just off the top of my head, and recent:
The Amazing Mrs. Maisal The Good Place The Good Wife Game of Thrones True Detective The Deuce The Crown Westworld Homeland 30 Rock Breaking Bad Mad Men Arrested Development Parks and Rec Better Call Saul The Office The Americans Mr Robot The Handmaid's Tale Friday Night Lights Curb Your Enthusiasm
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 11:08:54 GMT -5
Piper Perabo was really good in Game Night. And other things. Pretty good middle blocker for Texas too. And an OU grad. I thought you meant Oklahoma, not Ohio U. Are you related to her or something? If you are, oops for all the derogatory comments. She seems like a nice woman. If not, she's so godawful in Covert Affairs. My wife. Apology accepted.
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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 11:14:12 GMT -5
There have never been more quality TV shows than there are now. And yet it is so hard for me to find a TV show that I enjoy watching. I could probably count the number of shows I have enjoyed over the past ten years on one hand. You are right that things like production, directing, camera work, and music are much better, and there are more good actors and actresses. But the dramas are depressingly dark, the comedies are stupidly absurd, and the characters are generally unappealing. Each time my wife and I finish a series it is a struggle to find something tolerable to watch next. I have given up hope of finding something enjoyable. I make a list based on research. Simple research. Just google "best tv shows 2018" and several lists pop up. Here's what comes up from that query: Killing Eve You Barry The Good Place The Americans Better Call Saul The Handmaid's Tale Westworld The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and more... I've only seen a fraction on this list. Just go down the list. Get the DVD (or stream). If multiple seasons, start at season 1. Also, there are many shows from past years that you haven't seen. Try to catch those. I'm currently watching the godawful (but strangely entertaining) Covert Affairs (w/ Piper Perabo) and just finished The Walking Dead (s8). Downton Abbey was NOT the pinnacle of TV.
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Post by yoda on Mar 22, 2019 13:17:24 GMT -5
Just off the top of my head, and recent: The Amazing Mrs. Maisal The Good Place The Good Wife Game of Thrones True Detective The Deuce The Crown Westworld Homeland 30 Rock Breaking Bad Mad Men Arrested Development Parks and Rec Better Call Saul The Office The Americans Mr Robot The Handmaid's Tale Friday Night Lights Curb Your Enthusiasm Check out Justfied too if you haven't seen it.
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Post by volleylearner on Mar 22, 2019 18:46:40 GMT -5
And yet it is so hard for me to find a TV show that I enjoy watching. I could probably count the number of shows I have enjoyed over the past ten years on one hand. You are right that things like production, directing, camera work, and music are much better, and there are more good actors and actresses. But the dramas are depressingly dark, the comedies are stupidly absurd, and the characters are generally unappealing. Each time my wife and I finish a series it is a struggle to find something tolerable to watch next. I have given up hope of finding something enjoyable. I make a list based on research. Simple research. Just google "best tv shows 2018" and several lists pop up. Here's what comes up from that query: Killing Eve You Barry The Good Place The Americans Better Call Saul The Handmaid's Tale Westworld The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and more... I've only seen a fraction on this list. Just go down the list. Get the DVD (or stream). If multiple seasons, start at season 1. Also, there are many shows from past years that you haven't seen. Try to catch those. I'm currently watching the godawful (but strangely entertaining) Covert Affairs (w/ Piper Perabo) and just finished The Walking Dead (s8). Downton Abbey was NOT the pinnacle of TV. We started watching Better Call Saul. Did not like it at all. Can't remember whether we watched more than one episode. The characters were all quite unlikable. I have read a little/watched previews for a few of the others (You, The Good Place, The Americans, Handmaid's Tale, Westworld) and have no interest in them.
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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 18:54:05 GMT -5
I make a list based on research. Simple research. Just google "best tv shows 2018" and several lists pop up. Here's what comes up from that query: Killing Eve You Barry The Good Place The Americans Better Call Saul The Handmaid's Tale Westworld The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and more... I've only seen a fraction on this list. Just go down the list. Get the DVD (or stream). If multiple seasons, start at season 1. Also, there are many shows from past years that you haven't seen. Try to catch those. I'm currently watching the godawful (but strangely entertaining) Covert Affairs (w/ Piper Perabo) and just finished The Walking Dead (s8). Downton Abbey was NOT the pinnacle of TV. We started watching Better Call Saul. Did not like it at all. Can't remember whether we watched more than one episode. The characters were all quite unlikable. I have read a little/watched previews for a few of the others (You, The Good Place, The Americans, Handmaid's Tale, Westworld) and have no interest in them. First, develop some patience. Or buy some from somewhere. The first few episodes of The Sopranos and The West Wing, I absolutely hated. I was persistent. Grew to love them and they're now two of my Top 10 Favorite Shows of all time. Second, don't rely on written synopses and previews. Judge for yourself by watching the actual thing. Third, TV shows are more about the LONG game, watching the characters and the big picture develop slowly over time. Maybe that's not your thing. Perhaps you're better off with movies (which ends in roughly 2 hours, not 8 seasons) or animated shorts. Or maybe you should just read books. Who knows.
