September 2, 2003
My Favorite TV Shows
Critics, fans, and those behind the scenes list their ten favorite TV shows of all-time.
by Robert Bianco, Eric Deggans, Mike Nelson, Diane Werts, Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Billy Ingram, Tom Heald, Rob Salem, Sonia Mansfield, Adam Finley, Suzanne Welke, Steve Welke, Laurel Krahn, Brian Lewandowski, James Norton, Marty Beckerman, Tim Grierson, Joe Lavin and Bob Sassone.
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Sonia MansfieldI love so many TV shows for so many different reasons that the idea of narrowing it down to just a top 10 is a daunting task. What’s important to remember here is that these are my top 10 FAVORITE shows, not necessarily the BEST shows. You know what I mean? It’s like when I pick Grease as one of my favorite movies. I’m not saying it’s the best movie ever made. I’m not saying it’s Citizen Kane or The Godfather. I’m just saying that I’ve watched it a million times and I’ve never gotten tired of it. Got it? OK, let’s get this party started:
1. The Simpsons
To put it simply, The Simpsons has changed my life. I can’t go one hour without referencing the show ("D’oh"). And just about everything that happens around me reminds me an episode. ("Remember the one where Homer blah blah blah …"). No other show can compete.
2. Homicide: Life on the Street
The best cop show on TV … ever. ’Nuff said.
3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Smart, funny, thought-provoking. One of the rare TV series that made me laugh out loud and cry out loud (sometimes in the same episode). There will never be another Buffy, another Willow, another Xander, another Giles.
4. Seinfeld
I love Seinfeld … not that there’s anything wrong with that.
5. Twin Peaks
Probably the only show that ever truly frightened me and made me laugh. Agent Dale Cooper is one of the best TV characters ever.
6. Sex and The City
As a 32-year-old single gal, I’m programmed to love this show. It’s genetic.
7. Saturday Night Live
Weekend Update, The Blues Brothers, Samurai deli, the Church Lady, Wayne’s World, Nat X, Matt Foley the motivational speaker, Celebrity Jeopardy … need I go on?
8. The Sopranos
This one raised the bar for drama on TV.
9. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
The show that entertains nerds of all ages.
10. Law & Order
This one is like comfort food. It’s always on. I know the format. I know the players. I know how it’s going to end.
Sonia Mansfield is TV critic for the San Francisco Examiner.
----- Robert Bianco
1) The Mary Tyler Moore Show
2) Hill Street Blues
3) I Love Lucy
4) All in the Family
5) Thirtysomething
6) The Dick Van Dyke Show
7) Frasier
8) Friends
9) The Carol Burnett Show
10) Buffy the Vampire Slayer
With a special nod toward Batman, because it hit me at just the right age, and I've never been more of an unabashed fan for any show than I was for Batman.
Robert Bianco is TV critic for USA Today
----- Mike Nelson
1. The Andy Griffith Show
For the moment when Barney tries to recite the preamble of the Constitution alone, this is the best show ever. And if you haven’t seen the episode where the high strung businessman’s car breaks down, you have to. It’s truly hilarious and moving.
2. All Creatures Great and Small
Robert Hardy as Siegfried is a revelation. (And as a side note, he is an expert on medieval history, specifically the longbow! And he studied under C.S. Lewis! That’s more than, say, David Schwimmer can boast.) And you’d have to have a heart of stone not to be charmed by the courtship of James and Helen.
3. Band of Brothers
Truly an awesome accomplishment. I think it should be required viewing for young people (those mature enough to handle the fairly significant violence.)
4. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes (and The Return of Sherlock Holmes... and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes... and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes)
Jeremy Brett is hands down the best Sherlock Holmes. Even better than Nicholas Rowe in Young Sherlock Holmes (which I didn’t see, but I assume he wasn’t nearly as good as Jeremy Brett. If he was, please disregard my arrogant assumption.)
5. Fawlty Towers
This is so obvious, I assume it will be on everyone’s list.
6. The Adventures of Ellery Queen
The 1974 version with Jim Hutton. I haven’t seen this since it first aired, but I remember liking it a lot when I was ten. Be warned, some of the other things I liked when I was ten, (e.g. Fizzies, Goober Grape, Deputy Dawg) don’t have the same appeal anymore.
7. The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
I miss Johnny.
8. Ghost Story
Again, haven’t it seen it since it first aired. I was only eight when this was first on but it’s endorsed by the very classy Sebastian Cabot so how bad can it be?
9. The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show
Probably not fair to include a 90 minute TV special, but it really was hilarious. The Making of A Nightmare to Remember which documents Tim Burton’s remake of An Affair to Remember with Brett Butler (played by Jan Hooks) and Lyle Lovett (Joe Flaherty) is as weird and hilarious as its premise. And the parody The Bodyguard One Mo’ Time in which Whoopi Goldberg (Jan Hooks) guards Jackie Rogers, Jr. (Short’s weirdest character, which is saying a lot) is far just as funny, and perhaps even a little weirder. Weirdest and perhaps funniest of all is a brief interview with Lyle Lovett (Flaherty, of course) reminiscing about his favorite TV host, Pancake Willie.
10. Late Night with David Letterman (the ’82 to, oh, ‘87 years)
I remember nearly having a heart attack laughing at Larry “Bud” Melman coming out as The Big Man and terrorizing a family while at the same time teaching them about Millard Fillmore (I think that’s who it was, but it’s been a long time.) And Brother Theodore was something to stay up late for, as well. Chris Elliot as “Legs Diamond,” Zippy the Chimp, even Jay Leno was funny back then.
Mike Nelson is the author of the books Death Rat, Mind Over Matters, Mike Nelson's Mega Movie Cheese, and the host/head writer of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
----- Suzanne Welke
1. Mystery Science Theater 3000
2. Adam-12
3. Bewitched
4. Thunderbirds
5. Space Ghost Coast To Coast
6. Laugh-In
7. Soap
8. Dangermouse
9. Whose Line Is It Anyway?
10. Absolutely FabulousSuzanne Welke is associate producer of the UPN show Girlfriends.
----- Steve Welke
1. Iron Chef
Sheer on-the-spot creative brillance.
2. Star Trek: The Original Series
Family stopped whatever it was doing to watch re-runs on weekends.
3. Seinfeld
Always funny, the chemistry between actors is amazing.
4. Monty Python's Flying Circus
Creative masterminds that established a new original style.
5. Rockford Files
Pacing, acting, story, etc. all come together perfectly, everytime.
6. Cowboy Bebop
Japanese Anime that restores my faith that good shows can still get on TV.
7. The Twilight Zone
Inventive sci-fiction that is always good to watch.
8. Emergency
Again, family watched this show together. Just plain fun.
9. The West Wing
Great dialogue and character interaction. Production value is great.
10. NOVA
Educational/ documentary programming in general, but this show rocks.
Steve Welke is co-producer of the UPN show Enterprise.
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