I love television. I know, I know – there’s a reason why it’s known as the ‘idiot box.’ And of course, there are tons of asinine reality shows that really do nothing but insult the viewers’ collective intelligence. But every now and then, you will find a show that is intelligent, entertaining and which speaks to you. While these shows are few and far between (the television networks love to cancel them), you can always go back and watch the Blu-Ray while ‘The Bachelor’ is on…
5. Beverly Hills 90210 (Oct. 1990 – May 2000)
Okay, now I will admit, this was not exactly a critically acclaimed television program. However, the characters on 90210 dealt with many ‘teen’ issues that hadn’t been addressed before on national television. As a teenager during its run, I could relate and it was refreshing to see things portrayed from that perspective. I also remember gathering in the university dorm television room (yes, we had those back then) with the whole building to watch. They were about our age, so their graduations, college experience, etc were happening as ours were and it was fun to kind of grow up together. Reruns of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ are still shown on the Soapnet Network, and I am not ashamed to admit I still tune in from time to time!
4. The West Wing (September 1999 – May 2006)
Now, THIS show was a critic’s darling. Winning 26 Emmy awards, ‘The West Wing’ dealt with real issues of national and global importance, while showing the human side of America’s government leaders and policy makers. The skillful writing gave the audience witty dialogue and savvy, likeable characters. This show also made an impression on me personally, as I was working in Washington, DC at the time. ‘The West Wing’ managed to capture a lot of what goes on behind the scenes of government while still entertaining the viewer who did not have experience in the governmental realm (they didn’t show all the paperwork that goes on!)
3. The Walking Dead (October 2010 – present)
This show is the only one on my list of favorites still on the air. (I must need to see a series in its entirety before passing judgement and applying the ‘Favorite’ label!) But my love for ‘The Walking Dead’ breaks all the rules. This show follows a small band of survivors in a zombie-filled, post-apocalyptic Earth. Another show with fantastic writing, ‘The Walking Dead’ renders suspenseful plot lines and emotion-evoking characters. Some of the visuals of the Walkers can get pretty graphic, but almost everything is story-essential and not gratuitous. The characters’ world is precarious, ugly and barbaric, and the directors depict that in no uncertain terms. It’s the only show on television that I begin looking forward to as soon as the previous episode ends, and think about (probably too often), until the next one airs.
2. Twin Peaks (April 1990-June 1991)
Although short-lived, I adored ‘Twin Peaks.’ Creepy, quirky and beautiful. The show centered around investigation into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer in the seemingly idyllic town in the Pacific Northwest – Twin Peaks, Washington. The gorgeous veneer of the small town was soon shattered as the viewer met its residents who could only be described as eccentric, strange and/or just plain weird. ‘Twin Peaks’ engulfed the country in Peaks-mania during its first season, and still has a cult following to this day. For me, the character of BOB was the scariest fictional villain I’d ever encountered on the screen – big or small.
1. LOST (September 2004-May 2010)
What can I say about this that hasn’t already been said? For me, an intriguing show premise turned into a six-year relationship with the passengers of Oceanic 815. It was a crazy ride, filled with polar bears, smoke monsters, time travel, “Others”, fab ’70s clothing, boars, and Sawyer with his shirt off. There were so many questions to be answered in the finale; there was lot of pressure on the writers to make it something grand. There was no path to take that would have pleased all the Lost fans. But for me, that was okay. It didn’t matter how it all ended. For six years, the creators of Lost entertained me, made me laugh, and made me cry. I enjoyed every minute of being a ‘Lostie’ and I can’t see any show taking its place in my heart!