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Post by volleylearner on Mar 22, 2019 18:58:33 GMT -5
Just off the top of my head, and recent: The Amazing Mrs. Maisal The Good Place The Good Wife Game of Thrones True Detective The Deuce The Crown Westworld Homeland 30 Rock Breaking Bad Mad Men Arrested Development Parks and Rec Better Call Saul The Office The Americans Mr Robot The Handmaid's Tale Friday Night Lights Curb Your Enthusiasm Based on what I know, we probably should try Mrs. Maisal. Things like GoT have no appeal to me. Are there any likable characters (I mean likable in the sense they behave in a way you would teach your children to behave)? Mad Men also has no appeal. My wife liked The Crown but it was too depressing for me. I didn't like any of the characters (I know it is supposed to be realistic but that's not what I look for in entertainment). 30 Rock had its moments but was not consistently interesting to me. Same with Parks and Rec though it was a little less interesting. The Office had more good moments than either of those two but not enough to keep me going. Too much mundane humor: kinda funny but why do I care? I find the basic premise of Breaking Bad disheartening and borderline disgusting. I already mentioned that I didn't like Better Call Saul at all. I did watch a few episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm a while back but didn't really like it. I don't actually remember why. More stupid than absurd I think. A few recent shows I did like: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Last Tango in Halifax Limitless
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Post by volleylearner on Mar 22, 2019 19:12:48 GMT -5
We started watching Better Call Saul. Did not like it at all. Can't remember whether we watched more than one episode. The characters were all quite unlikable. I have read a little/watched previews for a few of the others (You, The Good Place, The Americans, Handmaid's Tale, Westworld) and have no interest in them. First, develop some patience. Or buy some from somewhere. The first few episodes of The Sopranos and The West Wing, I absolutely hated. I was persistent. Grew to love them and they're now two of my Top 10 Favorite Shows of all time. Second, don't rely on written synopses and previews. Judge for yourself by watching the actual thing. Third, TV shows are more about the LONG game, watching the characters and the big picture develop slowly over time. Maybe that's not your thing. Perhaps you're better off with movies (which ends in roughly 2 hours, not 8 seasons) or animated shorts. Or maybe you should just read books. Who knows. Hahaha. Patience is a virtue, for sure. I would never like The Sopranos no matter how long I watched it. I don't really want to identify with anyone in the mob. I am similarly strange with respect to movies. I remember reviewers talking about how great Saving Private Ryan was because the viewing made one really feel inside a WWII battle. The thing is, I don't want to feel like I'm in a WWII battle. Not interested. The West Wing was really a strange viewing experience (I binged a few seasons with my children). I felt like the writing was really good but overall the was basically shallow--no real takeaway from the plot or the characters. I certainly enjoyed the classic TV series from ancient history, e.g., M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Columbo, Star Trek TOS, so I don't think the problem is I prefer movies or books (not sure why, but I generally only read non-fiction books these days). Some modern TV series are basically really long movies, and I don't like those at all. I didn't like Dallas or Dynasty either.
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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 19:40:11 GMT -5
First, develop some patience. Or buy some from somewhere. The first few episodes of The Sopranos and The West Wing, I absolutely hated. I was persistent. Grew to love them and they're now two of my Top 10 Favorite Shows of all time. Second, don't rely on written synopses and previews. Judge for yourself by watching the actual thing. Third, TV shows are more about the LONG game, watching the characters and the big picture develop slowly over time. Maybe that's not your thing. Perhaps you're better off with movies (which ends in roughly 2 hours, not 8 seasons) or animated shorts. Or maybe you should just read books. Who knows. Hahaha. Patience is a virtue, for sure. I would never like The Sopranos no matter how long I watched it. I don't really want to identify with anyone in the mob. I am similarly strange with respect to movies. I remember reviewers talking about how great Saving Private Ryan was because the viewing made one really feel inside a WWII battle. The thing is, I don't want to feel like I'm in a WWII battle. Not interested. The West Wing was really a strange viewing experience (I binged a few seasons with my children). I felt like the writing was really good but overall the was basically shallow--no real takeaway from the plot or the characters. I certainly enjoyed the classic TV series from ancient history, e.g., M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Columbo, Star Trek TOS, so I don't think the problem is I prefer movies or books (not sure why, but I generally only read non-fiction books these days). Some modern TV series are basically really long movies, and I don't like those at all. I didn't like Dallas or Dynasty either. Well, we do have some things in common. I, too, loved M*A*S*H, Columbo, and Star Trek. I wonder if you're one of those types of people who want to love the WHOLE thing and can't stand imperfection. I myself see the beauty in imperfection. For any given TV show (or movie or book), I can appreciate the brilliance of some parts even if other parts fall short of the mark. For example, Columbo's pacing was really really off and with some really lengthy scenes that didn't need to be there. But overall, I loved it. But I think your problems are: patience (or lack thereof) and unrealistic expectations.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2019 20:45:27 GMT -5
I guess whether you like or don't like these shows isn't my point. I certainly don't like them all -- and haven't watched some of them. My point remains: There has never been an era in TV history with better writing, directing and acting in TV shows. I get you don't want to identify with the mob, to use one of your examples. But The Sopranos was great TV.
