The 2000's: The Best Decade For Television EVER!

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:09pm

I just realized that we are living a true golden age of television. Consider:

- Arrested Development

- The Office (UK and US)

- The bulk of The Sopranos

- Six Feet Under

- Angels in America

- Hurricane Katrina coverage

- The bulk of Jon Stewart's reign as host of The Daily Show

- The Colbert Report

- Some of the best episodes on South Park history

- Steven Soderbergh's Bubble (Premiered on television)

- Reno 911

Tis a shame films are sucking for the most part at the moment.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:11pm

You're missing Grey's Anatomy and Veronica Mars.
And I'd say Desperate Housewives and Gilmore Girls aren't bad, either. Updated On: 4/2/06 at 11:11 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:33am

I liked the 80s and the 90s better. No reality crap.

[pab]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:05am

The 70s offered some groundbreaking television which might look to most on this board as just reruns on Nick at Nite or TV Land but most of these shows set the stage for most of what we see on TV today:

Columbo

M*A*S*H

Upstairs, Downstairs

All In The Family

Mary Tyler Moore

The Bob Newart Show

The first seasons of Saturday Night Live

The Watergate Coverage

The Carol Burnett Show

Soap

Coverage of the Olympics in Munich

[alterego]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:07am

I'm with you pab, Cruel_Sandwich must have a very short memory.

[pab]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:49am

alterego, I don't think that it's about a short memory, but it may be something more like the idea that a number of people have on this board and that's that it's all about NOW.

Some people tend to discount anything that came out before they started watching TV or going to the theatre. I would suggest that there are a number of people, on this board, who actually think that there was nothing exciting on Broadway until RENT came along and then there is another set of people who think that Broadway began with "Wicked".

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:18am

The first four seasons of The West Wing, end of story. that alone makes it the best decade of TV.

[pab]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 4:44am

I'm a fan of "The West Wing" but did you also happen to catch the first four seasons of "Hill Street Blues" or the first four seasons of "L.A. Law"?

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:01am

I agree with pab whole heartedly. I think the problem with CS's perspective is not a short memory - it's that he's too young. The 'past' for him was not very long ago. It's hard to judge history if you haven't taken a look at it.

[Craig]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:18am

Yeah - I hated the decade filled with shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Honeymooners, The Flintstones, I Love Lucy - you know, all the shows that gave us plots for all future sitcoms?

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:18am

How can you even think of a list like that without LOST!!!

[alterego]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 9:31am

Too true Craig!

Pab, by announcing 'The 2000's:The Best Decade For television EVER!" you immediately invite comparison since...television began!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:13am

"Cruel_Sandwich must have a very short memory."

Ummm, yeah. Well, what the real story is is that he's sort of spent his whole life at the kids table and has learned how to make strong pronouncements that are not very well informed. They're accurate enough, for what he's been exposed to, and he's always playing catch up. But, the big "carve my opinion in granite" motif has worn mighty thin.

[Bluemoon]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:23am

Yes, one has to be careful throwing around that modifier 'EVER!'.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:26am

cruel, who do very young people, who have no idea of the Golden Age of television declare this decade the best ever?
Sorry the 1950's and the 1960's set the pace, and they ENTERTAINED......and that's the big difference with today, while we may be glued to some of todays shows.......they don't necessarily entertain.......very little entertaining is going on these days....really just comedic, or dramatic nightime soaps.......or ricj brats living in a house.......I watch very little TV anymore....when I do it's AMC for old movies, or that TV channel for all the old shows......

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 10:45am

TV doesn't entertain? Really? Lost? Arrested Development? Scrubs? The Office? Family Guy? Simpsons? Desperate Housewives? Sopranos? Wow, I'm so confused as to why I watch those shows...

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:17am

"cruel, who do very young people, who have no idea of the Golden Age of television declare this decade the best ever?
Sorry the 1950's and the 1960's set the pace, and they ENTERTAINED......and that's the big difference with today, while we may be glued to some of todays shows.......they don't necessarily entertain.......very little entertaining is going on these days....really just comedic, or dramatic nightime soaps.......or ricj brats living in a house.......I watch very little TV anymore....when I do it's AMC for old movies, or that TV channel for all the old shows......"

Oh look, Princess Contradiction has arrived, I'm suprised it took you this long to show up and disagree and insult.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:17am

Once ALF was cancelled, TV just became something used to watch movies.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:40am

for me it was Mr. Belvedere...end of an era...(sob)

[Magdalene]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 12:40pm

Every decade had it's good points and bad points----I think the best in regards to freedoms was the 70s---try getting All In The Family or MASH on today!

[Harpo]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:26pm

Aaagh, Craig, like a knife through the heart! You besmirch my beloved Flintsones? I loved the musical versions, which featured such luminaries as Ann-Margrock and Cary Granite. There was also a baseball one with a catchy tune.

I didn't realize how little television I watch until I saw CS's list. The only thing I watched a lot of was the Hurricane Katrina coverage and Jon Stewart. Does anyone remember Saturday night in the 70's? Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Burnett were reasons to stay at home.

The first few seasons of West Wing were magic to me. I never missed an episode. That is probably my all time favorite show. Well, except for SNL.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:31pm

All my favorite tv shows ended-- Friends, Sex and the City, Will and Grace (is ending), Everybody Loves Raymond.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 3:54pm

Yes Harpo...some of us remember, and Sat nite was amazing television!
Nothing was better than "The Carol Burnett Show."