MY FIVE FAVORITE SHOWS
My Five Favorite Shows: Everything is more complicated these days. Even television. When I was a kid there were about 5 or 10 main channels to pick from that everyone watched. There were no DVR or TIVO options just clunky, clumsy VCR tapes to maybe record a show for later viewing. But for most of my childhood there wasn’t even that. So people tended to coalesce around certain shows: "appointment TV" it was called. For instance, when Family Ties enjoyed it’s long run in the 1980s we’d all have to either be at our TVs at 8:30 on Thursday night or risk missing the show. I remember the powerful Sunday night CBS lineup in the 80s of All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Alice. Ahhh, what shows. Sunday nights in the 70s were appointment TV. Fast-forward to today and there are a gazillion channels (I think our TV goes up somewhere over channel 1000…I’ve never actually checked to see how high I can go.) I rarely have time to watch any of them anymore (having a toddler is the best cure for too much TV). But when Rachel and I can carve out that rare half hour or 45 minutes to watch a show, here are my current five favorite shows. What are yours?
I'll miss this show.....goodbye Bravermans!
Parenthood (NBC): SIGH, I’ll be sad to see this show go. It’s in its final season and I’ve just loved it. The huge ensemble cast is great (and expensive which is probably why the show is going off the air). The hour-long “drama-edy” follows the Braverman clan through their various trials and triumphs. The show is a wholesome throwback a modern-day heir to such family shows as The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie. Next week is the show’s final episode after a good five season run.
The Middle (CBS): For awhile I watched Modern Family and The Middle and I liked both but in the end – ugh – I guess I can just relate to The Middle more. The show puts laughs into the day-to-day drudgery of those who struggle in the middle class.
A show about country music that even someone who doesn't like country music will like.
Nashville (ABC): I’m loathe to admit this one publicly. But, you know, I can blame my wife for most of the shows on this list. In fact, I sat out the first season. But Rachel insisted I would like it so I grudgingly gave it a try and then suddenly I was sucked in, like one of those afternoon soaps my grandma used to watch when I was a kid. Will Deacon and Rayna finally connect? I don't even like country music, what's wrong with me that I like this show???
Downton Abbey (PBS): What a fun show. It’s sort of a British aristocratic escape each week. Can you imagine having so much money to spread around that you have your own personal butler or maid to help you dress every day? Sheesh.
Homeland (SHOWTIME): This was an absolutely gripping drama that makes Nashville look like Hee-Haw. This season’s episodes are all tucked neatly away on our DVR or hopefully future watching.
Salli
My fav five are: Alaska The Last Frontier, The Middle, The Goldbergs, Last Man Standing and Pawn Stars
Kevin
My brother keeps trying to get me to watch the Goldbergs, I will have to try that!
Janet
Ours are: The Middle, Alaska The Last Frontier, Doc Martin(when our PBS buys the rights) NCIS (the original) Blue Bloods, Antiques Roadshow and now Geneology Roadshow.... not necessarily in this order, but we do switch around.
Kevin, "neat" is an age related word...keep on using it!!
Bonnie Pavel
Mine are Person of Interest, The Big Bang Theory, Downtown Abbey, Amazing Race(I like to imagine I'm on the race!), and Mike and Molly.
Janet, I would add Doc Martin to my list, but it is not bring shown here currently. I love that show!
Kevin
I have never heard of this Doc Martin show...what is it about? And, Bonnie, I regretted after posting that I didn't add Big Bang to my list, that is another show we never miss!
Janet
Doc Martin is about a quirky curmudgeon of a doctor in a small English fishing village and the town's inhabitants and their ailments. Doc Martin throws up at the sight of blood, but is an outstanding doctor and tells it like it is. (He told the fat lady to lose weight and she might get well). I called our PBS station to ask why it wasn't on this season and they said the Doc Martin "syndicate" (for want of a better word) charges $40,000 per season and they would try to buy it later.....it is available by the season on cd's, I would guess through your local PBS station...
Gert
Game of Thrones, The Originals, Person of Interest, Downton Abbey (although it really isn't grabbing me this season), Elementary.
LADYSPIRIT1956
By the sounds of it, I'm not missing much on the boob tube. I don't own one and haven't for several years. After last tv bit the dust, I never got around to replacing it. LOL. If I did have one, it'd be tuned to Are You Being Served, Downton Abbey (watch at a friend's house on a Saturday...they have a DVR), Keeping Up Appearances, and that's about it. LOL.
Carol Crowe Phillips
I don't watch a lot of regular shows and haven't in years. The few I have liked are mostly only on dvd or netflix now. Burn Notice, the CSI shows, and a lot of other older shows that I could name some nobody even remembers now. The only show I watch that are current are Larry's Country Diner (I miss it more often than not because of the time it's on here) and The100. Not normally a fan of Sci-Fi or the like but this one kind of sucked me in because it actually has a good storyline and plot.
Kevin
Larry's Country Diner? Never heard of that one!
Gert
Kevin, Here is a link to the show! I had neverheard of it either. But Google is a wonderful thing?
http://www.larryscountrydiner.com/about-us
Kevin
Thanks, Gert, interesting...looks like a throwback to the 70s type variety show!
lorraine
I like Sister Wives 19 Kids and Counting and Rachael. Mostly I watch the oldies.
Susan MacDonald
My favorite shows are: Parenthood; Mike and Molly; Chicago Fire; Nashville; and Alaska-The Last Frontier. I used to watch Mountain Men, but they haven't been on lately...hoping they will be returning soon.
A personal comment for Kevin is to cut way back on your carb intake to help you lose weight. With all of the pastries and baked goods the Amish make, one has to show a LOT of restraint when making a decision on eating them. My husband and I are low-carbing and have each lost almost 5 lbs this month (we started on Jan. 1, 2015). Avoid white flours, white sugars, potatoes, and pastas! It's working for us, and I'm sure would work for you, too, Kevin.
Linda from KY
My 5 favorites are Castle, Elementary, Forever, Last Man Standing, and Jeopardy!
Angie
I had not thought about what my favorite five would be till I read this story and the comments. After considering the shows I watch I would have to say mine are NCIS, Bones, Laura, Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer. I guess I like the crime shows. I really like to see how they solve the crime.