The variety of shows and the talent involved with them is unprecedented.
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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 21:39:53 GMT -5
Except for Meadow and AJ. I really wanted them whacked.
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Post by volleylearner on Mar 22, 2019 21:51:04 GMT -5
Well, we do have some things in common. I, too, loved M*A*S*H, Columbo, and Star Trek. I wonder if you're one of those types of people who want to love the WHOLE thing and can't stand imperfection. I myself see the beauty in imperfection. For any given TV show (or movie or book), I can appreciate the brilliance of some parts even if other parts fall short of the mark. For example, Columbo's pacing was really really off and with some really lengthy scenes that didn't need to be there. But overall, I loved it. But I think your problems are: patience (or lack thereof) and unrealistic expectations. No, I can stand imperfection. Some people would say the fact I like Star Trek is evidence. More shows I have enjoyed over the years (no particular order or choices, just did a "best of" search and picked ones I liked): Family Ties, Bob Newhart, Rockford Files, Get Smart, Mork and Mindy, Bewitched, Freaks and Geeks, Dick Van Dyke, It Takes a Thief, Remington Steele, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Hawaii Five-O (original), Murder She Wrote, The Cosby Show, WKRP, Home Improvement, Law and Order (original), 7th Heaven, Magnum P.I., McCloud, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Firefly These are not perfect. Of course I haven't seen most of these in a long time and maybe I wouldn't like some of them now. The ones I have found online or had on DVD that I have watched I still enjoy. But I really would like to enjoy some more current shows. The main change I have noticed in my taste is that I no longer have much tolerance for violence. There is plenty of violence that happens in the real world--I don't need to see it on TV. As for being patient, I guess I don't have as much time for TV as you do. I probably spend about 1 hour a day watching TV. I don't have any more time than that (some days I don't have that much).
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Post by volleylearner on Mar 22, 2019 21:58:41 GMT -5
The variety of shows and the talent involved with them is unprecedented. Yes, you are right about that. Maybe that's why I'm so disappointed--there are so many shows that are well-made that I don't enjoy at all. Take murder mysteries for example. There are so many mysteries and other crime shows, but they are so dark and depressing with plenty of violence and unhappy characters often behaving badly. I want heroes. Maybe I'm just too old and jaded.
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Post by Wolfgang on Mar 22, 2019 21:58:45 GMT -5
Well, we do have some things in common. I, too, loved M*A*S*H, Columbo, and Star Trek. I wonder if you're one of those types of people who want to love the WHOLE thing and can't stand imperfection. I myself see the beauty in imperfection. For any given TV show (or movie or book), I can appreciate the brilliance of some parts even if other parts fall short of the mark. For example, Columbo's pacing was really really off and with some really lengthy scenes that didn't need to be there. But overall, I loved it. But I think your problems are: patience (or lack thereof) and unrealistic expectations. No, I can stand imperfection. Some people would say the fact I like Star Trek is evidence. More shows I have enjoyed over the years (no particular order or choices, just did a "best of" search and picked ones I liked): Family Ties, Bob Newhart, Rockford Files, Get Smart, Mork and Mindy, Bewitched, Freaks and Geeks, Dick Van Dyke, It Takes a Thief, Remington Steele, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Hawaii Five-O (original), Murder She Wrote, The Cosby Show, WKRP, Home Improvement, Law and Order (original), 7th Heaven, Magnum P.I., McCloud, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, FireflyThese are not perfect. Of course I haven't seen most of these in a long time and maybe I wouldn't like some of them now. The ones I have found online or had on DVD that I have watched I still enjoy. But I really would like to enjoy some more current shows. The main change I have noticed in my taste is that I no longer have much tolerance for violence. There is plenty of violence that happens in the real world--I don't need to see it on TV. As for being patient, I guess I don't have as much time for TV as you do. I probably spend about 1 hour a day watching TV. I don't have any more time than that (some days I don't have that much). Okay, with the exception of Firefly, these are old-ass shows. They're from my generation, but daaaayummm, they're old!
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